Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
“ S o, did you enjoy your first Christmas present today, sugar?” I ask as I lazily stroke her hair where her head leans against my shoulder. The warm water around us laps at her perky breasts, staining them a faint rose.
“Mhhmm,” she hums, tilting her head to look up at me. “Best Christmas present, ever.” Emphasizing the ever, she bites at her lip coyly.
“Don’t tempt me to come back for more,” I growl, my dick already standing to attention once more.
“Enough, you two.” Teddy chuckles. “As much as I’m sure we’d all like to replay this morning, we have presents to open and food to eat!”
Atlas grunts his affirmation in the corner as Grace jumps in my arms, pulling away slightly.
“Shoot, you’re right. I need to cook and-”
Rambling on about everything she has to do, you can see the mental list is nearly frying her brain. Yet, she’s in her element. Cooking and taking care of the people she loves is the happiest place for her.
It truly is a Christmas miracle that led us to stumble across this cabin. She’s everything we’ve ever dreamed off, all wrapped up in a sweet little, innocent package. A Christmas angel sent down just for us.
“Let’s do the presents first and then-”
“No, no, nope.” Grace shakes her head adamantly, pulling away from me and wading into the water in front of us all. With the storm now calmed to a soft, white snowfall that’s beginning to settle, acting as a backdrop to her flushed skin, she looks every bit the part of a Christmas miracle. “No presents until after dinner.”
I nod along, not really concentrating on what she’s saying, until her words permeate my mind.
“Wait. What?” I jump up. “No,” I whine, giving her a pout. “But I’ve been waiting to give you your present for a lifetime, sugar. I can’t wait any longer.”
Wading forward in the water, I lower myself in the water just in front of her breasts and blow bubbles, trying to look as innocent as possible. A smile tilts her lips. Raising an eyebrow, she crosses her arms over her chest, impeding my perfect view.
“Well, you’re efficient in the art of waiting then, aren’t you? So holding out a few more hours won’t hurt you.” Patting me on the head like a silly puppy, my bubbles slow to a stop as I sit up, mouth dropping open in shock. She doesn’t even acknowledge my pouting, just moves past me towards the steps.
“Now if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I’ve got to go and re-freshen up.” Winking at us over her shoulder, we all stare on with hard members as she exits the hot tub, lascivious curves and all. Her flushed ass swaying to a rhythm only she hears.
Grabbing a towel from the hooks in the corner, she pads bare footed out the door, leaving the three of us alone.
“She’s feisty when she wants to be,” Teddy comments, extending his arms over the edge of the embedded tub.
Sat against the edge of the overhang, he glances outside into the wilderness. Following his gaze, we watch as a doe and two fawns prance across the snowy landscape. Totally relaxed, she watches on as her babies play together. Shaking the snow off their tawny coats, their pink tongues dart out to lick some off their noses before they nuzzle one another and start their games once more.
“She’s made for us.”
I grin at Atlas’ remark. The thoughts of our little gym session earlier crashing into my mind like Santa down the chimney.
I lick my lips. “She was definitely made to take us all, that’s for sure. I can’t wait to get her home and pump her full of our seed until-”
Atlas groans, throwing his head back and closing his eyes. “Enough, or we’ll never make it out of here.”
“What? I’m just saying what we’re all thinking.” I shrug.
“Yeah, well, save it for another day,” Teddy remarks. “Let’s go get washed up and ready to help her.”
“On it, boss.” I salute him before exiting the tub and heading straight for the door.
“Key, man! What are you doing?”
Stopping just shy of the door, I rest my hand on the handle and turn back to look at Teddy over my shoulder in puzzlement. “Erm, going to get ready like you said…”
“Like that?” Teddy runs his eyes over my frame.
I look down, not seeing what’s wrong.
“Erm, yes?”
Atlas chuckles as he passes Teddy, slapping him on the back as he heads past to grab a towel off the wall. “Just leave him to it, man. It’s better he gets a head start anyway so we don’t get a face full of his ass as he walks up the stairs.”
“Dude,” Teddy groans.
