A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe

by Jessica Clare

  But how could you possibly change being lonely? Even her father had never remarried after her mother’s death. He’d said it was because he didn’t have time, but what if it was because there just hadn’t been anyone to date? What if he’d been fighting a loneliness as deep and soul swallowing as the one that threatened her before she’d met Jason?

  She got to her feet and put her coffee cup in the sink. Popping a mint into her mouth to freshen her breath, she went back into the living room and gazed at Jason’s sleeping form.

  He opened his eyes as she approached and rubbed them, sitting up. “I must have dozed off.”

  “It’s all right. I don’t mind. I was just having a cup of coffee and straightening up the kitchen.” Sort of. Mostly she’d been lost in thought.

  Jason gave her a gorgeous, sleepy smile. “Merry Christmas. Some company I am, right?”

  “You’re the best company,” she told him, and meant it. She’d been so touched when he’d offered to sleep over in the guest room just so she wouldn’t be alone on the holiday. He knew how lonely she got. Of course he did. He understood her better than anyone. Achilles sat up and thumped his tail at her excitedly but remained at Jason’s side. Already, it was clear that the dog utterly adored Jason. He never left him, and even when they were together, Achilles hovered within a handspan’s distance, as if he needed to make sure Jason was near for his sake, too. “Oh, before I forget, I got Achilles a small Christmas present, too, but I didn’t wrap it.” She went to the kitchen to retrieve it.

  She could hear Jason moving behind her, and she heard his soft chuckle. “Is it covered in peanut butter? Because sometimes I think that’s the only thing he cares about.”

  “Not exactly.” She retrieved the small gift and held it out to Jason. It was a dog kerchief, bright red and sturdy. On the edges, she’d embroidered ACHILLES in bold lettering, and on the underside, she’d put the address for the Price Ranch and a phone number. She’d wanted to put Jason’s name on there, too, or that Achilles was an emotional support animal, but she wasn’t supposed to know that he belonged to Jason. Jason didn’t even know that yet.

  Even such a small lie was becoming harder and harder to maintain. Wordlessly, she held the scarf out to him.

  He laughed, throwing his head back in delight and making her heart pitter-patter. “You didn’t have to do this. You’re too good, Sage.”

  His reaction filled her with warmth. “I figured everyone should have a gift for Christmas.”

  “Yeah, but he didn’t get you anything.”

  “Oh, that’s all right. I get things for everyone and most of the time they don’t give anything back. I’m used to it.” She tilted her head and kept her words light. “Sometimes I think you’re the only one that knows I’m alive.”

  Jason’s smile dimmed. For a moment, he looked . . . sad. For her? “Is that why you’re dating me?”

  “No,” she whispered. “I’m dating you because I like you.” She loved him, actually, but it was too soon for that secret, as well.

  He smiled again, then moved forward and touched the back of her neck, pulling her close and kissing her. “I speak for Achilles when I say he loves it.”

  “I’m glad.” She put a hand on his chest, mostly because she wanted to touch him. Oh mercy, how she wanted to touch him. “When do you want to open your presents?”

  That boyish smile returned full force, and if he heard the note of nervousness in her voice, he didn’t acknowledge it. “I’d love to now.”

  “All right.” She gestured at the small packages under her miniature tree. Each one had a bright red oversize bow, just like the one she’d pinned to her top. “Everything with a bow is yours.”

  And she held her breath, wondering if he’d realize the significance of that statement.

  Jason grinned, then picked up the first package, turning it over in his hands. “There a particular order I should open these in?”

  “Nope. Just unwrap everything you feel like.” God, she was terrible at being sexy, wasn’t she? She leaned slightly over one of the dining chairs across from him as he sat down and began to unwrap the first present. Her breasts were practically in her face with this silly push-up bra, but he hadn’t noticed it, or the big, dumb bow on her shoulder.

  “Sunglasses. Perfect.” He chuckled and put them on his face, testing them out. “I didn’t realize how much the glare on the snow would bother me. Thank you, Sage.”

