Page 23 of Hot Chocolate & Hitmen

Key winks, leaning back against the headboard, looking entirely too smug for his own good. “You’re lucky we don’t charge for the view.”

“Pretty sure I’ve already paid with that kiss,” I shoot back, my grin widening as the teasing continues.

As the laughter and playful banter swirl around the room, Atlas stirs beside me, his eyes barely cracking open. He reaches over lazily, his hand sliding across the tray before it finds a piece of bacon. His fingers close around it, and without even lifting his head, he brings it to his mouth and takes a slow, deliberate bite. The second it’s gone, he lets out a contented grunt and drifts right back to sleep, a low, rumbling snore filling the air.

I huff in mock indignation, shaking my head as I look down at him. “Seriously? You wake up just to steal my bacon?”

Though the admonishment dies on my lips as I catch sight of the way his muscular back flexes under the blanket. I press my thighs together beneath the covers, stuffing a bite of food into my mouth to distract myself from my suddenly racing thoughts.

Key’s eyes are on me, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. "Now that bellies are full, how about we go deck the halls downstairs? I saw a ton of decorations," he says, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

I perk up immediately, nearly bouncing where I sit. "Oh my gosh! Are you serious?!" I squeal, unable to contain my excitement.

Teddy chuckles, shaking his head. "Of course. We’d love to help you decorate. Well, most of us," he adds, glancing at Atlas, who’s still snoring lightly. "This fucker would sleep through the actual holiday if we let him."

With a wicked grin, he grabs a pillow and chucks it at Atlas. It hits its mark, and Atlas snorts awake, blinking blearily as he looks around. Laughter erupts from the rest of us, the warmth of it filling the room as Atlas scowls half-heartedly before turning over and going right back to sleep.

We finish eating amidst giggles and teasing, and eventually, the guys head downstairs, leaving me to get ready. Key manages to sneak a frosting-smeared kiss on my cheek on his way out the door, his eyes twinkling as he waggles his eyebrows outrageously.

“You’re lucky you’re cute,” I call after him, shaking my head as he gives me a cheeky wink before disappearing.

With my heart doing little flips in my chest, I step into the shower to wash away the frosting and the remnants of last night’s hot tub excursion—all the while thinking about how lucky I am to have this, even if it’s temporary. I let the hot water relax my muscles, easing away the tension, and try not to overthink what tonight might bring.

Afterward, I trade out my gingerbread sleep set for something a little more...cute, trying to ignore the little fact that the guys apparently dressed me last night. Which has a blush spreading over every inch of my skin.

I slip into a mid-thigh length, emerald green satin nightgown, the fabric cool and smooth against my skin. The delicate lace trim along the neckline and straps is adorned with tiny holly berries, a playful bow sitting just above the bust. Modest, yet sexy. Holiday-themed without being garish. It’s perfect—a small indulgence just for myself. At least that’s what I tell myself.

I give a little twirl in front of the mirror, the smooth satin brushing against my legs as it catches the light just right. The soft glow makes the fabric shimmer, and for a moment, I forget everything else. I smile at my reflection, even if the smile feels a bit forced. This might not be the Christmas I had planned, but I’ll be damned if I don’t make it one to remember. I smooth my hands over the dress, savoring the moment before heading downstairs.

The sound of rustling boxes and faint laughter floats up from the living room. I can already hear the guys rummaging through decorations, and it brings a warm feeling to my chest. I pause at the top of the stairs, taking a deep breath, reminding myself that this is good–better than good.

It’s just...unexpected.

When I step into the room, the scene makes me chuckle. Key is knee-deep in a bin of ornaments–literally standing in it for no reason at all–pulling out glittery snowflakes and oversized candy canes like he's found treasure. His excitement is infectious, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

Teddy is more careful, gently unwrapping ornaments with precise movements, examining each one like he's handling a fragile piece of art. Then there’s Atlas, standing off to the side with a mild scowl, still rubbing sleep from his eyes. He looks like he’d rather be anywhere else, but even so, he starts helping untangle the mess of tinsel-garland with a resigned sigh.

Key’s head pops up first, and his eyes immediately lock on me, widening in appreciation as he takes in the nightgown and whistles.

Teddy glances up, his gaze instantly flaring with heat as it trails over every inch of my exposed skin, smirking when he meets my eyes. Even Atlas pauses what he’s doing–hands frozen mid-tangle with the tinsel-garland. His gaze darkens almost dangerously as he freezes in place.

“Well, damn,” Key drawls, cutting through the silence as his grin turns devilish. “You look like a Christmas miracle just walked in.”

“Glad I dressed for the occasion,” I tease, trying to keep my voice light, but the way they’re looking at me...well, it’s hard to pretend I don’t notice. A warm flush creeps up my neck, and I busy myself with rifling through one of the boxes on the floor to keep from getting too flustered.

Key saunters over, reaching into the same box I’m sifting through. His fingers brush mine as he pulls out an ornament–a bright red candy cane–and I swear the contact feels hotter than it should. “So, you ready to make this place look like Santa’s workshop exploded?” he asks, giving me a playful nudge.

I grin, tossing some tinsel in his direction, watching it land on his head. “I’m ready. Let’s see if you can keep up.”

Teddy lets out a soft chuckle from across the room. “Careful, Key, she’s already got you wrapped up in tinsel.”

Key glances at the strands draped over him and shrugs, flashing me a wink. “I don’t mind being tied up by her.”

I roll my eyes but can’t help laughing. As I dig through more boxes, pulling out ornaments and random decorations, I glance over at Atlas. He’s still working on the tinsel-garland, but every now and then, I catch him sneaking a look in my direction. There’s something about the way he watches me–like he’s holding back, but only just.

I stand up and start finagling the soft, cashmere stockings–thankful that I decorate for a full house every year and not just me and Jason–as I hang five over the fireplace. As I do, a thought strikes me–there’s so much I don’t know about them. Sure, I know bits and pieces from the past few days, but...I want to know more. Maybe decorating is the perfect excuse to dig a little deeper.

“So,” I start, stepping back and dusting my hands off, “I’ve been thinking. What better time to get to know each other than while we’re decking the halls?” My tone is light, but there’s an eagerness bubbling beneath the surface.

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