Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
P lating up Jason’s breakfast, I put it in the oven to keep it warm until I call him. Yes, I may have made him breakfast because I’d feel too bad not to, even after everything he’s done. But, it doesn’t mean I can’t be petty in subtle ways. He’d be too nervous to come down and check on what I’m up to with the guys around, so I know he’ll stay up there until I call him.
It just sucks for him that I have three very attentive men at my service.
“Come on, Sugar. The food’s getting cold,” Key coaxes as he sweeps in and lifts me over his shoulder.
“Key, no! I need to put the oven mitts away,” I giggle, completely loving his caveman approach.
He swats my ass in return. “Oh shush. We’ll clean up later for you.”
The low murmurs of Teddy and Atlas’ voices stop suddenly as we approach the table. I grab onto Key as a head rush knocks me silly when he rights me. Taking a second for the room to stop spinning, I grin when Key’s gorgeous amber eyes are in my line of sight, alight with mischief.
I cross my arms over my chest and regard him with a smile. “And what do you have up your sleeve right now? You seem rather proud.”
“Nothing, I’m just happy to get in on some of the action, that’s all.” He winks as he raises his arm above his head. “Oh, would you look at that! Mistletoe! Lay one on me, Sugar.”
I fall about in laughter at the pride in his voice and the coy smile and eyebrow wiggle he gives me.
“You’re incorrigible.” I shake my head, loving every second of it. “Come here then, pretty boy.”
Grabbing him by the shirt, I pull him close and lay my lips gently over his. Chucking the mistletoe off to the side, he wastes no time in wrapping me up in his arms and devouring me senseless. Dipping me, my hair falls out of the messy bun I threw it up in and cascades down as his tongue seeks entrance, tracing every inch of my mouth.
Like a Hallmark movie moment, my heart lights up in pure joy. My inner princess preens at the multitude of romantic experiences I’ve had with these guys already. It’s like a dream come true.
It feels like hours before we slow down to a more sensual kiss, one that holds a lot of meaning. Righting us both slowly, he caresses the side of my face as we stare into each others’ eyes.
“We’re so lucky to have come across such a beautiful woman like you. Each day I thank my lucky elves for leading us to you.”
I giggle at the Christmas pun, swatting his chest. The warm, happy feeling in my chest souring just a little as I glance out of the window.
The storm seems to have finally broke. The sky sunny and clear with only small, gentle glitter dusting the mountains of snow outside. With the change, it begs to question: What happens when they can leave?
“Oh, stop it.” I pick my hair band off the floor and wrestle it back into a bun again. “Come on, let’s eat.”
I move away and take a seat opposite Atlas and Teddy, leaving the spot beside me open for Key. I busy myself with preparing a plate, trying to swallow the bitterness that threatens to take over. But it’s impossible. Now that the thought has crept in, I can’t seem to shake it.
When the roads clear and they can move freely again, they’ll go back to hunting down that poor girl. And I’ll return to a mundane life of?—
Well, nothing now.
“What’s wrong, Little One?” Teddy asks as Key sits himself down.
“Nothing,” I force a smile onto my face. “Everything’s fine. Now, I need to apologize.”
“About what?” Atlas asks in confusion. I don’t miss the subtle looks he shares with the others either.
“The eggs. They got a little...toastier than I’d planned.”
“They weren’t the only things getting toasty,” Key jibes, drawing a small laugh from me.
“They’re fine. Now eat .” The demand comes from Atlas, to which I simply raise my eyebrows at him. “Please,” he grits out through clenched teeth.
“Thank you,” I chirp, picking up my fork and tucking in.
With a small smile on my face, I immerse myself in the food, not wanting to ruin what we have going on. But the tension in the air is rife as they effortlessly catch on to the shift in me. All three of their gazes are unyielding as if they can see straight through to my soul.
Wanting to avoid eye contact, I glance out the window at the snowy landscape, tracking the tiny snowflakes as they float weightlessly in the air. I focus on the gentle movements, allowing it to lull me enough to work through my thoughts.
I want so desperately for this to continue, but it’s just not feasible. We lead very different lives. Before Jason, I would have been willing to concede my goals and aspirations to move anywhere with the one–or ones –I love. But now? Now, I know I need to prioritize myself and my own ambitions, and it’s not fair to expect them to make sacrifices for me in that regard.
Plus, let’s face it, I’m just a random stranger they were forced into proximity with in a storm. It’s unlikely that they share the same depth of feelings I have for them.
“Whatever is going on in that pretty little head of yours, needs to stop right now.” Teddy’s unexpectedly soft voice has me jumping, leaving my fork to clatter on my plate in the silence following his words.
Locking eyes with him, he regards me carefully, like I’m a glass ornament about to break.
