Put Me In My Place
CASH
DECEMBER
Ollie’s kiss sent sparks from my lips to my heart. Desire and love and need seared through every nerve ending in my body, through my entire being. She was here. She was staying. Well, I mean, she hadn’t really said yes or no, but I’d take her kiss as answer enough.
I felt like I was on cloud nine, or, like, in a dream or something.
I pulled away to look down at her, but not before pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose, making sure to nip the tip of it teasingly. I couldn’t help it. I was so fucking happy. I felt like a kid who’d been given way too much candy and was bouncing off the walls with excitement.
“Ew, what the fuck, Cash?” She laughed, struggling against me, but I just held her tighter.
“Merry Christmas, sugar,” I murmured against her lips.
She stilled beneath me, a groan escaping her as she buried her face in my chest. “I’m sorry for ruining today. I was so fucking stupid and selfish. I made a huge scene and ruined everyone’s day…not to mention your birthday.”
Ruin anything? She was staying. She’d made my day, my month, my fucking year. I gripped her chin and forced her to look up at me.
“Hey, it’s okay,” I reassured her, adding with a wink, “I can think of a few different ways you can make it up to me?”
Desire sparkled in her mismatched eyes. “Like?”
“Like…” I drew the word out far longer than necessary. “Comin’ with me to Christmas dinner at my parents’.”
A look of worry began to take root as her mouth dipped into a frown. Fuck, I didn’t want to push her too fast and make her backtrack and leave. I’d barely just gotten her to stay. “If it’s too much—”
“No, I’ll—” Ollie took a deep breath and nodded, almost as if in silent encouragement for herself. When she met my stare, her face was a mask of determination. “I’d be happy to go.”
I kissed her once more, long and slow, unhurried. I didn’t know how the hell I’d managed to convince her to stay, but, fuck, was I sure grateful. The idea of her leaving…
I’d been a wreck the last couple days.
It hadn’t been all that surprising that she was gone before I’d gotten up Sunday morning.
She had work, and she was a much earlier riser than me.
But the dozens of texts over the last few days on read were damning evidence of the error I’d made that night.
I’d known I’d fucked up, said too much right then and there.
I knew I’d lost her the minute I’d told her it would be easy to love her.
I’d come by the ranch on Monday and Tuesday to check on her, but she’d managed to avoid me both times. And as much as I wanted and needed to talk to her, I didn’t want to push too hard.
Coming this morning was a last ditch effort. Hux had let me know she was still here. I’d been checking in with him about her. But seeing her in the doorway with her bag slung over her shoulder… God, I’d never felt so scared in my whole damn life.
I never thought I’d love someone again. Need someone. But I needed her. I needed her as much as I needed air in my lungs.
“Come on, sugar,” I said, breaking the kiss. “Let’s go get your bags unpacked and let everyone know you ain’t goin’ nowhere…unless you wanna come stay at my house.” I squeezed her ass. “I wouldn’t mind.”
She laughed, the sound smoky and sultry. Biting her lip a moment, she replied, “Let’s start with a drawer at your place and go from there.”
“Well shit, I thought just gettin’ you to do that was gonna be harder. I shoulda asked you to marry me instead.”
Her eyes widened a bit, making her look like a deer in the headlights. “What? I thought you said—”
“Kiddin’.” I grinned. “I wasn’t bein’ serious about gettin’ married. I mean, at least, like, no time soon. I just meant if I’d have given you the option of movin’ in or marryin’ me, you’d have chose movin’ in, and I’d be happy as a damn clam. Not that I ain’t happy now, but—”
“That makes absolutely no sense,” she said with a huff of disbelieving laughter.
I tapped my head with a finger. “It’s Cash math, sugar. Makes perfect sense to me.”
She shook her head and bit her lip, before laughing, “You’re an idiot.”
“Eh,” I shrugged, “Might be an idiot, but you’re the one datin’ an idiot.” With a wink, I added, “What does that make you?”
She ran her tongue over her teeth, putting on the facade that she was annoyed, but I knew she was enjoying this. Banter and teasing were her love languages after all.
“Oh, so we’re, like, official now?”
“Did you miss the whole professing my love to you part? I kinda figured when you told me to kiss you that’s what you wanted.”
“Is that more of your Cash math logic or whatever?” She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t hide the playful smirk on her lips.
My shoulders rose in another shrug as I cupped the side of her face. “Tell me what you want, Ollie.”
Her face softened, warmth swirling in her eyes as she placed a hand on my wrist and looked up at me. “I want you, Cash Mooney,” she chuckled. “Every obnoxious, cocky, hot as hell piece of you.”
I dragged my mouth down to hers, whispering against her lips, “I’m all yours, sugar, and you’re all mine.”
I felt her lips turn upward against my own. “You know, I actually like the sound of that.”
