Christmas Cowboy (A Standalone Holiday Romance Novel)

by Claire Adams

  Perfect. I knew Lexa was around and hoped that when we got called back, she’d be there, working on getting Glen stitched up. She’d have nothing to do but talk to me then. I hated seeing Glen in pain, but he started nodding off until a woman in pink cat scrubs called us to the back.

  She settled us in a secluded area behind a curtain, and I wondered why we couldn’t have a closed-in room like I’d had before. Then it dawned on me that they might be reserved for the more seriously injured, like idiots who crash their bikes and have to be rolled in unconscious.

  I doubted for a moment that I’d see Lexa, but then I caught a glimpse of her through the parted curtains and told Glen I had a mission to take care of. He wished me luck, and I snuck down still behind the curtain to where she stopped.

  She was talking to a man who I remembered as my doctor from the accident. He’d come in to see me and swore I’d get the best care. If he only knew. The man walked away, and I parted the curtains and stepped out in front of her.

  She jumped, and I knew I shouldn’t have snuck up on her that way. I held up my hands to show her I wasn’t a threat, so she didn’t dart off like some frightened cat.

  “What are you doing here?” Her eyes widened and pulled me down the hall and into a private room, with actual walls and a door. “You can’t just show up here at my work. It’s a hospital, not a mall.” She paused and got a good look of my shirt, which had gotten a bit of Glens’ blood on it. “You’re hurt!” She began inspecting me for injuries, but I took her hands and stilled them.

  “I’m fine and here with my friend who had a nasty accident while slicing lemons.” I felt her hands tense in my grasp, but I was too lost in the sight of her to care about anything else. She was gorgeous, even while in her scrubs with her hair cinched back in a tight bun that was more like a naughty librarian than a naughty nurse. But I wasn’t complaining.

  “Well, I hope she gets patched up, and you two can be on your way.” She turned to open the door, but I put out a hand over her head to stop it.

  “It’s not a she, it’s a he; and he’s my best friend.” Her tense glare relaxed, and she stood back against the door and folded her arms.

  “You were looking for me, though?” Her eyes held a hint of hope and a whole lot of regret.

  “Yes, I hoped you’d be here. I’ve wanted to talk to you for days, Lexa. You’re all I can think about, and it really sucks that you haven’t called me or at least texted me back. If you don’t like me, that’s fine, I’ll move on, but I want you to tell me that you don’t feel our connection just as strong.” I searched her face, hoping to catch a hint of emotion that would tell me otherwise. Surely wasn’t done with me.

  “It’s not that, Aiden. It’s-”

  I stepped closer and pinned her against the door. “If it’s too much and you want out, say the word, I’ll fuck off. But I don’t think you can tell me that. You want me just as bad as I want you. Deny it, Lexa.”

  She stroked my beard as I pulled her in close enough to kiss.

  She fell hard against me, sagging with such eagerness I wasn’t sure how she’d get over it enough to go back to work, but then she pulled away. “I should go.”

  “I’m not leaving without a kiss.” I positioned my leg between hers, and she showed me she wasn’t bothered by the idea.

  I flattened my palm against her mound, thanking the heavens that her scrubs were so thin. I could feel the warmth there as if she’d been dreaming about having me all day. And, maybe she had been because a moment later, her hand went up behind her to the doorknob and I heard a click.

  Now that we were locked in, I knew I had her. I’d hated my last hospital visit, and I was sure I owed Glen a whole lot more than paying his bills, but it was good to see her again.

  I brought my mouth down against hers, and she wrapped her arms around my neck. “We’ll have to be quiet, but that will give us a bit of privacy.”

  Her hands worked at my jeans, and I lifted her shirt up, revealing a simple cotton bra that was sexier than anything else I’d seen her in. I unhooked the strap as she freed my cock, and her breasts spilled from their cups, hanging heavy and taut, perky. I brought my mouth to one and sucked her nipple, and then I worked down her pants and slipped a finger into her panties.

