A Country Christmas Read online

  Lilliana Rose

  A Country Christmas

  By Lilliana Rose

  Copyright 2019 Lilliana Rose

  This book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this eBook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this eBook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Disclaimer: The material in this book contains graphic language and sexual content and is intended for mature audiences, ages 18 and older.

  Book design by Swish Design & Editing

  Editing by Swish Design & Editing

  Cover design by Kellie Dennis at Book Cover by Design

  Published by Infinity Dreaming

  Cover Image Copyright 2019

  Zoe has taken the biggest risk of her life. She’s moved in with Max on his farm, to see if she can have a future with a man she’d only met months ago. A man who is arrogant, and downright selfish at times.

  As an edgy legal secretary, Zoe can match his sharp tongue, which only adds to the attraction between them. But is life with Max on the farm really her future?

  Max is trying to adjust to having Zoe in his life and doesn’t want to mess things up. She’s given up everything to be with him, but so far he hasn’t made any sacrifices.

  Can a bachelor who’s stuck in his ways, learn to let the woman he loves into his life, and secure a future for their family?

  To my dog, Astro.

  You are a star in the sky,

  but it’s not the same

  as having you by my feet

  when I’m writing.

  This book has been written using US English, but the book’s story is set in Australia. Some euphemisms that form part of the Australian spoken word may be used. If you would like further explanation, or to discuss Australia, please do not hesitate to contact the author. Contact details have been provided, for your convenience, at the end of this book.

  Blurb

  Dedication

  Information For The Reader

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Acknowledgments

  Connect With Me Online

  About the Author – Lilliana Rose

  Keep up to date with Lilliana on social media

  Sunday 1st December

  “Where’s my breakfast?”

  The backdoor slammed.

  Bluey whimpered at not being allowed inside the house.

  Zoe took a bite of her strawberry jam on toast when Max walked in. He had thick, blue woolen socks on his feet, wearing dusty blue work pants, and a checked shirt, undone at the top revealing his chest. He’d been out to do the morning jobs on his farm, Greenfields. His comment grated on her feminist beliefs, but that faded with the cheeky grin he gave her, which lightened up his dark eyes with a smoldering heat that sent sparks firing between her legs.

  Will I ever get used to his inappropriate comments?

  With a bun in the oven, she felt like she had to. Or at least give it a try. She was heading toward three months pregnant, after they had a hot one-night stand at the Royal Adelaide Show back at the start of spring. Max was the father and it had messed up her plans.

  At twenty-five she had been wholly focussed on building her career as a legal secretary, not trying to work out if she was going to breastfeed or bottle-feed or if she could change a nappy. Let alone be able to adjust to life on a cattle farm—one where the closest neighbor was about five miles away—with a babe in arms. Her belly fluttered, and it wasn’t the baby turning, the nerves were getting worse, and it was becoming harder to ignore them.

  If only Mom and Dad would come and visit for Christmas, or her friends, Ellie and Billie.

  “You weren’t here, so I threw it in the bin.” She looked at him coolly, trying to keep the humor from her facial expression, her comment firing straight back at his without missing a beat. She could match him, she knew it, and she used it to her full advantage. Well, at least she tried.

  Max was thirty-four, and the age difference had never been an issue between them. At least it was one thing that Zoe knew wouldn’t be the cause of them not working out. It was early days yet. They had known each other as long as the baby had grown inside of her. It wasn’t long enough to have packed up her life in Adelaide to move in with a man she didn’t know. But for the sake of the baby she had. Of course, there was an attraction there too, and somehow the fiery relationship they had appealed to them both.

  He held his hand to his heart. “You hurt me deep.”

  “As if.”

  “Now, now, don’t be like that on a lazy summer Sunday morning. Especially when Christmas is in twenty-five days.” He raised his eyebrow suggestively as he walked toward her. “I’ll just let you know that I’m hoping for a special gift from you when I wake up Christmas morning.”

  Zoe squirmed in her seat as she felt her lower abdominal muscles clench with need. “Well, now that will depend if you’re naughty or nice.”

  “Good thing I know exactly how to balance naughty and nice for your full pleasure.” Max stood next to Zoe, leaning against the 1960s-style kitchen table with chrome legs and edging which gave it an odd space-age look.

  A bolt of desire coursed through her body. She could feel his heat radiating around her and she knew exactly what his intentions were. His masculine scent sent her mind wild with anticipation. Inhaling slowly, she met his gaze, his dark eyes burned with lust.

  Fuck. She found it hard to resist him. It didn’t help that sparks flew between them so easily, which resulted in her getting pregnant in the first place. The connection between them was built on lust, attraction, and sex, which caused them to lose themselves in the moment of passion. She was also all too well aware that these points were not at all the solid foundation for a future relationship, and yet here they were attempting just that.

  Damn hormones. She couldn’t resist him even if she wanted to. This fact was made a hundred times harder with her raging hormones, much to Max’s amusement and delight.

