by Moon, Mia
I didn’t give myself a chance to second-guess it. Something about accepting their offer seemed so right.
“Well, I can’t argue with that. Sure, thank you. I’d love to celebrate with you guys.”
* * *
“Come on in and make yourself at home,” Ethan said. He hung his jacket on a hook by the door and dropped his keys in a smooth wooden bowl on the narrow entryway table. “I’ll get some hot cocoa going. Pax, you wanna do the fire?”
“Fire?” I asked. My eyes skated around the gorgeous space that stretched before me.
“Yeah, we’ve got this awesome electric fireplace,” Pax said, tilting his head in a beckoning motion.
I followed along after him, trying to support my jaw so it wouldn’t drag on the floor. Their apartment was so much lovelier in person than the pictures made it seem. Instead of the ultra-modern furnishings I’d seen in the staged shots, comfy things filled it up. A set of leather furniture was set in a rectangle on a plush rug in front of the wall where Pax stopped. Each piece looked more broken-in and welcoming than the last.
Pax grabbed a remote from a long shelf on the wall and pressed a few buttons before the fireplace sprang to life.
“Oh, wow, a gas fireplace. Love it.” It was almost like being in front of the big fireplace at the cabin—without all the hours of chopping wood.
The warm glow from the fire lit up the room, landing on all the decorations. Whoa. All the decorations. Someone here loves Christmas.
“You guys went all out,” I cried with delight as I spun around, taking it all in. “How did I miss this when I walked in the door?”
“I have no clue,” Ethan called from the kitchen, which was open to the rest of the apartment, separated by only a white granite-topped island with tall, brown leather stools. “There's no stopping Pax when it comes to Christmas.”
I grinned over at Pax who offered a shy smile. “You wanna see it all lit up?” he asked, dipping his head like I might say no.
“Oh my God. Are you kidding me? Of course I do!” I clapped my hands in excitement, and Pax’s face broke into a grin that took my breath away. He was so attractive. Where that shyness came from all of a sudden, I had no clue. Then, he cleared his throat and shifted his hips ever so slightly. The movement didn’t do anything to hide what caught my eye as he turned to walk away. He was sporting a massive erection behind the dark fabric of his jeans.
My heart caught in my throat, and I felt a blush creep over me. I was mesmerized. Intrigued. Curious. I tried to catch another glimpse, wanting to be certain I’d seen what I thought I’d seen. Was he…into me? Was he turned on by holiday decorations?
I was so focused on Pax that I didn’t hear Ethan come up behind me. Warmth skated over the back of my neck, where I had my thick, wavy brown hair tied up in a messy knot.
“Cocoa?” Ethan asked.
He wasn’t too close. But close enough that I swear I could feel the heat coming from his body, pouring straight into my soul.
I swallowed hard and turned to accept the steaming mug from him as the room light up like midday with all the colorful lights. I sucked in a gasp and caught the briefest flick of Ethan’s eyes to my lips before I gazed around the room again.
“Holy crap!” I said, laughing in disbelief. Lights hung from almost every surface. Garlands and unlit candles were illuminated by the warm pink-orange glow.
But it was the tree—the tree that reached almost to the ceiling in the corner, just beyond a baby grand piano—that was the centerpiece. It cast the glow of its unbelievable number of lights onto the windows that filled the longest wall of the apartment.
“Like I said,” Ethan’s voice was a low rumble, “Pax goes all out.”
“What do you think?” Pax asked, turning to gauge my reaction.
“Oh, guys, it’s breathtaking.” I stepped out of the warmth of Ethan’s closeness and almost wanted to cry and run back into it. The space all around us was heating up fast, but when I moved away from Ethan, I still felt the loss of his body like a wound to my soul. How was that possible?
Or perhaps the warmth was coming from Pax and his obvious delight at the decorations. On most men, that happiness would seem odd or contrived. On him, it was adorable.
“How many lights are on the tree alone?” I asked, joining Pax where he stood. I forced my voice to come out as steady as I could, though inside I was trembling from my reaction to Ethan.