“Tell us what’s going on, Grace.” I go to shake my head and refute his statement–the jingle balls I’d just grown are starting to shrivel once more under their attention–but he cuts me off. “You can’t deny it, Little One. We can see your worry.”
I sigh.
“It’s just,” I grab the reindeer napkins I brought with me off the table and divert my attention. Wiping my mouth, I savor the moment as I try to gather my words without sounding like a whiny child. “I don’t want this to end.”
Staring at the napkin in my hand, it takes me a while, but I finally pluck up the courage to look at Teddy sitting across from me when the silence stretches out too long.
“I know you guys have your own life to get back to after this, but I really don’t want this to end. It’s just...Well, I’m going to miss you guys.”
Setting to destroying the napkin in my hands, I lower my eyes once more, not wanting to see the expressions on their faces. I’m surprised when Teddy reaches across the table to lay his hand over mine, stopping me from ripping up any more of the poor reindeer.
“Grace, look at me.” The use of my real name has me hesitantly raising my head. “We were actually planning to talk to you about this.”
I give him a sad smile, laying my hand over the top of his.
“It’s okay, I get-”
“Hush your mush, woman, and let the man speak,” Key whispers in my ear. Pecking my cheek, he runs his hand over my head and drapes his arm across the back of my shoulders.
“Little One, we don’t want this to be over either.” My heart soars as elation creeps in. “But we can’t do that without sacrifice.”
Letting out a shaky breath, I tighten my grip on Teddy’s hand.
“I get that,” I swallow thickly. “I just don’t think I can put myself last again. I’m sorry.”
“Of course you’re not,” he replies, sounding almost offended. “We’d never ask you to.”
“Then wha-”
Key scoops me up onto his lap, ripping my hand from Teddy. “Just sit here like a good girl and listen.” His husky voice has all the wrong sorts of messages heading to my brain and…well. We may be having a serious conversation here, but my body sure didn’t get the message.
It’s those two little words. The ones that can make or break a woman, in the best of ways.
Atlas chuffs as Teddy smirks, noticing my predicament. “Save that for later,” Key growls behind me and Teddy winks, making me blush.
Teddy leans back in his chair in that commanding way only he can pull off. “Little one, maybe it’s early to say this, but we’ve been hooked on you since day one. Your fire and sweetness had us caught from the start.”
My heart pitter-patters in my chest.
“Our lives may be a little complicated, and I can guess why you’re worried.” Inclining his head, I can see he’s already thought about and anticipated all of my reservations. “I can assure you though, this is not a one and done thing. We always intended to take you as ours.”
A blush soars through my body–lighting me up like Rudolph’s nose, no doubt–at the memory of Atlas claiming me as theirs this morning.
“There may be some teething issues to begin with, but we will work out the solutions as we go.”
“You’re not getting away from us,” Atlas growls, his aloof nature warring with possessive need.
“And you don’t get a choice,” Key whispers in my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
“But what about your jobs, a home-”
They all notice the hitch in my voice. The situation with Jason rearing its ugly head again.
“Baby girl,” Atlas leans forward on the table. Looking me directly in the eye, his forest green eyes light up with nothing but sincerity and unwavering loyalty. “You are our home. Wherever you go, we go.”
Giving him a happy smile, tears threaten to spill.
“We can talk about specifics later, but you will not be leaving our sides.” I glance at Teddy through my blurred vision. The sight of his soft smile warms my heart and has it pulsing with happiness.
My smile dims slightly as another thought hits me like a freight train. “Will I have to choose?”
“Choose what?” Atlas questions.
“Between you guys.” My eyes run between Atlas and Teddy as Key tightens his arms around me and strokes my knee.
“No,” they all say in unison.
“But-”
“But nothing, Sugar.” Key adjusts me on his knee so we can see each other properly. “Do you like us all equally?” I nod. “Do you want to have a relationship with us all?” I nod. “Then why should you have to choose?”
“Because that’s not how the world works,” I answer meekly.
“Screw the world. It’s not like King Dickmus–ruler of the dickiverses–once upon a time came to Earth to decree universal law that anyone with more than one partner in life should be struck down by the fellatial hammer.” I snort, picturing that vividly. “It is your life, and there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to loving someone. Sure, these types of relationships don’t always work. But, you’ll never know until you try.”
I suppose it makes sense. I swallow thickly, a little sliver of jealousy rearing its ugly head. “Have you guys ever-” I stop myself, biting my lip.
“Are you asking if we’ve ever had this type of relationship before?” Teddy props his elbows on the table and leans forward, giving me a smirk and a raised eyebrow. Teasing bastard.
“Yes.” I squeak, cheeks heated.
Key’s arms tighten around me before exploring lower. Moving his hands to the insides of my legs, he coaxes me to open them and strokes my inner thighs, all the way up to my core. The heat sores in the room and a blush stains my cheeks once more.
