The Mistletoe Seduction: Santa's Velvet Sin.

Valerie. I adjusted my waist on the mattress, forcing out a moan I didn’t feel. “Yes… go harder… oh...yeah, right there,” I said, adding enough breathiness to sell the illusion. Drea kept going, pounding away with the enthusiasm of a malfunctioning jackhammer. I bit my lip....mostly to keep from sighing aloud, and finally put a hand on his chest. “Hold on.” He froze mid-thrust. “What? Is something wrong?” “Uh, yeah.” I gestured upward with an exhausted flourish. “Those freaking Christmas bells. They’re louder than you. I can’t concentrate.” His brows knotted. “I can go tell the neighbors to shut it.” “No,” I said quickly. “It’s Christmas season. Let them enjoy. You can’t kill their vibe just because we’re having sex.” We locked eyes....too long, too awkward. Something unspoken hung between us like a fog neither of us wanted to acknowledge. He exhaled sharply and looked away, irritation simmering under his skin. “Drea,” I said, trying to keep my tone soft, “whatever you're feeling right now? It’s not the truth. Something else is off.” He slapped my hands off him and jabbed a finger dangerously close to my face. “Listen, Valerie. Delete my number. Block me. Don’t ever speak to me again.” I blinked, genuinely confused for half a second before letting out a disbelieving laugh. “Are you being serious right now?” He snatched his shirt from the floor, shaking it out like it had personally offended him. “You think this is some childish game?” he snapped. “You think I’m joking?” I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt. “For f**k's sake, Drea. Why are you blaming me for your inability to perform? It’s not my fault you keep failing.” His nostrils flared. He took two sharp steps toward me, fist tightening. I didn’t flinch. Instead, I moved closer, lowering my voice until my breath brushed his cheek. “Raise that hand, Drea. I dare you. Think twice before you try that s**t with me.” The anger wavered in his eyes. He cursed under his breath, grabbed his coat, and stormed toward the door. “Goodbye, baby,” I called after him sweetly. He turned, flipped me the middle finger, then slammed the door behind him. I dropped ungracefully onto the couch. Great. Long day at work, long night of fake orgasms, and the only man I’m stupid enough to call a boyfriend can’t satisfy me to save his life. That was attempt number twenty-six. Twenty-six. I counted. At this point, I’d rather hook up with a girl. I found a half-smoked cigarette on the table and lit it, letting the smoke burn down my throat. Just then, my phone rang. A Facetime. Regina. God help me. I swiped to answer, and her face filled the screen already yelling, “HEYYYY VALERIEEEEEEEE!” I sighed. “Why is everyone acting like Christmas is tomorrow? It’s not even close.” She froze dramatically, then squinted at me like she suspected I’d ruined her Wi-Fi through sheer negativity. “Girl,” she said slowly, “I don’t have the patience for your Grinch energy today, but Jade does. Jade! Jade, come here!” Jade’s voice cut in. “What’s popping?” Regina angled the phone, pulling Jade into view. Jade blinked twice, then burst into a grin. “Why do you look like you’ve been laid badly?” Regina snorted. “She’s giving tragic s*x, yeah?” I groaned. “Not today. Please.” “Oh, come ON,” Regina said. “Weren’t you supposed to be choking on Drea’s candy cane or something?” I narrowed my eyes. “Say that again and I’m blocking both of you.” Regina gasped dramatically. “Why are you acting all mature today?” “Aren’t I always?” I asked. Jade shook her head instantly. “Nope. Not even a little.” I cracked a smile despite myself. “Okay, fine,” I said. “It was terrible. Happy now?” We all burst out laughing. “But he LOOKS like he knows what he’s doing,” Regina said, still laughing. “Yeah,” I said, sipping sarcasm, “he looks like it.” More laughter followed. Jade wiped tears. “Alright, well, we’re expecting you tonight.” I hissed. “No you’re not. Because I’m not coming. I’m not walking into that Christmas explosion you call a gathering.” “Valerie,” Jade warned, “it’s literally not even Christmas yet. Why are you so angry?” “Because I am,” I replied plainly. Regina leaned closer to Jade and whispered