Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
I lounge back comfortably on the plush couch, enjoying the warmth from the fire and occasional sips of my steaming mug of spiked hot chocolate. In my hands, the knitting needles click steadily as I work on my newest project. The soothing, repetitive motions help me relax and enjoy my cozy Christmas surroundings, even as shouts drift down the hallway from where the guys continue their intense interrogation of our houseguest .
I know the harsh business they need to conduct is necessary if they're to rescue that poor kidnapped girl. But hearing the pained cries puts a bit of a damper on my holly jolly mood. Still, I have every confidence Atlas, Teddy, and Key will get the vital information they need. Then we can all get back into the holiday mood, seeing as it’s the Christmas season.
I try to focus on my knitting, but another agonized wail has me fumbling my needles. Sighing, I set the half-finished project aside, my previous relaxed mood evaporating. I'm tempted to cover my ears to childishly block out the unpleasant sounds, but I know Teddy and the others are only doing what's necessary.
Still, all that screaming is seriously harshing my Christmas spirit.
I debate trying to lose myself in a movie or book, but restlessness keeps me from settling. I need a distraction. My gaze lands on the heaping platter of fresh-baked cookies cooling on the counter.
That's it! Maybe the guys could use a sweet treat to boost their mood. I'll put together a little cookie and cocoa platter to surprise them. Nodding decisively, I tie my robe tighter and slide my feet into my fuzzy red slippers.
Time to spread some holiday cheer!
Humming along to Deck the Halls , I arrange an assortment of frosted sugar cookies and thumbprint jam tarts on a red glass platter, then whip up four mugs of rich hot chocolate topped with peppermint sticks and a generous dollop of whipped cream sprinkled with crushed candy canes.
Perfect!
Tray loaded with sweets in hand, I make my way up towards the tense voices echoing down the hall, the smell of chocolate and cinnamon preceding me.
I hope my yummy offerings will lift their spirits. Surely, even interrogators need to take a snack break now and then!
I step through the doorway with a bright smile, taking in the scene before me. Atlas has the hostage–a squirrely man in a wrinkled suit–tied to a chair in the center of the room. Dried blood crusts the man's swollen nose and his split lip. He definitely looks like he’s been through the wringer.
Teddy paces slowly behind the prisoner, spinning a wicked-looking knife between his fingers. He angles the blade just so, to make it catch the light with each rotation. Key perches nearby, boots kicked up on a side table as he casually shuffles a deck of cards. His apparent nonchalance is betrayed by the eager glint in his tawny eyes that remain fixed on Teddy and the prisoner.
All three men look up when I enter, Teddy pausing his slow prowl to raise a questioning brow.
"Who wants cookies?" I sing, holding out the platter with a grin. My entrance seems to break the tension as chuckles sound all around. Looks like my sugar rush was just what they needed! Warmth swells in my chest as I straighten even taller.
Filled with pride, I breeze farther into the room, pleased when Atlas snags a cookie off the tray with a grunt of thanks. Even Teddy pauses his intimidation routine long enough to grab one of the mugs.
My smile slips, however, when the hostage pins his bloodshot eyes on me. His lip curls in a sneer, his beady gaze raking insultingly over my body.
"What's a tasty little piece of ass like you doing with this trash?" He rasps, tilting his head toward the guys. "Why don't you ditch these losers, and I'll show you what a real man can do."
His lewd words have fury flashing through me. How dare this creep speak so crudely!
He spits towards the platter in my hands, flecks of blood and saliva nearly marring my cookies. The guys bristle, no doubt gearing up to jump into my defense, but a blazing anger steals through me first.
I calmly set the tray aside. Heart racing, I keep my face smooth as I stride toward a wayward mound of Christmas decorations. Selecting a sparkling handful of tinsel, without a word, I march right up to the foul-mouthed prisoner and stuff the entire thing into his gaping mouth.
He gags, eyes bulging as I pat his scruffy cheek.
"There, much better! No more nasty words now," I chirp sweetly and pull away, accidentally knocking against something hard.
His resounding groan of agony has me looking to see the hilt of a knife sticking out of his shoulder. A knife I just knocked on my way past. “Oops.”
Glancing back at the guys, I give them a proud smile and say, "we won't stand for that kind of foul language here."
Atlas barks out a laugh while Key whistles. Even Teddy cracks a reluctant grin.
Turning back to the hostage, my smile falters as something tugs at the back of my mind. Something about the despondent and almost absent look he has in his eyes. It’s like he’s goading them to try and end things. There’s fear in his dull brown eyes, but not for himself. For someone else. It’s like he’s trying to protect someone.
Before I can ponder on it any further, the laughs and whistles from my boys shift into something more heated, distracting me. Their eyes track me hungrily as I saunter back over after collecting my platter of treats, a new sort of tension charging the air that has nothing to do with interrogation.
Atlas reaches me first, plucking the tray from my hands and setting it aside before gripping my hips. His strong fingers flex, tugging me closer.
"That was hot as fuck, baby." His gravelly voice drops even lower. "Didn't know you had such fire in you."
A thrill races through me at his approving rumble. I bite my lip coyly as his heated perusal sweeps down to my mouth.
"She's full of surprises, our girl." Teddy prowls closer, fire glinting behind the icy blue of his eyes, now banked with desire. His large hand trails teasingly down my arm, raising goosebumps in its wake. I shiver under their palpable focus, heart stuttering when Key joins the fray.
" Mmm, if this is the result, I may have to get Sugar here angry more often."
Key slides behind me, breath hot on my ear as his arms slip around my waist. His dexterous fingers flirt with the sash on my robe.
