Page 22 of Merry Little Christmas
That must have been what love felt like.
Chapter Fifteen
Peyton
I didn’t remember fallingasleep. Hell, I barely remembered getting out of the bath but when I woke up, I was in Cole’s bed wearing nothing but a diaper and his T-shirt. Blinking away the haze of sleep, I peeled my eyes open enough to glance at the alarm clock—three in the morning.Ugh, why am I awake?
I grumbled around my pacifier and settled on Cole’s chest again, but something kept me from drifting off. Whimpering, I tucked myself tighter into Daddy’s side. We’d had an incredible night, and I just wanted to get back to sleep.
Being put to sleep with a bottle was—oh… My bladder twinged, jolting me back to reality. I whined, squirming. I had to gobad. Did I wake Cole to take me to the bathroom? No, that wasn’t fair. He was fast asleep.
My diaper rustled as I wiggled against the pressure. Technically, I didn’t have to get up if I didn’t want to, but there was a difference between using a diaper in my sleep and making a conscious decision. Unfortunately, the second I had the thought, my body chose for me. I was helpless in the matter, hiding in Cole’s chest while my bladder emptied into the plush material. Tears pricked the corner of my eyes, shame heating my cheeks. I bit down hard on mysoother, hoping the whimpers wouldn’t be the thing to wake Daddy.
My heartbeat pounded in my ears, only subsiding once I no longer felt the ache in my stomach. Although relieved, I didn’t feel any better. I was still sleepy and now, I faced a whole other issue. Wet diapers werenotfun.
Tears poured down my cheeks. I held tight onto Daddy, fingers digging into his bare chest.
So much for not waking him up… “What’s wrong baby?”
I tried to speak, tried to tell him that I was wet, but it was in vain. The only sound that came out was a pathetic whine.
Daddies had some special sixth sense, I swear. Because the next thing he did was snake a hand between us and squish the front of my diaper. I grimaced at the feeling. “No wonder you’re upset. You need a change, sweetheart.” A kiss to my hair, and he was pulling away from me.
I snatched my pacifier from my mouth, sniffling. “You don’t have to get up.”
“Yes, I do, baby. You’re wet.” I sat up, fully intending to follow him to the nursery. Daddy stopped me, replacing my pacifier in my mouth. “You stay there, little one. I’ll be right back.”
I laid back down, trying not to move too much. Movement made the wet cotton more evident, and it only heightened my discomfort. After a minute or two, the crying subsided. My nose ran and my chest hurt. I coughed around my soother, and that was when Daddy re-entered the room. “You okay?” he asked.
I nodded, perking up when he came into full view: he had another bottle in his hands. Sure, sure; he also carried supplies to change me, but I was more interested in that milk. It tastedsogood before. But… “I’ll only have to go again.”
“Then I’ll change you again,” Cole said, handing over the bottle. “Or I take you to the bathroom. It’s not a bother, Peyton.”
Hesitant, I accepted the drink. The moment the sweet vanilla flavor hit my tongue, though, the fight leftme. I slumped against the pillow and let Daddy take over. A changing mat and towel were placed under my hips, and I sighed with relief when he removed the soiled diaper. He kissed my bare belly, and I giggled around the bottle.
Daddy changed me, cleaning me up with warm wipes and putting more of that soothing cream on my irritated thighs. With another kiss where my skin met the diaper, Daddy whisked all the dirty things away before he climbed back into bed.
Laying on his side, he curled his arm behind my head and held onto the bottle for me. His eyelids were heavy, but before I could feel any guilt over waking him up, he shushed me and kissed my cheek. “Relax now, baby.”
Warm, dry, and comfortable, I relaxed in his arms. He whispered soothing words in my ear, holding the bottle steady while he brushed through my hair with his fingers. This drink was smaller, and didn’t take me as long to finish. Once it was empty, Daddy set it aside and pulled me onto his chest once more. “I love you, Daddy.”
I didn’t miss the way his breath hitched. Panic spiked somewhere inside me, somewhere deep that couldn’t be reached beyond the haze of my safe space.
“I love you too, baby.”
Another kiss to my forehead, and I closed my eyes.
The next morning, I was dry, thankfully, but still had to go. Able to manage myself, I tiptoed into the bathroom, leaving Cole asleep in the bed. I had no intention of waking him up. I’d done my fair share of that, but he peeled his eyes open when I left the bathroom.
“Good morning,” he said, giving me that smile that made my heart skip a beat. Then he glanced at his clock. “Almost afternoon.”
Blushing, I crawled into his side of the bed. “I’m sorry about?—”
“Don’t you dare.” He rolled onto his back and sat against theheadboard. Throwing the blanket aside, he patted the empty space between his muscular thighs. “Come here.”
Don’t mind if I do. I happily took my place, resting against his chest. Strong arms closed around me. I’d never felt so secure in my life from such a simple gesture.
“Never apologize for needing me, Peyton,” Cole husked, voice still sleep-laden. “No matter what it is.”
