Chapter One
Kayleigh Cavett pulled her long black hair into a messy bun and sank down into the deep cushions of her parents' oversized couch. She had been back home for almost a year, but instead of being comforted, it reminded her of failure and filled her with embarrassment. Kayleigh took a spin working at local retail stores, but the last one had ended in a brilliant fit of smashed perfume bottles and damaged overpriced holiday sweaters. Some high-on-her-moral-horse woman had called her out while Kayleigh was fixing a display. The woman had shouted at her, saying she was a filthy no-good hussy. Kayleigh bit down on her lip as she remembered how angry and fired up the woman had gotten. All over some naughty posed photos.
One of Kayleigh's private photo shoots had been leaked online thanks to a group of hackers. The breach in security resulted in images of her most intimate parts being sent to family, friends, family friends, friends of family, and so on ad nauseam. Embarrassed over the mess and the nastiness thrown at her, Kayleigh had quit before management had the chance to fire her.
Sighing, she pulled her feet up and under her. She needed a job before she depleted her savings and had to rely on credit cards, but this last stunt jarred her. Kayleigh had left her modeling career after the photos went viral, causing a steady stream of emails and phone calls from moral do-gooders and dirty men alike. She’d shut down her email and changed her number attempting to stop the spam, but it didn't help much.
Kayleigh had loved posing for the camera ever since she was a little girl. Seeing her pictures plastered around a studio wall gave her self-confidence a huge boost, and without it, she found herself depressed. Her boyfriend at the time couldn't handle the razzing at work or, worse, the questions about loaning her out, like she was not a person, but an object, and he’d broken up with her soon after the incident. It had added scoop after scoop of self-loathing on top of her dwindling confidence. Too bad she didn't have a Daddy to help her through this. The thought tugged her to action, and she got to her feet. Where had that come from?
It wasn't just the thought of a Daddy; no, she had wanted a strong and reliable man for quite some time who held the same interests she did, but why today more than any other time? Her eyes caught the television screen as it showed a world map. There was a large red dot representing a sleigh shown hovering over eastern Europe. Could she really have been so wrapped up in worry that she’d forgotten tonight was Christmas Eve? Magic happened all over the world because children believed in it. A knot twisted in her stomach, but it eased when she spied a large notepad on the coffee table.
"That's silly," she said out loud, chiding herself. "I can't write a letter to Santa!"
Kayleigh really did need a holiday miracle, so what would the harm be in sending out a request to a mystical creature? Though she supposed her name might be on the naughty list anyhow. Tears blurred her vision, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. It couldn't hurt to direct her energy into something tangible. A Daddy for Christmas. Who wouldn't want someone to protect and care for them?
Plus, the Daddy she wanted would also cherish her and love her in other ways. More adult ways. Her lips twitched, and then she broke out into a grin. Kayleigh tore off a piece of paper from the pad then hunted down her calligraphy set. She took her time in selecting the perfect shade of green ink and penned a serious letter to Santa. She told him how she didn't deserve to take his time away from children across the world who needed more important things like food and clothing, but she’d struggled so hard this year. She had no one else to turn to. With no stable income, her townhouse had had to be sold. Thank goodness she’d finished paying off her car a few months ago, or she would have been forced to sell it as well.
Kayleigh explained on paper how she was beating herself up in her head, and some days she couldn't get out of bed because she was so embarrassed about the entire situation. Her parents had been champion supporters, but they could only do so much. Her brother Rhett had his own life going on and could not be at her beck and call every time she needed a good shoulder to cry on. After the initial happenings, he had dropped everything to stay with her for a few weeks, but she’d needed wine and comedy movies at the time just to get through it. Now she needed to be pushed a tiny bit to get on the right path again. Her very own Daddy would dedicate time solely to her. He would make her a priority. She didn't know what she could offer back, but she listed everything out. When she reached the end of the letter, a sense of accomplishment filled her. It moved something inside of her when she saw the words in print, and her spirit soared for the first time in a long while. She kissed the bottom of the page and signed it.
"Merry Christmas to me."
Tomorrow would be better. It had to be.
* * *
Sebastian Cruz cursed under his breath as the thick white snow fell harder and harder. He'd planned on delivering the presents piled in his truck tonight, but the weather didn't allow for it. They were mostly hand-made items for his kink-minded friends, and they would understand the delay. The party set for tonight had been canceled and rescheduled for later in the week, but the decision had come after he'd set out for his destination, so Sebastian thought of another plan. He pulled off to the side of the road without a hitch.
Glancing at the street signs, he realized his proximity to his best friend Rhett's house. John and Marlee Cavett, said best friend's parents, were snowbirds, and they weren't expected back until April. Sebastian had spent several winters of his own out here over the years, and he still had a key to the house. Rhett wouldn't mind an unexpected guest.
Sebastian shot off a quick text to his friend. I'm near your parents' house. Bad storm. Mind if I stay?
Rhett replied quickly. You're always welcome, but I'm out of town with the 'rents. Kay is home. Happy for an extra set of eyes on her. She refused to come to Florida.
I would have come sooner. Anything I should know?
Possibly. I'm sure you can get it out of her. Rhett included a winking smile face and a surprised face emoticon.
