Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
A fter dinner, I feel a bubbling sense of excitement, even though the kitchen looks like a war zone. It's been through a lot these last few days–first the baking chaos, and now, well...let’s just say the naughty little fantasy that spiraled out of control earlier made things even worse.
Flour and frosting would’ve been easy to clean, but this? The countertops are streaked with everything from melted chocolate to what I can only describe as a syrupy disaster. The memory makes my cheeks burn, but I can’t help the grin that sneaks onto my face.
Key, naturally, is the worst culprit. He managed to get whipped cream everywhere, and I mean everywhere . I wipe down the one counter I managed to get clean, shaking my head at the thought of him.
“Artistic license,” he’d called it.
Sure, Key. Because dripping honey on my back mid-fellatio was part of the plan, right?
The kitchen has borne witness to some truly wild events over the past few days.
I sigh, shaking my head as I glance around at the mess. The floor is still slick with remnants of our earlier...activities, and the sink is piled high with bowls, spatulas, and other kitchen utensils that didn’t survive the fallout. But as exhausted as I am, I feel a warmth bubbling up inside me–contentment. Despite the madness, or maybe because of it, I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt so alive.
Wiping my hands on a dish towel, I wander over to the piano in the corner of the minibar area of the living room, drawn by the soft glint of its polished surface. Music has always been my refuge, my way of finding peace amidst the chaos of the holidays. I’ve been itching to play ever since I arrived at the cabin, and now, with the storm swirling outside and the warm glow of the fire crackling nearby, it feels like the perfect time to indulge.
I settle onto the bench, my fingers hovering over the keys for a moment. The piano is beautiful, well-kept despite the remote location, and the thought of filling the cabin with something other than mayhem makes me smile. I can already picture the guys making fun of me, rolling their eyes at my need for some holiday cheer, but tough luck for them–they’re about to get a full-on Christmas concert, whether they like it or not.
I press down the first key, a gentle note ringing out through the cabin. I let my gaze sweep across the room. The tree twinkles in the corner, the scent of pine filling the air with nostalgia. I glance over at the guys–Atlas is sitting on the couch with his arms crossed, looking stoic but relaxed, Teddy is leaning against the wall with a drink in his hand, and Key, of course, is juggling a set of knives with alarming skill.
“Okay, boys,” I announce, fingers dancing over the keys. “It’s time for some Christmas carols.”
Atlas raises one thick, black eyebrow. “Carols?”
Key catches one of his knives and grins. “I’ll sing if we can rewrite the lyrics. None of that traditional crap.”
Teddy smirks before taking a drink of his whiskey. “What, like a hitman’s guide to Christmas or something?”
My grin widens. “Exactly like that.”
Atlas groans, but I catch the faint hint of a smile tugging at his lips. For all his tough-guy brooding, I can tell he’s secretly enjoying this. Oh, he thinks he’s tough now. Let’s see how tough he is after I get him to sing about jingle bells and gunfights.
I slide a teasing glance his way and decide to push my luck. “Come on, Atlas.” I stand up, walk over to him, and grab his arm, pulling him toward the piano. “I know you’ve got some Christmas spirit hidden somewhere in that big, scary body of yours.”
His expression softens just a little as he allows himself to be pulled to the piano, but there’s a playful challenge in his eyes. “Don’t count on it.”
Key bounds over next, spinning one of his knives in the air before catching it and setting it down on the coffee table. “This should be good.” He winks at me, and when he reaches the piano, he leans in close, his hand brushing my lower back, sending a little jolt of heat through me. “I’ll join in, Sugar, but you better keep up.”
“I’ll do more than keep up,” I tease back, not missing the way his hand lingers. The touch is fleeting, but it leaves a delicious tingle in its wake.
Teddy, with a resigned sigh, pushes off from the wall and strolls over, taking his place beside Key. “Fine, but I’m not wearing any elf hats.”
I laugh and slide back onto the bench. “Deal. No elf hats.”
