A Mom for Christmas

by Marteeka Karland

  “Do you need to take your car home? We can pick you up there if you like,” he said, still leaning against the door of the minivan. How could a man look sexy standing next to a goddamn minivan?

  “You know I don’t drive to games. It’s a short jog, and I love the exercise.”

  He sighed, but there was a glint of something in his eyes. Disapproval? Anxiety? “It’s too dangerous for you to walk home after dark. What if someone hit you with a car? Or, worse, tried to grab you?”

  Though she knew what he meant, Sadira couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “I’ve never been opposed to being grabbed. If it was by the right man.”

  The girls giggled. Sebastian tried to deepen his scowl, but his lips twitched when he did. “Just get in. We’ll take you home after we eat.”

  Chattering all the way, the girls kept the conversation lively. At the pizza place, Sebastian did indeed try to order a veggie pizza, threatening anchovies if they made fun of his selection. Sadira vetoed the order, instead getting pepperoni, threatening to stand on the table and sing something horrific by Justin Beiber if he complained. Sebastian had thrown his head back and laughed, making all of them giggle.

  For the first time in several weeks, Sadira noticed the normal strain on Rebecca’s face was gone. She was truly enjoying her time with her younger sisters and father. It made Sadira want to weep for the girl. This was how she should be all the time, not grieving for a mother who obviously didn’t want her. If Sadira ever got five minutes alone with Dedra, the woman would regret the day she’d abandoned her family.

  “I call sleepover!” Zoe yelled. “Blanket fort and brownies!”

  “Oh, man,” Rebecca said, sitting up straighter and looking not so superior and I’m-queen-of-all-I-survey as she normally tried to pull off. “Sadira’s brownies—no nuts—and Nightmare on Elm Street! Totally cool!”

  “That’s it exactly!” Jessica said excitedly. “Sleepover! Sleepover!”

  Zoe’s eyes got big and round. “Not scary movies!” She turned to Sadira. “I don’t like scary movies!”

  When had they planned all this? She had been lost in her own musings, but surely she hadn’t agreed to anything without even glancing at Sebastian.

  “Wait.” Sebastian held up a hand. “What?”

  “It’s Friday,” Jessica said slowly, as if taking to someone of less-than-adequate intellect. “Sleepovers are always on Friday nights.”

  “I get that.” Sebastian pinched his nose between his thumb and finger, a pained expression on his face telling Sadira she wasn’t the only one having trouble following the conversation shift. “But when did you work this out with Sadira? And what part of this conversation thread led to the decree that there would be a sleepover?”

  Zoe nibbled her lip, looking at Jessica. Obviously the two had conspired together, springing the event on everyone. At once, Rebecca’s face fell and she picked up her drink to hide her disappointment. Sadira caught Sebastian’s gaze, looking to Rebecca and back with a knowing look. Immediately, Sebastian sat up straighter, his expression going stark for a brief moment.

  “We just thought it would be a good idea,” Zoe finally said, hanging her head.

  “Of course it is,” Sadira said, snagging the Parmesan cheese to sprinkle liberally over her pizza. “Only question is where to have it.” She raised her eyebrows at Sebastian.

  “Well…” He rolled his eyes. “It’s not like your apartment will hold all five of us. Besides, my back won’t take sleeping on the floor.”

  “Weenie!” Zoe called out, her whole face lighting up once more. “We can have it at our house!”

  Sebastian sighed heavily, as if the whole thing was a huge chore when, in reality, Sadira knew it was an act for Zoe and Jessica’s benefit. They loved it when he pretended to be put out. The fact was, Sebastian would do anything to put that smile back on Rebecca’s face, and Sadira knew it. “Fine. I guess I’m being invaded by even more girls tonight. I need to adopt a boy just to try to even out the score because I’m so outnumbered it’s not even funny.”

  “Not to worry,” Sadira chimed in. “I have a tiara and pink nail polish just for you. We can pretend you’re my best girlfriend…Sabrina.”