  “Are you sure you want to do this here?” I probed her pussy, and she ground against my hand to give me my answer. As I slipped my hand free and tasted her need for me, I knew I owed Glen big time.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lexa

  I had done so good letting Aiden go and had been strong enough not to text or call so we’d have a clean break. But here I was in the ER, in a private room with him.

  Seeing the blood on him and that moment, that split that second that I’d thought it was his, it brought back all of my feelings for him. It had only been a week, but luckily, work had kept me busy. I had even pulled some overtime.

  Aiden’s long fingers slid into my body, and I prayed that Dr. Rob didn’t come looking for me. There was enough staff that no one should miss me for a bit, and I could make up something if I had to. Besides, other than Aiden’s friend, it had been kind of slow compared to most days in the ER.

  The look on his face was so sincere that I felt a wave of guilt roll through me, overtaking all of my pleasure, and I fought hard to keep it at bay. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.

  “We can’t keep doing this, Aiden.” Although I protested, my hand worked him steady, tightly gripping his shaft as he pumped his fingers deep to ready me.

  “I can tell you want to.” He took my hand, brought me away from the wall, and then lifted me up on the bed. The pesky rail was in the way, so I took a moment to lower it as he readied his cock at my entrance.

  “It’s not going to work out. I think we should end it before things are too far gone.” I struggled with the words as he reinserted his broad fingers.

  “I’m not letting you go that easily, Lexa. And, I don’t appreciate being ignored. In fact, I think you should be punished for being so cruel.” He stood me up and turned me around. He cupped my sex, pinching my folds with so much pressure that I squealed. I held my mouth and hoped I wouldn’t make more noises. At least, nothing that could give us away.

  His cock pressed against my entrance, and then he nudged himself inside. I winced as I settled around him. He worked his hips, bucking against my ass. I moaned out and then bit my hand, hoping to stifle the sounds of my pleasure.

  “You seem to be into it. You do know that’s how I like it, though.” His voice was so convincing, he could have talked me into anything at that moment.

  “The other times were a mistake, too. We don’t even know each other.” A hard sting lit up my ass cheek, and then he thrust deeper and faster.

  “I know all I need to. And, that little, wet slit of yours is betraying you. You want this, too, and you’re like me, Lexa; you can’t get enough. I’ve hungered for you for days, not knowing if I’d hear from you again.” His hand rubbed my tender ass, but he didn’t swat me again. The sting would have been so erotic that I wouldn’t have minded another.

  His hips started slapping hard against me, and I worried about the noise level. “Go to the bed.” I nudged him away, and then he climbed up on the bed, his proud erection glistening with my juices.

  “Come here, Lexa.” He held out his hand, and I took it knowing I shouldn’t, but my need was aching so bad that I had to ease it. I climbed on the bed and straddled him, my legs resting on his hips as I sat on his cock and slid my folds against the length of it.

  “You’re so wet for me, baby. Climb on it, and show me what you can do.” He hoisted up my bottom and placed me on him, his thick rod impaling me with a delicious slice of pain that brought intense pleasure to my core.

  I couldn’t fight the urge to ride him nice and steady as it built like a pressure inside me, and then I released. He rocked me through my first orgasm, and then I climbed off, knowing time was too important to waste. I wanted to make him come, and
the quickest way I knew how was to suck him off.

  He lay back with an intense look on his face and then smiled wickedly when I took his broad shaft and stroked it. I kissed the tip before spreading my lips wide, taking him into my throat.

  “Yeah, baby, that’s so good. Work it good for me.” He held my head and bucked his hips forward, crowding my throat as I swallowed around his cock. The action only pulled him deeper, and I pulled away, tight lipping him from his base to the rim so that I could suckle it.

  I massaged his balls as my mouth stayed working, my fingers kneading into his heavy sac, which I knew had a good week’s worth of my reward built up in it. I braced for a nice heavy load.

  He gently stroked my hair and then before long, gave me my warning. Instead of pulling away, I pushed down, relaxing my throat to ready myself. His release shot right down my throat, so I pulled back a little to let it fill up my mouth, and I swallowed in gulps as he came. He moaned, and I may have slipped one out, as well.

