All I Need: Rod & Daisy (All Of Me Duet Book 2) by A.D. Justice (books to read to improve english TXT) 📗

you. There won’t be anyone after you if you don’t take it. But I want you to give me a chance to love you, more than anything. I know I’m not offering you much, but it’s all I have to give.”

Enormous tears pool in her eyes and her breaths become ragged. At least she’s breathing again. She had me worried there for a minute.

“Your heart is more than enough for me. Your love is all I need. You’ve given me the best Christmas present I could’ve wished for, Rod. I love you too.”

We seal our love with a searing kiss, one I feel all the way down to my toes. If we were alone right now, nothing would stop me from having her in every way she’d let me. But since dozens of eyes watch us, including a lot of small ones, I mind my manners and contain my desires. When she pulls back, I’m relieved to find I’m not the only one who’s suffering. The heat radiating from her eyes is palpable, but she also reels it in for the sake of company.

Then she settles back into her spot at my side. Our arms circle each other, and we hold on to each other as if we’ll never let go.

The strange thing is, I want to be the man who deserves her love. She’s honest, kind, beautiful, and generous—all the qualities I loved most about my mother and never thought I’d find in another person. Landen admires his mother for those same reasons, that much is patently obvious.

I’m ready to make my entire life centered around her.

Landen walks over and stands in front of us, his eyes darting back and forth before he moves to join us. I assume he’ll snuggle with his mom, but I’m pleasantly surprised when he climbs in my lap instead. With his back against my chest, he leans his head against me and silently turns his attention back to the movie. After a minute or two, he surprises me with a simple question.

“Rod, are you going to be my daddy one day?”

And just like that, I would kill for this child in my lap.

“Is that what you want, buddy?”

He nods, never lifting his head from my chest.

“That’s what I want too, Landen. We’ll work together and convince your mom I’m the best man for her and you both, okay?”

He giggles and vigorously nods his head. “Okay.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Daisy

“But Momma, he was there. I saw Santa, and he had a big bag of presents. How am I supposed to sleep now?” Landen is too wound up to go to sleep anytime soon.

“I saw him too, Miss Daisy. Landen is telling the truth. Can’t we stay up and wait to meet Santa?” Isa’s eyes plead with me as much as her voice does.

I look over my shoulder and shoot an exasperated glance at Rod. His heart was in the right place when he arranged for Santa to make an appearance tonight, so I can’t be mad at him. But these kids are far too excited to go to sleep now. They saw the man himself. We might as well have given them a double shot of espresso followed by a gallon of ice cream before bedtime.

“Did you see him come down our chimney?” Rod asks from the doorway.

“Well, no. We just saw him outside. But I know it was the Santa Claus. He had a suit on and everything.” Landen’s eyes are open wide, and he has a serious expression on his handsome little face.

“Oh, that makes sense then. He’s probably waiting for the good boys and girls to go to sleep so he can bring their gifts. You know he won’t come in while you’re awake. It’s one of his rules.” Rod lowers his eyebrows as if he’s deep in thought. “He’s probably checking his watch right now, wondering if he’ll have to skip in this house so he can still make it to the others on time.”

Landen and Isa both audibly gasp. “Go to sleep, Isa. Hurry!”

I suppress a laugh when they squeeze their eyes shut, as if that means they’re already asleep. “Good night. The faster you really go to sleep the quicker Christmas morning will be here.”

“Good night, Momma.” Landen whispers his reply without opening his eyes. I lean over to give them each a kiss before easing out of the room.

“Nice save, Rod.” As I close the door, I whisper my cleverly veiled jab to him. “That was a close call.”

“I have a stroke of genius from time to time. Usually in response to something I’ve already screwed up, but that’s not the point. Besides, nothing will stop me from getting you alone tonight. Not even Santa.”

We stroll to our room, arm in arm, emotionally closer and more secure in our young relationship. The feelings between us have been building for the last few months, but everything still feels as though it’s happening so fast. Reflecting over my life, it seems I can’t do anything any other way. I’m not fighting my feelings for Rod anymore though. I questioned if this was only all in my mind, but now I know it’s real. One-hundred percent real and rock solid, even if our bond is still relatively new.

When you know, you know. And I know.

Inside our room, Rod closes and locks the door. When he turns toward me, the predatory gleam in his eyes makes my blood boil with desire. My skin instantly heats, longing for his touch before he says a word. My heart beats faster in anticipation as he makes his way across the room to me.

Each step he takes in my direction is painfully slow, increasing my desire and expectations with every passing moment. Then he licks his lips and I nearly come undone from excitement.

It’s late, and the rest of the house is already in bed. The room next to ours is quiet, telling me the kids were sleepier than they realized. Now that the night belongs to him and me, and I’m ready to relish every last second of it we have left. When the sun rises, so will the rest of our family with it. Between now and then, all I