Lightly edited cause I'm tired!!

Wynter

More snow starts to sprinkle from the sky as Nick steers the sled. Although the warmth of the sled was accommodating, the snowfall from the sky still sent chills through my body.

"Here" he takes off his jacket and drapes it around my shoulders.

"Thanks." I grumble, gripping the ends of each jacket. Instantly, I felt warm.

We sat in silence as the road continued on.
A few people standing on the streets gasped and took out their phones., snapping pictures of the big red sled. It wasn't everyday that a big red sled came plowing down the streets.

"Look mommy! Look!!" A little girl with brown hair leaps up down, pointing at the sleigh.

Great....
We were a spectacle.

"I thought we were supposed to keep a low profile" I frown, covering my profile so no one would recognize me.
He shrugged and steered left.
"I was supposed to do a lot of things but you know me. I don't do rules"

I smirked as I heard his sentiments. I looked at his profile before forcing my eyes straight.
"So...you wanna talk about that kiss?" He says, finally lifting his eyes from the road to face me .

"No.." I grumbled, crossing my arms, "I would like to talk about how fast this thing goes."

Nick let out a lazy chuckle before lifting the reigns to increase the speed.

"I erased their memories. Well, Drew did. They will only remember the last part of our photoshoot. Before the kiss."

"Even Lizabeth's memory?" I asked.

"Yea" he whispered, "Drew also deleted the last frame of pictures."

"Thanks" I whispered, looking at his profile once again. I lifted my palm to dust off a few specks of snow that had sprinkled in his curly brown hair.

His eyes scanned the road, making sure our path was clear. "Your house is 20 blocks away."  I was about to ask how he knew but I remembered he was part magic.

"Great" I groaned, looking around for a taxi of some sort. This sleigh ride would take forever and the last thing I wanted to do is be stuck in a sled spend it with Nick.
You saw how easily we kissed!
I couldn't control myself around him.

"Wynter, can we just talk?"

"Talk about what? Me? You? The council?
I bet that meeting went great!" I smirked sarcastically.

"I didn't go to the meeting" Nick revealed.

"What! Why not?" I was suprised but then again, ot was Nick Claus. He wasn't too motivated to be Santa in the first place.

"Because...." Nick hits the reigns once more, trying to distract himself from the question.

"Because what Nick?"

He remained quiet, only staring foward.

"Say it!

"I don't see my future as Santa... I told you since the first time I met you. That title isn't for me."

"But Nick? Your legacy? The clause line..." I sighed, trying to comprehend why he was so blasé about his reality.

"It doesn't matter either way. Jack Frost is in the running for the title of Santa."

"Jack Frost as the new Santa? Nick, come on. Jingles would be a better replacement than him"

Nick chuckles as Jingles looked back at us.

"So that's it? You would give up your title so easily?"

"Give up? Does saving you from Jack Frost ring a bell? I gave up my title to save you."

"I didn't ask you to do that Nick! I didn't ask to be your pretend girlfriend either or be watched by elves and council members. I didn't ask to be kidnapped by Jack Frost and be part of his twisted fantasy.
I didn't choose any of this?! So for you to come to my realm and try to convince me otherwise is so ...so..manipulative."

"That is not what I was trying to do Wyn..." He grumbled.

"And coming to my place of work! As a model no better!"

"I owed Lizabeth a favor. This was way before I met you."

"Yea right." I threw off his jacket. Now I was upset.

"I'm a man of my word Wynter. Believe it or not."

"Oh really. You're a man of your word?" I scoffed, skepticism filled my tone.

How dare he! A man of his word? Ha! Nick Claus was not a man of his word and I would prove it.

"What did I tell you the first time we met in that cafe?" He tried not look taken aback by the question. It had caught him off guard.

"I don't remember." He says. What a liar!

"Yes you do! I asked you have you ever watched a Christmas movie and you said:"

"No" he muttered.

"And I said fine. You have to promise me that you wouldn't fall in love with me."

"Okay. How does this prove I am not a man of my words?" He says impatiently.

I face foward and frowned. "You know why Nick."

"I don't." He lied.
Of course he lied. He did it when he was trying to ice me out or trying to suppress his true feelings.

Nick

I pulled up to her house near the hills and pulled in the reigns.  Thank the saints we reached her home. I wouldn't have to answer her question.

"Not only are you not a man of your word, you're a liar Nick Claus."

Wynter stood from the seat and screamed. "Hey everyone! Nick Claus is a big fat liar!"

