Page 22 of A Little Christmas Jericho
I shrugged. And felt my cheeks heat.Again. "I don't know what you're talking about. Clearly, that's supposed to be the highest form of abstract art."
Colter smiled. "I apologise. You're absolutely right. I'll have to frame it and hang it in my office."
"Don't you dare!" I gasped, grabbing the book from him. "If it's for your office, I'll have to do much better."
He took the book, put it back on the table before getting up and pulling me with him. "How about you work on that next time? I think it's time to get you into your jammies so we can get comfortable in front of the TV."
He let me grab my bag so I could change into my jammies. I felt a moment of shyness as I came out in my little outfit, but with the way his eyes warmed when he looked at me, I quickly lost my timidness.
"Come here," he said, patting the cushion beside him. "Movie time."
I didn't even hesitate. The second I sat down, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. My head found the perfect spot under his chin, and the soft weight of his arm around me felt like something I'd been missing for a long, long time.
I could get used to this.Waytoo easily.
Chapter 13
Why was it so damn hard?
Okay... puntotallynot intended, butthatwas more than a smidge hard too.
It really wasn't what I was talking about, though. What I meant was that I wanted to relax. I needed to relax. Be little. Let Colter be the Doctor Daddy I knew he could be.
But my brain didn't want to switch off. He'd somehow known that the perfect Christmas movie to spoil me with would be Polar Express. It was one I adored and had watched on repeat on more than one occasion over the holidays.
But not even the magnificence of Tom Hanks could keep my attention focused or bring out the little deep inside me that was begging to be let free.
And I had no freaking clue why!
Colter was everything I'd ever thought I wanted as a Daddy. More than that, he was so muchmorethan any of my exes had ever been. And me not being able to be in the moment with him was starting to freak me out. Was I broken? Had all my previousrelationships messed me up so much that I had forgotten how to be in one?
Fuck. My. Life.
Colter reached for the remote and paused the movie and my large eyes shot to him in fear. Dammit, he was going to take me home. I knew it!
"Hey buddy," he started, tipping my chin up, so I was forced to make eye contact. "What's going on in that head of yours?"
I shrugged. What was I supposed to say? Admit I was broken? I think not, kind sir!
"Jericho," he tried again, his voice much more serious. "I know if things work out with us, there will come a time when I know you well enough so I won't need you to tell me your every trouble. But we're not there yet. You're going to need to speak up, baby boy. What's going on?"
Freaking hell.
I was going to cave, wasn't I?
Colter continued to stare at me, waiting patiently.
"I don't know, okay!" I cried out, frustrated. "I have not the first fucking clue. Iwantthis to work. I wanted tonight to be perfect, but I've done nothing but fuck it up, over and over again. I'm a terrible little. You should just take me home so you can be rid of me."
My hand moved to my mouth in shock as I realised what I'd just said. Not just the admission, but the curse words.
"Hmmm," Colter hummed as he kept me from dropping my face. "I wonder..." he paused, wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled me across his lap so I was straddling him, our chests andotherdelicious parts pressed against each other. "If you're such a terrible little boy, then I must be the worst Daddy in the world."
"No!" I cried out in shock. "You're amazing. You've been nothing but amazing all night long, and I've messed up every step!"
He shook his head at me. "Imustbe a terrible Daddy if that's what you think, because, buddy, I don't want a perfect boy. I've never had any interest in a boy who does nothing but agree and does as he's told." He leaned closer and kissed the tip of my nose. "What I want is arealboy. One who brats when he's feeling confident enough, one who pushes boundaries, and makes me work for it."
My heart stuttered at his words. They weren't flowery or super romantic, but they meant so much to me. If he could be so open with me, then maybe I could be a bit vulnerable with him.