  The girls burst out laughing, and Sebastian groaned. He caught her gaze across the table and winked. That one little gesture sent butterflies dancing in Sadira’s belly. How in the world could one man affect her so easily? It didn’t help that she dearly loved his girls. If she wasn’t careful, she’d end up falling head over heels for the handsome father of three, as well.

  Chapter Three

  Sebastian knew he was in trouble the second the movie started.Nightmare BeforeChristmas Great. The second it started, Sadira started scaring the girls. She quickly got Zoe recruited to help and the two of them proceeded to terrorize Jessica and Rebecca, though everyone ruined the effect with all the peals of laughter. Soon, all of them were buried into his sides during the “scary parts.” Zoe wrapped her arms and legs around him while Jessica and Rebecca both jockeyed for position on one side of him. When Sadira had given him a satisfied smile, as if she’d done it all on purpose, he’d snagged her arm and pulled her into the other side. With a giggle and a sigh, she’d snuggled into him. It struck Sebastian then that this was what families did. Even when he and Dedra hadn’t had issues, they’d never sat together like this and watched scary movies.

  Once the scary show was over, Sadira put in a cheery family show, declaring one horror movie was enough. All three girls groaned and protested—even Zoe—but with more popcorn and Sadira’s brownies, they settled in again. By the time the second movie was over, it was well past midnight and the girls were all fast asleep, including Rebecca.

  Sebastian had managed to keep Sadira beside him during the second movie, his arm resting on the back of the sofa behind her. This was what he wanted. What he’d always wanted. In that moment, his path became clear. Sadira was his. Theirs. Some way, somehow, he was going to convince her she belonged with them.

  “It’s late,” he said, rubbing her shoulder, urging her closer to him. Sadira allowed the contact, giving a contented sigh as she snuggled against him. With the girls safely asleep and oblivious to the adults in the house, it seemed Sadira enjoyed the closeness as well.

  “Yeah. Told you I should have taken my car.”

  He chuckled. “Now, why would I have done that when it got you here, trapped in my home with the wicked king of the castle?”

  She stiffened, but her hands clutched at his shirt. “What did you say?”

  “You heard me,” he said, leaning down to nip her ear gently. It was the first overtly sexual gesture he’d made to her. How would she respond?

  “‘Bastian?”

  Sweet Jesus, she just had to drawl his name with all that sensuality he’d observed when she just walked across the room. Hearing it in her voice as she shortened his name to an intimate form shot straight through him like an erotic punch. Straight to his groin.

  “You know you can’t say my name like that, in that tone of voice and not expect me to kiss you.”

  “Darn it,” she said, sounding more like a purr than regret. “But I supposed if you must…”

  She met him halfway, touching her lips to his delicately. The contact seemed to send an electrical current surging through Sebastian, need slamming into him harder than it had in living memory. She smelled like heaven. All warm honeysuckle and woman.

  After several long seconds, Sadira pulled back, relaxing against him once again. “So, what do we do now? I hadn’t really expected something like this to happen, but I’m not looking a gift horse in the mouth.”

  The joy inside him was equaled only by budding hope. Could he finally find the mother his girls needed as well as the woman he needed? Could he make her happy?

  “Stay with me tonight,” he whispered. “The girls are going to my parents’ house tomorrow. We can sort everything out then.”

  “You seem pretty sure about this.”

  “I
am.”

  “Why didn’t you do something about it before now?”

  “How? I felt enough like a pervert as it was. Lusting after a woman so much younger than me.”

  “I’m not that much younger. Sure, you’ve got a teenage daughter, but I’m betting you’re not much older than thirty-six or -seven.”

  Sebastian chuckled. “OK. You got me there. Thirty-six. But I know you’re still in your twenties. So… Pervert.”

  Sadira nuzzled his neck teasingly. “I’m twenty-seven. Besides, it’s only perverted if the woman in question doesn’t make the first move. I believe I kissed you.”

  “That you did. But I’m betting we could do a much more thorough job of it if we put our minds to it.” God knew he wanted to. Taking her mouth until she was whimpering and squirming in his arms with need was foremost on his agenda. How the hell he was supposed to wait until the next day was beyond him, but anything else simply wasn’t an option.

