22. Sawyer
22
SAWYER
T he stool slides back against the wooden floor as I stand and rush to my girl, weaving through the lads. “What happened? Are you all right?” I take her face in my hands, my heart pounding against my ribs, waiting for answers.
She beams up at me, her eyes bright like the Christmas star. “Dad told me to come and bring you home. He’s in the Range Rover waiting for us.”
“You mean he’s okay with us?” The pulse throbs in my neck, unable to believe my luck.
She nods, her smile confirming everything she says.
“Let’s get him in here for a drink. It’s Christmas,” Dan says, and is out the door before I can respond.
I leave him to it as I gaze into my angel’s eyes, my heart full of hope, and for the first time, I can see myself settling down. She was right when she said I gave none of the other women a chance because I was afraid of commitment, but the truth is that none of them were her.
“Looks like you got your Christmas wish this year, baby girl.” I tuck the loose strands of hair behind her ears so I can gaze upon her beautiful face.
“What’s that?” she asks.
“What you asked Santa for—a boyfriend.” I press my lips to hers. The lads make whistling noises, reminding me we have an audience, but I don’t care. All I see is her.
“I just need a job now.”
“I’m sure Draven will set you up with a part-time cleaning gig.” A chuckle bursts from my lips.
She rolls her eyes at me. “Enough with the cleaning jokes. You’re as bad as Dad.”
“How did you get him to calm down?” I stroke her face, in awe of this amazing woman who’s just saved my bacon and a lifelong friendship with her dad.
She shrugs a shoulder. “I don’t know. He just sort of started laughing when I told him about my cleaning job. Maybe it was the brandy Lorraine gave him.” She giggles. “Maybe she slipped him a Valium or something. Whatever it is, I’m grateful we have his blessing.”
The cold from outside blows in along with Dan, Colin and Lorraine. The lads all greet him first, Dom weaving through the crowd. “What a legend.” He shakes Colin’s hand. “You’re probably the only man to land a blow on bulldozer here and live to tell the tale.”
Colin silently chuckles as his gaze floats around the room, then he locks eyes with me. Pushing past the lads, he reaches out a hand. “I was a little hasty back there.”
I shake his hand. All the weight of my problems zaps away. “I’d have done the same. You have to know she means everything to me.”
He pulls me in and pats me on the back. “I know. And I don’t need to give you the talk. But if you hurt her, I’ll break your legs.” He grins and squeezes my shoulder.
A laugh escapes. “I let you have that first blow. You won’t be so lucky next time.” I can’t contain my smile as I look over his shoulder at Angelica and Lorraine talking with the lads. “But you don’t need to worry. If I ever let her down, it’ll break my fucking heart.”
He shoves his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels as we both gaze at our women.
“Nice right hook, by the way. I think you may have fractured my nose.”
“It’ll be an improvement.” He chuckles.
I squeeze the bridge of my nose, checking for any permanent damage. It never bled, so that’s a bonus, at least. “I’m sorry your trip to Scotland is ruined.”
“I’m not. I never wanted to spend Christmas away from Angelica. We’re right where we’re meant to be. And if I have to put up with your ugly mug to make her happy, then so be it.” He chuckles again, and it’s as if we’re back to our old selves again.
“I’ll never take her away from you. I know what she means to you. But I don’t think I could’ve stayed away from her either.”
“What would you have done if I never came around to the idea?”
I shrug a shoulder with a small huff of a laugh. “Probably spent a lot of time writing letters, I guess.”
Dan walks through with a round of drinks. “Did someone order a hairy fairy?”
“Oh, that’s mine,” Angelica says, reaching a hand out to take the shot from the tray.
“Angel,” I growl, straightening my spine. I lift the shot from her hand. “You don’t want to be drinking this. It’s lethal.”
She snatches it from me as she rolls her eyes, the poison sloshing in the glass. “Just because we’re together does not give you the right to tell me what I can and can’t drink.” She knocks it back in one go and I swear I can see steam coming out of her ears.
Colin chuckles. “She’s all yours, pal. Good luck getting her to clean her room.”
A smile curves my lips. I have my ways of getting her to bend to my will. But I kinda like her bratty side. I laugh at her, sticking her tongue out as if it’s on fire. “I warned you.”
Lorraine sashays over and takes a glass of wine from Dan. “Thank you.” She places a hand on Angelica’s plaid fleece coat that hides her pyjamas underneath. “Are you all right?”
Angelica coughs with watery eyes. “It was just a bit strong.”
