Integra scowls when another snowball smacks against her office window. As if this December wasn't bad enough already she had to deal with soldiers acting like six year olds in the snow!

Since the first day of December a large empty coffee can was placed on the kitchen table. The first few days only a few pounds graced the can. The few brave enough to take up this year's challenge. Integra had been made the target. Whoever could steal a kiss under the mistletoe from the young heiress before the end of the Christmas gala the pot went to them. Somehow the rumor that she had never been kissed had spread like wildfire and now the can was stuffed so full it was going to take a miracle to get the bills pulled out.

The rumor wasn't false, but she couldn't figure out how they had found out about it. It grated on her nerves that that bit of information was leaked almost as bad as the obvious desire from her league of jackasses to be that first kiss.

Thankfully there had been rules set to their stupid games. No one was allowed to carry mistletoe with them so no jumping out from a corner crap. Much to their annoyance she was very good at avoiding their traps they had hung around the manor.

"What troubles you, my master?"

Integra almost throws her pen at the vampire as he steps out of the shadows. It wouldn't hurt him, but it might make her feel better, "You know damn well what troubles me. This stupid bet! Like I don't have enough to deal with being a newly appointed Knight and having to host the gala." She narrows her eyes at him, "It was you who spread the rumor I've never been kissed wasn't it?"

Alucard grins, "Every game needs a prize. A kiss is very nice, but to be a lady's first kiss!"

"That was private!"

Alucard chuckles and bows, "Fear not, none of those scoundrels shall lay a hand or their lips upon my fair lady."

"You can't kill them..."

The grin he flashes her before he vanishes back into the shadows is more than a little unsettling. Great, now she had to protect the jackasses from the biggest ass. This was just not her Christmas apparently. She heaves a sigh and stands up from her desk to peer out the window. She'd have to go get dressed soon, the party was in an hour.

Alucard stops by the kitchen table and eyes the overstuff coffee can for a moment before pulling his signet ring from his finger and adding it to the can. He had no money, but the ring was worth quite a bit.

Walter chuckles without looking up from the pot he has on the stove, "I was wondering when you were going to toss in your chips."

Alucard grins, "I had planned to from the start, but I wanted to make it a bit more interesting first."

"And what are you going to do if one of those other gentlemen manages to kiss her?"

"It won't happen. Integra is far to clever for the likes of them."

"But not you, hm?"

Alucard smirks slightly, "Something like that." He turns to leave the room, "Just watch and see."

Integra crosses her arms over the second floor banister as she leans against it to watch the people below. Somehow she had managed to be a decent hostess without falling into the mistletoe trap, but damn that had been a chore! They were hung everywhere! She smirks as she glances above her. Everywhere but the second floor. Ten more minutes and this foolishness would be at an end with no victor.

"It appears my lady just may win this game." Alucard says with an amused tone as he steps out of the shadows behind her.

"Just a few more minutes."

"Indeed. Look up."

Integra looks up and gapes slightly at what she sees. Clinging to the ceiling is a small bat, the same ones she finds in the attic quite often. The disturbing part is the thin red ribbon looped around its neck and the small twig of mistletoe tied to it. She spins on Alucard with a glare.

"You're cheating!"

Alucard grins, "No, I'm not. I never touched the bat, nor the mistletoe. My hands are clean."

Before she can say anything else he pulls her against him and leans down to press his cool lips against hers. Shooting him or punching him crosses her mind, but in a moment of defiance her mind comes up with another plan. It is Christmas after all and his lips do feel nice against her own. Reaching up she grabs the lapels of his coat and leans up into the kiss. The whistling and cheers fall on deaf ears as the chaste kiss turns into something far more passionate.

Alucard pulls back slightly, leaving her a bit breathless. His lips slowly curve into a smile, "That first belongs to me." He leans in a little closer and lightly brushes his lips against her ear as his voice drops to a whisper, "And how many more of your firsts shall I claim my dear Integra?"

Her cheeks turn crimson and she swats his chest, "You ass!"