loudly enough for me to hear. “Oh, she’s giving depressed mysterious main character.” “Stop gossiping about me right in front of me,” I snapped. “I know I’m boring, but damn.” They both burst into laughter. “Girl,” Jade said, “you are way too boring for actual gossip.” “Yeah,” Regina added. “There’s no content. Zero. You give us nothing.” I did a slow dramatic clap. “Wow. Thanks. Goodbye.” “WAIT, WAIT, VALERIE!” Regina screamed. I paused. “What?” She lifted a bowl of steaming pizza like it was a sacred offering. “We have food!” “Nope. Not bribing me today.” I ended the call. Silence hugged the room again. I sat on the bottom step of my staircase, staring across the living room at the framed photograph on the wall. My family. I stood slowly and walked towards it. They looked so alive. So warm. Mom should’ve been in the kitchen right now, humming Christmas songs while stirring something delicious. Dad should’ve been pretending he knew how to fix the Christmas lights he always tangled. A bitter laugh escaped me. Everything in the house was exactly the same. The furniture. The curtains. The air. Every memory still intact. Untouched. Waiting for the people who would never return. And somewhere out there, the killers who stole them from me were probably drinking and laughing and celebrating....like they didn’t destroy everything I loved. The thought ripped through my chest. I hurled the photo across the room. It crashed into the wall, glass shattering like a scream. I slammed my fist into the wall beside it. Pain shot through my knuckles, grounding me for a moment. I couldn’t stay here. Not another second. I grabbed my keys and coat and stepped into the cold night. The chill slapped my face...sharp, biting, painfully familiar. It was the same kind of cold the night my parents were murdered. Every nerve in my body buzzed with warning. The whole city was drowning in its own fake joy, lights everywhere, decorations hanging from every store window, children laughing, strangers humming carols like life was some perfectly wrapped gift. I got into my car. A tap on the window startled me. Nanny Rose....my elderly neighbor with the soft voice and softer smile, stood outside, cupping her hands against the glass. I rolled the window down. “Hey, Nan.” “Sweetheart,” she said gently, “would you like some of the chocolates I’m making? I’m calling it ‘Chocolate Christmas.’” I forced a smile. “Christmas? Yeah… no. I’m good tonight.” She nodded, not pushing, and gave a warm wave as I rolled the window up and pulled away. Traffic was surprisingly calm, the roads wide open. Perfect. I wanted noise, chaos, anything to drown my thoughts. I parked outside a nightclub with neon lights screaming: DRINK UNTIL YOU FORGET YOU EXIST. Inside, music pounded through the walls. I pushed through the crowd and slid onto a bar stool. “Whiskey neat,” I said. The bartender poured it without comment. I handed him my card. He tapped, returned it. I took a long, burning sip. Watched the women dancing onstage, all rhythm and glitter, bodies swaying like life was nothing but a song. Then... A hand closed around my wrist. Instinct took over. I twisted sharply. “Who the f**k are you?” The man lifted his palm. And there it was. The mark. A symbol I never wanted to see again. The symbol connected to the night my life fell apart. My stomach dropped. I stood immediately, pulse skyrocketing. “What do you want?” My voice came out sharper than a blade. He leaned in. “Calm down, girl. Calm down....” “Don’t tell me to calm down,” I spat. “Say what you want or get the hell away from me.” “Hey,” he whispered urgently, “you’re making a scene....” “Good.” I smirked. “That’s the goal.” I walked out, drink in hand. He followed. Of course he did. Outside, he grabbed my arm again. Hard. I yanked, struggling. “Get off me!” Then, without thinking...without hesitating...I threw the drink in his face. He screamed, stumbling as the alcohol burned his eyes. I froze. Because in that split second, clarity hit me. I had just made a mistake. A dangerous one. A grave I thought I’d buried years ago? I had just dug it back up. Worse? He wasn’t alone. Shadows moved behind him. Three. No....four. And they were stepping toward me. Fast.