Lorraine gives me a warm smile as she looks between me and Colin. “I’m so glad you’ve sorted things out.” She turns to Angelica. “I think it’s wonderful that you and Sawyer have found each other.” She swats Colin on the arm. “Isn’t it, Colin?”
He grins at me, now with a pint in his hand from Dan. “Yep, I’ve always wanted him as a son-in-law.”
I shake my head with a silent laugh. Hearing it out loud sounds fucking crazy, but if it’s wrong to love my angel, I don’t wanna be right.
Lifting my head, I glance over at Colin. “Does this mean I have your blessing to marry the lass?”
Angelica’s eyes widen, waiting for her dad’s response.
“You’d better bloody marry her after this.” He brings the pint to his lips.
Angelica’s face lights up like a Christmas tree.
My lips curve into a smile. “I don’t know, Colin. She’s a bit of a handful. I’ll have to have a think about it.”
Angelica swats my chest. “Hey, you weren’t saying that the other night.”
Colin holds his hands up. “All right, we need to set some ground rules.”
Angelica folds her arms over her chest. “Dad, we’re not teenagers.”
He holds a finger up. “Rule number one. No funny business in the cabin while I’m around. I don’t want to hear it, suspect it, or see it, and if I do, you’ll both be sleeping in the treehouse.”
Angelica and I share a knowing look and I cover my smile with my hand, scratching my beard. “Define funny business,” I say. “Just so we’re all clear. I mean, I can’t help it if she laughs at one of my jokes.”
Colin glares at me. “Rule two. Don’t expect me to pay for the wedding.”
“What’s rule three?”
He raises his pint. “Rule three. You still join me for a pint after work on Thursdays. No excuses.”
I clink my drink against his. “Deal, but only if I get to break rule number one every now and then.”
He shakes his head. “You’re insufferable.”
Lorraine pulls him away to mingle with their friends, leaving me alone with Angelica.
She slides her hands over my checked shirt and straightens my collar. “If we’re going to adhere to the rules, we should leave now while the cabin’s empty.”
I slip my hands around her waist and pull her close to me, our chests flush. My lips press to hers and I trail a kiss all the way to her ear, then whisper, “Does my angel need her pussy filled?”
Her brunette hair tickles my face as her naughty side whispers into my ear, “Tonight, I don’t want to be an angel. I want to sit on your beard again like it’s a saddle and suck on your fat cock until I reach the cream centre while I ride your face like it’s an Olympic sport.”
“Fuck.” My cheeks heat as if I’m on fire. A groan rumbles from deep in my chest as my dick grows as hard as a piece of oak. “I’ve created a monster.”
She bites her lip, turning her head to the side with her blonde hair. She’s every bit angelic, but I know there’s a dirty little cum kitten inside, desperate for playtime.
Her hands roam over the flannel on my chest and over my broad shoulders as she looks up through her lashes. “I want my papa bear to take care of me.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Papa bear, huh?”
Her smile pushes her cheeks up. “It’s what I call you in my head.” She worries her lip between her teeth and bats her natural lashes at me. “Do you like it?”
I press my lips to hers, telling her wordlessly that I fucking love it. “Whatever my baby girl wants, my baby girl gets.” I lift my holdall and guide her with my hand on her elbow as we slip out of the back door into the cold night, but without the blizzard, it’s pleasant enough.
I take her hand in mine as we trudge through the last of the snow. The alcohol in my belly keeps me warm, or is it the hope of a future with her that has me all warm and fuzzy?
The stars shine brighter tonight in the clear sky. A beautiful canopy of lights twinkle above us as if shining just for us in this moment and making up for the sorry excuse of lights back at the cabin.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy,” she says, swinging our arms as we walk.
“Is that because you’re going to get your pussy licked?” My lips curve in one corner.
She giggles. A sound I could listen to all day. “Yes, but…” She stops walking and closes the distance between us. “I’m also in love.”
“With my tongue?” I dip my head and tease her mouth open with the tip, licking at her lips.
“Sawyer, stop.” She giggles as I lick and nibble her jaw, then down her neck, unable to get enough of her.
“You have a wonderful tongue, but what I love most about you is how you love. How you will do anything for me and how you listen to me and never judge me. How I can be myself with you. The naughty side of me and the nice side and you love both parts of me.”
“I love that only I get to see both sides of you.” The chilled breeze blows around us, but with my girl, my heart’s full of warmth. “And I love that you trust me enough to show me every side of you.” I pull her close, my lips brushing against hers as I whisper, “Because every single part of you is mine, Angelica. Now and always.”