"And what exactly have I lied about?" I stood to face her, trying to defend my honor.

Wynter glared into my eyes before throwing my jacket into my face and storming out of the sled .
"Screw you Nick Claus" 

"Wyn! Wynter wait!!" I groaned, catching my jacket as it fell into my arms. "Let's talk!"

"You've done enough talking. I'm tired of talking!" She snatched her purse and fishes for her keys. "I never knew Santa to be a pompous self righteous egotistical Jerk! But here we are!
And you're a liar!"

"I am not!" I storm after her as she stomps up her steps to reach her doorway.
She drops her bags and keys and turns her body around, standing invasively close to me.
I didn't mind it. I cherished her warmth. I had been craving it since May.

"Look me in the eye Nick. Stare into my eyes and say it!" She whispers, brushing her lips gently against mine.
Her brown eyes were glued to my chest before timidly lifting up.
Her eyes were spellbinding.

I remained silent, staring into her eyes.

"And what exactly do you want me to say Wynter?" I whisper, pushing a palm around her neck.

"Say that you didn't fall in love with me?
That you don't love me.
That you never loved me."

I was quiet, pushing her thick brown curls away from her face. I couldn't answer her...not know because if I did... I would have to admit that I wasn't a man of my words.
But the confession of my feelings wasn't my only concern.

"Say it! Say it Nick!" Thick wet tears started to form in her ducts. "Say it." She pushed my chest, creating some distance between us. Her eyes were glistening.

"Wynter." I whisper, trying to pull her close.

"Do you love me?" She blurted, staring into my eyes.

I couldn't answer her.
I didn't want to.

"Say it Nick!" She pushed me again. I tried to hold her as she pushed her fists against chest, pounding it ever so lightly.

"Wynter..."

"Say it!!" This time I held her wrists, stopping her before she could hit me again.

"Tell me you didn't fall in love with me. I want to hear it from your own mouth!" Her tears were relentless. She had nothing else to hide.

I tried to wipe off her tears but she snapped her head away.

Of course I had feelings for Wynter. I was in love with the woman named Wynter Ryder.
Her hope.
Her joy.
Her  laugh was infectious. Her spirit, pure.
So what?
I knew what it meant if I confessed that I loved her.

It would be years of sadness.
Aging.
Insecurities of never being good enough for the pole and constant threats to kill her from my father.

No I had to protect her.
I must.
As much as it would pain me to say it, I had to...to protect her.

"I didn't fall in love with you Wynter.
I don't love you"

I could see her heart as it crushed into a thousand pieces.
All her feelings for me? Gone.

She froze for a moment before backing away, desperate to create as much distance between us.

"Wynter...I do have feelings for you, honestly I do... you have to believe that...but love?"

She bent to pick up her bags, fishing for her keys.

"Wynter can we just talk!
Everytime I try you just shut me out!"

"There is nothing more to say to you Nick" she whispered, refusing to meet my eyes.

"Wynter come on!
I don't want us to leave on bad footing. It's been  5 months and I've been so upset cause I couldn't see you."

"I think there's someway better than me for you Nick"

"That's a lie and you know it Wyn!" Why was she shutting me out?

"What are we doing Nick?" She blurted, cutting me off.

"I thought we were...having fun?"

"Fun is over. I am not your little plaything."

"I never said you were Wyn. You think I would treat you like that?"

"Enough Nick! I am tired of this emotional gymnastics that you keep trying to play with me.
I'm over it!
I won't leave out cookies
I won't light a candle.
You'll look for me but you won't find me."

"Why does this sound like your saying goodbye Wyn" I pouted. I didn't like the seriousness in her tone.

"Because it is." She says, finally turning around to face me. "Put me on your naughty list. It ensures I won't ever get a visit from you.
Goodbye Nick Claus"

"Wynter...please..." I grabbed her arm, desperately craving her near me. I hadn't seen her in 5 months and I was selfish.
I the last time she left, I knew I would see her having meetings on earth and committing to be a model for her company.
But this time felt different?
This time, it felt like I wouldn't see her again.

"Goodbye Santa" She whispered, refusing to meet my eyes. She snatched her hand away and slammed the door in my face.

Author note:

I promise y'all, it's gonna all work out.
I hate to give spoilers but I said it before and ill say it again. Nick and Wynter will end up together. We just gotta get through the rough parts.

I think there's 2-4 chapters left before I finish. Maybe 3?
And make sure you add the sequel Santa Baby!
See you soon