It wasn’t an I love you, but somehow it meant even more when it came to my sexy little she-devil.
I glanced over at Ollie and chuckled. “Would you fuckin’ stop fidgetin’. You look fine.”
One of her eyebrows quirked upward, a frown forming on her plump lips. “Just fine?”
There was nothing just fine about Ollie.
She was hot as hell in anything she wore.
Tonight was no exception. I don’t think I’d ever been jealous of jeans, but the way they hugged her damn curves made me want nothing more than to sling her over my shoulder and take her back home for the rest of the night so I could take my time peeling off every single article of clothing.
Her black long-sleeve sweater draped off her left shoulder, the strap of her red lace bra that I loved so much peeking out.
I drew to a stop as we made our way up the walkway to my parents’ place, forcing her to do the same. “Sugar, you look fuckin’ gorgeous, as always. I only mean, stop worryin’. They know you already, you don’t gotta act different. Nothin’s changed.”
She huffed, pegging me with an incredulous look. “Everything’s changed, Cash.”
“My entire family’s been sayin’ since the moment I met you I was in love with you. And apparently they were right. Us datin’ ain’t gonna surprise ‘em.”
A flicker of doubt warred for dominance on her face, fighting with the usual confidence that rested in every crook, every line, every curve.
She blew out a breath. “I’m sorry. I’ve just…
I’ve never really done something like this before.
” Shame rang in her tone, it shone in her eyes.
And I hated that. She had nothing to be ashamed about.
I pulled her into my arms and pressed a quick, reassuring kiss to her lips. “To be honest, this is kinda a first for me too. I ain’t ever brought no one to Christmas dinner before.”
“Really?”
I gripped her chin, reveling in the rightness I felt with her in my arms. “You’re the first.”
Some of the worry lining her dark brows vanished, but a hint of it still lingered in her gaze. I suspected it wouldn’t go away fully. Probably not for a while. Maybe not ever. But I’d spend every damn minute reassuring her that I’d always be here, that I’d always want her.
“Come on,” I said, offering her a soft smile. “We better get in before Mama and Mav start arguin’ over what kinda fuckin’ gravy to have with dinner.”
“Oh, dear God.” She huffed, but there was a lightness in her words.
I drew her mouth to mine and kissed her. “Thank you,” I whispered against her lips before pulling away.
Her brows knit together. “For what?”
“For comin’ tonight. For choosin’ to stay.”
I’d been scared as hell chasing after her this morning. Seeing that bag on her shoulder, the tears staining her cheeks… I’d been convinced she was past the point of no return. That my words would mean nothing.
Warmth glimmered in her eyes as she slid her arms around my neck. “You made a pretty convincing argument earlier, Big Daddy.”
I grinned, a rush going through me at the way she said it. “I wasn’t about to let you leave, sugar.”
I’d have done anything to get her to stay.
And I hadn’t lied earlier, I’d have left just to keep her there at Hux and Quinn’s ranch.
As much as I loved her, I’d have stayed away for that reason alone.
She deserved to have a home, friends who had become more of a family.
I didn’t want to threaten that opportunity for her.
“I’m glad you didn’t,” she murmured against my lips.
Wrapping my arms tighter around her, I kissed her once more. “Me too, sugar. Me too.”
The front door opened, accompanied by Mama’s drawl. “Cash Ulysses Mooney, you get yourself over here right now and give your mama a Christmas hug, my sweet birthday boy.”
“Oh my God,” Ollie breathed, pulling back to focus her attention on the front door.
Following her gaze, I took in Mama. She’d really outdone herself this year with the cowboy Christmas aesthetic.
Her deep emerald green dress hung to just below her knees and had full skirts that reminded me of the different tiers of a Christmas tree.
Little tinsel and mini decorations were sewn to various spots to really give it the full effect.
Her red cowboy boots were an added touch.
She even had a necklace on that lit up and twinkled.
It wasn’t gaudy though. No, Mama had a way of managing to make even the most obnoxious outfits look fashionable.
It was a gift she’d passed onto me, thankfully.
“Merry Christmas, Mama.” I went to her, drawing her into a tight hug.
“Happy birthday, baby,” she murmured, squeezing me for a long, long moment before pulling away.
Her gaze fell on Ollie then, some of the happiness shifting into an unknown emotion I couldn’t quite place.
Maybe acceptance? She smiled as she beckoned her over.
“Merry Christmas, Miss Ollie. You look lovely.”
Ollie’s eyes widened, almost like she couldn’t quite believe Mama was saying something so nice, before sobering enough to smile back at her. “You do as well, Miss Violet. Thank you for letting me come tonight.”
Mama dipped her head and waved a hand over her shoulder. “ Well, come on in. Dinner’s almost ready.”