by Amanda Rose
“What’s the plan for tomorrow? Is there anything you’d like me to help prepare for Christmas dinner? Can you believe it is actually Christmas tomorrow?” I realise I am rambling, but can’t seem to help myself. The atmosphere has got decidedly tense all of a sudden.
Max looks at me, his dark brown eyes like hot coals trailing over my face. “There’s nothing you need to do. We’ve got it covered,” he says.
“Okay.” I find myself turning away from three sets of hungry eyes and stare into the fire. Memories of last night come unbidden into my head and I feel a rush of heat pool between my legs. I know that these kinds of thoughts are dangerous, that I had made it plain to Hudson, not more than a couple hours ago that friendship is all I can offer and yet here I am thinking about the way they had made me feel. The way all three of them made me feel. Pushing those thoughts away I concentrate instead on drinking the hot chocolate and running a hand through my still wet hair. I didn’t bother giving it a thorough comb through when I got out of the shower, so it’s pretty tangled as my fingers get caught up in the knots
“Here, let me brush it for you,” Max says, walking into the room with a brush in his hand. I hadn’t noticed he had got up, too distracted by thoughts of last night. I go to protest, but he just smiles sweetly.
“It’s no big deal Louisa, I just want to brush your hair. Can I?” he asks. There’s a vulnerability in his request and I find that I can’t deny him.
“Sure,” I mumble. What harm would it do?
He settles himself behind me, locking me between his thighs and starts brushing my hair, taking extra care with the sections that are knotted. Before long I feel myself relax into his hold. He is exceedingly gentle.
“I used to brush my mother’s hair before she got really sick. It was one of my lasting memories of her, and the only one that isn’t filled with hurt and pain,” Max says softly, as he places the brush on the coffee table and begins to gently run his hands through my hair.
“How did she get sick?” I ask, glancing at Hudson and Max, both of whom seem mesmerised by what Max is saying.
“Mum was a manic depressive, they call it Bipolar disorder these days. Most of the time she was just plain sad when she wasn’t in a paranoid rage or hallucinating. The only time she seemed at peace was when I brushed her hair. Then one day she just flipped. She couldn’t take her life anymore, even for me. She hung herself…” Max’s voice trails off and I feel a rising sadness overwhelm me. When I look at Bryce and Hudson, I can see their own constrained emotions just beneath the surface. I place my mug on the coffee table and turn on my knees facing Max. He looks at me as though he is on the edge of a precipice and I am his only anchor keeping him from falling. “Max, I am so sorry,” I say, before pulling him into a gentle hug. He doesn’t say a word, he just holds me with his face buried in my hair. We remain like that for quite some time until eventually he pulls away and smiles shakily at me.
“Well, Ice-Queen, you sure know how to melt a guy’s heart,” he says.
I smile at him and give him a light kiss on his cheek before standing. “I think I might go to bed if that’s okay with you guys?” I say, all too aware that something out of the ordinary is happening between us and I knew myself enough to know that one more minute with them would mean all sorts of trouble for me. It had been a long and emotional day. Sleep is what I need. Well, that’s what I tell myself anyway.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Wake up, it’s Christmas morning you lazy oafs.”
I smile at the sound of Max ribbing his brothers on the other side of the corridor and their grumbles of protest. Yawning, I sit up in bed and stretch. Outside the snowfall is so heavy I can’t even see the forest. I think this must be what they call a white-out. The fact that I am inside, warm and cosy, whilst the snow is piling up outside makes me feel strangely happy.
I’m only wearing my underwear, so I pull on my fluffy dressing gown and socks before opening the door. Max is standing on the other side wearing a Santa hat. He immediately pulls me into a hug and presses a kiss on the top of my head.
“Happy Christmas, beautiful,” he says.
I don’t bother to pull him up on the flirting, it's Christmas day after all. Besides, I kind of like the way he looked at me when he said it. Like he meant I was beautiful, the me inside, not the way I looked on the outside.
“Happy Christmas, Max,” I say.
