Page 19 of Let it Snow Queen
I sniffed back my emotion, hoping the darkness concealed my face. “Thank you.”
“You know, regardless of how annoying and entitled and bratty you are . . . no one should leave a woman and child like that.”
“There it is. There’s the jerk face I know,” I replied, but the bite was gone from my words, the same as his were when he made his weak jab. Maybe he did believe I was all those things. Maybe I was entitled, annoying, and bratty. And he most certainly was a jerk. But Koji and I understood each other on some level, despite our vast differences. Despite our best efforts,the man was growing on me. And by the way his hands lingered on my thighs and back as he gently placed me on the sofa . . . the kind and tender way he removed my boots for me . . . I think I was growing on him too.
Chapter 12
12 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS
“Guys, I can’t take anymore. We have to stop.” I groaned.
Gallow chuckled. “It’s just a little further, lass.”
“I promise it’s worth it,”Fox said. He fell back a few steps and took my hand. I tilted my head to the sky and whined. The two men only laughed.
“I’m having flashbacks to the one million camping trips my family forced me to endure growing up.”
Gallow put an arm around my shoulder. “Your childhood sounds very rough. I’m so sorry. Though, I’ll make our kids go camping, too. It’s good character development.”
My body warmed. Did he really sayourkids? God, Gallow would be such a good dad. He reminded me of my dad. Rough around the edges with a rugged exterior, but a soft, kind, compassionate man in the middle. We stopped at an indistinctrow of evergreen trees coated in fresh, fluffy white. The guys looked at each other with excitement. Koji was gone when I woke that morning. The guys said he had errands. What errands he had trapped in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, I had no idea. But if anyone could find busy work, it was Koji. He was always either prepping food, cleaning, arranging firewood, or scribbling in his notebook. The only time I saw him relax was when he lounged, late into the night, around a fire with a book. I hated it, but he reminded me of my papa.
“Now, take off your clothes,”Fox instructed with a mischievous grin.
“Excuse me?”I signed and screeched. It had been days since I’d hooked up with any of them. They’d forced me to spend almost a week off my ankle, bringing food, water, and everything I needed. Finally, I’d had enough of sitting around, and the guys obliged me, promising me a surprise if I followed them. I was hoping the surprise involved something sexy. Being frozen solid and naked in the woods didnotsound like a good time. However, the idea of having both Gallow and Fox at once sent a thrill down my spine. My inner thighs warmed at the heated way they both stared at me expectantly.
“Go on, you heard the man.” Gallow crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. He wasn’t going to give me any semblance of privacy. He’d already seen it, and by the darkness flashing across his gaze, he looked ready to see it all again. I was eager to show him, but in the ice?
Fox kicked off his boots. “Trust us.”
I let out a long exhale. “Fine, but if this is some prank, I’m poisoning you both with all the toxic plants I find in this forest.” I shrugged off my coat and pulled off my sweater, leaving only an undershirt. “And then I’m lacing your sleeping bags with every itchy bit of ivy I find.” I kicked off my pants. The men gazed on hungrily, Gallow not-so-subtly adjusting himself. Fox leveled mewith a dark stare as he tilted his head to the side, watching me pull off my undershirt. My breasts hung free, the cold air perking my nipples with pain and pleasure. I stood in only my green thong.
Gallow gestured past the trees. “Follow this little stone path we made for ye. We’ll meet you there.”
“Where?” My teeth chattered, but I strode forward in the freezing snow. My cheeks heated all the way down to my core as I felt their greedy glances roaming my bare flesh. I would have felt embarrassed with anyone else, but with them, it felt natural. They made me feel beautiful and desired. All six feet and two hundred something pounds of me. I loved the effect my body had on them and only wanted more.
The stone path was wobbly, like they’d just laid it, but it was better than snow. I followed its curve until a gurgling sound reached my ears. Steam floated above a perfectly round stone pond. I gasped as I stuck a curious toe in. A warm, solid, and bare chest pressed against my back. Fox’s strong arms wrapped around me. I turned so he could see my lips. “Hot springs!” I screeched, smiling like an idiot.
He nodded, his grin matching my own. Fox’s smile was breathtaking. I’d do anything to see it.
Gallow pulled down his pants, and my mouth dropped slightly at seeing his full length in daylight. I felt my wetness already pooling. “We discovered it last week. There are a few around here. Gorgeous, untouched by man.”
“They won’t stay that way, though, will they?” I said solemnly, dampening the mood. Gallow’s face dropped, making me regret my words. “But let’s enjoy them now.” I forced cheer into my tone and dropped my panties. That was enough to change his mood instantly. Men were such simple creatures.
Gallow got in first, and Fox held my hand as I lowered into the mountain man’s thick arms. “Wow, it’s deeper than it looks.”I hissed as the hot water immediately warmed my body and soothed my aching muscles. I wrapped my legs around Gallow’s round waist and leaned back, extending my arms. Suddenly, they met Fox, who palmed my ribs. He unabashedly snaked his hands up to my breasts, softly thumbing my nipples. My heart fluttered, and I opened my eyes to see how Gallow would react to seeing his friend with me like this. There wasn’t a hint of jealousy behind his green eyes, only desire as his rough grip squeezed my ass. I realized then that my bare pussy was pressed right against his middle. It throbbed in awareness and longing.
“This is about you, not us,” Gallow said in a husky voice. “The heat will help your ankle and sore muscles.”
Fox massaged my shoulders, and Gallow took to rubbing my calves. I moaned at the combination of boiling water and touch. “That feels so nice,” I admitted, resting the back of my head on Fox’s shoulder.
They each moved their broad, manly palms over my body, rubbing the knots from my shoulders, smoothing the aches from my feet and legs. Who knew hot water could feel so divine? And with two beautiful men massaging me . . . “I want you both,” I said sleepily.
Gallow’s hearty chuckle answered. “You may want us, but what you need is a relaxing soak for your body and yer mind. We’ve got plenty of time for more.”
Did we, though? I wanted more—of course I did—but my body only wanted to absorb the heat of their touch. And they gave it selflessly, willingly . . . maybe what we had wasn’t just sex after all. But time was something we didn’t have. The snow would melt, and we’d all go on with our lives. So why did this feel so goddamn perfect?
Chapter 13
My legs were Jell-O the entire walk back to the cabin. My heart felt . . . happy. It was a new and strange feeling. But these guys . . . It felt like I’d known them forever. But I couldn’t let myself get attached. This was an extraordinary experience being snowed in with strangers—hot strangers—and having sex with each of them, but at the end of the day, when the snow melted, I was a single mom who lived in Georgia. They were career men who traveled. This Christmas was nothing but a quick and fun blip on their radar, and my priority was getting Declan and myself set up to be independent. I couldn’t rely on my family to prop me up any longer. I’d been stewing in my grief. Bipolar disorder or not, I needed to find a way to live life on my terms, care for my son . . . and care for myself too.