Christmas Baby for the Cowboy (Sweethearts of the Rodeo #4)

Chapter Eleven

Taylor

Christmas Eve

T aylor admired the tiny tree he and Loretta had decorated earlier that day. It wasn’t much—just a three-foot artificial pine they’d found on sale—but with the homemade decorations, and the ornament Loretta got to celebrate Georgie’s first word, it looked perfect to him. The scent of cinnamon and vanilla tickled his nose, courtesy of the candle Loretta had lit on the counter. Christmas carols played softly from Loretta’s phone, the gentle melodies of “Silent Night” adding to the peaceful ambiance.

“I think someone’s ready for bed,” Loretta whispered, pointing her chin at their son. Georgie’s eyes were heavy-lidded, his little body growing slack with impending sleep.

Taylor nodded, moving to take the baby from her arms. “I’ve got him. You finish up whatever you need to do.”

As he carried Georgie to the small nursery area they’d created in the back of the Winnebago, Taylor marveled at how natural this was now. This time last year, he’d been terrified of not being a good enough father, of making a huge mistake. But he had learned. It hadn’t been easy, but it was worth every bit of the rocky journey.

Gently laying Georgie in his crib, Taylor took a moment to stroke his son’s soft cheek. “Merry Christmas, little man,” he murmured. “Your first one. I promise to make it special for you.”

When he came back, he helped Loretta finish up the wrapping. They’d be driving over to her parents and meeting his father there as well tomorrow morning. Hopefully, Christmas would be less stressful than Thanksgiving had been.

“You know, when I was a kid, my dad used to dress up as Santa every year,” he said, a wistful smile playing on his lips. “He’d come bursting in, ho-ho-ho-ing at the top of his lungs. Used to scare the daylights out of me when I was really little.”

Loretta chuckled. “I can just picture little Taylor hiding behind the couch from Santa-Barney.”

Taylor grinned, picturing the scene. “Yeah, well, once I figured out it was him, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Bragged to all my friends that my dad was Santa’s helper.”

“That’s sweet,” Loretta said, her voice soft with affection. “One of our family traditions was to open one gift on Christmas Eve. Usually new pajamas or a book to read that night.”

“I like that idea,” Taylor mused. “Maybe we could start that tradition with Georgie?”

Loretta’s eyes lit up. “I’d love that. Starting our own family traditions…”

The way she said “our family” made Taylor’s chest tighten with emotion. They’d come so far in the past months, from uncertain co-parents to…well, to this. A real family, building a life together.

As they finished wrapping the last of the gifts, Taylor found himself growing nervous. The box containing Loretta’s gift was hidden under the bed. He’d gone back and forth a hundred times about whether to give it to her tonight or wait until morning, but something told him this moment was right.

“What do you say we exchange our gifts now?” Loretta said before he could broach the subject. “Start our own little tradition?”

“You bet,” Taylor replied, settling down beside her on the floor. “Though I warn you, my wrapping skills aren’t the best.”

Loretta laughed softly, mindful of the sleeping baby. “That’s okay. It’s the thought that counts, right? Let me just grab yours.”

As she rummaged in the closet for his gift, Taylor pulled out the box with the full set of thirty-two art markers that she had wanted. She hadn’t been kidding—they were expensive! At eight bucks a piece, the cost had been close to three hundred dollars with tax and shipping. He’d had to pawn his mother’s wedding ring to buy them for her. But that was all right. He would buy it back as soon as Riley paid him for all the consulting work he had been doing for her.

Loretta returned with a larger box, beautifully wrapped in silver paper with a red bow. They sat facing each other on the small sofa, gifts in hand.

“You first,” Taylor said, holding out the box to her.

With a shy smile, Loretta took the gift and carefully unwrapped it. As she opened the box, her breath caught audibly. “Oh, Taylor,” she whispered, lifting out the set of professional-grade art pens. “These are…they’re exactly what I’ve been wanting. But how did you…? They’re so expensive.”