  Zoe leaned back in her chair. She felt a little guilty only having gotten out of bed not that long ago, when Max had been up early working on the farm. Pregnant or not, she wanted to pull her weight and do her share of the workload. At least, while she still could. Give it a few months, when she would be waddling around with a huge pregnant belly, that might be different. Now, it was a tight little bump, and it wasn’t getting in the way of anything.

  “Do you now?” Zoe raised her bare leg and put her foot suggestively on the edge of the table. She wore her pajamas—floral cotton shorts with a tight pink tank top—they were one of her favorites from the designer Peter Alexander.

  He smirked. Ran his finger down the side of her bare leg which was up on the table next to him.

  She inhaled sharply. Fuck, yes, he did. She enjoyed the way her skin prickled under his touch as his hand moved up her thigh, coming closer to where she really wanted him to touch her, that place where he could get her juices flowing.

  “Though, if you’re not up for it,” he said softly, his hand pausing on her thigh.

  Her desires f
lamed almost out of control. “What on earth gave you that impression?”

  Max chuckled. “You’re in your pajamas after all, and it’s nearly nine.”

  “It’s Sunday morning,” she reminded him. “You’re meant to stay in bed for this to happen.”

  “I better make up for it now.”

  A shiver of pleasure ran through her—she quite liked the sound of that.

  Max leaned forward and kissed her. His lips pushing hers open as if eager to taste her fully. He glided his hand under her shorts, fingers brushing high under her thigh.

  Zoe looked square in his eyes, daring him to go further. Instead, he pulled his hand away. She was about to protest, when he suddenly reached down, hands around her waist, basically picked her up, turned and perched her on the edge of the table. She naturally wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer her. She could feel his cock hardened even behind the material. She tilted her hips back, suggestively, rubbing against him, feeling what she really wanted to be inside of her.

  Max’s hands slipped under the back of her top, massaging upward, gliding over her skin, his touch sending her temperature rising with desire. “That’s better, I can feel more of you this way.”

  His lips found hers once more, they danced over her mouth, his tongue flicking over hers. She moaned with delight into the kiss, enjoying the feel of his hands on her back, pressing her closer into him.

  He bunched up her top, the soft material gliding over her skin easily, pushed it up over her head, then he let it fall to the floor. Soft sounds escaped his lips while he gazed at her as if he was drinking up her partly naked body. His hands moved quickly up over her shoulders, then down her bare arms, under her ribs, finally stopping as they cupped her breasts. She felt her nipples harden as his fingers massaged her soft flesh, teasing the lust between them toward feverishly hot. Her back arched backward, her chest forward, giving him full access to pleasure her. He moved, pressed his mouth over her breast, then he sucked gently. Letting his teeth graze over her sensitive nipple, he then pulled away which caused her to breathe in sharply with pleasure. He did the same to her other nipple, and she felt the juices pool heavily between her leg.

  Urgency grew between them, her intimate muscles clenched wanting him to enter her. His breath heavy on her neck as he embraced her. Using both hands, he lifted her just enough from the table, pulled down her pajama shorts sliding them down her legs.

  In a flurry of necessity, she reached out, undid his work pants, pushed them down along with his jocks, releasing his hard, hot cock. He moved back between her legs. His cock slipped in her thick juices. Gliding up and down her length, he took time to tease her for longer.

  She whimpered softly, closed her eyes as pleasure tingled her body. She was about to tell him to get the fuck into her, when she felt him move, his cock rested at her entrance. She flicked open her eyes, as if begging him. He pressed himself into her, his cock parting her tight muscles, which madly convulsed with pleasure. She groaned heavily, tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and let Max take her to the dizzying heights of an orgasm as he plunged in and out of her, building the tension expertly so it flooded over her in wave after wave. With a gasp, her body tipped over the edge as the tension broke. He moved once more in and out of her, keeping her buzzing with the pleasure, as he reached his own, spilling inside of her with passion. He wrapped his arms around her, as they breathed fast and heavy, the heat between them sparking.

  Zoe nestled her head onto his shoulder. She felt the connection between them strengthen as they embraced, while they both enjoying the aftermath of their intimacy. If only they could spend the entire day like this. While she hadn’t been living here on the farm with him for long, she had already realized that it didn’t matter if it were a Sunday, some jobs couldn’t wait. There would always be something that would drag Max back outside soon enough.

  “You feel a little tense,” said Max, his hands moving up to her shoulders. “Perhaps I didn’t show you how naughty I could be.”

  “Or maybe you need to show me how nice you can be.” She gazed into his eyes.

  Dare she hope that Max might have a little bit of time for her today. Even more than what he’d just given her just then, no matter how sated she’d felt.

  “Just because it’s nearly Christmas, how about I give you a massage?”

  “Nothing to do with you loving me? Or that I’m carrying your child?”

  “Our child.” He rested his hand on her belly.

  Zoe felt a bubbly movement. It was quick, fast, and nothing like she’d felt before.

  That wasn’t wind.

  “I just felt the baby move.”

