Mission Mistletoe (7 page)

Archer breathed out hard. He was close, far too close to Ilin to really resist. And those eyes…. He leaned down, tilting his head, and their lips brushed. Just as Archer felt the excitement coursing through him, Ilin pulled back, hand brushing across his bulging pants, and disengaged.

“What the
hell
, Ilin?” snarled Archer. He was about to boil over, so full of need and frustration.

“Not here,” said Ilin, moving away. Archer had no choice but to follow as Ilin made his way to the bedroom.

“I didn’t realize there was a precise place to kiss,” growled Archer, wanting to reach out and grab Ilin from behind as he walked but resisting the urge. He very much desired the ambassador now and did not care to do anything that would ruin his chances.

“I did not want this to go to waste,” said Ilin, pointing to something that hung over them in the doorway. Archer glared up, seeing a cut of mistletoe hanging there, and groaned.

“Surprised?” asked Ilin, beaming.

He was obviously very proud of himself. Archer grabbed him by the arm and pulled him over, this time planting his lips firmly on Ilin’s. They felt good, too good, certainly the only thing this good since Archer had agreed to captain this mess. The short hair covering Ilin’s skin was soft to the touch where Archer held him, and Ilin himself did not seem to mind being furiously kissed, giving as good as he got until Archer pulled back.

“Mistletoe,” he muttered. “No one does that, Ilin.”

“I do it,” said Ilin. “It gets captains to my bed.”

“We’re not in your bed yet,” said Archer, leaning down to kiss him again. Ilin closed his eyes.

“I like that,” he said as Archer raised a hand to trace from his ear to his jaw. “Yet.”

“You’re a pain in the ass, Ilin,” said Archer as he bent further to kiss Ilin’s jaw, the soft neck Ilin tilted toward him.

“It’s too soon to say about that, correct?”

Archer pulled back and examined Ilin’s face. Of all the issues that had happened, this was going to be one he willingly created. He was hot all over.

“I don’t think I’m going to be able to let you go at your Nleri’xh stop if we do this, Ilin.”

“Let’s discuss that later. Over the wine.” Ilin smiled.

That was a good enough answer for Archer. He gathered Ilin to him in the doorway and put the mistletoe hanging above them to good use.

31 stories of holiday love!

www.dreamspinnerpress.com

J
ESSICA
P
AYSEUR
has been cursed with the ability to see a story in anything at all. This is especially useful in the long Wisconsin winter months, when the only inspiration the world gives is endless snow and the lingering promise of frostbite for the unwise. When not trying to write the stories away, she can be found taking long walks with her dog, going on small adventures with her partner, and generally attempting to thwart whatever devious schemes her cats have been plotting. She has an impressive collection of books, a modest collection of stationery, and a dwindling collection of wine, all of which she regularly enjoys.

Twitter: @jessica_payseur

Kitchric’s Mountain

By Jessica Payseur

Kithric, an aging dragon tamer, leads a solitary life atop his mountain, until the day he accidentally traps a dragon that is more than he seems. Expecting to be killed for capturing a dragon shifter, Kithric instead finds himself spared and left to deal with his continued solitude.

He finds he can’t be rid of Ylfrin the dragon shifter that easily, though, and as Ylfrin continues to return, bit by bit Kithric begins to fall for him and starts to value using what life he has left to the fullest. But before he and Ylfrin can explore their feelings, they must first confront dangers and corrupt forces encroaching from outside Kithric’s Mountain.

www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Published by

D
REAMSPINNER
P
RESS

5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886  USA

www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Mission Mistletoe

© 2015 Jessica Payseur.

Cover Art

© 2015 Bree Archer.

http://www.breearcher.com

Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.

All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com/.

Digital ISBN: 978-1-63476-932-7

First Edition December 2015

Printed in the United States of America