Bought By Santa (Seasonal Obsessions #1)

Chapter 13

The Santa

T he screams echo through my torture room, a cacophony that usually blends into the background of my world. But not today. Today, each cry stokes the fire in my gut, a fury ignited by the thought of someone else’s eyes on Carolina.

“Please, Mr. Knight, I didn’t mean to—I swear!” The man strapped to the chair is barely recognizable now, his face swollen and streaked with blood. I lean in close, my breath steady against his battered ear.

“You saw something you shouldn’t have,” I growl, my fingers tightening around the pliers.

“But you… you told me to watch her!”

I give him a sharp nod. “I did, and that’s the sole reason you woke up this morning.” My breathing is deep, ragged both from excitement and from wrestling him into the chair. I cup my jaw; the spot, where he got a lucky punch in, throbs. “And you repaid me by telling others what you saw.”

Rumors and hushed whispers don’t remain hushed for long in a place like this. If the damn kid had just kept his mouth shut about what he saw, I wouldn’t have to kill him. Send him away, probably. But I’d let him live as a favor to Marco.

“P-please,” he cries, squeezing his eyes shut. “I don’t want to die.”

He shudders, and when I look down, there’s a wet patch at the front of his pants that wasn’t there a minute ago. Fucker pissed himself.

“Then you should have kept your mouth shut,” I say, my tone completely devoid of sympathy. “You knew she wasn’t there for your pleasure, yet you looked at hers. You looked at the mother of my heir. My hellcat. Mine. Not yours. M.I.N.E!” I roar out the last part, losing myself in the maddening anger.

He whimpers, a sound that grates against my nerves. My grip doesn’t falter as I yank another nail free, his howl filling the space between us. It’s a warning to others, a testament to my wrath.

Suddenly, the door bursts open, and Marco joins us. He doesn’t even glance at the mess I’ve made of his nephew. What can I say; he’s loyal, and he knows the kid fucked up yesterday.

“What is it?” I snap, locking eyes with Marco.

“Found Carolina snooping around,” he drawls. “She was trying to find you.”

I let out an audible sigh. “Damn her curiosity,” I curse. “Did she hear or see anything?”

Marco inclines his head slightly. “Heard a scream. But other than that, nothing. I took her back to the kitchen where the staff is keeping an eye on her.”

Despite wanting to take my time with this guy, I pick up my knife and, in a quick, fluent motion, I slice his neck open. His scream immediately turns garbled. Panic’s written all over his face as he claws at his neck, uselessly trying to stifle the blood flowing from the cut.

“I’ll get someone to clean this up,” I say. I might be a bastard, but I’m not so cold as to expect Marco to do it.

Ever loyal, he says, “I’ll take care of it. I brought him in and vouched for him. With all due respect, this is my mess.” His tone is grave, and I know it’s because he feels like he’s failed me rather than the loss he should feel.

I clasp his arm. “This isn’t your fault, Marco. And I don’t blame you in the slightest. You’re a good man, and I don’t want you to think otherwise. Your position here is safe.”

He visibly relaxes at my words. “I’ll still take care of it since I need to come up with something to tell my sister, anyway.”

I leave Marco with a promise of paying for any expenses his family needs. Normally, I only offer this to my most loyal men when they die or get seriously injured in my service. But special circumstances call for special solutions. Marco’s worth it.

Before going to the kitchen, I dip into one of the spare bathrooms and take a quick shower and change clothes. Carolina’s already seen me kill a man, but that doesn’t mean she needs to know what goes on behind the closed doors of my penthouse.

My phone vibrates just as I round the corner to the kitchen. Pulling it out, I see it’s the contract I requested for Carolina’s services. My lips twist up into a wry smile and anticipation thrums through my veins. I hope she knows what she asked for.

Carolina’s sitting at the kitchen island, eating fried eggs, bacon, and some buttered bread. I watch as she reaches for her cup which undoubtedly contains coffee. Oh, this is so fucking on. My hellcat is about to regret asking for a contract.

“Put that down,” I growl menacingly.

Her spine stiffens as her hand freezes mid-air. “W-what?”

My smile is still in place as I walk to her side and take the cup from her hand. Then I turn to Greta, one of my trusted employees. “Please take Miss Sterling’s plate. She’s done for now.”

“Of course,” Greta replies easily.

“The hell I am,” Carolina seethes. “I’ve barely eaten.”

