Page 93 of Snowbound with the Santas

RAYNE

After getting out of jail, I waited for the guys as long as I could but eventually, security escorted me back to my room. They weren’t clear on exactly what they thought I was going to do by waiting on the seats outside, but it was an argument I couldn’t win. By the time I reached my room, I was so exhausted and my attempts to wait up for my men failed when sleep took me.

I slept a solid nine hours and woke up in what felt like a completely different dimension. I’d left my room number with a member of security in the hopes my men would find their way here, but my empty room was proof that they had not. After a long shower to wash away sleep and grime from the cells, I dressed in jeans and a blouse. Just as I was preparing to head back down to security, my prayers were answered by a knock at the door.

“Hello?”

Rising onto my tiptoes, I peer out the peephole, and my heart leaps into my throat. It takes me a few seconds to unlock my door in my excitement, but eventually, I get it open, fling it wide, and welcome Frankie, Archer, and Nick with wide-open arms.

“Oh, my God,” I gasp, hugging each one in turn and ushering them inside. “I was about to head down to security to find out what was going on! What happened? Why did it take so long for you all to get out?”

I kick the door shut behind me and follow them into my room.

“Wow,” Frankie breathes, collapsing down onto my bed. “This is what riches buy you?”

“I need to piss so badly.” Archer makes a beeline for the ensuite while Nick touches my elbow, then slides his hand down to take my hand.

“We’re okay,” Nick assures me. “I don’t know whether it was Cecil trying to pull one over on us or security were really reluctant to let us go. They kept us waiting for ages, and I was beginning to think we’d never get out. Luckily, fate was still smiling on us.”

“I’m so glad.” I squeeze his hand tightly. “I was going to kick up such a stink if you weren’t out by lunch.”

“Ooh, lunch,” Frankie groans. “I’m starving.”

“Same.” Nick nods. His attention doesn’t drift away from me, though. He’s staring at me like he hasn’t seen me in years. His eyes dance all over my face, and then he cups my cheek with his other hand and pulls me in for a deep kiss. The first press of his lips sends a burst of excitement tingling down my arms, and I shiver as I press into him. Every slow press after that sends the same until I’m thoroughly shivery with excitement to have them back.

“Are you doing okay?” Nick asks when he steps back. The door clunks and Archer reappears, drying his hands on a towel. “A lot went down yesterday.”

I puff out my cheeks and shrug. “I think I’m okay. At first, I felt like everything was imploding, but the more I thought about it, and having slept on it… well, I think I’m okay with it.Cecil being my father changes nothing. If anything, it was eye-opening. I thought these people cared for me, loved me, in their own way. And then I met you three and…” I glance around at each of them. “Well, the comparison between them and you guys is glaring.”

Frankie sits up on the bed as he speaks. “We are one of a kind. Three of a kind? Fuck, I don’t know.”

“Did you mean it?” Archer asks, tossing his towel into Frankie’s face then stopping next to me.

“Mean what?”

“What you said. About loving us.”

“Oh.” Heat immediately flares across my cheeks and my mouth runs dry as I look into his gorgeous eyes. “I meant it. Imeanit. A hundred percent. I look at you guys and I can be myself, and I know exactly where I want to be?—”

Archer silences me with a kiss. He winds an arm around my waist and spreads his hand at the small of my back to pull me closer. Doing so forces me to dip backward because I refuse to let go of Nick’s hand. Archer doesn’t mind. He leans into me and kisses me so deeply that the bristles of his beard stop tickling and almost implant into my skin.

“I love you too,” Archer says when the kiss breaks. He peppers a couple more kisses onto my lips, and when he leans up, Frankie’s tired face swims into view.

“Me too,” Frankie says. “I love you.” He catches my chin and pulls my face forward, kissing me over Archer’s shoulder. His lips are soft and warm, and I melt into the kiss, becoming putty in Nick and Archer’s arms.

“I love you,” Nick says, pulling me back against his body. He kisses me softly, paying particular attention to my lower lip. When we part, he wears the widest smile.

“I think I’m still dreaming,” I murmur.

“Then it’s a good dream,” he replies.

“Speaking of sleep.” Frankie collapses back onto the bed. “I am fucking exhausted.”

“Ditto.” Archer flops down next to him, then lovingly pats the space next to him as he looks at me. “Care to soothe us to sleep?”

“Mmm, I could be tempted.” I smile. “But I have to go talk to Cecil about my community service.”

Archer bolts up. “Let me come.”

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