Only Christmas

“Thank you, Hunter,” I say through a yawn. My eyes fall closed as he flicks the lights out. I swear his mouth brushes against my forehead, but sleep quickly lures me under.

My dreams are different from all the others I’ve ever had before.

7

Hunter

I stare up at the ceiling, wondering if I’m in hell or heaven. It’s a very thin line right now. I have no one else to blame for my current situation. I told myself I would not get into this bed with her. That lasted all of an hour. Which is the amount of time it took my men to get me some kind of information on Aspen Bell.

The girl's life hasn't been easy, that's for sure. She’s been in and out of foster care a few times. Her mother was never able to stay sober for long. Pretty sure the woman has been an addict most of her life.

Aspen looked to have lived with her grandmother for a time until she passed away. Connecting some of the dots, I’d gathered that after her grandmother passed, Aspen’s mother came back into the picture more. Aspen was only fourteen at the time.

Her mother was able to keep the home for a while. It had been free and clear from the bank note. That was until she’d gone and took a loan against it. It was all downhill from there. It only took about a year before her mother pissed away everything the grandmother had left behind.

She’s been taking care of herself for far too long. If that wasn’t enough, she also seems to be taking care of her fucking mother too. Aspen actually filed a missing persons report on her months ago, but nothing has surfaced as far as her whereabouts.

“Ooooh.” She moans, snuggling deeper into my side.

I’ve never been a cuddler. I suppose you’d have to share a bed with someone to know if you even are one, but I was sure I’d hate it, so I never bothered to try. To have someone all in your personal space sounds miserable—or it had before my angel came into the picture. I know one thing for sure: if Aspen was mine, I’d cuddle the fuck out of her. The smell of her alone is soothing to me.

She’s got her leg thrown over me, her face buried in my neck. Every now and then, she releases these small puffs of warm air against me that have my cock begging for me to take her. It shouldn’t turn me on, but fuck if it doesn’t. I can’t blame my morning wood on her being plastered to me, either. I’ve been that way since I crawled into bed with her.

This is exactly why I didn’t want to get into bed with her. I knew the temptation would be too great. That I’d be fighting not to pull her into my arms. She took that fight right from me when she came to me. I was barely in the bed and she was all over me.

Even in her sleep, she sought me out. Maybe my plan won’t be as hard as I thought. At least I tell myself it’s me that she’s seeking out. My men hadn’t uncovered anything from her past that suggested she had a boyfriend at any point. But they are still searching for more information. I have to admit that the thought of her being untouched had pleased me.

My men had only given me what they could find quickly. I don’t think Aspen would offer to share a bed with me if she did have someone. That doesn't seem like her style. I mean, the woman has a damn list in her notebook of things she borrowed from the hotel and planned to repay. Down to the travel-size shampoos we give out in the rooms for free.

I’m pretty sure she meant to show me the list last night so I wouldn’t think she was a thief, but I’d distracted her with food. I’m betting she’s going to try to add that meal to the damn list too.

I close my eyes when her hand drifts across my chest. I reach up, pinning it there. I’d even gotten out of bed at one point and went to the bathroom, trying to take care of myself to help with my control, but it had been pointless. My cock was rock hard again the second I walked back into the room and smelled her sweetness. Seeing her in the bed with her hair spread out across the blanket and her arm stretched over the spot where I'd been lying hadn’t helped my situation.

It’s not long before she all but climbs on top of me. I know I should stop her, but I’m a bastard. Instead, my hands go to her ass, and I help her get all the way there. Her bare stomach presses against mine. Her shirt has ridden up to just below her tits. I can feel her perky nipples through the shirt. For as small as she is, her breasts would make the perfect handful for me.