I begin to play the opening notes of It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year , starting off soft and cheerful, letting the holiday mood settle into the room. Atlas watches me, his dark eyes warm despite his usual gruffness, and I can feel the connection between us all. It’s an unspoken bond that goes beyond the chaos of the past few days.
“You boys ready?” I ask, glancing up at them with a mischievous smile.
Without missing a beat, Key leans against the piano and flashes me a grin. “I was born ready.”
I switch it up, transitioning into a playful version of Jingle Bells, and I can’t help but improvise with my own lyrics. “Dashing through the snow,” I sing, wiggling my eyebrows. “With three hitmen on my tail-”
Key jumps in with perfect timing, his voice surprisingly smooth. “Over the hills we go, leaving bodies in our wake?—”
I snort with laughter, barely managing to keep playing through my giggles. “Whoa, Key! Not exactly the Christmas spirit I was aiming for!”
Teddy rolls his eyes but joins in, his deep voice playful as he adds, “Guns blazing all the way!”
“Jingle bells, bodies fell, Grace led us astray-” Key belts out, grabbing a candlestick from the minibar counter and using it as a makeshift microphone.
I stop playing, laughing so hard I can’t continue. “Led you astray? Excuse me?”
Teddy shrugs and takes a seat beside me on the piano bench, his thigh brushing mine in a way that feels entirely too intimate for caroling. “You do tend to drag us into chaos.”
“Well, maybe you boys need a little chaos in your lives,” I say, flashing him a grin. I can feel the heat from where our legs touch, and for a second, the teasing is replaced by a quiet intensity. “I keep you on your toes, admit it.”
Atlas, who has been silently watching, finally cracks a chuckle. “You definitely keep things interesting.”
I give him a playful smile, happy to see him loosening up. “Come on, Atlas. Sing with us.”
He gives me a long, measured look before grumbling something under his breath. But when I start playing the next song, he stays quiet, waiting.
I switch to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, slowing down the tempo and adding a bluesy twist, letting the song drift into something playful but smooth. Almost instantly, Key jumps in again, crooning in a sultry voice. “Grace the red-cheeked sweetheart, had a very sassy grin…”
I burst out laughing, but manage to keep my fingers moving on the keys. “Key, really?”
“And if you ever met her,” Teddy adds, his voice low and teasing, “you would say she’s sweet as sin…”
I snort again, shaking my head as I glance between them. “You two are ridiculous.”
Key leans in close, his lips brushing my ear as he murmurs, “Only for you, Sugar”
A shiver runs down my spine at the low timbre of his voice, and I have to focus to keep my fingers steady on the keys. His hand rests lightly on my back, just enough to remind me he’s there, and it’s hard to concentrate when I can feel the heat of him so close.
Teddy, not to be outdone, takes his turn. “Then one snowy Christmas Eve, Atlas came to say-”
Key cuts in with a sly grin. “Teddy, with your glutes so tight, won’t you save us all tonight?”
Teddy gives him a mock glare. “Seriously?”
I stop playing, shaking my head with a smile. “Okay, you guys are officially terrible at caroling.”
As the last echoes of our ridiculous reindeer song fade away, I turn back to the piano, fingers automatically finding the soft, familiar chords of Silent Night. The playful mood shifts instantly, the calming notes filling the air, and I lose myself in the music.
But then, something unexpected happens.
Atlas, standing quietly off to the side, begins to sing.
And it’s not just any singing–no, he sings .
" Silent night, holy night …" His voice is deep and smooth, like a velvet blanket wrapping around me, warm and comforting. It fills the room, rich and resonant, as if he’s pouring every ounce of emotion he has into the lyrics.
My fingers nearly slip off the keys as I stare at him in shock, eyes wide. He’s standing there, eyes closed, completely absorbed in the song, his expression softer than I’ve ever seen it. It’s like the hard, intimidating exterior he always wears has melted away, and in its place is something...breathtaking.
His voice isn’t just good–it’s incredible. It’s the kind of voice that makes you want to stop whatever you’re doing and listen, because nothing else in the world could possibly matter in that moment.
