Captive for Christmas Read online

  Just like Santa and red-nosed reindeers.

  Just like happily-ever-afters.

  Just like always and forever.

  Merry Christmas, all.

  ∞

  EPILOGUE

  ONE YEAR LATER

  NEXT CHRISTMAS

  BRUSCO

  I smile as I cradle our three-month old twins Benjamin and Brooke, look upon their dark, insanely cute faces, their beautiful mixed blood making them shine like the Star of Bethlehem. I’m sitting at the head of the table—well, the co-head of the table, really. It’s a massive rectangular table, with two big wooden chairs at the head. It’s not just symbolic—it’s fucking real. Bari and I are equals, king and queen, boss and . . . well, boss, I guess.

  “Welcome to the first annual Bellano-Barzini Christmas,” I say, raising my glass of sparkling cider as the overcrowded table erupts in cheers and applause. I grin at Bari, who’s gesturing to our staff to begin serving the guests—guests from both sides of the family.

  The Family.

  Family with a capital fucking F.

  Family with just one name now.

  Hyphenated, just like both our last names.

  Just like the last names of our mongrel twins Benjamin and Brooke.

  I grin again as I look around the room, study the motley crew of thugs and loan-sharks, knee-breakers and fucking assassins.

  “With this crowd I can’t in good faith promise peace on Earth and mercy mild,” I say to the already-drunk crowd that makes the elegant room feel like a wayside inn from the days of King Arthur, “but Merry fucking Christmas anyway.”

  And I swear I feel tinsel and fairy-dust float down around us, hear the giggles of elves and the titters of pixies as my curvy wife looks over at me with pride, with love, her brown eyes flashing in a way that reminds me of that first Christmas Eve, that first Christmas morning, that night we both claimed each other, claimed our always, claimed our forever, claimed our freedom.

  But in some ways we’re still captives, aren’t we, I think as I drop my arm down and take Bari’s hand in mine below the table.

  Captives of our own choices this time.

  Captives of each other.

  Captives of our own Christmas Miracle.

  Our own Christmas Story.

  Dark and light . . .

  Sugar and spice . . .

  Naughty and nice.

  ∞

  FROM THE AUTHOR

  Have a nice Christmas, everyone. Thank you for the gift you give me by reading my books.

  One more book coming before the new year: It's a super-fun new addition to my bestselling CURVY FOR HIM series!

  And if the novellas leave you wanting more, read my full-length series: CURVES FOR SHEIKHS and CURVES FOR SHIFTERS!

  And take a minute to join my private list to get five never-been-published forbidden epilogues from my SHEIKHS series.

  Love,

  Anna.

  [email protected]

  PS: For my international readers:

  Annabelle in UK

  Annabelle in CA

  Annabelle in AU

  ∞

  BY ANNABELLE WINTERS

  THE CURVES FOR SHEIKHS SERIES (USA)

  Curves for the Sheikh

  Flames for the Sheikh

  Hostage for the Sheikh

  Single for the Sheikh

  Stockings for the Sheikh

  Untouched for the Sheikh

  Surrogate for the Sheikh

  Stars for the Sheikh

  Shelter for the Sheikh

  Shared for the Sheikh

  Assassin for the Sheikh

  Privilege for the Sheikh

  Ransomed for the Sheikh

  Uncorked for the Sheikh

  Haunted for the Sheikh

  Grateful for the Sheikh

  Mistletoe for the Sheikh

  Fake for the Sheikh

  THE CURVES FOR SHIFTERS SERIES (USA)

  Curves for the Dragon

  Born for the Bear

  Witch for the Wolf

  Tamed for the Lion

  Taken for the Tiger

  THE CURVY FOR HIM SERIES (USA)

  The Teacher and the Trainer

  The Librarian and the Cop

  The Lawyer and the Cowboy

  The Princess and the Pirate

  The CEO and the Soldier

  The Astronaut and the Alien

  The Quilter and the Quarterback

  The Botanist and the Biker

  The Psychic and the Senator

  The Accountant and the Actor

  The Drycleaner and the Dragon

  The Seamstress and the Sheikh

  THE CURVY FOR THE HOLIDAYS SERIES (USA)

  Taken on Thanksgiving

  Captive for Christmas

  THE CURVES FOR SHEIKHS SERIES (UK)

  Curves for the Sheikh (UK)

  Flames for the Sheikh (UK)

  Hostage for the Sheikh (UK)

  Single for the Sheikh (UK)

  Stockings for the Sheikh (UK)

  Untouched for the Sheikh (UK)

  Surrogate for the Sheikh (UK)

  Stars for the Sheikh (UK)

  Shelter for the Sheikh (UK)

  Shared for the Sheikh (UK)

  Assassin for the Sheikh (UK)

  Privilege for the Sheikh (UK)

  Ransomed for the Sheikh (UK)

  Uncorked for the Sheikh (UK)

  Haunted for the Sheikh (UK)

  Grateful for the Sheikh (UK)

  Mistletoe for the Sheikh (UK)

  Fake for the Sheikh (UK)

  THE CURVES FOR SHIFTERS SERIES (UK)

  Curves for the Dragon (UK)

  Born for the Bear (UK)

  Witch for the Wolf (UK)

  Tamed for the Lion (UK)

  Taken for the Tiger (UK)

  THE CURVY FOR HIM SERIES (UK)

  The Teacher and the Trainer (UK)

  The Librarian and the Cop (UK)

  The Lawyer and the Cowboy (UK)

  The Princess and the Pirate (UK)

  The CEO and the Soldier (UK)

  The Astronaut and the Alien (UK)

  The Quilter and the Quarterback (UK)

  The Botanist and the Biker (UK)

  The Psychic and the Senator (UK)

  The Accountant and the Actor (UK)

  The Drycleaner and the Dragon (UK)

  The Seamstress and the Sheikh (UK)

  THE CURVY FOR THE HOLIDAYS SERIES (UK)

  Taken on Thanksgiving (UK)

  Captive for Christmas (UK)

  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE (USA)

  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE (UK)

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