Page 111 of Sexted By Santa
Shirley had returned, but it had felt wrong to send Tori across the street when my partner was eager to prove himself. It had been easier to leave her with him than I’d expected. Despite what had happened—or maybe because of it—I trusted him to watch over her.
But more than that, I needed to show that I could trusther.
“You’re raising a delightful, charming girl who will do great things,” Christian said.
I scoffed. “Still feeling guilty about that hospital stay, huh?”
“Still feeling lucky to have you both in my life,” he countered.
That deserved a kiss. His lips were soft and welcoming, and his body was warm beneath the covers. He fit against me so perfectly that it was a little difficult to fathom how I’d gone without this kind of intimacy for so long. I stroked a hand down his flank, absorbing his heat, and kissed him a little deeper. “Love you.”
“I love you too,” he murmured. “But we should probably—”
“Daaaad!” Tori called impatiently from down the hall.
I rolled out of bed with a groan. “Right, my master is ringing for service.”
Christian threw back the covers. “I’ll start the pancakes.”
* * *
After breakfast, Tori tore into her gifts under the Christmas tree while Christian and I watched from the sofa, where we’d settled beneath a fuzzy red blanket to sip our coffee. Sir Elton John ran between Tori and the sofa, yapping excitedly, before he discovered that wrapping paper made a great toy and began tearing it to shreds.
“That’s going to make a huge mess,” Christian groused, shifting to get up.
I pulled him back against me, wrapping an arm around him. “Leave it. Enjoy the Christmas cuddles.”
“Daddy, look what Santa got me!” Tori held up a jewelry-making kit. “There’s glitter included!”
I groaned a laugh. “Perfect for you then, Glitterbug.”
She beamed at me before turning back to the gifts. There were seven, a big haul compared to some years: three from me, one from Christian, one from Santa aka me, and the bonus gifts she’d gotten at the Hayworth College party and at the hospital. For all that I’d worried, Tori didn’t seem to care that most of her gifts were small, inexpensive items.
She appreciated each one, running over to give us kisses and posing for photos.
I’d gotten her an arts and craft kit that included even more glitter—never let it be said that I didn’t love my daughter—along with a new outfit and a puppy pillow that looked a bit like Sir Elton John. Christian had contributed a boxset ofWanda Willbooks about a girl adventurer. Along with the 300-word puzzle and Scrabble Junior travel-size game she’d gotten from other Santas, she’d stay entertained for a while.
“Thanks for the presents,” Tori said shyly once she’d finished opening them. “I have something for you too.”
She ran out of the living room, Sir Elton at her heels, and returned with an oversized greeting card made with cardboard, marker, and—you guessed it—glitter. She handed it to Christian. I’d watched her make the card at the hospital, and I couldn’t wait to see Christian’s reaction. I had to look away so he wouldn’t see my grin.
On the front was a drawing of a red Santa Claus, though notably slimmer than usual. He was kissing a blocky man with dark hair, which was, of course, me. Blue glitter fell like snowflakes all around them.
Beneath them, stenciled letters spelled out:Merry Christmas, Santa Daddy.
“Oh, is this for both of us?” Christian said. “That’s so sweet.”
“No, just you,” Tori said. “Daddy got his own card. This one is forSanta Daddy.” She looked at him expectantly.
I nudged him. “That’s you.”
“Oh.” His voice went up a notch. “Oh.”
“It’s a great term of endearment, isn’t it? Makes me wish I’d thought of it.”
Christian eyed me suspiciously before turning to Tori, who was beaming with happiness, unaware of the subtext of the name she’d given him.
“Thank you so much, Tori. It means a lot that you have welcomed me into your family.” He hesitated. “You don’t have to call me…”