I ignore her outburst and continue talking to Greta. “I’ve sent you an email with the food and drinks Miss Sterling is allowed. Only items on the list are approved.”

Greta gives me a stern nod before making herself scarce. I turn to Carolina, whose eyes are shooting daggers at me. “Don’t worry, you won’t go hungry,” I say calmly, like that’s the issue.

“You do not get to fucking dictate what I put in my body,” my hellcat hisses. “You’re going too far, Nicklas.”

“Am I?” I ask, quirking an eyebrow. “You wanted a contract between us, Carolina. So I took the liberty of having one drawn up.”

She folds her arms over her chest. “I won’t sign anything that gives you control over my body.”

I chuckle darkly. “What did you think would happen, hmm? You’re to conceive my heir, so it only makes sense we do what we can to guarantee a positive result.”

She opens her mouth, probably to chew me out, but then she shuts it again. Knowing I’ve rendered her speechless, I reach for my phone and pull up the digital contract. Then I forward it to her and point at her phone resting on the kitchen island.

“You should read that,” I say when it vibrates against the marble.

Her eyebrows shoot up her forehead as she unlocks the phone. “How do you know my email?” she demands.

I shrug. “There isn’t much about you I don’t know,” I assure her.

“How?” she whispers.

Smirking, I walk over to her and place my finger below her chin, tilting her head back so she has to look up at me. “You gave it all to me willingly.” I run my thumb across her soft, luscious lips. “When you signed up on my Cam Girl site.”

She gasps. “W-what?”

Chuckling, I revel in her obvious discomfort and embarrassment. Red blossoms on her cheeks and down her neck. “Did you know that ‘Cam’ isn’t short for ‘Camera’ but for ‘Camelot’?”

“Camelot?” she asks, her tone confused.

“Indeed,” I confirm, grinning. “We are Knights, after all.”

She shakes her head and mumbles something under her breath, but continues to read. While she does, I move behind her, gathering her long hair in my hand and moving it away from her neck. Then I lower myself so my lips ghost across her skin, reading over her shoulder.

Contract for Conception of Heir

Date: ___ day of ______, 2024

Parties: Nicklas Knight (“Mr. Knight”) and Carolina Sterling (“Ms. Sterling”)

Purpose: Ms. Sterling agrees to conceive an heir for Mr. Knight by natural means under the following terms.

1. Duration and Conception Deadline

Effective from December 1, 2024, until one year after the child’s birth or if conception fails by December 25, 2024.

2. Payment Terms

Successful Conception:

All expenses covered from December 1, 2024, until one year after the birth.

$10,000,000 upon the child’s birth.

Lifetime housing with all expenses paid.

Unsuccessful Conception:

All December 2024 expenses covered.

$2,000,000 payout.

3. Living Arrangements and Obligations

Residency: Ms. Sterling will live with Mr. Knight from December 1, 2024, until one year after birth if conception is successful.

Availability: Ms. Sterling will be available to Mr. Knight at all times during the contract.

Exclusivity: All intimate relations are exclusive to Mr. Knight. This includes orgasms; Ms. Sterling is only allowed the orgasms Mr. Knight bestows on her.

Restrictions: Ms. Sterling will only perform activities approved by Mr. Knight.

4. Dietary Restrictions

Fertility Diet: Ms. Sterling agrees to consume only specified foods to promote fertility.

Amendment Upon Pregnancy: Diet will be adjusted to suit pregnancy needs.

5. Parental Rights and Contact

Waiver: Ms. Sterling relinquishes all parental rights upon the child’s birth.

No Contact: No contact with Mr. Knight or the child after one year post-birth. Breach results in damages.

Residency: Ms. Sterling will not reside in New York or neighboring states indefinitely post-birth. Housing will be provided in an alternative state or country.

6. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to maintain strict confidentiality regarding the contract and pregnancy.

7. Governing Law

This Contract is governed by the laws of the State of New York and by the Knight family.

Signatures:

Nicklas Knight

Date: ____________

Carolina Sterling

Date: ____________

I know the exact moment my hellcat is done reading because she leaps off the chair and away from me like my touch is burning her. She spins around so fast the hair I only just managed to let go of, whips her in the face.

“What the fuck, Nicklas?” she screams like a banshee. “What. The. Actual. Fuck.”

Tilting my head to the side, I watch her. She’s trembling, her hands are balled, and her nostrils flare with every inhale. Her barely controlled anger makes me smile. That’s it, Kitten. Let it out, I silently beg.