Page 21 of The Christmas List

Of course she’s worried about Lucy. The fact that it even matters to her, that she even cares enough to worry about my daughter, makes my heart squeeze in my chest.

I want to kiss her so fucking bad right now.

I want to show her how much it means to me that she cares about my daughter.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she whispers.

I smirk. “Like what, Jos?”

Like I want to lay her out before me and kiss every inch of her until any protest she can think of has been washed from her mind.

She doesn’t immediately respond, the column of her throat bobbing roughly as she swallows, then finally murmurs, “Nothing. I’m a little nervous. About the jump.”

“Here’s what we’re going to do.” I reach for her chin when she drops her gaze, tipping it up so I can look into her dark brown eyes. “I’m going to hold your hand, and we’re going to jump together. It’ll be cold as fuck, and we’re going to be miserable, but I promise I won’t let you go, okay, honey? Trust me.”

I know that what I’m asking, even with something simple as jumping into the water, is probably a lot for her, but IwantJosie to trust me again. I need to show her that I’m not going anywhere this time. That I’m not going to let go even when it’s hard to hold on. Especially then. But words aren’t enough, and I know that. I’m going to have to prove it to her.

“Okay,” she whispers thickly, my stomach flipping with those two syllables. As simple as they are, they mean everything.

“Two-minute warning, folks!” Mayor Davis calls to the crowd, which means we’re two minutes away from catching damn hypothermia, and I’m not looking forward to this.

It just goes to show that I’d do anything for my daughter.

I shrug out of my jacket, placing it on the tables that have been set up for the jump, and then tug the beanie off my head. Next, I reach behind my head and grasp the neck of my henley, pulling it off andimmediately regretting it.

“Shit,” I hiss when the cold air hits my bare torso, a frigid assault that sends a wave of goose bumps along my skin.

The only good part about this is being able to watch Josie slowly pull off her sweater after putting her puffy jacket next to mine on the table, leaving her in a strappy red bikini top that’s stretched over her supple tits.

Fuck me.

My mouth nearly waters at the sight of her curvy, full hips. Hips that would fit perfectly in my hands. Tits that would fill my palms as if they were made for me.

And theyweremade for me. Andonlyfucking me.

She’s even more beautiful than I remember, the teenage version of her a distant memory that’s now been replaced by a beautiful woman who has the ability to make me ache.

And I’m not the only one who’s staring.

Josie’s dark gaze does a slow, languid perusal of my chest, down to my abs, as she watches me flick the button of my jeans open and drag them down my hips, where they pool at my feet. I put on an old pair of swim trunks for today, and when her gaze lowers to my dick, her cheeks flush pink, creeping down her neck, and I chuckle lowly.

Her gaze whips to mine, and she shakes her head as if to clear it as she works on removing her yoga pants and boots. Her toes are painted the same red as her bikini, and the second she bends over to scoop up her shoes, giving me a better view of her tits, a groan almost bursts from deep in my chest.

The freezing-ass water isn’t going to be as much torture as having her in front of me and not being able to touch her.

It’s so fucking cold under this damn tent, even with the heat lamps, that she’s already shivering, so I step forward and slide my arm around her shoulders, hauling her against my front.

Surprisingly, she doesn’t protest, probably because she’s a goddamn icicle and her teeth are chattering. “T-thank you.”

Her skin’s like fucking ice to the touch. I slide my palms up and down her arms to give her some warmth, and she sinks into my arms, burying her face against my chest.

I swear, I’d stand out here all damn night, letting my balls shrivel up, if it meant getting to hold her like this.

“In and out, honey. I’ve got you, okay? We’re going to do it together,” I rasp as I continue to run my palms down the raised flesh on her arms.

With another brief nod, we follow the rest of the crowd out to the water’s edge. I swear it’s so fucking cold walking on the snow-covered ground that the bottoms of my feet are numb.

I slip my hand in Josie’s, lacing our fingers together and giving her the best smile I can manage that probably looks like more of a grimace, but fuck, I’m trying.

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