He shrugged, avoiding her gaze. “Pawned a bunch of stuff. Don’t worry about it.”

Loretta clearly wanted to press further, but she bit her lip and nodded. She carefully set the pens aside and threw her arms around him. “Thank you,” she murmured against his neck. “They’re perfect.”

“I wanted you to have something special, something that’s just for you. You’re always putting everyone else first. You deserve to have your dreams supported too.”

When she pulled back, wiping at her eyes, she pushed the silver-wrapped box toward him. “Your turn.”

Taylor unwrapped the gift with growing curiosity. As he opened the box, his eyes widened in disbelief. Inside was a top-of-the-line protective vest, the kind he’d always wanted but could never really justify the cost. He ran his hand over the reinforced material, stunned.

“Loretta, this is…wow.” He looked up at her, a mix of gratitude and concern in his eyes. “How did you manage this?”

Loretta bit her lip, looking suddenly nervous. “I, um…I sold my drawing table,” she admitted quietly.

Taylor felt like he’d been punched in the gut. He knew how much she needed that table to sketch and draw on. “You didn’t have to do that. You’re going to need that table.”

“There’s no room for it here. I’ll get another one when we get an apartment. But you need this right away. Your safety is more important to me than any piece of furniture. I want you to be protected out there. I need you to come home safe to us.”

The weight of her words, of the sacrifice she’d made for him, nearly overwhelmed Taylor. He pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his face in her hair. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I don’t deserve you.”

“I love you,” Loretta whispered, her voice muffled against his chest. “I’m in love with you. I think I have been for a while.”

For a moment, Taylor couldn’t breathe. He’d hoped, dreamed even, of hearing those words from her, but the reality was so much more powerful than he could have imagined. Joy bubbled up inside him, threatening to overflow.

“I love you too, Loretta,” he said, his voice raw with emotion. “God, I love you so much. You and Georgie, you’re everything to me.”

Their lips met in a kiss that was both tender and passionate, filled with all the love and promise of their future together. When they finally parted, both a little breathless, Taylor rested his forehead against hers.

He hoped he didn’t screw this up.

*

Loretta

Loretta was flushed, shaky with emotion and needing an outlet that was all Taylor.

“Let me take care of you,” Loretta whispered as she carefully unbuttoned his shirt, her fingers brushing against his taut, muscular chest. Taylor watched her intently, his gaze never wavering from hers.

“You can do whatever you want with me.”

“Right now, I just need you naked.”

“Your wish. My command.” He helped her get rid of his clothes and, when she pushed him down on the couch, he was already deliciously hard.

Loretta knelt between his legs, her hands gently gripping his thighs. She leaned in, her lips meeting the tip of his cock, and began to slowly take him into her mouth. Taylor’s breath hitched at the sensation, his hand instinctively moving to rest on the back of her head, offering a silent encouragement.

But as Loretta took him deeper, she reveled in the taste and feel of him, wanting to give him the utmost pleasure. Her hands roamed over his muscled thighs as she bobbed her head up and down. Taylor’s breath was coming in short, sharp gasps, his body tensing under her skilled touch.

“Fuck yeah,” Taylor managed to choke out. He grasped her hair tighter, his fingers gently tugging at the strands as he surrendered to her completely. She wanted to give him everything, to make him feel loved and cherished in this moment. Taylor let out a soft groan, his body arching slightly as Loretta’s tongue flicked against a sensitive spot.

“I’m not gonna last much longer.” Taylor’s voice was ragged with desire. Loretta simply smiled around him, her lips moving in a gentle, teasing rhythm that had Taylor groaning in pleasure.

He gently tugged at Loretta’s hair, urging her to take him harder, faster. Loretta sensed his desperation and eagerly responded, her mouth sliding up and down his shaft with intensity.