“I think our little nutcracker is jealous.” Licking up the side of my neck, I groan as electricity lights up every nerve synapse through my core.
“I’m not,” I refute weakly.
“No?” Key pushes as Teddy’s smirk grows and Atlas’ hand disappears under the table.
“Just curious, is all.”
“Well, to save you from your misery,” Key punctuates with a nip to my collarbone. “No, we haven’t.”
I jump spinning round to look at him, his hands flying out to catch me before I fall sideways off his lap. “Seriously?”
“Seriously,” he replies with a chuckle.
The absurdity of the conversation and the surprise answer to my question has my brain breaking mid sentence. “Well, you do a damned fine job of tag teaming for having no practice before.”
Silence reigns for a second before all three of them burst into laughter, their deep, rumbling amusement lights up the atmosphere and clears the rest of the tension with ease.
“You hear that boys, we’re good at the horizontal quad-tangle!”
“Key!” I swat at his arm before burying my head in his shoulder, cringing. “I never should have said anything.” I groan.
“In all seriousness, Little One. That’s exactly what you should do. In order for this to work, we need to be open and honest with one another. Anything but that, and we’re setting ourselves up for failure.”
“Okay.”
“Okay, what?”
“Okay to this-” I wave my hands around. “Us. Everything you just said.”
“A life together?” Atlas chimes in, bringing his hand above the table once more.
“Is this a proposal?” My hands suddenly get clammy and palpitations take over my body. “I don’t think I’m-”
My words cut off as Atlas stands with a box in his hand. Is that what I think it is? No, it can’t be! Where on earth would they have gotten a ring from around here?
They wouldn’t, stupid. We’ve been snowed in for Claus’ sake. You’ve been with them every second!
Key turns me in his lap to face Atlas who walks round the table and comes to a knee in front of me.
“Nutcracker.” Oh chestnuts! “Will you do us the honor-” I don’t know whether I can do this. I feel a hyperventilation episode coming on. I’m not ready for this! “-of being our one and only gingerbread baker?”
Popping the box open, there’s three tiny, buff gingerbread men surrounding a rosy cheeked gingerbread princess who has her dress ruffled up and white frosting all over where her pussy would be.
I lose it. Straight up, lose it in hysterical laughter.
“Yes, yes I will.” The guys all grin. Atlas places a kiss on the back of my hand as Key squeezes me gently.
“You should have seen your face,” Teddy remarks as he rests back in his chair once more. Resting his ankle on his leg and lacing his tattooed fingers together in front of him, he looks everything like the sensual mob boss. “You really thought we’d propose to you without the proper fanfare?”
“Well I don’t know, now do I? We have only known each other for a matter of days, and you aren’t the sanest of bunches!”
Key lets out a shocked gasp. “That is so mean, Sugar!”
“Well-”
“Enough talking.” Atlas scoops me up from Key, drawing a squeak from me. “I had to watch Key rile you up, I’m not waiting any longer.”
“Wait! My gingerbread!”
“Teddy will get them.”
“But what about Jas-”
“ Jason. Food. Oven. ” Atlas bellows, not once breaking his stride.
“And the host-”
“Finish that sentence and I’ll spank your ass so hard you won’t be able to sit down,” Atlas growls.
I’m probably signing my own funeral, yet I can’t help but tease.
“Is that a threat or a promise?”
Swapping from a princess hold to a fireman's hold, I yelp.
“You’re in for it now, Sugar,” Key grins following behind with Teddy at his side. Matching each other's strides, they roll their sleeves up to reveal all their tattoos. The veins on their forearms and hands pulsate as their biceps and chest seem to double in size. Leading down to their tapered waists, my mouth waters as my gaze dips to their tented gray sweats.
I can only blame what I say next on the newly discovered brat that likes to make an appearance for these guys.
“Nope. Atlas has a soft spot for his princess. He’d never deliver on his threats.”
Stopping in his tracks, we come to a halt, my heart racing at the prospect of what Atlas will do.
“Wrong choice, Sugar.” Key grins as they follow suit and stop too. Feet shoulder width apart and arms folded over their chests, they look every bit like private security at an event. Tracing their tattoos, a moan slips my lips at the sight of Teddy flexing his fingers. The thought of him collaring me again has me writhing in Atlas’ grip.
Unfortunately, they make for a very good distraction.
Brought back to my current predicament, I gasp as Atlas strips me from the waist down and throws my clothes off to the side. My nails dig into his back as he delivers three tear jerking swats to my ass that feels like a thousand bees before he’s teasing his fingers through my sopping folds. Simultaneously fighting to get away and staying still, I thrive in the pleasured pain it wreaks upon my body.
“Are you going to behave?” Atlas questions.
“Never,” I whisper, meeting Key and Teddy’s gazes.
“Good.”
I don’t think I’m going to get much food prep time today. What a shame.