Max is suddenly a big kid, full of happiness and energy as he pulls me along the corridor and into the living room. I have no idea why he’s so excited, it’s not as if there will be any presents. I stop short when I see a tree covered in fairy lights, twinkling in the corner of the room, underneath are several presents wrapped up in brown paper and red ribbon.
“Wow, did Santa stop by last night whilst I was sleeping?” I laugh.
“He may have done. Looks like Santa left a shed load of snow too,” Max smiles pointing to the window. “It doesn’t look like we’ll be going anywhere until this heavy snowfall has passed and the snow plough can clear the mountain roads. Luckily we have enough supplies to feed the five-thousand.”
“Thank goodness for that,” I laugh, feeling excited rather than worried about the thought of being ensconced in the cabin with the brothers Freed. I don’t know what’s happened overnight, but this morning I feel entirely different about the whole situation. “Well, all I can say is, Santa did a sterling job this Christmas.”
Hudson and Bryce pile into the room looking exceedingly cute with their messed-up hair and sleep filled eyes. For the first time, Bryce hasn’t bothered to make himself presentable for breakfast and I can’t help but smile at how adorable he looks.
“Santa had a bit of help,” Bryce laughs, pulling his long hair up into a quick bun. “Merry Christmas, Louisa.” He steps over to me and pulls me into a hug. This time I don’t flinch or pull away, I just let him hold me. I barely reach his shoulder, so when I rest my head against his broad chest all I can hear is the steady rhythm of his heart beating.
“Happy Christmas, Bryce,” I reply stepping out of his hold.
“Right, let’s get breakfast started. Pancakes, maple syrup and bacon coming right up,” Max says.
“I’ll give you a hand, bro.” Bryce pecks me briefly on the cheek, then grabs a frying pan and drizzles oil into it whilst Max starts making pancake mixture. I watch them work together laughing and joking. This is the first Christmas I have ever experienced without some kind of shit going down. All my previous memories of this day are filled with a drunk mother screaming and hollering, and a cold lonely dinner. When I see the brothers so full of happiness, a feeling of contentment settles inside my chest. It’s refreshing, and I hang onto it wholeheartedly.
“You okay there, Louisa?” It’s Hudson, he’s perched on the back of the sofa watching me watching his brothers.
“Yes, I’m great actually,” I say. It’s the truth. Today, I am just going to enjoy being amongst these men. I won’t let doubt or fear or worry about whether they are being genuine dampen my thoughts. I decide then and there that for one goddamn day I will allow myself this happiness and to hell with everything else.
“The Christmas tree, the presents,” I say pointing to them. “Did you do this last night after I went to bed?”
“Yes, we had the presents brought up yesterday and stored in the outhouse before we arrived. Last night we had the tree and decorations delivered. Max organised it and all three of us decorated the tree.”
“You did?” I laugh. Hudson smiles too.
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“Well, it’s just so perfect.” I look at the jewelled baubles on the tree, at the carefully placed ornaments. It is beautiful.
“Believe it or not, we love Christmas. Not growing up in a loving home meant we were all deprived of what most people take for granted. It has become a tradition for us to celebrate together. We decorate the tree, exchange gifts, cook together. This is the first Christmas ever that we have wanted someone to
join us. I’m glad you’re here,” Hudson says.
We look at each other for a long moment and I see the sincerity in his eyes.
“Louisa come here,” he says, holding open his arms.
Without thinking too much about what I am doing, I walk into them. His arms are warm and solid as they wrap around me tightly. We are almost the same height him sitting on the back of the sofa, me standing between his legs. He presses his cheek against mine. “I hope you’ll forgive me someday for the way I’ve handled myself, Louisa. You’re special, we don’t want to lose you,” he says softly.
I pull away from him, looking into the depths of his green eyes. My heart flutters at the hope, at the honesty I see in them. As we stare at each other, the background noise of Bryce and Max cooking breakfast falls away. I don’t know whether it is the magic of Christmas morning, my sudden decision to allow myself one day of happiness, or something else entirely, but whatever it is I leave the Louisa of yesterday behind and press a soft kiss against Hudson’s mouth.