  I pulled off, trying real hard to be angry with him. I’d gotten away from him, out of my life, but now here I was, back in it again.

  “Now tell me you want it to stop. I don’t think you can. I’d call you a liar.” He laughed and sat up to kiss me. Our lips met, and I wondered if the taste of himself bothered him. As he deepened the kiss, I realized it didn’t.

  He pulled away and looked into my eyes. “Relax, Lexa. We can take this slow, but I don’t think either of us wants to end things. I, for one, need something good in my life — someone to chase away all the darkness. You’re the only one that’s done it for me.”

  “I’m scared, Aiden. And, I don’t want this to be about sex alone. But every time I’m alone with you, this is how things turn out. We end up having sex. I’m afraid it’s nothing more than that for you.”

  “You know why I came here? My friend cut his hand, but I’d asked him to pass me the knife. He’d told me the only way I was going to see you again would be to get stitches.” My eyes widened. “Yeah, next thing we know, he accidentally cuts his finger, and here I am.”

  “You would have cut yourself to see me?” He was insane. Stark-raving crazy. “Promise me you’ll never do something that stupid.” My voice was tinged with anger, and I stood up and gathered my clothes.

  “Don’t ignore me again. As a matter of fact, I think poor Glen’s finger is your fault. What do you think about that?” He gathered his clothes as he teased me, and I nudged him and let out a giggle that was so intimate I probably should have watched my tone.

  A knock sounded at the door, and I stiffened.

  Aiden stepped into his pants in a hurry, and I stayed quiet as someone jiggled the door handle. “Say something,” I whispered. They might think he was a patient in need of privacy.

  Instead of being polite, he crowed out an angry, “Go away,” earning a nudge from me.

  I couldn’t believe what I’d done. I’d had sex at my job, with Aiden Walker, who I needed to stay away from. I’d actually had the courage to tell him that it had to stop, but his persistence was undeniable, especially since I wanted him so much. I gazed deep into his eyes as he pulled me close and planted another kiss on my lips.

  “I really should go check on Glen before I get you in trouble and lose my favorite seat at his bar.”

  “Your friend owns a bar? Which one? Maybe I’ve been there?” I had been to many bars during my college days and probably hadn’t missed a single one.

  “You’d probably not know it. It’s a small dive on the other side of town: Jay’s Pub.” I thought back to all the places I’d been.

  “No, I think that’s one I missed on the college tour.”

  “It’s kind of a dive, not really a place that’s safe enough for college chicks to hang out at alone or even in groups.” I couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing hanging around such a place, but then again, maybe it was to support his friend.

  “Maybe I can come by sometime and meet your friend. He’s probably all stitched up by now. I’m sure he needs to get back to work, too.” I turned for the door, but he grabbed my arm.

  “Trying to get me out of here?” I looked up at him, and he smiled down at me. “Lexa, I want to see you again. I’d like to take you on a real date and learn a little more about you.”

  The thought of that terrified me, but maybe it was a chance to come clean. Then he glanced down to my ID hanging from my lanyard.

  “I hate to be that guy, but you’ve not told me anything about yourself. Your last name, nothing about your family.”

  I froze. I had deliberately kept those things from him, never thinking he’d be interested enough to ask. Luckily, my ID only had my first name, so I decided to do something I hadn’t done since Bre and I were younger.

  “My last name is Lively. I’m so sorry, I thought I’d told you.” What was I doing? The guilt built deep, but the lies kept bubbling up in my throat like burning lava threatening to consume me.

  “Lexa Lively. That’s a sexy name.” He dragged his hand through his hair and then let out a long breath. “So, Ms. Lively, do we have a date?”

  I looked in his eyes with every ounce of my common sense screaming inside of me to bail. But I couldn’t. “Sure. I’d like that.”

