The holidays always seem to bring out the little wicked streaks in my household.

Any present under the tree won’t stay a surprise for long. I’ve got a 90 lb. German Shepherd Dog with a thing for paper. He’ll very delicately nip a corner of wrapping paper and tear strips off the presents until they are no longer wrapped and he has a pile of fun paper between his paws.

Cookies are never safe unless under lock and key. I’ve got a 25 lb Shetland Sheep Dog who would magically make it to the top of the refrigerator to steal cookies if she had to. No surface, high or low, is safe from her. Heaven help you if you try to bake a pie or cake.

And the tree? Oh the tree. Don’t be surprised if you walk by it and an orange tabby paw whips out to bat you on top of the head. That would be super stealthy ninja kitty, hiding six feet up in the Christmas Tree. After all, I put it up every year as his personal holiday cat condo.

Sometimes, there’s nothing for it but to curl up in my favorite reading chair, ignoring the evidence that someone furry has been sleeping in it despite house rules clearly indicating no furries on the furniture, and sip a mug of REAL homemade hot drinking chocolate. You know, the kind made from scratch with milk and cream. The treat is an exercise in wicked indulgence all on its own, and in the holiday season, I treat myself…frequently.

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Drinking Chocolate recipe

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 cup milk

1 cinnamon stick

1 vanilla bean

2 oz finely chopped dark chocolate

1/4 cup heavy cream (for topping)

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp sugar

Heat the cream and milk with the cinnamon and vanilla bean (split lengthwise) very slowly for 15-20 minutes.

Substitution: If you don’t have vanilla beans, add 1-2 tsp of vanilla after heating.

Remove the vanilla bean and cinnamon stick. Add finely chopped chocolate and whisk slowly until completely melted. Set aside.

In a bowl, whip heavy cream for topping with vanilla extract and sugar.

Pour hot drinking chocolate into a mug for serving and top with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Optional: stir with a candy cane for a peppermint twist to your drinking chocolate.

or

Spike with liquor of choice.

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So I’ve got my hot chocolate (my absolute favorite thing about this time of year) and I’ve got my TBR pile. I can sit and happily read my way through the holiday season. I’ve even got a holiday story out for your enjoyment.

Evie’s Gift is my first steampunk offering, a light and warm little short with romantic elements.

“Stubborn Evie is reluctant to play the roll of a proper lady by English standards, but she has little choice. Traveling to London for her first season, she faces the threat of an enemy submarine bent on destroying the airship carrying her across the ocean. Once she steps forward to help, her knowledge is questioned by the captain, placing her special gift in danger.

As a woman whose passion pushes her toward engineering and mechanical designs, her curious nature risks exposing her uncanny talents. Will this Christmas season allow her to keep her secrets? Or will her gift be revealed too soon?”

I’d love to give a free ecopy of Evie’s Gift to someone to enjoy alongside their hot chocolate. Comment here and share the naughtiest moment you’ve had for the holidays for a chance to win.

All Contests for the 13 Wicked Days of Christmas end on Wednesday December 29^th, Winners Announced On Thursday December 30^th.