Page 21 of Dear Santa, Send Me a Cowboy
“That’s not… No, I don’t?—”
“Just stop,” he growled, stopping his boots inches away from my bare feet. “Tired of listenin’ to that gorgeous fuckin’ mouth of yours spew out nothin’ but lies.”
I went to defend myself, but as soon as I opened my mouth, he reached for the zipper on his jacket.
“Love the sass, love that you’re capable and have this home for your son and you, but holy fuck, woman…” He tuggedthe zipper down his broad chest, drawing my eyes to closely follow the movement. “You’re the most stubborn, bullheaded, indecisive female I have ever met and despite all the reasons why I shouldn’t want you, I do. Fuckin’ Christ do I want you.”
My legs had officially turned into Jell-O while my heart went into overdrive. I could barely breathe, let alone believe that this stunning, larger-than-life man wanted me.
There was no possible way, but my doubts had quickly faded as he stripped himself of his jacket, revealing a dark gray Henley that clung to each contour and muscle he possessed.
“You… You want me for tonight. Not for the long haul, Lawson.” My voice trembled as my gaze swept all over his upper half.
Peering down at me, he tossed the jacket over the back of my couch.
“You want long haul? I’ll give you whatever you want, Diana, as long as you voice it.”
Then, in a flash, I was being grabbed and lifted off the ground. Letting out a squeal, my hands sought out the back of his neck for stability, and my legs found purchase around his middle.
“I don’t know what I want,” I admitted, my voice filled with uncertainty and desire, a cruel mix of emotions that I wasn’t equipped to handle.
Physically, I wanted him.
I wanted him all night long and then some, but anything after that… It seemed reckless.
I barely knew the man and he was already talking about forever.
Why?
“You want me,” he firmly stated as he drew me in closer. “You want someone reliable, someone fuckin’ worthy, who won’t throw in the towel just because you’re a whole lot of woman tohandle.” He began to walk us through the living room until we reached the couch and slowly lowered us. As I settled into him, I felt his rock-hard cock prodding me, desperate to be unleashed from beneath those tight Wranglers. “You want loyalty. You want a constant presence in your son's life—someone who won’t feel burdened or shy away from the challenge of raising another man's son.”
His eyes did not once left mine as he laid bare his declarations that were impossible to ignore.
“You want a man, darlin’. But not just any man, right?” The corner of his mouth curled as he planted his hands flat onto my thighs. “You want a cowboy.” He rolled his hips into me, causing his buckle to roll over my clit. “With charm and who won’t fuck around on you.”
A pleasurable exhale escaped my lips. But once its effects had faded, my brain started to register the words he had just said.
I recognized those words.
I knew them far too well.
When I noticed the knowing glint in his gaze, it became unmistakable what he had done, or what he had read, I should say.
“Lawson, did you…” A mixture of anger and embarrassment flooded me. I almost couldn’t believe that he had stumbled upon my Dear Santa letter, but the longer I searched into his eyes for answers, it became painfully clear that he read it.
Oh my god, kill me now.
“You read my letter?” I asked, disbelief crashing over me. My heart pounded as a wave of vulnerability crashed over me, an emotion I hadn’t experienced in years.
Most of what I had written were drunken desires. A humorous attempt at trying to forget my loneliness for one night and embrace the idea of having someone around. Yet, buriedwithin those words, there was also truth there. Fragile, painful truths that I never imagined someone would uncover.
“I saw it on your counter. I knew I should have left it alone, but I felt fuckin’ compelled to read it.” Taking his hand, he cradled the side of my face with his palm. As much as I wanted to pull away from him, I couldn’t.
His gaze looked sincere.
The way he held my face made me feel like the most precious thing in the world and I wanted to cling onto the immense feeling it was giving me forever.
“There’s nothing to feel embarrassed about, Diana. I’m the asshole here. I was snooping. And clearly, it wasn’t meant for anyone else to read, but I wouldn’t take it back.”
