A Cowboy for Christmas

by Susan Fisher-Davis

  “Where do you get all these muscles, Reid?” She leaned forward and kissed his chest making him draw in a breath.

  “I work hard on the farm and exercise.” He wrapped his hand around her wrist. “You’re killing me, darlin’.”

  “They’re very sexy.” She kissed down his stomach. When he reached for her shirt, she stopped him. “Remember when I said I’d pay you back for teasing me?”

  Reid ran his hands through her hair. “I don’t recall that.”

  Lucy laughed softly. “Liar.”

  Reid held his breath when she unsnapped his jeans and lowered the zipper. He was already hard. He jerked when her hand snaked inside his jeans and wrapped around his hard cock. When she removed her hand and sat up, he stared at her frowning in disappointment.

  “Let’s take these off,” she said as she walked to the end of the bed where she pulled his jeans off, leaving him only in his boxer briefs. She then crawled up between his legs, her gaze capturing his so that he couldn’t look away. “I love boxer briefs. I think they are so sexy.”

  “Then I’ll wear them all the time,” he said giving her a big smile.

  “I like you better without them.” She kissed his stomach making him flinch then she grabbed the waistband on his briefs and pulled them down, kissing the skin along his legs as she uncovered it.

  “Lucy, I-I don’t think...” He moaned. He watched her drop his boxer briefs onto the floor then drag her tongue up one thigh before switching to the other. When her hot wet tongue slid across his balls, he damn near came right that moment. His fingers tangled in her hair. “Lucy...”

  “Shush...relax.”

  Reid blew out a laugh that sounded more like a grunt. “Easy for you to say.”

  Lucy raised her head and looked at him. “Payback, cowboy.” Then she grinned and without taking her eyes from his, she ran her tongue along his hard length and wrapped her hand around him. “You are so remarkable, Reid. How can something so hard, feel so soft?”

  She kissed the head of his dick, and Reid couldn’t stop the groan from tearing from his chest. He’d had blowjobs before but just knowing this was Lucy, had his self-control stretching to the limit, especially when she put her mouth down over him and sucked. His hips bucked.

  “Lucy, baby, please.”

  She lifted her head only enough to give him a mischievous smile on her face. “Please, what?”

  “Christ, you’re evil,” he muttered as he dropped his head back onto the pillow. He felt her chuckle against his hard length as she slid him into her mouth again. A moment later, when she moaned, it shot right through him.

  LUCY HAD NEVER ENJOYED doing this before. Possibly because Zeke had never returned the favor yet always wanted it done on him. She had stopped doing it soon after they were married because it had all been about him. She mentally shook her head. Now was not the time to be thinking of Zeke. This time she was enjoying it so much it was making her crazy with desire. This time it was all about Reid. A man she was quickly falling deeper in love with and wanted to please him as he pleased her.

  She pumped her hand up and down his length while she sucked on him. When she cupped his balls in her hand, she heard him growl and peeked up at him. He was watching her. God! He was so sexy.

  “Lucy, you have to stop now,” he groaned while tugging at her hair.

  “No.” She said the word without removing him from her mouth. She enjoyed the control, the power of what she was doing to him.

  “I want to be inside you, baby. I want to come inside you.”

  Such simple things he said, but the words turned her on. When he would tell her in a whisper near her ear how he felt about being inside her, her whole body quivered. This time, he didn’t say another word but grabbed her, tossing her down onto her belly, and making her squeal. He quickly separated her from her jeans and panties, and moved up between her legs, spreading them. He ran his finger through her wet folds. Then he lifted her hips up, and he thrust into her hard from behind. She let out a loud gasp.

  “Did I hurt you,” he asked her, his body stilling behind her while his voice near her ear was full of concern.

  “No. No...please, Reid. Take me hard,” she murmured then groaned when he slammed into her hard. He took her hands in his and placed them on the headboard. His hands wrapped tight over hers as he thrust in and out of her. He nipped gently at her shoulder and she couldn’t stop shaking. She felt his lips by her ear.