The moment our lips touch a raging desire explodes between us and I am acutely aware of Hudson’s hands as they grip my hips, pulling me closer towards him. Something inside of me snaps, and I tangle my hands into Hudson’s hair kissing him back with the same fervour he is kissing me with.
“Holy shit, guys. Our backs are turned for one minute…”
I pull away from Hudson, breathing heavily and turn to see Bryce and Max staring open-mouthed at us. In that moment, in the privacy of the secluded cabin, whilst the snow falls heavily outside and the Christmas tree sparkles like magic in the corner of the room, I open my arms to the Freed brothers and they walk straight in.
“Are you certain?” I hear Hudson ask.
“Yes,” I say.
Hudson stands just as Bryce walks towards me and for a moment I am sandwiched between both men. I don’t feel afraid, I don’t feel anything other than a desire to be loved. Bryce steps forward and lowers his mouth over mine. The kiss takes my breath away as his tongue laps at my lips and twirls with my tongue. As he holds me against him, there is no doubt of his desire for me.
“Ice-Queen,” I hear Max whisper into my ear, as his body replaces Hudson behind me. Bryce pulls away as Max turns me around to face him. There is delight in his eyes, and something else, something close to adoration.
“This is the best damn Christmas present I have ever had.” With that, his lips crash against mine as we kiss like there is no tomorrow.
I can hear the heavy breaths of both Bryce and Hudson as they watch Max and I kiss each other. I want more, so much more. It’s as though something has uncorked within me as a rush of heat, and lust, and desire burns inside my chest.
“The bedroom, now,” Hudson growls, pulling me from Max’s arms and lifting me into his. I wrap my legs around his waist and bury my head into his neck. Over his shoulder, Bryce and Max are following. I don’t allow myself a second to debate whether what I am doing is right. I’ve only ever slept with a couple of men and never more than one at a time. This is new territory for me, but somehow it feels right. These men, for whatever reason, want to make love to me and I am going to let them and damn the consequences. For one day I want to not think about the real world and the upset and sadness it has brought me. I want to remain cocooned in the arms of these men. I want to feel something other than the broken pieces of me.
Hudson kicks open the bedroom door and lays me gently down on the bed, placing a tender kiss on my mouth. He stands back not waiting a second longer to pull off his top and pyjama bottoms, leaving just his tight boxer shorts on. He doesn’t seem to care that his brothers have entered the room, doesn’t flinch when they strip down to their boxers too. All of their eyes are on me and it is thrilling and naughty, and incredibly sexy. The fact that all three of them have bulging pants has me squirming on the bed, itching to touch them. I’ve never felt so sexy or adored before.
Hudson remains standing at the foot of the bed watching me with barely restrained longing whilst Bryce and Max move next to me. Max leans over and pulls apart my dressing gown gently trailing his fingers across my skin, pressing hot kisses in the places his fingers have just left, following heat with fire. I find myself moaning under his touch. Bryce takes my mouth again, this time he gently coaxes me with his kiss as his hand moves to my back and unhooks my lacy bra. I find myself being lifted up off the bed as Max removes my dressing gown and pulls off my bra before lowering me back down again, leaving me naked aside from my knickers. Then two hot mouths close over each of my nipples and I am lost to the sensation of their tongues lapping at my breasts.
In all that time, Hudson remains where he is. There is desire in his stare, but there is something more, something I can’t quite understand. Is it pain? Fear? I’m not sure, but I feel like I am losing him to his thoughts and I don’t want him to go.
“Hudson, come here,” I say. Max and Bryce move aside, still beside me but stroking my body with their hands instead of devouring me with their mouths.
We stare at each other until I realise what he’s waiting for. “I want you,” I whisper. A hot rush of heat pools between my thighs at the groan that slips from his mouth.