Are you serious? Sebastian rubbed his chin with his free hand. What had gotten into Kay? Or hadn't gotten into her for that matter?
Brother, you have no idea.
Fuck. Maybe he shouldn't go stay while he waited for the storm to pass. Still, he texted: I'll handle your sister. Merry Christmas.
Didn't need that visual. Don't handle her too well, or she'll never let you go. Merry Christmas!
Bastard. He added a candy cane and a heart at the end of the line which played off their typical sarcastic banter. Deep down, they both knew how badly Kay needed a firm hand attached to a strong man who would protect and guide her without abusing her or cheating on her. She had a long list of exes, each one worse than the last. In Sebastian's humble opinion, she needed to set her standards higher. He hadn't seen Kay in a while, and he hadn't reached out to her either. This year had been so rough on her, and he should have checked in, but life sometimes gets in the way. She’d had to move back to her parents' house, and according to her brother, she wouldn't let anyone help her.
Sebastian pocketed the phone and eased his car back into the lane. Holiday magic, if you were the believing sort, might have twisted his plans for the better. He pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment then placed his hand back on the wheel. Kay wouldn't be happy to see him even if her family was all out of town. Oh well. With the rapidly worsening condition of the road, she no longer had a choice. He was headed toward the Cavett household whether Kay wanted a visitor or not.
* * *
Sebastian let himself into the house, doing his best to stay quiet. He had groceries in one hand, and a medium-sized suitcase in the other. He shook off the snow, hung up his coat, and then proceeded to the kitchen. Sebastian checked off the ingredient list for his famous loaded eggnog in his head as he put them away. It had a way of getting people to loosen up and relax, and Kay had mentioned more than once that it was her favorite holiday drink. He sighed as he thought about the last time they had seen each other.
Kay had been standoffish and bitchy, but he’d believed it came from his rejection of her affection toward him back in the day. She didn't keep her crush on him a secret, but he was nine years older than her. It wasn't a big deal now that they were both adults, but when she was a flirty younger teen, he'd had to keep his distance. Whatever had happened back then no longer mattered, but she'd held on to some resentment. At least she acted like she did. Something caught his eye as he set breakfast treats out on the counter. A letter to Santa? Did Kay write it? Curiosity moved him to pick it up.
Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is a Daddy who will take care of me. I know you have so many other people around the world who are asking for big and important things, but please if you can find it in your heart to bring me a good man who can help me, I promise I won't be so naughty this coming year. I probably didn't make it on your good list because I haven't been good to myself. I've drunk too much, hid away from my friends and refuse to talk to my family about how I've been. I know I don't deserve to be rewarded, but I'm trying so hard! I have had more jobs in the past six months, Santa, than most people have in their whole lives. There are so many hurtful, hateful people in this town, and they won't give me a chance. I even flipped burgers for three weeks just to make some money so I don't have to rely on my parents. They have been wonderful, but I know seeing me this way is hurting them too. If you can fit him in your sleigh, I would really love a Daddy for Christmas.
Your Little Friend,
Kayleigh Cavett
A Daddy for Christmas? That's all she wanted? Sebastian rubbed his chin. Holiday magic did exist. Taking care of Kay, supporting her, guiding her, loving her were all things he had wanted to do anyhow. Somehow he would find a way to give her all of the things she deserved. He might also be able to fill up the piece of himself which had been missing if she let her walls down and let him in. He finished putting the food away and made several trips out to his car to gather the rest of his belongings.
Kay's letter sparked an idea, but he would need to work fast in case she woke up. Upon his third trip through the living room, he saw her sleeping on the couch, scrunched up in a ball. He thought how uncomfortable she would be in the morning if he left her like that. Sebastian scooped Kay into his arms, and her eyes fluttered open. "Hello, beautiful."
She smiled up at him, but her eyelids hung heavy with sleep. "Hello yourself." Kay wrapped an arm around his neck.
Sebastian pressed her closer to his chest as he carried her up the stairs, down the hall, and into her room. It was a place he'd seldom ventured into over the years, but he had wicked thoughts a mile long which detailed dark and dirty games to tease and taunt her with. His cock grew hard at the thought, and he tucked her into bed to force distance. "Go back to sleep. It's the middle of the night."
"Okay, but I need a goodnight kiss." Kay pouted as if he would deny her request.
"All right." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. On the way back up, she took his face in her hands and kissed him hard. She had never been this bold before, and he would bet money she believed herself to be dreaming, caught in between wake and sleep. Sebastian returned the kiss, but every time he attempted to break away, her sweet tongue slid in between his lips, distracting him. He returned her hungry kisses, but after a little while, he pushed her away with a gentle hand. "It's late, princess. Close your eyes." She nodded then sighed as he brushed a piece of her hair away from her face. "I'll see you in the morning."
He left her room with mixed feelings. Sebastian had wanted to climb into bed next to her and hold her, but they hadn't spoken in so long. He'd never known she longed for a Daddy the same way he longed for a girl to call his own. He wanted a special little one he could lavish with attention, as well as a woman with whom he could engage his darker fantasies. Kayleigh Cavett could be both, if she followed his lead. She might reject his sincere attempts as she had done so many times in the past, but he sincerely hoped she gave them the chance to be together.