Page 14 (2/2)

I nod, even as the word soon roars into my mind

Soon, I a to claim her

Soon, I a to make her mine

Soon, I’ to show her just how much she means to me

Chapter Twelve

Natalie

Nick is standing at the edge of the bed, completely naked except for his Santa’s beard and the hat, his s the beard twitch as he stares down at ht of hie, and the hard lines of his abs pop

“Co up onfor?”

He chuckles warmly, and somehow his hot breath dances over my skin even from there That’s when I realize this is a dream

Don’t wake up, don’t wake up, I cry in my mind

“Do you really think you could be that confident, little elf?” the dream-made Nick teases “Do you think you could ever be that forward?”

I jolt aith a quiet screahte and then because I can’t alert anybody to my presence here

Dream Nick’s words bounce around my head

Because he’s right

When it comes time for him to clailint in his eyes is anything to go by – how the heck a to satisfy him?

He’s so much older, so much more experienced, and I’m… me

I shake away the thoughts, reaching forat the time

What?

It’s almost eleven AM, an hour and a half after Kenny usually wakes me up

Maybe if I was a nor in hlike I could burst into tears But my mind is filled with all the ti me to leave the school in a panic