  “Of course.” She kept smiling as he unwrapped more of her silly, practical gifts. The leather belt emblazoned with his name. Thick gloves with good hand grips. Extra-thick, wooly socks. An insulated mug. They were all small things, practical things that a cowboy who spent his time outside in the winter could use, but they weren’t really special gifts . . . not like the one he’d given her. Suddenly, buying lingerie didn’t seem like enough. She wished she’d done more. This was her first Christmas with a boyfriend, and already she was failing at this. Miserable, she bit her lip as he set aside the last wrapped present and smiled at her.

  “You’re too thoughtful, sweetheart. It’s all great.” He reached a hand out to her, and when she slipped her fingers into his, he squeezed them. “Thank you, Sage.”

  “You haven’t finished unwrapping your gifts,” she whispered, a nervous knot choking her throat.

  He glanced back at the small tree, at the sea of discarded wrapping paper under it, his brows furrowing.

  Obviously, she was going to have to help him out. “Everything with a bow on it,” she repeated, and squeezed his hand.

  He turned those creased brows to her and opened his mouth. She saw the moment his gaze focused on the bow pinned to her plain T-shirt—the same bow that had been pinned to her sweater earlier. And she saw the moment he realized what she meant. His eyes grew hooded, sultry, and the look he gave her made her shiver with need.

  Mouth dry, Sage pulled her hand from his and then tugged her shirt over her head, revealing her festive red-and-white lace bra with the teeny tiny straps and delicate snowflake bow tucked in the valley of her breasts.

  Jason groaned at the sight. His gaze searched hers. “Sweetheart, are you sure?”

  “I’m sure. Merry Christmas, Jason.” And before her nervousness could take over, she undid her jeans and dropped them to the floor, too, kicking off her stilettos. Now she stood in front of him in nothing but her Christmas lingerie, her toes wiggling in the red thigh-high stockings that had seemed so impractical at first and now made her feel sexy.

  He made a sound in his throat again, and one hand immediately slid to the front of his jeans, pressing against his erection as if to calm himself. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” He held a hand out for her, and she put hers into it again. “Turn for me so I can see all of you, sweetheart.”

  She did, her movements slow, her cheeks hot as she did a circle, knowing that her butt was practically revealed in her thong. She hoped he liked it. “Is this a good present?” she asked nervously.

  “Too good,” Jason told her, voice gruff. “I’m about to spill in my pants at the sight of you.”

  Well, she liked the sound of that. Turning to face him again, she admitted, “I wanted to give you something special . . . so you’d know how much you mean to me.”

  “You’re amazing,” he murmured and then pulled her against him. She thought he’d tug her into his arms and kiss her, but instead, he backed them up to one of her kitchen counters, put his hands on her waist, and then lifted her atop it. Her bottom hit the cool surface, and she wriggled, even as he pushed between her thighs. “I didn’t get to unwrap this one.”

  Oh. She supposed she’d been the one doing the unwrapping. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry. I’ll finish the job.” He grinned up at her. “But I’m going to enjoy the sight of you first.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Damn, but you’re beautiful.”
Jason couldn’t believe the loveliness seated on the counter in front of him. Sage, looking vulnerable and gorgeous, her long legs encased in sheer red stockings, her body covered in nothing but a skimpy pair of bright red panties and matching bra. She’d done this for him.

  She wanted to be his present. She wanted to seduce him.

  He was the luckiest man alive.

  But he knew she was a virgin, knew that when he touched her, he was the first one to caress her breasts, the first one to slide a finger between her sweet folds, and he’d be the first one to sink deep inside her and claim her. So he had to go slow.

  Really, really slow.

  He leaned in and kissed her, tasting her sweet lips. She was coffee and mint and nerves, he could tell, because she trembled against him even as she leaned into his embrace. He’d make this good for her, though. It would be his present to her, to make her come so hard that she’d see stars. So he cupped the back of her neck and licked into her mouth, plunging deep and conquering it with hard, intense strokes that mimicked what he’d soon do between her thighs. She moaned into him, the tension easing from her body, and he kept kissing her, making love to her lips and tongue, showing her how much he desired her, how much he needed her. He could kiss her forever, but his cock had other ideas. So even as he kissed her, he eased one hand down her back, caressing her soft skin and getting her used to his touch. Her little responsive shivers and the tiny noises she made as he touched her told him she liked it, and slowly, her legs locked around his waist, holding him against her.

