Page 23 of Warming Up Coco (Santa Daddy)

“I love that little smart mouth.” He smirked. “But yes. you gave this man in front of you a bigger purpose than to run a fucking company that honestly doesn’t make a big difference.”

“Don’t say that.”

“You, just you breathing, changed my life. You need to know that,” he rasped.

“So, does this mean you and—"

“We’re together. Not for the weekend. Or the holidays. Even for a long fling. This thing between us, baby girl,”—he lifted my hand and kissed the tips of my fingers—“this thing between us is forever.”

We’d never been on a first date. We hadn’t had sex or met one another’s family or friends. Yet his words, what he was asking for, wasn’t too crazy of a thought.

“You really believe that, don’t you?”

“You bet. And if you’re not one hundred percent sold on me yet, that’s okay. I believe more than enough for the two of us.”

His promise made me feel all warm and cozy inside.

I didn’t overthink. I just felt and let my heart lead the way. It might have been wrong once upon a time, but that was the beauty of mistakes and relationships that didn’t work out. They gave you an opportunity to not only learn, but they taught you so much about yourself. I leaned in and kissed him again.

One moment we were sitting in the picnic area he’d set out for us, and the next we were both on our knees, facing one another. My hands rushed to the hem of his sweater, and when I started to pull it up over his abdomen, his hands captured my wrists.

“Coco,” he groaned, leaning down to rest his forehead on mine. “There’s absolutely no rush. We can make out, sleep in separate bedrooms… you don’t need to feel like we need to…” He swallowed hard, almost like every word he said and the ones that would soon slip past his lips left a bad taste in his mouth. “We don’t have to have sex. Just sitting by the fire or watching a movie with you in my arms is fine with me, baby. Daddy just wants to make you happy.”

My eyes dropped to the tenting in the front of his pants. There was no denying how much he wanted me, how much it would cost him to back off and try to take things slow. But I knew in my gut that he would do just that. He’d happily take things at a snail’s pace if I asked him to.

My daddy would do anything for me.

I swallowed at the realization of how true that really was. My hands dropped the material and fell to my sides.

“Coco?” He called my name, but I didn’t answer.

I stood and held my hand out for him. He frowned but took it, standing up. I looked up at him. We were both barefoot, showing me exactly how much taller he was than me, bigger and stronger. I lifted the hand I still held up to my lips and kissed his knuckles, never letting my eyes waver from his. From the look on his face, I had a feeling he knew what I was up to.

I didn’t need to wait.

“I want you, Daddy,” I whispered. “I want all of you.”

“Coco—”

“I don’t want to wait,” I cut in. My hands fisted the soft material of his sweater. “Please, Daddy.” I knew very well I wasn’t playing fair.

His jaw clenched, and I knew he was biting down on his teeth. He wanted me as badly as I wanted him, but he was trying to be the good guy. If only he knew he didn’t have to try. He already was.

“Lucas, please.” I wasn’t above playing dirty. My hands lay flat against his skin. It was warm. I was fascinated by the way his muscles contracted under my touch. “Daddy, I ache.” His Adam’s apple bobbed before he nodded tersely.

“Okay.” His voice sounded like gravel. I lifted the knitted material of his sweater up his torso until I couldn’t reach further, and he helped chuck it off.

“Wow,” I gasped at the sight of him. His hands dropped, and I watched his thick, long fingers scratch the dark hair on his chest.

“I’m a little hairy,” he pointed out with a scowl.

Now that I knew where he stood when it came to me, I knew how to read him a little better. The pissy look wasn’t due to being upset or angry. He was feeling a little self-conscious. My hands moved up and down through the pelt of hair on his broad chest. It was thick but soft. I smiled.

“I like it.” I did. I couldn’t wait to rub my body against him. His hands dropped to my waist, and my eyes moved to watch him. I could hear the heavy panting of his breathing as he worked the belt of my robe off. Before he untied it, I was met by his green gaze.

“Are you sure?” he asked again. I nodded, wide-eyed and breathless. I couldn’t find a way to put together a small three-letter word. When he untied it, my eyes fluttered shut as his hands moved up my arms and pulled the soft material off my shoulders, tossing it behind him.

“Look at you. I knew you would look like a goddess in this little nightie,” he rasped. “Such a good girl for me. Fuck.” His fingers stroked the tiny little strap at the slope of my shoulder. The other had already slid down, exposing me little by little. “You look so fucking beautiful in this, but I want to snap these little straps and rip it off your exquisite little body.”

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