  “Hmm…” she said, flashing him a coy look under her lashes before snuggling back into his side.

  “Look at me, Sadira.” Sebastian knew his tone was a little harsh, but he was skating the razor’s edge between acting honorably with her while his girls were in the house and throwing caution to the wind, locking them both in his bedroom, and taking her until they were both too exhausted to care if they got caught. When she met his gaze boldly, need making her eyes sparkle, he cupped her face gently. “Tell me you want this. That you want me.”

  “I do,” she whispered. “So much I ache with it.”

  “What would you expect from me? You know my girls come first. They’re the only reason we’re still sitting here and not fornicating in my bed until we’re both condemned to hell.”

  She smiled, giggling at his words, but answered him seriously. “I want all of you, ‘Bastian. I know the girls come with the package, but I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t love them already.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “And me?”

  Sadira shrugged. “I’ve been trying not to. Unfortunately, you’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a man. My only concern is Dedra. I don’t want to be the rebound for any of you. I could never keep my heart uninvolved enough to survive it if you decided you didn’t want me. And I certainly don’t want the girls thinking I’m trying to replace their mother.”

  “First of all, you wouldn’t be replacing Dedra. You’re already three times the mother to those girls that Dedra ever was. Second, no one expects you to be their mother. Only to love and help them as much as you already do. And third…” He caressed her cheek, placing another light kiss to the corner of her mouth. “How is me being everything you ever wanted in a man a bad thing?”

  Chapter Four

  The next morning, it proved harder than Sebastian anticipated to get the girls gone. In the end, he had to swear they’d all do something together the next day before they’d finally left with his parents. He hadn’t told them Sadira would be staying with him that day, but he suspected they knew something was up. The older couple had raised an eyebrow at Sadira, but said nothing. Sebastian wasn’t sure if it was because she was black or because it was the first woman they’d seen him with since Dedra had left. Frankly, he didn’t care. She was with him. Was his.

  As time went on, he was beginning to realize Dedra had never been his. And he wasn’t all that broken up about it. He’d thought he’d had a good relationship with Dedra at one time, but it had been nothing compared to how he felt about Sadira. From the very first—even before Dedra left—Sebastian had been drawn to the spunky woman. And if Dedra hadn’t left he’d never have acted on it.

  Once the girls were out the door and safely in the car and down the drive, however, Sebastian couldn’t act on his feelings for Sadira fast enough.

  With a laughing smile and wicked gleam in her eyes, Sadira let him pull her into his arms. Sebastian nuzzled her hair, inhaling deeply before saying right at her ear, “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting to do this?”

  “Do what? Run off your girls so you could have a Daddy day?”

  He growled and nipped her neck before licking the skin he’d just abused. “Yeah. That exactly.” Then his mouth found hers, the contact scorching and more erotic than anything he’d ever imagined. Sadira melted into his arms, fitting him perfectly. Opening her mouth, she let him dart his tongue inside to find hers. At the contact, Sebastian knew he’d found heaven. Home…

  Sadira knew she’d wanted this, wanted to explore the reserved man she’d known for so many years in the most intimate way, but just his kiss was exceeding her wildest expectations. When he groaned and wrapped his arms around her tighter, Sadira knew she was about to see this man lose all his reservations. And she was giddy with excitement.

  With a growl, Sebastian lifted her, urging her legs around his waist as he continued to kiss her. Whipping around, he pinned her between the living room wall and his hard, hard body. One hand found her breast, tenderly squeezing and feathering his thumb over her nipple. She knew the sports bra she had on beneath her shirt did little to hide the aroused peaks of her nipples. Knew he felt them stabbing his thumb when he gasped before groaning loudly into her mouth.

  “I’m going to enjoy unwrapping this lush little body of yours,” he said between licks at her mouth. His raspy voice sent shivers through her, her nipples tightening even more when he spoke. “I’m going to fuck you so good, Sadira. So fucking good.”

