Betrayed by a lover, Jamie rents an isolated cabin on Lake Huron, wanting only to be left alone. Instead, he is pulled from his solitary existence as an artist and tumbles headlong into the legend of Saint Nicolas.<br><br>As a young man, Nicolas accidentally killed a man intent on murdering three children, only to have the man's malicious spirit rise up against him. Fleeing through the centuries from the Krampus, the evil troll-like creature that dogs his steps, Nico finds refuge with the young artist who takes him into his home and bed. But Jamie has questions. Who is Nicolas, and why does the Krampus want to destroy him?<br><br>When the Krampus begins to torment and torture anyone Nico comes in contact with to punish him, Jamie's life is put in danger. And Jamie isn't sure whether he can help Nico defeat his nemesis or if he's merely a pawn in the Krampus's game.

Nicolas

Nico’s heart twisted, and he wanted to take away every drop of Jamie’s pain. “Tell me, my dear,” he begged. Had he done something wrong with the sensitive man?


Jamie’s chest rose on a strong emotion and he looked down at their bodies. The misery in his voice brought the sting of tears to Nico’s eyes. “I wish I was what you wanted, not this soft—”


Nico crushed their mouths together, stopping his painful words. “Tesoro mio,” he murmured between kisses, berating himself for denying his attraction for even one second. Gathering Jamie to him, he kissed his wet lashes and trembling mouth. “Jamie, angelo mio, you are exquisite! Intelligent and caring and beautiful. Everything I could desire. I’ve tried to protect you from Piter’s attention by denying my need for you. But I can’t resist your sweetness any longer.”


Chapter 21