  I unlocked the door and had him peek out to make sure the coast was clear. When he waved me out, I ducked behind the nearest curtain and pretended to gather supplies. As he left the room and the heavy door closed behind him, I turned away to deter him from seeing the blush on my face, hoping no one else would see me until it faded.

  Being with him at work had been exhilarating, almost as hot as the way he’d trussed me up in the shower. My core quivered thinking about it, and I knew it was because of my most recent orgasm. I walked down the hall and passed where Aiden and his handsome friend were waiting for discharge, but I kept on going.

  I wanted to meet his friend under better circumstances, and I cringed looking at the heavy bandage on his finger, knowing what Aiden had planned to do to himself before it happened. It had been a crazy move — but then again, Aiden Walker had never ceased to surprise me, even with his temper and fuck-all attitude.

  Lexa Lively. I cringed as I thought back to the time in college when Bre and I had switched last names to keep some loser at a party from looking us up after we’d given him a fake number. Somewhere in the world, there was a man with a grudge against Alexandra Lively and Breanna Patterson.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Aiden

  The bright sun shining through my window did not reflect my mood as I woke up. My day was already planned for me, and as a person who’d come to enjoy not having any responsibilities, I loathed the very idea.

  I growled as I stretched, but then a thought of Lexa softened it to more of a purr. She’d done that to me a lot lately. Buffing out my roughness, shining me into a new man. I scratched my beard and scooted closer to the nightstand to reach my phone. If I was going to make it through this day, I needed to start it off right.

  I dialed Lexa’s number and relaxed against my pillow as she answered. “Good morning, Aiden.”

  Her voice was as warm as the sunlight, and I smiled as the soft tone hit my ears. “That’s debatable, but you’re making it better already.”

  “Not a morning person, are you? I have no choice but to be. I’ve got a shift in an hour, so there will be plenty of patients to smile at.” I could hear the sound of shuffling clothes and things being dropped to a countertop.

  “I’m jealous.”

  “I’ll let you be the nurse for a day, and I’ll do whatever it is you do, then. You can have my patients, especially the ones who come in bleeding.” I thought about what she was saying for a moment and wondered how she kept her sparkling personality in check. I had a feeling I would need that knowledge later in the morning and considered asking for lessons.

  “No, I don’t want to be a nurse. I’m jealous of all those patients who get to see your smiling face. It’s a hell of a lot better than what I get to face
in another hour.”

  “Rough day already? Maybe I don’t want to do whatever it is you do.” She gave a soft chuckle as I heard the sound of a spray bottle. Whatever she was doing, she was laying it on, and I imagined her hair pulled back in that tight bun, how I much preferred it down and flowing, or better yet, spilling around my hips. The thought made my cock twitch, and I told damned the thing to behave as I adjusted it.

  “Yeah, but I didn’t call for that. I wanted something nice to think about, like our date. I thought maybe we could make plans. I want to make sure you have a good time, but I didn’t know what you’d like to do. I’m open for anything.”

  “How about a nice dinner and then we can do something relaxing, but fun.”

  “Dinner and a movie type of thing?” I made a face and was glad she couldn’t see it. I couldn’t imagine either of us sitting through a movie.

  Her breath vibrated through the phone as she shuffled around, and by the sounds, I imagined she was getting dressed. “No, I think you can find something better than that. Call around, be creative. I’d like to see if you can find something in this town that I haven’t done before.”

  “Sounds like a challenge, young lady. But I have news for you: I’m up for it. Only you have to promise me that you won’t be too hard on me if it sucks. You said to be creative, so I could get a little crazy.”

  I hoped to intimidate her a bit, but then I remembered this was the woman who cut off my clothes and tended my wounds before saying hello, the one who spread out on my car let me tie her to my showerhead. I had my work cut out for me. I wished Allison had been around to ask advice. She’d know the perfect place. I made a vow to make her proud.

  “I’m not afraid of you, Mr. Walker.”

  “Let’s hope you’re the only one. I need to be my most intimidating on a day like today.”

  “That bad?” Her tone had dropped a few octaves as her voice steeped with concern.

  “Yeah, I could use a little luck.”