Page 64 of Sexted By Santa
17
CHRISTIAN
I woke to a wet tongue the next morning—and not Jaxson’s.
Sir Elton John stood over my head, his bits dangling in my face, while he lapped happily at my cheek and mouth.
“Urgh.” I shoved at him. “Should have made you stay in the hall alone all night, you monster.”
Behind me, Jaxson chuckled. “Yeah, he’d have kept us up all night.”
Us.He’d have keptusup. Because Jaxson spent the night in my bed. Because we were anusnow.How surreal is that?
Memories washed over me of the night before. Sex. Real, in-person, no screens between us intimacy. Promises, too. Promises that this was more than sex. Promises to try for a real relationship. In the quiet of the night, we’d lain close together, sharing one pillow, as we talked about our lives and how they might fit together. About taking it slow for Tori’s sake but agreeing that we were both committed to working toward something real and permanent.
It was a lot to process as the first rays of the sun cut through the dreamy intimacy of the night before. Those promises were easy to make, though they wouldn’t be as easy to keep. But even if it was hard, I wanted to try. I’d never gone into a relationship this way before, with an honest and open exchange between partners about what they wanted from the relationship and how to go about making it work.
“I want a balanced and healthy relationship. In my past, that wasn’t always the case. With Fynn, it felt we were two people set on different frequencies. And even before him, I often chose men who didn’t communicate all that well, who didn’t tell me what they wanted, or who weren’t interested in whatIwanted.”
Jaxson nodded. “You want a partnership. That makes perfect sense, Christian. I want that too. I’dloveto have a supportive partner.I’ve been alone a long time, and my previous attempts at dating…Well, either they didn’t want a child, or they soon found out that a little girl is more work than just playing dress up now and then. She has to come first for me, regardless of what happens with us. But that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be important to me, or that I wouldn’t want to be on the same page with you.”
“Of course. Tori’s your daughter. She’s a child whose counting on you. I understand that you’re a father, and that comes with obligations. I’m not in competition with her, Jax. I just want us to be a team.”
“There won’t be a lot of alone time for us, though. I’m a package deal.”
“I like the package. Tori is…Well, I won’t pretend I know a lot about children, but I like her. She’s quite sweet.”
Jaxson smiled. “I think she likes you too. I really hope you two will become great friends.”
I nodded. It made me a little nervous to know my relationship relied not only on Jaxson wanting me around, but Tori, as well. But I wasn’t lying. I did like Tori, and I could see how much she meant to Jaxson. If he was willing to put me before her, willing to disregard her feelings, he wouldn’t be the man I liked so damn much.
“I understand. But what else do you want from me, Jax? So far you’ve only talked about Tori. I know she’s important. But what aboutyou?”
“Me? I’m easy. I just want to be the man who gives you what you need.”
My breath stuttered. “What, but that’s…That only benefits me, doesn’t it?”
“No, Christian. Being someone you can trust, someone who’s truly worthy of your love and respect? That benefits us all.”
I’d kissed him then, at a loss for words, my heart feeling too big for my chest cavity. No one had ever promised me the world, but it felt as if just then, that was exactly what he’d done.
Sir Elton John returned for sloppy seconds, breaking me out of my sweet memories. I pushed him back again as I turned to Jaxson. “I’m sorry if the little menace woke you. I have to walk him, but then I could make breakfast?”
“Sounds nice.” Jaxson smiled wistfully. “But I have to go pick up Tori.”
“So early?” I checked my bedside clock. It was just after six-thirty. Sir Elton wassucha spoiled brat. Normally, I didn’t take him out until seven. It was if he knew I had a guest and wanted to be extra troublesome.
“Sorry,” Jaxson said. “I’d love to stay, but…”
“I understand.” Jaxson’s warning that Tori must come first was still fresh in my mind, but so was his anxiety of the night before. “Go make sure she’s well.”
Jaxson leaned over and kissed me. “Thanks for understanding.”
“Of course. We can maybe…uh…”
My words dried up as Jaxson threw off the covers and stood up, still naked from the night before. He really was a beautiful man, tall and strong. He wasn’t some gym rat with perfect musculature, but he was solid—the kind of man you could lean on and know that he wouldn’t let you fall.
The idea that Jaxson, a single father with so much on his plate, wanted to be worthy ofme?It was as boggling as it was wonderful. And it only made me want to be a better man for him.