“Um…what did we count, E? Twenty-seven strands? Thirty? Something like that,” Pax said with another shy smile. Funny, I’d never thought he was shy.
Not that I knew him very well. We’d run into each other by the mailboxes downstairs and had passed each other on the way to or from the elevator a handful of times. I’d always been knocked out by his sexy smile, but I’d assumed he had to be taken. There was no way a man like him was single.
“That’s incredible,” I told Pax. “You have no idea how much I appreciate you guys sharing your decorations with me tonight. I love Christmas.”
“We’re happy to share,” Ethan said.
Pax snorted out a strange laugh and shook his head before he turned back to me and his shy smile turned into a sly smirk. “How much do you love Christmas?” he asked, giving me a playful, challenging look.
“So much,” I said, trying to figure him out. Shy one minute, over the top the next. He was a whirlwind, and I was getting spun up in him.
“Like, enough to try to get our buddy Ty in some trouble?”
I laughed. “Should I want that? Do I dare ask?”
Ethan chuckled. “He kinda asks for it sometimes," he explained. "He can be a bit serious and uptight.”
I considered the two of them. They were clearly plotting some kind of silliness for their third roommate. I hadn’t even met the guy, but I found myself wanting to join in.
“Will it get him in a lot of trouble? I don’t think I’d want that, especially since I’m a guest in your home.”
“Nah,” Ethan said, his eyes still locked on Pax as if they could read each other’s minds. “We never get him in too much trouble. Just wanna help him loosen up a little.”
“Okay, then,” I said with a grin. “Why not?”
“That’s my girl!” Pax said.
Something about that phrase sent butterflies fluttering in my belly.
I watched as he slipped his phone from his pocket and tapped the screen before putting it to his ear. “Hey, man. Turns out we need some more Christmas decorations.”
He twisted his mouth to seal off the laughter as he listened to the response coming through his phone. Ethan stepped closer to me. His warmth invaded my space again, and though he wasn’t touching me, I felt like I was being worshipped by gentle hands everywhere.
“Well, I was thinking you could bring some home with you,” Pax said. His shoulders shook from his silent laughter as he tilted the phone away to mouth, “He’s telling me I’m crazy.” He listened for another moment before he said, “No, we’re tapped out on everything the store had. Can't you sneak something home from the benefit dinner when you head out?”
Ethan’s deep chuckle rumbled through me, and I couldn’t stop myself from turning to look up at him. His eyes locked with mine and he wet his lower lip with the tip of his tongue.
I swear I felt the motion go right to the center of my body. I wanted him to do the same thing to every inch of me.
He lifted his left brow, an almost imperceptible movement, but a challenge all the same. I swallowed hard and let my gaze shift back to his lips, lingering there for a moment longer than necessary. He was asking me an unspoken question, and I answered in equal silence. When I turned back to face Pax, I moved my arm, dropping my hand behind my back where Ethan could reach it—if he wanted to. Consenting to the action his eyes seemed to promise.
“No, not like a centerpiece. Like…I don’t know. Something cool that we don’t have,” Pax said. “I dare ya,” he added when it seemed like the person on the other line hesitated. Then he snorted. “You know
you love me. Come home safe.”
Pax tapped his screen and turned back to us. “I could hear him sweating right through here,” he said, wiggling the phone in the air. "Can't ever turn down a dare, though."
Ethan laughed again. “Ty’s a little straight-laced,” he said, leaning toward me. “Always concerned about his reputation. You’ll love him, though. And Pax is right. None of us can ever turn down a dare.” With that, he brushed his fingertips along the outer edge of my palm before he moved away.
Chapter 3
I snuggled deeper into the corner of the deep leather sofa, eyes drooping in relaxed bliss as I listened to the sweet, soothing sound of Pax at the piano.
He smiled up at me from over the top of the instrument and asked, “Any requests?” Shy Pax was back, those eyes flitting to me and away again so fast when I met his gaze.
“I'm happy as long as you keep playing. Please. You’re an amazing musician. It’s so relaxing,” I told him.
