Chapter 16
Hestia
Cheerful music is playing, the fire is crackling, and hot chocolate is warming while Orion and Magnus wrestle a giant box down the staircase.
I’m dreaming of a knotty Yule is the background tune to their struggles.
I was told to wait in the foyer while they get the decorations out of storage. I offered to help, but they said the boxes were too big and it would be best if they brought them down.
I would’ve argued, but I’d rather save my energy for the decorating part than use it on the carrying heavy boxes part.
They didn’t let me help bring in the decorations we bought yesterday either.
I must have passed out on the ride back to the station last night because I have no recollection of going to bed. I woke up in my actual bedroom, not the nest where I usually sleep. Someone took my coat and shoes off, leaving me in my sweater and leggings, before tucking me in.
When I came downstairs this morning, our bags were sitting in the foyer, waiting for us to start decorating. I’m glad they didn’t unpack them, otherwise they would’ve ruined my surprise.
After breakfast, I pulled their Yule gifts out of the bags and snuck them up to my room without anyone seeing. I don’t think they noticed me buying them yesterday either, so the secret is safe.
While I wait for them to get the box down, Cato suddenly slides down the brass pole, holding a faux tree under one arm.
His other arm is stretched above him and one leg is wrapped around the pole, chest muscles flexing with the controlled slide.
He’s shirtless, of course, so every chiseled inch is on display.
I soak up every second as he spins around, gray sweatpants clinging so tightly that he might as well be naked for all they leave to the imagination, his thick pole clearly pressed against the brass pole.
Either time slows or Cato does as he nears the bottom, because it feels like long minutes until he finally lands.
Cato smirks as he passes me, and I turn to watch him go, tree tucked securely under his arm. I wish it was me.
A loud thud makes me jump, and I spin around to see Magnus and Orion made it down the stairs.
I duck my head and follow them to the living room where Cato is sprawled on the couch, his tree propped up in the corner. I allow myself one subtle look at him before helping unpack the box.
We remove the packing paper to reveal colorful ornaments in all shapes and sizes. My focus narrows to the bright baubles, and I start sorting them into piles based on style. Magnus kneels next to me and hands over each new ornament for me to categorize.
“What are you doing with that tree? Did you even bring the stand down?” Orion asks.
“I didn’t know where Hestia wanted it,” Cato says, unmoving.
“Anywhere is fine. This is your station too,” I say distractedly, waving my hand around.
Should I put just the round ornaments on the tree, or mix them with other shapes to make it more eclectic?
I vaguely hear Orion drag Cato out.
Once I have all the ornaments sorted, Magnus takes away the box so I have room to work.
I hum to myself as I look over my shiny hoard. The red and white ornaments twinkle in the firelight, and I decide to tuck a few into the evergreen garland over the mantel.
I get a few hooked on, but the fireplace is so big I have to stretch on my toes to reach the higher sections.
I’m trying to get a red ornament on when I’m suddenly lifted.
“Cato,” I gasp, his chocolate scent surrounding me.
His arm is around my waist, my back pressed against his chest. I can feel every plane of his body, every hard bulge against my curves.
“What are you doing?” I say.
He presses his cheek against mine before answering, “Helping you decorate.”
“I d-don’t,” I stutter, brain malfunctioning with his body on mine and his scent in my nose.
He grabs my wrist and pulls my arm up.
“Now you can reach,” he whispers.
I’m hyperventilating so hard I feel like I’m going to pass out. My pussy, on the other hand, is awake and ready for action. I’m so wet I think I can smell myself over the descenters.
“Cato! What are you doing,” Orion barks.
“I’m helping decorate,” he says.
“What does that have to do with manhandling Hestia?”
“It’s so she can reach.” Cato releases my wrist to gesture at my feet dangling off the ground.
“Get a ladder,” Orion growls.
“Ladders are dangerous. Do you know how many people fall off a ladder every year?” he says.
“Over five hundred thousand,” I reply automatically.
Cato laughs, body rumbling against mine.
Apparently my base self can still access my knowledge even when the rest of my brain has shut down.
“Then hold the ladder. Put Hestia down,” Orion commands.
Cato grumbles but does as he says, setting me gently on my feet—after grinding my body against his on the way down.
I stagger away, flushed, burning from the inside out.
I avoid looking at Orion, not wanting him to see how much that affected me. If he thinks Cato is bothering me, he’ll try to stop him from touching me again, which would be bad.
Or good.
Wait, which is it?
I’m not supposed to be getting horny for my bosses.
But it felt so good having Cato touch me.
Except I’m supposed to behave professionally.
I’m too horny to figure out what to do.
While I have an internal crisis, Cato pulls a ladder out from behind the tree and sets it up in front of the fireplace, staring at Orion all the while.
Cato then turns his back on him to help me up the ladder.
I’m surprised to find I still have the ornament clutched in my hand, and I carefully place it next to the others.
Orion hands me the next ornament and watches to make sure Cato’s hands stay at ten and two (my hips). Apparently he’s given up on telling Cato not to touch me at all.
Magnus returns and takes in our tense decorating strategy. He doesn’t comment on it, simply handing me another ornament.
I try to ignore Cato at my back, but my hand trembles as I work.