Teddy and Key exchange stunned glances, and for once, neither of them says a word. They’re just as floored as I am.
Atlas keeps going, his voice swelling with emotion as he sings the next verse. " All is calm, all is bright …"
I can’t tear my eyes away from him. His normally guarded expression is completely open, vulnerable even, as if this song is pulling something out of him that he usually keeps buried deep inside. There’s a hint of sadness in his voice, but also something hopeful, something pure.
When he hits the high note, I feel a shiver run down my spine. My heart skips a beat, and I have to remind myself to keep playing.
" Sleep in heavenly peace …"
The final note lingers in the air, and when Atlas finally opens his eyes, the room is completely still. There’s a quiet kind of awe hanging in the air, like we’ve all just witnessed something we weren’t supposed to see.
I’m the first to break the silence. “Atlas...you have an amazing voice. Why didn’t you tell me you could sing like that?”
Atlas shifts uncomfortably, his gaze dropping to the floor as he rubs the back of his neck. “It’s not a big deal,” he mutters, trying to brush it off.
Not a big deal? The man just belted Silent Night like he’s auditioning for a solo at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting, and he acts like it’s nothing? I glance over at Teddy and Key, who are staring at Atlas with matching expressions of disbelief, both of them clearly biting back a barrage of teasing remarks.
Key, of course, cracks first. “Not a big deal? Dude, you sounded like a choir boy on steroids!” He clutches his chest dramatically, eyes wide with fake astonishment. “Where’s this been hiding? We could’ve been using you as our secret weapon all along! You know, lull our enemies into a false sense of security before you belt out a high note and they drop dead from sheer shock.”
Teddy nods, keeping a completely straight face. “I’m with Key on this one. Atlas, you missed your calling, man. Forget about the whole hitman business. You should’ve gone on The Voice or something.” He pauses for a beat before adding with a grin, “Can you imagine? Blake Shelton turning his chair around for you.”
Atlas shoots them both a look that could melt steel. “Cut it out.”
Key’s grin widens. “Come on, big guy. Just admit it–you're basically a Christmas miracle wrapped in muscle and tattoos.”
Teddy folds his arms, a wicked glint in his eyes. “Yeah, Atlas, we’re thinking of starting a boy band. You’ll be the lead singer, obviously. Key’s the bad boy, and I’m the one with mysterious blue eyes who writes all the deep, meaningful songs.”
Key cackles and starts doing exaggerated boy band dance moves, swinging his hips and waving his hands. “We’ll call ourselves Jingle Hell’s Hitmen . Or Yuletide Carnage –you know, something festive, but edgy.”
Atlas lets out a low growl, which only makes them laugh harder. His cheeks turn a shade pinker, but he stays quiet, trying to ignore them.
“Guys,” I say, giving them a warning look. “Leave him alone. Atlas was amazing, and you’re just jealous that you don’t have his vocal talent.”
Key puts a hand to his heart, pretending to be wounded. “Jealous? Of this guy?” He waves a hand toward Atlas, who still looks like he’d rather be anywhere else right now. “Please. I can hit high notes if I want to. I just choose not to because, you know, I don’t want to steal the spotlight.”
Teddy laughs, clearly enjoying the teasing a little too much. “Yeah, yeah. Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”
Atlas clenches his jaw and shoots them both a deadly glare.
I step in. “That’s enough.” My voice is firm, and I plant my hands on my hips, giving Teddy and Key my best mom voice , which, to my surprise, actually works. They stop laughing and look at me, wide-eyed. “You two should be ashamed of yourselves. Atlas just shared something beautiful, something that he’s clearly nervous about, and all you can do is mock him?”
Teddy opens his mouth to protest, but I cut him off with a sharp look. “No. I don’t want to hear it. You two have officially lost bed privileges for the night.”
Key’s jaw drops. “Wait, what?”
I cross my arms over my chest, glaring at both of them. “You heard me. Neither of you is sleeping in my bed tonight. You can take the couch. Or the floor. I don’t care. But you’re not sharing my bed after behaving like a couple of immature buttheads.”