"Gotta admit, that flash of temper was sexy as hell. Makes me wanna see what other passionate reactions we can drag out of you..."
I gasp as his lips graze the sensitive spot below my ear.
Atlas growls approvingly as I sway into Key's solid chest. Teddy moves closer still, capturing me deliciously between their hard bodies. He toys with the collar of my robe, revealing inch after inch of my creamy flesh, the low V cut of the nightgown underneath leaving nothing to the imagination.
His hooded eyes follow the path of exposed skin as he bites his lip. "I think it's time we show our feisty little mistress just how much we liked her show of dominance..."
Yes, please .
My heart races at the searing heat in Teddy’s gaze as he devours my exposed skin. The need to consume me whole painted in every inch of his features. Yet, before he can make his move, Atlas sweeps in and throws me over his shoulder, earning a surprised squeak from me.
Instead of the apprehension and uncertainty that filled me when he made the same move in the kitchen not too long ago, desire and need pulses through me in heady thrums. I may not have known these guys as long as I have Jason, but their genuine care and thoughtfulness shine through like a beacon of hope. Lighting me up in ways I never knew was even possible.
Carrying me off into the master bedroom, he gently places me back down, letting my body slide against every inch of his as he gazes down at me hungrily. Grasping my chin in his grip, keeping my attention focused solely on him, my breath hitches in anticipation when I catch a glimpse of Key sidling up behind me before he dips out of my line of sight.
Glancing behind Atlas, I see Teddy standing in the doorway, the glow of the Christmas lights flashing downstairs, causing a deliciously menacing mass of dancing shadows in the background behind him as a devious smirk creeps across his face.
“On or off, Little One?”
I grin, wholeheartedly knowing my answer this time.
“Off,” I whisper, my voice raspy with need as I toe off my slippers.
“Good choice, Sugar,” Key coos, nibbling my ear lobe as his fingers deftly rid me of my robe and nightgown.
Standing bare before them, I’m robbed of breath when Key’s hot, naked body presses up against my back. Relinquishing his hold, Atlas assists Key in trapping my arms behind my back between us.
Pinned, with nowhere to go, my core clenches as Key wraps his arms around me and starts exploring just as Teddy steps further into the room. Watching them in rapt fascination, Teddy and Atlas both begin to slowly remove their clothes.
Catching the look on their faces, they don’t once take their eyes off Key’s wandering hands. A blush stains my cheeks and descends to cover my chest and torso as I try to hide away from their intense gazes, but Key won’t allow it.
“Don’t be shy, Sugar. After tonight, we will have tasted every delectable inch of you.” Key’s growled promise does nothing to help squander the blush now staining most of my body.
I’ve never been ashamed of my body, but having three, extremely handsome and clearly experienced men regarding me like I’m the woman of their dreams is rather intimidating.
Ruminating on his words and my reactions to everything, I pout when I realize I zoned out and missed the end of the strip tease that was happening in front of me. Chuckling, Teddy takes a step forward to come to stand beside Atlas. Their muscular figures flexing and contracting with each movement, making my mouth go dry.
I wonder what it would be like to run my hands across their frames–to explore every carved surface of them. My pulse races with desire, my body throbbing for each of them, ready for them to touch me. To feel their hands on me. To feel their mouths claiming me until I'm screaming out their names in pleasure.
Teddy makes the first move, shocking me out of my lust-driven thoughts and into the present. A mewl escapes my lips as he wastes no time in securing his mouth to mine, indulging in a long, deep kiss that steals my breath away.
Allowing his hands to wander, they join Key’s in caressing every inch of my body until I have no idea whose hand belongs to whom. That feeling only intensifies when Atlas joins in, taking over from Teddy and adding his hands to the mix.
They continue to take turns devouring me senseless until Teddy pulls away and gives the others a silent look. Immediately, I’m scooped up in Atlas’ unyielding grip and tossed onto the bed. A giggle slips my lips as my body bounces a little, before settling into the plush fur throw they seem to have found.
That’s going to make clean up fun. Not!
I snicker to myself, squealing when Atlas descends over the top of me and cages my head between his arms.
“What’s so funny?”
I grin, noticing the dopey smile on his face.
“Nothing for you to worry about,” I reply coyly, booping his nose.
Growling, he grabs my hands and lifts me up over his shoulder again. This time, he repositions me horizontally across the bed so my head is hanging off one side, giving me a beautiful–albeit upside down view–of the snowy landscape outside.
Straining my neck, I try to look up at what Atlas has planned, but I don’t get the chance to process anything before all my faculties disappear.
“ Candy canes! ” I moan, the curses getting stuck in my throat as he rips my legs apart and gets straight to feasting on my cunt. No work up. No preamble. Just pure animalistic need drives him to spear me on his fingers and lap at my clit without any reprieve.
Dropping my head back, I can’t do anything but stare out into the winter wonderland beyond as I grip the bed sheets tightly in the hopes of keeping myself grounded. Within seconds, I’m screaming from my first release.
“That wasn’t anywhere near loud enough,” Key mutters from somewhere at my feet where I can’t see him. I shiver as his hand trails over my chest and grasps my breast in a firm grip. I squirm, the movement rubbing Atlas’ beard over the sensitive flesh of my sex, making me groan.
Atlas grunts. “That was just a warm-up.”
Removing his digits from me, he flips me over in one smooth movement, almost making me dizzy. Pulling my hips up so I’m on all fours, he grabs my head and tilts my head back.
Lost in the moment, it’s only when he speaks and I’m pulled back to the present that the panic begins to set in.