“Hey, my ass is gorgeous, thank you!” I rebuke, mildly offended.
“Whatever you say, pretty boy.”
“Y’all just don’t appreciate fine art,” I huff in parting as I head out the door and up to find our gorgeous Christmas nutcracker, knowing she’ll appreciate me in all my naked glory.
I only make it halfway down the hallway before I hear footsteps heading towards the kitchen. Hurrying my step a little, I move to intercept, wanting to surprise Grace. Darting out, I sweep her up in my grip and nuzzle my face into her scratchy neck that sits a little higher than normal.
Our girl has wrapped herself in tinsel for us like the perfect present!
“Well, well, what do we have here?” Sniffing the side of her neck, I get an earthy musk that isn’t all that pleasant.
Weird.
A choked sound comes from her as Teddy’s and Atlas’ deep, throaty chuckles sound off behind me.
“Shut up, you two, just because I made it to her fir-”
“Key! What are you doing?”
My head snaps to Grace at the top of the stairs. Her hair is perfectly curled once more as it drops like a halo around her shoulders and onto her white, snowy themed dress that hugs all the right places and makes her look divine. My cock hardens once more at the sight of her beauty.
“What do you mean what am I doing? I’m hugging you of cou-”
Realization dawns when I clock the shocked, yet amused look on her face.
Slowly turning my head back round, I notice something I’d studiously been ignoring in favor of my fantasies of Grace’s supple body. The person in my arms is a lot stockier and taller than Grace is, and they have very little hair on their head in comparison.
The smell and scratchy neck suddenly make all the more sense. Held rigidly still, Jason refuses to look over his shoulder at me. Instead, he asks one thing.
“Please, for the love of all that’s holy, take your hands off me and get your cock away from my ass.”
Releasing him like he’s burned me, he stumbles away rubbing his hand over his face and shuddering as the choir behind me releases a torrent of uncontrollable laughter. Grace included.
“That’ll teach him to walk around naked in a house with other people,” Atlas remarks.
Giving him the finger, I ignore the traumatized looking Jason in favor of popping a kiss on Grace's cheek and giving her ass a squeeze as I walk past her up the stairs.
“Better get started on the food, Sugar. I’m coming to spank that ass and work up even more of an appetite than before. Tick tock!”
T he table looks like something out of a holiday special. Grace has pulled out all the stops–turkey, ham, green bean casserole, creamy mashed potatoes, mac ’n cheese, warm rolls, and enough various other sides and appetizers to keep us full for days. The smell alone is enough to make my stomach growl, and for a second, I’m too stunned to do anything but stare. I can’t believe she went to all this trouble for us. Yet, somehow it makes me feel a little…soft.
Yeah, that’s a crazy thought, but with Grace, it’s like my guard just slips without me realizing it. It just feels right .
She’s currently floating around the table, adjusting a fork here and a spoon there, as if everything isn’t already set perfectly. I can’t look away. It’s like there’s this pull, this warmth that’s settling in my chest. It’s like we’ve finally found our home.
“Is there anything you can’t do, Sugar?” I ask, trying to keep my voice casual. But even I can hear the admiration that sneaks in. She glances up, her cheeks turning pink as she brushes off the compliment.
“Oh, I’m sure there’s a long list,” she laughs softly. “But it’s nice to cook for…well, for people who actually enjoy it.” Her eyes flick up, and she gives me this shy smile that just about kills me.
“Then cheers to our Little One,” Teddy says, clinking his glass and grinning at her. “For saving us from another meal of freeze-dried cardboard.”
I raise my glass, nodding along with him. “To you, Sugar,” I say, keeping my eyes on her. She ducks her head a little, that shy smile still there, and something in my chest tightens. Damn. I know I’d do anything to keep that smile on her face. I’d raze the world and everyone in it if I had to.
I lean a little closer, lowering my voice so only she can hear. “You’ve made this place feel like home.” The words slip out before I realize what I’m saying, but I don’t regret it. Not even a little. She meets my gaze, and her smile fades into something softer.
I open my mouth, the terrifying accurate proclamation ready to spill. That four letter word that shouldn’t exist so quickly–yet has never felt more real–sits right on the tip of my tongue.