  “What?” He pressed harder into her abdomen. “I think I felt it. You sure it wasn’t wind?”

  “I’m sure.” She grinned at him and put her hand over his. For a moment, all the worry she had whether or not this would work between them, flew from her mind, and she felt every confidence they would have a future together. All three of them.

  “Do I read anything into this. You know… like what we were just doing?” Max suddenly looked very serious, and a little guilty and embarrassed.

  Zoe laughed. “I don’t think so. But hey… happy Mom, happy baby, right?”

  He cupped his hands around her face and kissed her. “I’m so happy we’re having a baby.”

  “Me, too.” Her skin prickled from the serious tone in his voice.

  “And Zoe…” He brushed his hand down her cheek and she shivered. “I love you.”

  Warmth flooded through her. “I love you, too.”

  Zoe leaned forward and kissed him, savoring the moment they shared together. “How about that massage then?”

  He chuckled. “Bossy. Come on, I’ll have you melting from the touch of my hands in no time.”

  Zoe quite liked the sound of that. She slipped down from the table and said, “Happy Mom, happy baby.”

  He tugged her hand, pulling her toward the bedroom. She followed him, happily, glad he wasn’t just taking time for her, but also for their unborn baby.

  Monday 2nd December

  Max slipped out of bed without waking Zoe. It was hard to leave her there without taking time to simply embrace her, and snuggle with her before starting his workday. Then again, it wouldn’t have stopped at only a cuddle. Things were at a spicy hot level between them, and he was loving the change in his life. He dressed in his usual style of work clothes for the farm—jeans, shirt with the sleeves rolled up, thick woolen socks. His work boots by the backdoor ready for him when he left to start the day.

  He needed to go to the far section of the property to check the water levels in the troughs for the cattle. It was summer and it was hot, so he didn’t want to risk losing stock from a lack of water. The water reserves were low, but not to the point where they wouldn’t make it through to winter without having to buy water in.

  He glanced over his shoulder as he walked to the door. Zoe hadn’t stirred. She wore long cotton pants with a paisley design, and a singlet top. The sheets were kicked off as the night hadn’t cooled to warrant the extra layers. She slept stretched out, slightly on one side, hair messy from sleep, a peaceful expression on her face, and a hand on her belly. What he enjoyed seeing was the little bump of life that was silently growing inside of her. They might not have planned this pregnancy or followed the traditional relationship steps—dating, getting to know each other, trailing living together, then marriage—before starting a family, but he was glad they’d jumped ahead.

  Zoe moved.

  Max quickly stepped out of the room, leaving her to sleep. He had to get up but she didn’t. He felt like he was doing his bit by letting her rest.

  In the kitchen, he took out a bowl, filled it with some cereal, then poured cold full cream milk over it. He flicked the kettle on to boil and sat at the table to eat.

  Max couldn’t believe that Zoe, who was so much younger than he was, could get under his skin like she did. How she’d somehow gotten him to
open his heart again after his failed marriage. He never thought he’d have a woman living with him again, let alone one who was carrying their child.

  His life had changed so much since the Adelaide Show in September, then again when Zoe had braved driving to his farm in October to tell him she was pregnant. He remembered that day well. How this little city car, totally not built for the rough dirt roads out here, had come bumping along the driveway to his farm. Then seeing her get out, looking hot and sexy, it was a sight to behold. He’d thought he would never see her again, let alone what she was about to tell him. On that day she’d made him a happy man with her news.

  Knowing he was going to be a father in a few months kept him working hard on the farm. He wanted things to get into shape before the little bundle arrived, and to get some money flowing. He also needed to tick off the small jobs which had been mounting up. He planned to be a hands-on dad, as much as the farm would let him be, and he wanted to be there for Zoe. She’d risked so much by moving in with him, he felt like it was the least he could do. He wanted her to feel like this was her home too.

  It had been only a few weeks since she’d made the move, and he couldn’t believe how easily she took such a significant change in her life. Especially when he was still to have the internet upgraded, so she could work more easily and efficiently online. And she was making do with the furniture he had in the place. There was so much that needed to be done to accommodate Zoe, and also for when the baby arrived. He didn’t want her to lift a finger, but then again, he couldn’t exactly get things done because of his workload on the farm.

  What he had decided was to sell a load of beef cattle. They were looking strong and ready. That was going to be his Christmas gift to Zoe. The money from selling the truckload of cattle could go toward preparing the baby’s room and making changes in the house so she could feel at home. He just needed to give the cattle another week, maybe two, so they put on a bit more condition, and he could get a better price at market. Ordinarily, he would’ve kept them longer, watched the market prices, and avoid selling around Christmas when things were a bit quiet and prices were usually low. Max had decided it was far more important he got some money together, so Zoe could start decorating. He hoped it would also help to give her a purpose during the day. He was worried about how much time she was spending alone. It reminded him, he was going to get his mom to drop in and visit a little more often. She was, of course, super excited with the news, and it was because of her pushing that he was now selling part of his herd.