His smile broadened, and he returned his attention to the keys. I forced myself to try to forget the impressive bulge I’d spotted in his pants earlier. I was convinced his shyness had everything to do with that impossibly large erection. Surely most guys got hard-ons at inappropriate times.
Still, the idea that he’d gotten hard because of me left me with a bit of pride. It had been a long time since I’d been with anyone other than my own hands. Being stranded in this snowstorm with these two beautiful men would at least give me months of fantasies.
Mouthwatering smells wafted my way from the kitchen. Pax was a good musician. Ethan could obviously cook. Maybe this holiday wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Just then, I felt the tension in the air—the tug of Ethan’s gaze—before I even looked over at him. The connection there was undeniable, too. His sinful lips curved, tempting me to beg for them all over my body. My skin flashed hot.
“Wow, that gas fire gives off a lot of heat,” I murmured. Ethan grinned at me, and I suspected he knew I wasn’t entirely referring to the fireplace.
I stood from the sofa, considering how—exactly—I could ever choose between these two perfect men. Not that it would come to that. But when was there any better time for big wishes than Christmas Eve? Well, hell, if I was going to make wishes, why didn’t I wish for the stars by begging for both of them?
“Ho, ho, ho, gentlemen.” The door to the apartment swung open. “It’s fucking frigid out there, and the roads are insane.”
I froze where I stood, urging my jaw to remain hinged for what had to be the thirteenth time that evening.
The man didn’t even look around the room as he stripped out of his heavy winter coat and hat. He kept right on going, ditching a tie, suit jacket, and dress shirt before Ethan cleared his throat and Pax let out a low laugh.
Dark brown eyes peered from under the hem of the white undershirt the man had all but taken off. My mouth went dry. Miles and miles of firm, hot lean muscle rippled along his abdomen and chest. A short, neatly cropped shock of sandy brown hair was sticking out from the almost-off neck of his tee.
Clearly, I’d stumbled into some sort of Christmas Twilight Zone, one populated with smoking hot men. I blinked dumbly.
“Holy shit,” he murmured when his eyes landed on me. “You guys didn’t tell me we had company!” He shot a horrified look at his roommates as he seemed to struggle with the concept of what to do with his shirt. He finally yanked it back down, covering the places my tongue was desperate to explore.
“Did you bring the decorations, Ty?” Pax asked, ignoring the confusion still painted across his friend’s face.
“What? Hunh?” Ty seemed to shake himself before he tore his eyes away from me. “Shit. Yeah. You idiots almost got me caught with that stupid dare. I had to sneak them out in a trash bag full of wrapping paper.” He stooped in the still-open doorway and picked up a briefcase and a black garbage bag, which he tossed at Pax. “Get to digging, Santa.”
Ethan had emerged from the kitchen to see what Ty had brought home. Pax squeezed through the narrow space between Ethan and me, trash bag in hand.
“Excuse me,” he mumbled when his body brushed against mine. The contact was light—so fleeting I couldn’t even be sure we’d touched. But it sent a shiver through me. Ethan’s head jerked my way, and he studied me for a long, hot minute before another smile curved his naughty lips.
“Ty, this is our neighbor Hope. Hope, our third and final roommate, Ty Cain.”
Ty stepped forward, and I swear I got lost in those perfect eyes. The closer he got, the clearer I could see—they weren’t just dark brown. There were gold flecks in them that lit and danced in the light from the decorations around us.
“A pleasure,” he said as he took the hand I didn’t even realize I was offering. He clasped it in both of his, and something about the feeling of his hands surrounding mine made me shiver again. These fireworks were different. Dark, dangerous, and so very alluring.
“Really, Ty? So formal?” Ethan teased, breaking the spell that seemed to have fallen over us.
Ty stepped back and cleared his throat. His eyes hardly skated away from mine before they were right back on me. “Are you staying for a while?” he asked. The question was directed at me but almost seemed to include the other two guys.
In fact, if I weren’t going too crazy out of my mind, I would have thought they were all holding their breath, waiting to hear my answer.
“Until you guys kick me out, I guess,” I said with a joking shrug.