But then–
Bang .
Crash.
The sounds tear through the room like thunder, echoing off the walls and rattling the glasses. My pulse surges, and I don’t need to look to know what’s coming. Instincts take over.
“Grace, get down!” I shout, grabbing her arm and yanking her behind me. My other hand finds the knife in my boot. Teddy and Atlas are on their feet, mirroring my stance as we push the table on its side.
A swarm of bodies floods through the doorway, all dressed in dark gear and armed to the teeth. My mind barely registers the number–five, six, seven, too many to count –each one brandishing a weapon as they rush in, barrels gleaming in the low light.
This isn’t just an attack; it’s an all-out assault.
The first shot splits the air, sending my heart into overdrive. My instincts are screaming, my senses heightening as more shots blast through the back door, the gunfire echoing through the cabin like rolling thunder.
“Stay down!” I yell, shoving her to the floor as I scan for options, my mind racing.
Teddy and Atlas are already moving, adrenaline kicking in as they take stock of the attackers pouring through the door. The bastards don’t hesitate, firing shots at us that ricochet off walls and cabinets, splintering wood and shattering glass in a chaotic storm of bullets.
I duck low, dragging Grace along with me as we crouch behind the overturned table, the guys moving to other positions in the room. My fingers itch for a weapon, anything, but we hadn’t expected this. I look over at Teddy, who’s pressed behind the kitchen island, his eyes scanning the chaos.
Teddy dives to his left, reaching into a low cabinet where we’d stashed a Glock. The moment his fingers close around it, he’s back on his feet, firing off a series of precise shots that take down a few of the men advancing toward us.
“Atlas!” Teddy yells, tossing him a second gun he pulls from another hidden stash point. Atlas catches it midair from his position, his movements fluid and focused. He rolls out of the way just as a bullet zips past him, embedding itself in the wall behind him. A growl rumbles from his chest as he returns fire, aiming with deadly accuracy, his shots punctuating the constant clatter of gunfire around us.
I need to get another gun, but it’s hidden across the room, just out of reach in the drawer under the sink. I grit my teeth, knowing I’ll have to fight my way there bare-handed. I glance at Grace, huddled low and clutching a kitchen knife, her eyes wide with fear but locked on mine, trusting me. I give her arm a reassuring squeeze. “Stay here, don’t move.”
I surge forward, launching myself across the room, dodging a spray of bullets as I go. One grazes my shoulder, but I push through the pain, reaching the sink and yanking the drawer open. My hand finds cold metal, and I pull out my gun, checking it with practiced motion. The weight of it steadies me as I turn back, ready to jump into the fray.
The attackers have split, two heading for Grace’s hiding spot while the others try to corner Teddy and Atlas. I fire a shot, taking one down just as he raises his weapon toward Grace. The other sees me and jerks, firing a wild shot that clips the edge of the counter. Knowing he’s positioned in between me and Grace, and not wanting to risk any shots hitting her, I throw myself at him and tackle him to the floor as his gun clatters out of reach. We struggle, and I land a solid punch to his jaw, knocking him out cold before firing a shot into his head.
“Grace!” I call, seeing her eyes peeking up at me as she huddles next to the table. She’s shaking but steady, her grip tight on the large carving knife, her gaze flicking between me and the chaos around us.
More attackers surge through the door.
I throw myself back into the fight, firing at the nearest one, who ducks just in time, his gun trained on Teddy. But before he can fire, Atlas appears behind him, grabbing him in a chokehold and twisting him to the ground. A single shot from Atlas ends the struggle.
The gunfire slows as we empty our clips, but I realize the attackers aren’t stopping–they’re just getting more determined. We’re down to blades, while they’re still armed. This isn’t looking good. I glance around, trying to find anything that could even the odds.
Another surge of attackers rushes through the shattered doorway. I throw myself at the nearest one, ducking under his pistol as he takes aim at Teddy. I bring my knife up and slam it into his forearm. He howls, and his gun clatters to the floor. Grabbing it, I spin to see another attacker closing in on Atlas from behind.