  “I can feel you’re close. You’re already squeezing around my cock. Let’s do this together, baby,” he groaned in ear.

  Lucy thrust her hips back against him and bit her lip to keep from crying out, as her orgasm shook her to her core. Reid groaned behind her and she felt him throbbing inside her as he came. He sat back on his heels and pulled her back against him. Sweat dripped down her temples. She slid her hands up behind her until they rested around his neck. He kissed her shoulder, even as he breathed heavily against her skin.

  “Are you okay?” He rested his head against hers.

  “Yes. Amazing...that was amazing.” She panted and leaned forward to lie down. Reid dropped down beside her on his back. She swatted at him playfully. “You just couldn’t let me finish, could you?”

  Reid burst out laughing. “I told you...”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know...you wanted to be inside me, but you already were.”

  “Not what I meant and you know it. I know a lot of women don’t like to do that.”

  Lucy sat up and stared at him. “Oh, you do, do you?”

  “Shit. I’ll just shut up now.”

  Lucy laughed, pulled a quilt up over them, and curled against him. “Let’s take that nap now.”

  “I think I need one.”

  “Men. What is it with you? Zeke...” She stopped when Reid’s gaze shifted to her and he stared at her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to...”

  “It’s fine. Lucy, he’s a part of us.”

  “Yes, but now was not the time or place to mention him.”

  When Reid didn’t say anything more, she turned on her side away from him. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! What were you thinking? She hadn’t been. She was just going to comment that Zeke had always fallen asleep after sex. She wasn’t comparing the two men. There was no comparison. Although, she had loved Zeke, it had been the love of a young girl. What she felt for Reid was the love a woman feels for a man. Granted, Zeke had been a young man too, but perhaps she’d been too young when she met him. She never doubted her love for him, but it was never anything like what she felt for Reid now.

  He was going to be leaving. After the holidays, he was going home to Butte and he hadn’t mentioned anything about them getting together again. God that hurt. She needed him in her life. Zeke needed him too. She knew Zeke loved him. Zeke talked about Reid all the time. It seemed almost non-stop at times. His little heart was going to be broken when Reid left them—just like hers.

  She unintentionally stiffened when Reid wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed the back of her shoulder. “It’s fine, Lucy.”

  She sniffled when tears started to form. “I wasn’t comparing you to him, honestly. I was just going to say he always fell asleep after...”

  “Sex. You can say it. I know you had sex with him, at least once anyway. You had a baby together.”

  Lucy rolled to her back and stared at him. She could see he was doing his best not to laugh.

  “You’re real funny, Callahan.”

  Reid laughed. “I am, aren’t I?”

  “Seriously though, I wasn’t comparing you.”

  “I know, Lucy. Zeke and I were friends, but complete opposites. Let’s take a nap.” He kissed her cheek and pulled her close.

  Lucy nodded and laid her cheek on his chest. He was right. The two men were complete opposites and not just in looks but personalities, and the bedroom. As much as she hated to admit it, it was Zeke, who couldn’t compare to Reid.

  Chapter Six

  CHRISTMAS MORNING DAWNED bitterly cold. Lucy
loaded Zeke into his car seat even though he wasn’t happy about going anywhere.

  “I want to stay with my pony,” he cried scowling at her as she buckled him in.

  “Ezekiel Albright, you will stop right this minute. Santa will not be happy with you.” Lucy had tried everything this morning to get him ready to go to her parents’ home. He was having none of it.

  “I don’t care. I want to stay with my pony,” he screamed and kicked his feet against the seat.

  “All right, mister. If you don’t behave so we can go see what Santa left you at Nana and Pap’s, I will call Reid and tell him not to come over later.” She had to bite her lip to stop the smile when she saw Zeke’s eyes nearly bug out of his head.

  “No, Mama. I’ll be good. I want to see Reid and show him my pony.”

  “Good. Then let’s go see Nana and Pap then we’ll go see Grandma and Grandpa.”

  “Then we come home?”

  “Yes, baby. Then we come home and Reid will come over.” She grinned when Zeke clapped his hands.