Teddy stares at me, mouth opening and closing like a fish. “But, Grace-”
“No buts ,” I say, cutting him off with a stern finger pointed his way. “You need to learn some respect. Atlas just poured his heart into that song, and instead of supporting him, you two turned it into a joke.”
Key, ever the charmer, gives me his best puppy-dog eyes. “Come on, Sugar, we were just having a little fun.”
I raise an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Oh, were you? Well, now you can have fun on the couch.”
Teddy narrows his eyes, clearly not used to being grounded like a misbehaving child. “This is cruel and unusual punishment.”
“You know what’s cruel?” I ask, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Being rude to friends– family .”
Atlas, who’s been silently watching the whole exchange, crosses his arms and leans back against the wall, looking like he’s enjoying this way more than he’s letting on. “She’s right. Take your punishment like a man.”
I give him a triumphant smile. “Thank you, Atlas. At least someone around here appreciates good behavior.”
Key groans dramatically, throwing himself down on the couch like he’s just been sentenced to life in prison. “Fine. But I just want it on the record that we’re being unjustly punished.”
I walk over and ruffle his hair, making him scowl. “Not unjustly. You deserve every minute of it.”
Teddy sighs, muttering under his breath as he stalks toward the couch. “This is ridiculous. Grounded from bed…I’m a grown ass man.”
I stifle a giggle, knowing full well they’re both sulking like children, but they’ll get over it. Teddy flops down next to Key, and they both sit there, arms crossed, glaring at me like I’m some kind of tyrant. I put my hands on my hips and turn back toward Atlas, who’s watching the whole thing unfold with an amused smirk.
“Well,” I say, feeling a little smug. “I guess it’s just you and me tonight, Atlas.”
Key’s head snaps up. “Wait, what?”
I bite back a laugh. “Oh, did you not put two and two together, Key? With you two grounded, that means it’s just me and Attie.”
Teddy and Key both groan in unison, but I ignore them, turning to Atlas with a wink. “How’s that sound to you?”
Atlas just shrugs, but there’s a glint in his eye that tells me he’s more than a little pleased. “Sounds good to me.”
“Traitor,” Teddy mutters from the couch, and I snicker under my breath.
Key groans dramatically, throwing his arm over his eyes. “I can’t believe this. Banished to the couch like some kind of peasant. He even let her use the nickname!”
I cross my arms and tilt my head at him, feigning sympathy. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice before mocking someone’s musical talents.”
Teddy sighs, looking defeated. “Lesson learned. Atlas, my man, you…uhh…sounded good and shit.”
“The voice of an angel,” Key adds, before rolling his eyes and muttering under his breath, “Or like the voice of our downfall.”
“It’s too late for all that,” I say with a grin, ignoring his muttering. “but that’s definitely more like it.”
Atlas, still leaning against the wall, watches me with a quiet intensity that makes my heart race. There’s something about the way he looks at me, like he’s seeing right through all the teasing and jokes, straight into my soul. I can feel the warmth of his gaze, and suddenly, the room feels a lot hotter.
“Alright,” I say, clapping my hands together and turning back toward the piano, trying to shake off the sudden tension in the air. “I think that’s enough Christmas caroling for tonight.”
Teddy groans from the couch. “Thank God. I was one sleigh bell away from losing my mind.”
I giggle, giving him a mock salute. “You’re welcome. Consider it an early Christmas gift.”
Key grumbles something under his breath about cruel Christmas punishments, but I just wave him off, feeling lighter than I have in days. The banter, the teasing, even the sulking–it all feels so...right. Like we’re creating our own little family.
As I turn back to Atlas, catching his eye again, I can’t help but feel a surge of gratitude. For these men, for this crazy situation, for this strange little Christmas that’s turning out to be one of the best I’ve ever had.
“Come on, Atlas,” I say softly, holding out my hand. “Let’s go to bed.”
He takes my hand without hesitation, his grip warm and solid as we leave the others behind on the couch. As we head upstairs, I can’t help but smile, knowing that no matter what happens next, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.