This is a small snippet form my book Tangle Of Obsession.

You guys wanted an extra small chapter of Alora and Marcelo so I wrote one as a thank-you for 100k! Who knows what I may decide when we hit the next milestone? I love giving so keep a look out for future surprises!

Ps: this chapter does NOT relate to the storyline in any way so you can read it without the problem of being spoiled. However, if you haven't read Tangle Of Obsession then I advise you do because I know some people just judge too hard.

"You aren't supposed to do it like this," I stress as I watch Marcelo literally make the whole thing fall.

As soon as I hear the splat sound of it falling, I close my eyes and sigh out.

"Well, it just seems the glue thing wasn't good enough. We tried," I open my eyes to see him shrug next to me making me clench my hands into fists.

"Why are you sighing so much? It's just a gingerbread house," I can literally hear the smile in his voice without even looking at him.

And when I do look at him, he is grinning, ear to ear as he licks the frosting off his finger. it feels as if he is just saying it to my face at how hard we failed at making the damn house.

"Fine. If you don't want to take it seriously and joke around, I'll let you be," huffing, I turn away from him and walk towards the sofa in the living room and sit down, my arms crossed in front of me as I watch whatever the hell is on the TV.

I don't want to sound like I am moping about but that was kind of my first gingerbread house. i was slightly excited when Marcelo showed me the box but then he started being immature and I was getting angry.

Now, here I am. Sitting trying to let the anger go.

"I'm sorry," I hear his half-hearted apology but I don't respond and instead just keep looking at the TV in front of me where a Christmas show is on.

Sock-covered feet pad across the floorboard before I feel hands on my shoulders that push me further into the couch so my head falls back and I look up. Marcelo is standing behind me, his eyes twinkling but I can see he feels sorry.

Too bad I don't want to do anything now.

"I was only joking. We can try another time. I promise," I narrow my eyes before shaking his hands off my shoulders and getting off the couch and silently making my way to my bedroom.

"Alora, don't be sad now-"

"I'm not sad." I grumble out rolling my eyes but in that mere second, an arm wraps around my waist and pulls me back against the hard planes of his chest. I feel the warmth seep into me from Marcelo, his strong big arms around my waist while the other one slides his fingers down my bare arm in the t-shirt I am wearing.

I feel myself shiver ever so slightly at the goosebumps that erupt on my skin and the soft hair of his as he leans his chin on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry baby," he murmurs and it takes everything in me to not turn around and ask him to repeat the word again. To ask him to just kiss me again. I have thought about it numerous times and it isn't enough to fulfill my curiosity.

I shake my head and open my mouth to say no but then that hand travels all the way down my arm and clasps my hand in his. He entwines our fingers together and I look down to see that my hand and his fits almost perfectly.

We fit.

"How do I make it up to you? Hm?" He asks again and that's when I blink and the spell breaks.

I twist around in his arms and he lets me but now his arm around my waist rests on my lower back as I look up at him.

"Make it up to me? Why don't you start with creating a getting a new gingerbread house? No? Too much work? Right, let me go then," his eyebrows pull down in a frown as he watches me struggle out of his hold.

I fail.

"Why-why do you think I will find that hard? I can go right now and get it, I can even bake it for you but I will do it if it means making you happy," I freeze, my eyes staying rooted to a spot on his chest.

I swallow.

I only said that to drive him away, to get him to leave me alone so I don't say anything further or take it so personally like I just had a minute ago.

"Alora," he calls out making me look at him.

The melting golden eyes watch me, flickering between my own and I find that I don't want him to do any of that. I really don't.

"Do you really want me to do it? I will if you want me to," I sigh out before shaking my head and stepping out of his arms.

"I want you to just, just-" I struggle to come up with something and Marcelo watches me with his eyebrows raised and amusement clouds his face.

"You want me to...?" He repeats, a sort of laugh in his voice.

"I want you to make it better. Make it look pretty so I can eat later," I finally get out before turning knowing well my hair would smack him in the face and when I hear the hiss of his voice, I smile to myself as I walk to my bedroom.

"You got an hour!" I shout over my shoulder before shutting my door.

When I walk back out an hour later, I see the lights are all out bu there is a sort of glow coming from the kitchen.

I walk towards it and see that the gingerbread house is indeed in tact now, it looks clean, beautiful and just like the box picture. My heart jumps at the sight of Marcelo standing against the counter, his arms crossed and a smile on his face as few candles around him show his face.

"Why are the lights out?" I question trying to calm my heart down in my chest.

I come to stand in front of the counter and look at the gingerbread house. It's a simple house he purchased, nothing too complicated with four walls and a roof with a chimney. It's decorated in all kinds of sweets, chocolates and frosting.

"So it looks magical," he winks at me and my heart practically leaps out of my chest.

How could I stay mad at him?

"It looks good," I nod towards the house but frown when he starts to laugh.

"Just good?" My frown depends.

"Yes," his laughter fills the apartment as he walks around the counter and stands in front of me, a finger trails down my cheek towards my lips.

"But you look beautiful to me. Always did," he whispers, his eyes catching the glow of the candles next to me and that smile is the last thing I see before his arms wrap around my shoulders and he pulls me into his chest in a hug.

"You're weird, Alora," he murmurs next to my head and yet I feel my frowns slowly smoothen out until I am standing there with my hands raised to hug him back but they never touch him.

They don't touch him but stay up in the air as if they were.

You look beautiful to me too Marcelo. No matter how angry you make me.

You're also weird too.

I don't say any of that, I keep that to myself but it doesn't hurt that I confess in my heart.

"Merry Christmas."

Thank you for reading. Hope you guys liked but I couldn't write more since it may collide with the storyline.

I love you guys and thank you for loving Alora and Marcelo's story so much🤍🤍 and not to forget the amazing and mind messages I get every day. They make me so so happy.