  After carefully maneuvering snow-covered roads, she finally arrived at her parents’ home. Unbuckling Zeke was a lot easier than buckling in had been. Together, they walked hand in hand into the warm kitchen where her mother greeted them both with hugs. She helped Zeke out of his coat and hat while Lucy took her coat off and hung it on the back of a chair.

  “What did Santa bring my big boy,” JoAnn Woodard asked her grandson with an eager smile.

  Zeke jumped up and down. “I got a pony!”

  “A pony? Wow, you must have been a good boy.”

  Lucy snorted and laughed when her mother grinned. “He must have been, although I don’t remember when.”

  JoAnn laughed. “I can barely remember those times with you either.”

  “Oh, please. I was an angel.”

  “An angel with horns,” Edward Woodard remarked as he entered the kitchen. He hugged Lucy and then picked Zeke up. “Let’s see if Santa left anything here for you.”

  “Okay, but we can’t stay long. We have to go to my other grandma and grandpa’s house then we go home and Reid will come over.”

  The sudden silence in the kitchen was deafening. Lucy felt the heat pour into her cheeks as her mother and father stared at her. Edward cleared his throat and left the room with Zeke. Lucy turned to her mother. JoAnn had her head tilted and a smile played around her lips.

  “Would that be Reid Callahan?”

  Lucy nodded. “Yes. We...I...he’s...well, he’s been around.”

  “Sounds like it.”

  “Oh Mom, I think I’m in love with him,” Lucy said, wringing her hands together.

  “It’s about time you found someone new.”

  “But, it’s Reid...the same man I tore to shreds at the cemetery.”

  “He’s forgiven you for that, obviously. I always did like Reid.”

  “Yes, he’s forgiven me but...what will people think?”

  “That the two people who loved Zeke the most found love together.” JoAnn started working on scrambling eggs, and frying bacon. “Does he feel the same way?”

  “I have no idea. He hasn’t said anything and he’s leaving right after New Year’s.”

  “Ask him to stay longer.”

  “I thought about it, but what if he doesn’t feel the same and I’m just a fling for the holidays?”

  “I suppose it’s a possibility, but then maybe he feels the same way...won’t know, unless you talk to him.”

  “I guess I’m just afraid of knowing the truth if it’s not what I want to hear,” Lucy admitted as she poured juice into glasses. “He has his life in Butte. Maybe he doesn’t want a ready-made family. I’m still not sure Zeke...”

  “First off, Reid Callahan is not Zeke. They may have been best friends, but I always saw a lot more maturity in Reid. Don’t get me wrong, honey. I loved Zeke but he never seemed to grow up. He took too many risks when he shouldn’t have. He had a wife he needed to take care of, and had he known about Zeke coming, I’m not sure he would’ve changed. How many nights was he out drinking with his friends while you sat home alone? Have you ever told Reid about that?”

  Lucy shook her head.

  “Communication is the key to any good relationship,” her mother told her.

  Lucy didn’t know if she could tell Reid how irresponsible Zeke had been during the years they were married, but her mom was right. Zeke was always taking chances, it was no wonder he decided to take one more ride. He went out in a blaze of glory probably just as he wanted.

  She drew in a deep breath and finished helping her mom prepare breakfast. It wasn’t long before they were heading to Zeke’s parents’ house. When she entered the house, everyone smiled at her, and hugged her while someone grabbed Zeke, leading him to the living room for more gifts. Lucy found herself alone in the kitchen with Zeke’s sister, Cindy.

  “What’s new with you, Lucy?”

  “Nothing, I guess.” Lucy glanced out the kitchen window.

  “Oh, that sounded more like an I’ve got something new going on nothing, if you ask me.” Cindy smiled at her. They’d always gotten along.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Ha! Sounds like you have something on your mind.” Cindy’s eyes narrowed as she looked at her. “Or, maybe it’s someone?”

  Lucy forced a laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous, Cindy.”

  Cindy grabbed her arm and whirled her around. “You do! Are you seeing someone?”