He scrapes his hand through his hair, his chest rising and falling in heavy breaths. “I want you, we want you too, but I didn’t bring…” his voice trails off. I hear Bryce, then Max swear lightly under their breath as realisation dawns on them too. I can’t help it I laugh. In the heat of the moment, the small matter of protection had slipped all our minds. Despite my very real disappointment, I am secretly pleased that they were telling the truth when they had said I was the first woman they’d brought here.
I sit up so that my shoulders are touching both Max and Bryce’s chest. “We should stop,” I say. I don’t want to stop, I don’t want to break the spell between us but there really isn’t any other option.
“No way,” Hudson replies, his voice a low growl. “This isn’t about us, this is about you, Louisa. There are plenty of ways we can please you.”
“Yes, we can wait, but you don’t have too,” Bryce says as he runs his tongue along the curve of my ear.
“These hands are skilled,” Max jokes waving his fingers at me, a lust filled smile pulling at his lips.
“Then I guess we don’t have to stop,” I say huskily, looking between my beautiful men. My? That thought alone makes me feel both excited and scared all at the same time. Could they ever really be mine or will the magic of today be over sooner than I would like? I don’t get time to think about it as Hudson crawls up the bed towards me. Bryce and Max have to pull back for a moment whilst he settles himself on top of me, crashing his mouth against my own. Our kiss is passionate, all-consuming, and as he rocks himself against me, the thin material of our underwear the only thing separating us, I push all doubt aside.
“You are so damn beautiful, Louisa. I cannot wait for the moment I get to bury myself inside of you, until then this will have to do,” Hudson says, pressing scorching kisses across my skin. He moves slowly downwards until his mouth is pressed against the material of my lace knickers. With one swift movement, he removes them and covers the heat of my sex with the moist warmth of his mouth. Bryce and Max return to my side, both of them worshipping me with their hands and their lips and as each of these damaged, beautiful, sexy men worship my body I find myself falling into the abyss of their devotion.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“I think I should finally get breakfast ready,” Max says, planting a tender kiss on my cheek and untangling himself from behind me. Bryce gives him room to get off the bed. “Look after her brothers,” he says with a wink, before leaving the room.
I settle myself between the two men, my face pressed against Bryce’s broad chest. Hudson is behind me, the whole length of his body firm against the back of mine. I let out a peaceful sigh, undeniably happy in the moment. I feel satiated, but there is still a shimmering desire lingering within me, one that is burning brighter by the second. We lay there, the three
of us, legs and arms tangled around one another, my nakedness wrapped in their arms. Raising my hand to Bryce, I trace a finger over the dark hair of his chest. Of the three men, he has the most body hair and I find it undeniably sexy. He oozes masculinity in a raw, powerful way and before I know what I am doing I am curling my hands in his hair and pulling him down for another kiss. Behind me Hudson groans, his own desire still apparent and pressing into my lower back. From behind, I can feel his hand move between my legs and I part them, so he can slip a warm finger inside of me. As Bryce kisses me like the starving, Hudson brings me to climax with his skilled fingers. It doesn’t take me long to become a hot mess in their arms.
Bryce pulls me into his chest and feathers kisses into my hair. “You hungry now?” he laughs.
“Yes, I’m starving,” I say, still feeling the afterglow of the most amazing orgasm I had ever experienced. The Freed brothers were indeed incredibly gifted in bed, and that had just been foreplay.
“Breakfast is served,” Max says from his spot by the door.
“Let’s go eat now before I change my mind and make you come again,” Hudson murmurs into my hair. I let out a delighted giggle.
“Hey, looks like I missed out on all the fun.” Max crosses his arms and pouts.
I slide off the bed and saunter over to him aware that I have not only Max’s but both Bryce and Hudson’s complete attention. Pressing my body against him, I trail my hand through his golden hair. “You’re next, Jester.” I have no idea where this sexy, confident Louisa has come from but she’s here and I like her.
Max groans and covers my mouth with his. He tastes of maple syrup.
“Come on, put Louisa down and let’s go eat. Have you forgotten there are presents to open,” Bryce says with a grin, as he pulls on his pyjama bottoms and then hands me my dressing gown.