“I’m coming, sweetheart,” Taylor panted, his voice laced with raw emotion. Loretta eagerly took his release, swallowing him down as he filled her mouth. She continued to suck him until he was spent, her hands fondling his shaft and balls. Leaning back, she licked her lips.

“I needed that,” she said.

“Not as much as I need this. Come here.” He stood and gently pulled her up, their lips meeting in a searing kiss. They moved the short distance to the bed.

Taylor tenderly stripped Loretta of her clothing, his hands caressing her body as if she were a priceless treasure. He laid her down on the bed, admiration and lust shining in his eyes as he spread her legs apart. Lowering his head, he began to taste her, his tongue delving into her wetness as his fingers explored her most intimate parts.

Loretta’s toes curled as Taylor’s talented tongue danced between her legs, sending electric shocks through her body. She gripped handfuls of his hair, guiding him in rhythm with her hips as she rode his face. She clutched a fluffy pillow to her mouth, desperate not to wake their Georgie with her moans of pleasure.

Taylor’s strong hands gripped her thighs, his muscles flexing as he held her in place while his tongue expertly teased her sensitive spots. She bit down on the pillow, screaming into it as her climax built. God, how she needed this. The stress of the last few weeks had really taken its toll. Tonight, however, she was going to let go and focus on nothing but the sensations coursing through her body. His tongue moved with deliberate precision, swirling around her clit and dipping into her wetness.

“You taste so good,” Taylor murmured between licks.

“Please…don’t stop,” Loretta begged, her voice barely audible through the pillow. Taylor responded by fingering her clit rapidly, his tongue teasing her entrance before pushing her ever closer to the edge.

“Come for me, baby,” he whispered, his breath hot against her skin. The plea in his voice combined with the relentless motion of his tongue sent her spiraling over the edge, her orgasm ripping through her like a wildfire. Muscles clenched, waves of pleasure crashed over her, leaving her panting and trembling in its wake.

Before she could recover, Taylor began kissing his way up her body, pausing to lavish attention on her breasts. He sucked gently on one nipple, then the other. His deft fingers continued their ministrations between her legs, circling her clit until she was on the brink of another mind-shattering orgasm. The combination of sensations had her gasping for air, struggling to form coherent thoughts as her arousal soared to new heights.

“Taylor, I can’t… It’s too much,” she whimpered, her toes curling into the soft sheets beneath her. “I can’t… I’m going to…again.”

He only responded with a low growl, his hand moving faster, his tongue teasing her harder. And just like that, she was over the edge again, her body shaking with the force of her release.

Moving up to her mouth, Taylor kissed her long and slow. Their tongues danced together, sharing the taste of their mutual pleasure, while Loretta’s hand found its way to his rock-hard cock. She stroked him slowly, teasingly, feeling him grow bigger in her grasp.

Taylor grunted, his control slipping with each passing second. “I need to be inside you,” he rasped.

“Take me,” she said and held on to his shoulders as he positioned himself at the entrance of her wetness.

The tip of his cock pressed against her, teasing her. Loretta moaned, her hips arched slightly, yearning for the fullness of his thrusts. “Now,” she begged.

Taylor thrust into her, his hips moving in a steady rhythm. Loretta cried out, her body responding to his every movement. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper into her. Their bodies moved as one, their every touch and caress fueled with passion and need. He fucked her with a fervor that left her breathless, his powerful thrusts driving her closer and closer to the edge of ecstasy.

“Taylor, I’m so close,” Loretta gasped, clinging to him as if he were her lifeline in the midst of a raging storm.

“Let go, baby. I’ve got you.”

Loretta’s world shattered as she succumbed to the tidal wave of pleasure, her body quivering in Taylor’s strong embrace. She clung to him, unwilling to let go even as he continued to move within her, seeking his own release.

“I love you so much,” Taylor breathed into her ear.

“I love you too.”

With one final, guttural moan, Taylor found his own peak, his body shuddering against hers.

“I’ll never get enough of you, Loretta,” he murmured between kisses.