“That’s a damn good answer,” Ty murmured. The gold flecks in his eyes danced again as he glanced at his friends. “Think I’ll grab a shower, then. Do I have time before we eat?”
Ethan’s white t-shirt stretched tight across his muscles as he put his hands on his hips. “Food’s pretty much ready to go. We can warm things back up if we need to, but I won’t put the rolls in the oven until we’re ready to set the table.”
“Great,” Ty said. He winked at me, and it seemed so out of character, though I hardly knew him, that I felt my cheeks flame. “I need a cold shower after walking in on this fucking beautiful sight.” Then he smirked as he leaned around me to look at Pax, “The decorations are good, too, buddy.”
With that, he turned and strolled right from the room, peeling his shirt off as he went.
Holy hell. Where did this group of fine-as-fuck men come from? How had I missed most of their existence until this night? And was there still time to expand my Christmas wish to include all three of them?
Stupid, I know. They probably all had girlfriends. Or boyfriends. Or each other. I was a charity case. Still, the sexual current in the place was palpable. Maybe that was just my wishful thinking.
The sound of Pax rustling around in the trash bag brought me back to reality.
“At least he was right. It’s only torn up wrapping paper in here. I’m surprised he didn’t throw in some punch or chips and dip to get back at me.” Then his face lit up like a little kid’s, and he unearthed a long, long string of clear lights. “Sweet!” he yelled.
Ethan stepped closer behind me, and we watched as Pax rushed to the nearest outlet. As soon as he plugged the lights in, they shone bright golden-white and began to twinkle like so many stars.
“Twinkle lights! Awesome!” Pax said, entirely to himself. His face was bright again. Swept away by the magic of the holiday.
“And we’ve lost him,” Ethan said with a chuckle that teased my hair.
The strands that tickled my neck sent yet another shiver down my spine.
“That’s the third time I’ve seen you shiver in the last five minutes, Hope,” he said. He reached out for my hand, and I placed it in his. “Shit, baby. Your fingers are like ice!”
“They’re usually like that,” I managed to bite out around the sudden rush of need that struck me.
“Are you cold?” Ethan asked. His voice dropped low. He stepped around to face me, turning his back on Pax who was busy draping the newest lights along the shelf over
the fireplace.
The look Ethan gave me leveled me, and my heart picked up speed again, galloping within my ribcage.
“I could warm you up, if you want,” he whispered.
“Okay,” I whispered back, unsure of where it would take me. Hoping it would carry me to somewhere I’d never dreamed of when I’d found him outside my door.
“I’m gonna take our girl here to get an extra layer or two,” Ethan said over his shoulder to Pax. There was that phrase again. My girl. Our girl. Why did I love that so damn much?
Pax looked up from his work, and his eyes shifted between the two of us. My heart skipped a beat. Was I making a choice? Was I choosing Ethan over Pax? What if I didn’t want to? What about my wish?
Another one of those core-clenching shy smiles swept across Pax’s lips. “Sounds like a plan,” he said. I could feel his eyes on me until Ethan and I disappeared into the long dark hall that led off the living room.
I had to follow Ethan by feel alone, until he grabbed for my hand.
The warmth coursing through me was ushered ever faster into the depths of my soul by the steady thrumming of my heart. I was so confident I could hear his pounding, too. His breath was shallower, for sure, coming in little puffs. He stopped, and I felt him lean into a room on the left side of the hall. The flick of a switch joined the staccato chorus of our collective breaths as warm, low light washed the room.
Off to the left was a wall with a TV and a narrow table that had a row of pictures on it. I didn’t get a chance to peek at the pictures before Ethan led me around to the right. A wall jutted out, obscuring the view until we were well into the room. Before us stood a bed that was covered with a duvet that looked like it had been brought straight from the clouds. The room smelled like warm cedar and the delicious light cologne that clung to the air around Ethan.
He kept holding my hand as he pushed open a pocket door to reveal a small walk-in closet. It was like the sort of thing I’d only ever seen in movies. Rather than open wire racks or shelves, the closet was full of cabinets in a dark, rich wood grain. He released my hand to tug the silver handle on one to reveal a drawer full of sweats.