Page 51 of Christmas with Four Tattoo Artists

A sly smile spread across Andrew's face. "Speaking of enjoyment, who's hungry?"

The question instantly lifted the mood, the guys' eyes lighting up at the mention of food. We were all big eaters, all big men.

"I could eat," James said, rubbing his hands together.

"What do you say we go all out?" Kai suggested, already heading toward the fridge. "Eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon… the whole works. I mean, itisChristmas morning.”

I grinned, the idea appealing to my stomach and my need to take my mind off things. "Sounds perfect."

The next hour was a whirlwind of activity as we threw ourselves into cooking. The kitchen became a symphony of sizzling, chopping, and laughter as we worked together to create a feast fit for a king—or in our case, a queen.

As the food came together, the rich scents filling the cabin, I couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through me. This was what Christmas was all about—good food, good company, and the simple joy of being together.

When everything was ready, we loaded it onto a tray, our mouths watering at the sight of the piled-high plates.

"Should we call her down?" Andrew asked, glancing toward the stairs.

I shook my head, my heart swelling with affection. "Nah, let's surprise her."

We made our way up the stairs, the tray balanced precariously between us. I could hear Julia's soft breathing as we approached her room, the sound sending a thrill through me.

With a shared look, we pushed open the door, the sight of her peaceful face making my breath catch.

"Hey, sleepyhead," I called softly, nudging her awake. "We brought you something."

Her eyes fluttered open, her lips curving into a sleepy smile as she took in the sight of us, and the tray of food.

“Oh, come on,” she said with a sexy, sleepy smile. “Don’t tell me you guys made breakfast.”

“Merry Christmas,” Kai said.

"You guys are amazing," she replied, pushing herself up as we brought the tray over.

We settled around her, plates in our laps, forks digging in. The conversation flowed easily, the earlier tension forgotten as we lost ourselves in the food and each other's company.

I glanced at Julia, her eyes sparkling with happiness, her cheeks flushed with joy, and I knew we'd made the right decision.

This Christmas was about us, about enjoying the moment and each other. The future could wait. In that moment, we had everything we needed, right there in that room.

We settled into eating, scarfing down our grub with gusto. We laughed and joked and flirted as we chowed, snow beginning to softly fall outside.

Julia's eyes sparkled with mischief as she playfully swiped a piece of bacon from my plate, her tongue darting out to catch a drop of syrup from her lips. The sight sent a jolt of desire through me, and I knew I wasn't the only one feeling it.

The air in the room grew charged, the conversation taking on a more sensual tone as we finished our breakfast. Glances were exchanged, touches lingered, and the unspoken promise of what was to come hung heavy in the air.

Eventually, the plates were pushed aside, forgotten as we drew closer together. Our hands found each other, our bodies gravitating toward the connection that was growing stronger by the day.

Chapter 22

Julia

We were all bundled up, fresh from an epic snowball fight outside. Snow was still clinging to our boots and jackets, and our cheeks were flushed from the cold as we settled back into the warmth of the cabin.

The living room was a mess of torn wrapping paper and empty boxes. The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as we all sat down, cozy in our sweaters, watching the snow fall outside.

The guys had outdone themselves with the presents, all of them giving something thoughtful and unique.

We were all in high spirits, teasing each other and laughing, enjoying the simple pleasure of one another’s company.

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