“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 while I was sleeping?”

“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 on to 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 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’ve 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’m 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 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 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, repeating his words to me earlier. 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 has slipped all our minds. Despite my very real disappointment, I am secretly pleased they were telling the truth when they 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 to,” Bryce says as he leans down and 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 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.