  And damn, he loved that.

  “Jason,” she moaned between kisses, her hand moving up and down the front of his shirt as she petted him through his clothing. “Can you take this off? I want to feel your skin against mine.”

  Okay, maybe he didn’t have to go as slow as he’d thought. Sage was new to this, but she was eager, and it made his heart hurt with how perfect she was. He grinned at her and tugged his shirt over his head, loving the way her eyes widened with appreciation.

  She immediately reached for him again, and her palms skated up and down his front. “Oh wow. Look at you.” She paused over one of his scars. “From Afghanistan?”

  A hard knot formed in his throat, and for a moment, he was back there, lying in his own blood, listening to the snipers pick off his friends and unable to get the strength to call for help. He didn’t remember how long he’d lain near death next to their overturned vehicle, just that it had seemed like an eternity. He’d thought he’d died a dozen times, only to wake up in blistering pain. And then, finally, he’d woken up in the hospital. “Yeah.”

  The sympathy in her eyes bothered him. He didn’t want to think about Afghanistan right now. Not when she was so pretty and nearly naked. So he leaned in and took her mouth in another kiss, this one frantic and hard-edged as if he could kiss the bad memories away with her touch. And while they didn’t fade entirely, kissing Sage became its own pleasure again, and when her hands fluttered over his shoulders, he enjoyed it. He needed to be with her, in that moment, because she needed him.

  And he could do that for her.

  Jason sank a hand into her glossy hair and tugged on it lightly, forcing her to arch her neck. Sage did as he asked, gasping as he leaned in and nipped at her throat. She made aroused little noises, her legs clenching around his hips every time he kissed her throat, and he liked the sound of that so much that it wasn’t long before her entire neck was covered in love bites. He was branding her with his mouth, and that possessive, feral part of his brain loved it. “My Sage,” he told her. “My Christmas present.”

  Her thighs tightened around him. “All yours.”

  Hell, he liked that, too. He swept a hand down her side, running his fingers along her skin, and felt her jerk and tense, as if she expected him to rip her clothes off and maul her. He only kissed her again until her mouth was soft and compliant once more and then slowly slid one hand up to cup her breast.

  Her bra was thick, the material making it impossible to feel her nipple through it, and he immediately hated the damn thing. She’d worked so hard to be pretty for him, though, that he couldn’t say that aloud. Instead, he slid one strap down her arm and then tugged her breast free of one cup, and he loved the gasping sounds she made as he leaned in and claimed that pert, pale pink nipple with his mouth.

  Sage moaned in arousal, clinging to him as he tongued her nipple, teasing the peak with licks and nips until she was writhing against him. He pressed hot, frantic kisses to her skin and then moved to her other breast, freeing it, then taking the other nipple into his mouth as he teased the other with his fingers, rolling the pink tip between his thumb and forefinger. Her little cries grew wilder, her movements more erratic, and he wanted to give her even more, to tease her beyond her limits.

  He wanted to taste her everywhere.

  Jason reached behind her and undid the clasp of her bra, then slid it off her arms. Her pretty breasts were at eye level and made his mouth water at the sight of them. He wanted to pull her back into his arms, to tease those perfect little buds until she was clawing his back, but his need for her was becoming overwhelming. The more he thought about tasting her, the more he needed it. Craved it.

  “Put your arms around me, sweetheart,” he murmured, pulling her against him.

  A flash of confusion showed in her eyes, but she immediately complied, trusting him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he lifted her off the counter, then tugged at the tiny panties.

  She gasped, her legs tightening around his hips. “Jason?”

  “Just unwrapping the rest of my present,” he murmured, nuzzling at her neck. “You want me to stop?”

  “No,” Sage breathed.

  Good, because he didn’t want to stop, either. He tugged the panties down her thighs and then slipped them off her legs as she sat on the counter once more.

  And stared.

  She’d shaved between her legs. Her mound was completely bare, the pink lips peeking out between her thighs. Sage shifted uncomfortably on the counter and tried to cross her legs, but Jason put a hand on her knee. “Let me look at you, sweetheart. You’re gorgeous.” She gave a shuddering breath, and he knew she was feeling shy.