  “Oh, God,” she gasped, unable to help the effect his dirty talk had on her. “Do you swear? Because I need it hard, ‘Bastian. Hard and sweaty.”

  “I’ll give you everything you need, baby. When we’re done tonight, you’ll definitely be satisfied.”

  God, she loved this banter with him! Sadira had never been chatty during sex. Had never explored the effect dirty talk could have. And damn, she’d been missing ever so much!

  As if proving his words, Sebastian fit her body against his so that the ridge of his cock pressed against the cleft of her sex. Even through her leggings and his jeans, Sadira felt the scorching heat of him. His rigid flesh pulsed between them, rubbing over her clit with every movement he made. After several tentative thrusts, as if he were trying to gauge how to move to give them both the maximum amount of pleasure, Sadira gasped.

  “Did I find your sweet spot then?” His husky growl again sent shivers through Sadira, her stomach doing a flip.

  “Oh, yes! Yes, ‘Bastian! Right there!”

  Then he moved in earnest, grinding against her. One arm was still locked firmly around her waist, the only thing between her and the wall. The other slid from her breast. Sadira was about to cry out in protest when she felt his hand impatiently tugging her sweatshirt out of his way to find the bare flesh of her side. More jerky movements, and he’d shoved her sports bra over one breast until bare skin filled his palm. There was no chance of Sadira containing her cry of relief.

  “So good,” she whimpered. “Love your hands on me.”

  “Then get this fucking shirt off!”

  Sebastian pulled back enough that Sadira was able to whip her sweatshirt over her head. She didn’t stop there either. Her bra followed. He didn’t immediately put her on her feet so she left her leggings for now, but God knew she desperately wanted them off. When Sebastian dipped his head to her chest and closed his lips over one nipple, she forgot exactly why getting her pants off was so important when he was creating such magic.

  ***

  The second his tongue rasped over Sadira’s nipple, Sebastian’s eyes rolled back in his head. She tasted absolutely delicious! Her skin held the faintest hint of cinnamon mixed with honeysuckle, creating an exotic scent that had to have been designed to drive him completely insane. Even now, he was humping her against the wall when everything in him was screaming for him to make it to the fucking bed. She deserved better than being taken up against the wall, but he just couldn’t make himself stop! Something primal inside him took hold and refused to let go. Even now, he growled against her flesh,
tugging her nipple between his teeth until she squealed. Instead of pushing him away, though, she threaded her fingers through his hair and pulled him closer

  “More,” she panted. “Ah, God, ‘Bastian, fucking more!”

  He was about to say fuck it and simply rip her leggings from her luscious body when she tightened her legs around him and started riding him. Apparently he wasn’t moving fast enough for his little sex kitten, because she humped him furiously, grinding her clit against his aching cock. It only took seconds more for her to stiffen in his arms, sweat dotting her skin as she gasped in a sharp breath before letting it out on a surprised scream.

  Sebastian pulled back slightly, letting her nipple go reluctantly. He wanted to see her. Watch her as she came in his arms, grinding on his cock. And what a sight it was. She was so lovely, so unabashed in her passion she nearly took him with her into bliss. Hanging on to his control by sheer force of will, Sebastian bit the inside of his cheek with the effort, determined to outlast her so he could be inside her for his ultimate reward.

  When she’d calmed somewhat, her eyes going heavy, her lips curling, Sebastian groaned. “Sweet God, you’re going to be the death of me.”

  Chapter Five

  The trip to Sebastian’s room was hazy. Though she’d come, he hadn’t and, Lord, the man was in a lather. He couldn’t seem to stop running his hands over her, as if he were fascinated with every curve and hollow of her body. Which was fine with Sadira. It gave her the same opportunity to explore his body, which she found was so much more than she’d ever thought. And she’d already thought he was sexy as hell. Rigid, heavy muscle played lovingly under his skin, jumping to her every touch. Arms that were so strong, big and bulging with muscle, wrapped around her bare body. His pecs were well defined, tapering down to rock-hard abs and that intriguing Adonis belt at his hips leading to his groin.