“Atlas–duck!” I shout, tossing the gun. He dives forward, rolling just as the attacker fires. The bullet zips over Atlas’ shoulder, and he twists up, catching the guy off guard with a brutal punch to the ribs, then sweeping his legs out from under him. As soon as he’s down, I move to back him up, bringing my blade down on his gun hand, making sure he can’t fire again.
“Behind you!” Grace’s shout snaps me back, and I whip around just as two more guys storm in, one with a shotgun. I grab the metal tray from the table–the one currently housing a small sugar cookie village that Grace poured her heart into creating–and fling it like a frisbee. It smacks into the shotgun’s barrel, throwing the attacker’s aim off, and the blast goes wide, splintering the cabinet beside Teddy’s head. He reacts instantly, lunging at the attacker and tackling him to the ground.
Atlas lets out a curse, taking another guy to the ground with a headlock, and as he twists the man into a chokehold, I see another gun slip from his opponent’s grip. I dive for it, sliding across the floor and scooping it up just in time to aim at an attacker advancing on Grace. I fire off a shot, but the gun jams. Figures.
With no time to fix it, I toss it aside, grabbing a chair and swinging it hard, breaking it over the guy’s head. The blow staggers him, giving me an opening to kick his legs out from under him. The guy crashes to the floor, dazed, and I slam a boot into his throat, keeping him down.
“Key, here!” Grace’s voice is shaking but steady, and she tosses me a heavy skillet. I catch it, hefting its weight as I eye two more attackers breaking through the doorway.
I don’t wait. I lunge forward, using the skillet to bat the gun out of the first guy’s hands before bringing it down hard on his head. He drops, and I spin just in time to dodge a shot from the second guy. I grit my teeth, twisting and using the pan as a blunt weapon, landing a hard hit to his shoulder that sends him stumbling back into Atlas, who finishes him off with a quick, brutal twist of his neck.
Grace is crouched behind the table again, eyes wide but focused, gripping her knife with white-knuckled determination. She looks up at me, and I can see she’s ready for whatever comes next. Fear and resolve mingling in her gaze.
“Stay behind cover,” I remind her, hoping she’ll listen, and then I’m back in the fray, moving as fast as I can.
It’s a chaotic, brutal dance–dodging bullets, grabbing whatever’s within reach to use as a weapon. Atlas finds a broken chair leg, turning it into a club, while Teddy grabs a handful of shattered glass ornaments and flings it at an attacker’s face, blinding him long enough to finish him off.
We’re battered, bruised, and outnumbered, but we’re holding our ground.
Just as I start to catch my breath, I hear Grace let out a sharp gasp. I whip around, my heart seizing as I see an attacker grabbing her from behind, his arm wrapped tight around her shoulders. Pressing her back against his chest, his other hand reaches for his belt. Her knife clatters to the floor as she struggles against him, her face twisted in fear and anger.
Rage ignites inside me, white-hot and blinding. Without a single second of hesitation, I lunge forward, sweeping up Grace’s dropped knife and impaling it in the guy’s side. I sweep my leg out while simultaneously pulling Grace out of his arms, and he falls to the floor taking the knife with him.
My eyes lock on the remnants of our dinner, specifically the turkey sitting right in the middle of the chaos. With a split second inner apology to Grace’s hard work going to waste, I grab it, hefting it up and slamming it down over his head as he attempts to stand once more. He only manages to get to his knees when the greasy mess squelches as it crashes down hard, covering his head.
Grace, quick as ever, doesn’t waste a second. With her face set with fierce determination, she swings her boot between his legs with all the strength she’s got. He lets out a choked howl, his knees buckling as he crashes to his back, hands flying to his crotch as he curls up in pain. The turkey nearly suffocating him, completely forgotten.
I grab Grace’s arm and position myself between her and the guy writhing on the floor. My breath comes in hard, angry gasps, and I quickly pull the knife from his side and slide it across his throat with a flick of my wrist.
“Atlas,” I yell, turning and spinning Grace in his direction as the next wave of attackers charges in, and the chaos swells again.