  “What if I am?”

  “I’d say it’s about damn time. Zeke’s been gone over three years now. You need to fall in love again, Lucy.”

  “You think so?”

  “Of course, you’re a young, beautiful woman. You need a man in your life.” Cindy glanced at the doorway. “Doesn’t she, Mom?”

  Lucy spun around to see her mother in-law standing in the doorway. Estelle Albright smiled at her. “Yes, she does.”

  Estelle walked to her and hugged her. “Do you have something to tell us?”

  Lucy groaned. “Zeke said something, didn’t he?”

  Estelle laughed and nodded. “Maybe.”

  Cindy stared at her mother. “What? I missed it.”

  “Zeke said he couldn’t wait to show Reid his pony.”

  “Reid?” Cindy frowned at her mother then at Lucy.

  Lucy and Estelle laughed as they watched the invisible lightbulb go on over her head when Cindy figured it out. “Reid? As in Reid Callahan?”

  Lucy nodded. “Yes. Is that all right?” She didn’t know why she felt she needed Zeke’s family to give her permission, but she did.

  “Is that all right? Are you freakin’ kidding me? That man is so hot. I’ve always thought so. Who better for you than Reid? I think Zeke would be very happy.” Cindy hugged her.

  Lucy wanted to cry. She never expected that Zeke’s family would be happy for her to be seeing Reid. Although, she might be jumping ahead of herself but he’d come to mean so much to her after just a few days. Was it possible to fall in love so quickly? Maybe there had always been more than just a crush for her concerning Reid.

  Later, by the time she arrived home, Zeke was asleep in his car seat. She carried him into the house and to his room. She laid him on his bed, removed his boots, hat, coat, and mittens. He didn’t stir a bit. She couldn’t help but wish Reid were here so they could take one of their special naps together.

  After unloading all the gifts that both sets of grandparents had bestowed on Zeke and the gifts they’d bought her too, she settled in a chair to relax. She wished Reid would stick around for a while after the holidays but she knew he was going to leave eventually anyway, and her heart broke at the thought. Her mom was right about talking to him. She glanced at the clock. He would be here in two hours and she couldn’t help but be nervous. She’d bought him a gift and hoped he liked it—a new Stetson. It was dark brown with a silver band around it. She thought it looked like something he would wear when she saw it.

  The large turkey dinner she
’d had at her in-laws was having its affects. Lucy was suddenly very sleepy. She decided to lie on the couch for a few minutes and rest. Besides, it might make the time until Reid arrives pass faster.

  WHEN REID PARKED HIS truck at the back door, he noticed the house was dark. Lucy’s SUV sat across from the back porch so he knew she had to be home. Taking a deep breath, he started to open the door to his truck when he heard a pinging sound on the roof. Great. Ice. He blew his breath out. His truck didn’t do well in ice.

  He pushed the door open, grabbing the presents on the seat beside him and made his way to the porch. He bounded up the steps and knocked on the door. When no one answered, he tried the knob to see if it was unlocked—the door opened.

  “Lucy? Zeke?” No answer, so he stepped into the kitchen closing the door behind him.

  He set the packages on the table and headed into the living room. He came to a halt when he saw Lucy asleep on the sofa. She looked so beautiful. Her lush lips slightly parted, and her dark hair splayed across the pillow under her head. His dick twitched at the thought of seeing it spread out on the pillows in her bed. He knew he’d fallen very much in love with her and now he worried how she was going to react when he told her he was leaving to prepare for a rodeo. She was going to hate him. Perhaps it was best he didn’t tell her why he was leaving as originally planned even after he’d decided to stay another week.

  He walked to the couch and crouched down beside it. He gently touched her face and watched her eyes flutter open. A smile lifted her lips. “Hi,” she whispered.

  “Hi yourself, what happened? Did the turkey do you in?”

  Lucy pushed herself up into a sitting position and brushed her hair out of her face. “Yeah, something like that, long day too. How about you?”

  “I’m tired, but not too tired to see you,” he said as he leaned forward and took her lips in a deep kiss.