Page 25 of Hot Chocolate & Hitmen

“So,” I begin, my voice faltering slightly, “do any of you guys...have girlfriends?”

The room falls silent for a moment, the playful energy shifting. My heart skips a beat, and I instantly regret asking. Why did I? Maybe I don’t want to know the answer. I stare at the snowman in my hand, turning it over, fidgeting.

Key breaks the silence first, grinning like this was the best thing to ever happen to him. “Nah, no girlfriends,” he says, his tone as light as ever.

I nod, feeling a bit of relief, but Teddy’s eyes catch mine. “We’ve always wanted something...different,” he says carefully.

Before I can even process what he means, Atlas chimes in, his voice low but firm. “One woman to share. Long term.”

The snowman slips from my fingers and shatters on the floor.

I stare at the pieces, my heart racing. Did I just hear that right? I look up at them, my pulse thudding in my ears. “Wait...what?”

Key laughs, stepping forward to ease the tension, a broom in his hands. “Careful there, Sugar. We wouldn’t want you to cut up those cute, little feet.”

I swallow hard, feeling my cheeks heat up. "Uh, sorry, I-" I take a deep breath to calm myself, stepping away from the shards of ornament as Key makes quick work of cleaning up my mess. I’ve never heard anything like this before. But their words are echoing in my head, refusing to leave.

It’s Teddy who steps in, his voice softer, more measured. “We’ve always known that’s what we wanted. It’s...unconventional, sure, but it’s the way we are. No hiding it.”

I glance up, feeling a bit like the ground has shifted under my feet. They’re so casual about it, like it’s no big deal to them. But me? I’ve never even imagined something like this before. My eyes dart between Teddy, Key, and Atlas–these men, who have completely upended everything I thought I knew about relationships, all in the span of one conversation.

Atlas stays silent but watches me carefully, his intense gaze making it impossible for me to look away for long. His eyes flicker with something that feels almost...possessive? No, more than that–like he's staking his claim in a way that makes my pulse jump.

I finally clear my throat, trying to sound less like I’m about to freak out. “So...just to be clear, you all want one woman to be with...forever?”

Key grins, casually tossing a bit of tinsel over his shoulder. “That’s the plan, Sugar. The three of us. One lucky woman.”

Lucky woman.

My mind flashes back to last night–the way they took care of me, the way they made me feel seen, desired, and cherished. It was overwhelming but in the best way possible. But the thought of that being something...permanent? It’s like standing at the edge of a cliff, looking down at something both thrilling and terrifying.

It’s crazy.

But…

“That’s...definitely not something I’ve heard before.”

Teddy gives me a gentle smile, clearly picking up on my discomfort. “We didn’t expect you to. It’s not exactly the kind of thing people talk about over coffee. But it’s always been our plan.”

My fingers nervously play with the lace at the end of my nightgown. “And you’re all okay with that? With sharing...everything?”

Atlas speaks up this time, his voice low and rumbling. “We’ve known each other long enough to understand what we want. We’re a team. Always have been. And we want a wife to be a part of that.”

Key, ever the joker, steps closer and bumps my hip with his, breaking through my racing thoughts. “Don’t worry. We’re not proposing or anything...yet.” He winks, but the playful light in his eyes doesn’t fully hide the seriousness behind his words.

My heart does a flip, and I laugh nervously, still not sure how to respond. “You guys don’t do anything halfway, do you?”

“Nope,” Key says, popping thepbefore grinning. “Go big or go home.”

I shake my head, a small laugh escaping me despite the tension. I look between the three of them. There’s something grounding about the way they’re all looking at me–like they’re waiting patiently for me to catch up to this new reality they’ve just dropped on me.

“Well, I don’t know if I can compete with that kind of honesty,” I say, trying to regain my composure. I walk over to the tree, picking up another ornament–a small glass angel this time, feeling its cool surface under my fingers. “But I do know I can decorate a damn good Christmas tree.”

Teddy steps up beside me, handing me another ornament to hang, his large hand brushing mine. “Good. Then we’re in for a treat.”

I feel a blush rising again as I focus on the task at hand, carefully placing the ornament on a sturdy branch. “Alright, uhh...What’s everyone’s favorite Christmas song?”

“‘Santa Baby,’” Key says without hesitation. He waggles his eyebrows at me, making me laugh out loud.

---