  But holy hell, she was magnificent. Her long, strong thighs were spread atop the counter and he could see the wetness gleaming from her folds. He wanted to put his mouth there, to taste her. Jason looked up into her eyes and saw her face was pink, her expression uncertain. He reached up and kissed her to show her that he thought she was beautiful. That she was utterly gorgeous and all his. As he kissed her, he stroked up and down her body, caressing her breasts, her thighs, her stomach, teasing her with touches until she started to arch against him, a silent request for more.

  When he pulled his mouth from hers, their eyes met and he saw she was soft with need, her mouth parted and her nipples taut.

  “Can I taste you, Sage?” he rasped, his hands on her hips.

  His sweet, innocent girl leaned forward to give him her mouth.

  “No, sweetheart,” he murmured. “I want to taste between your thighs.”

  A little whimper escaped her.

  “If it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t—”

  “No,” she said quickly. “No, I want it. Please, Jason.” Her fingers flexed on his shoulders. “Please.”

  He grinned, pulling her close and burying his face against her breasts. Then he began to slowly kiss downward, loving the way she wiggled and squirmed against him. He kissed her stomach, then down to her navel, and he could feel her trembling. “I’ve got you, Sage,” he murmured and then gently put a hand to her shoulder. “Lean back and let me taste all of you.”

  She swallowed and then nodded, leaning back against the cabinet behind her. It angled her body, presenting her lap to him as he snagged a chair from the nearby table and pulled it toward him. He sat down and then grabbed one of her long legs and
eased it over his shoulder. Seated in front of her like this, her gorgeous sex was right there. Oh yeah, that was more like it. “Look at how beautiful you are, sweetheart. I bet you taste incredible.”

  “I hope so,” she said, shyness and uncertainty in her voice. Her hand pressed up against the cabinet behind her, and she moaned as he leaned in and rubbed his jaw along the inside of one soft thigh. “Oh god, Jason.”

  “I’ve got you,” he told her again. “But if it’s too much, we can stop.”

  She shook her head, biting her lip.

  He lowered his head again, then licked and nibbled a path along the inside of her thigh, heading slowly toward his destination. He could feel her trembling, could feel her body tensing and her back arching as he moved toward the vee between her thighs. He put one hand on her ass, gently tugging her forward, and then pressed a kiss to the mound of her sex.

  Her breath exploded out of her in a gasp. “Oh.”

  He could smell the scent of her arousal and gripped her hips even tighter. She was hot and wet here, the tops of her thighs damp. Jason leaned in and brushed his mouth over her folds, and her hands flew to his head. She held them there for a moment, flexing, and then let go. “No,” he told her. “Hold on to me, love.”

  Sage’s hands went back to his head. “A-are you sure?”

  Oh, he was sure. He was also sure he wasn’t going to lift his head until she came. With another brush of his lips over her mound, he went lower, licking the seam of her sex.

  She made a throaty sound he’d never heard before, and her hands clenched on the buzz of his hair again. Oh yeah. He liked that. “You taste beautiful, love.” When she just made another soft noise, he took one thumb and gently parted her lower lips, admiring the sight of her. She was all pink softness, pretty and delicate as a flower.

  He explored her with the pad of one thumb, pressing small kisses to the inside of her thigh as he teased a circle around her clit, loving how she shuddered against him. She moaned when he carefully pressed into the hot well of her core, feeling her tight walls suck his finger. It would be her first time and he’d have to prepare her. She was wet, but she definitely wasn’t ready. Not yet. That was fine, because now that he had his mouth buried between her thighs, he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. So he pressed kisses and teased her with little flicks of his tongue, all designed to make her squirm with impatience. He didn’t go in for her clit right away after that first touch. He knew that was her hot spot, the place that would make her come the hardest, and he wanted to build up to that. Instead, he kissed the top of her mound and traced his tongue down the length of her slit. He flicked it against the core of her, lapping at her wet heat, and then skated away again to lick and tease the inside of her thigh. She arched and moaned against him, squirming, but her hands rested easily atop his head. He’d wait until she pushed at his head, demanding more from him.