Page 165 of Santa Daddies

As our tongues mingle and she grinds against me, I can't worry about Loren anymore. Her arms wrap around my sides, as if they’ve done it a million times. Embracing her tightly, I enclose her in my world.

I have to get her alone. We can’t go to the Airbnb or her parents’ house. We could get a hotel. We mutually pull away from each other, gasping for air, our gazes locked. “Let's get out of here.”

She hesitates. Worry floods through me that she wasn’t ready for me to take our first-date make out session to sex. I forgot how much younger she is.

And I'd totally respect it if she was concerned about going home with a guy that she's only seen a few times and her brother seems to hate.

“You don't have to be worried that I'm some crazy guy who dresses up like a Christmas monster who likes to–”

She puts her finger to my lips again then lowers her head. “That's not the problem.”

“What’s wrong?” I tuck a finger under her chin and lift. Looking into her eyes, I add, “It’s killing me not to know what’s bothering you.”

“Remember how I asked you not to laugh about my plan and you did?”

“Yeah, but only because…” I hold off on telling her I don’t want her taking care of other people’s kids. I want her to care for ours. No need to let my over-the-top thoughts out so soon. “I loved it so much.”

“That was only part of my plan.”

“Okay. What’s the rest? I won’t laugh.”

She shakes her head.

I take her hands and raise them between us. “You can tell me anything.”

“You have to promise not to judge.”

Kissing her forehead, I leave my lips in her hair. “I promise.”

“The daycare was just so I could have a job around kids. All I ever wanted to do was be a mom.”

I lean back, looking her in the eye. “I can…” Catching myself before telling her I can help her work on that dream tonight, I switch to something less insane sounding. “I can respect that. Kids are important.”

“And I have a three-date rule before sex.”

It sounds like she’s trying to convince herself, but I say, “Okay.”

“And you’re only going to be in town for a few days.”

The dilemma between honoring bro code and going with my heart is becoming less of an issue. “Bellie, I want to see you again. I have to see you again. The next festival is only an hour from here. I have events lined up all week, but I can come back Sunday evening.”

“You live around here?”

“No, but I’ll come back for you.”

Something is weighing heavy on her mind. Can’t say I’m very different since I have to figure out how to break this to Loren. Istroke my fingers over her rosy cheeks. “Would you feel better if we gave it a week then tried a real date?”

Her eyes fall shut. “I can’t make any promises.”

“What is it you’re not saying?”

“I have… some really big stuff planned. Give me your number and I’ll let you know how I feel before you make the trip back.”

She hands me her phone, I type my number in, and when I start to hand it back to her, she’s fidgeting with her bracelet. It looks like it’s made of thin rope, something that gets my heart racing.

I set her phone aside and lift her wrist. “What’s this?”

“I made bracelets for the festival.” She shows me the charms which include winter and Christmas things… and Krampus.