MERRY KISSMAS

SANTA’S SHORTS

POPPY FLYNN

Copyright © 2024 by Poppy Flynn

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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CHAPTER ONE

MERRY

Merry stalked along the executive level corridor at Smith Marketing Associates, a printed email crumpled in her fisted hand, and her face set in a scowl.

A couple of people started to say hello or raised their hands in acknowledgment, only to rapidly change their minds at the furious look on her face.

To say she was pissed off would be a colossal understatement.

Merry rarely rocked the boat. She was on a direct trajectory to the top, and everything she did was carefully calculated to get her there. Not by maliciously treading on the small guys, or opening her legs to get a leg up, but by doing her job efficiently, successfully, and with the least amount of drama.

That’s why she could scarcely believe she’d been reduced to this! How dare they!

Well, she wasn’t going to stand for it. The upper echelon were about to find out that just because she was quiet and hardworking, it didn’t mean they could walk all over her.

Merry breezed past Frazer Smith’s PA, not daring to even pause because the woman was the embodiment of a guard dog, and Merry knew if she stopped she’d be turned away.

“Oh, Ms. Miller…” The PA’s voice trailed off as Merry hurried toward the CEO’s office, and while mildly surprised she hadn’t come after her, Merry was too focused on her end goal to give it much thought.

Rapping her knuckles on the office door of the man in charge before she could change her mind - or some might say, come to her senses - Merry didn’t even wait for an acknowledgement before she pushed through into the grand executive office and slapped the printout on Frazer Smith’s desk.

“Ah, Ms. Miller,” he greeted. “We’ve been expecting you. Why don’t you take a seat, and I’ll introduce you to your colleagues to the finer details of this groundbreaking campaign?”

Wait! What?

Forced off balance by his response, Merry whirled around, only now realizing there were four men, all in pristine suits, seated opposite the desk.

The marketing executives, Beck Wilson, Maddox Johnson, and Elijah Smith, Fraser’s son, she surmised must be who she was expected to work with. Fiddlesticks! Did it have to be the same three men who made her pulse race a little faster? Not that she ever revealed that to anyone, because that would just be unprofessional, and if there was one thing she strove to always be, it was professional. Which was why this latest edict had her so incensed.

However, at this precise moment, it was the fourth man who had her quaking in her high heeled shoes… and not for any sexy reasons, either.

Slightly to one side, in a position of understated dominance, sat none other than Frederick Smith, son of the founder, and current Chairman of the Board of Directors. The man who held all of her promotional opportunities in his old, gnarled hands.

Fuckity fucking fuck!

With every molecule of ire and defiance sucked out of her at the sight of the man who could literally make or break her career, Merry meekly did as she was told, and held her breath just in case her attitude when she’d so rudely barged in was about to get her fired.

Next to her, Elijah, the youngest generation of Smith’s in this office, smirked, and she gritted her teeth, cursing his handsome face. He, of course, would never have to worry about whether or not he made the wrong impression, because his position within the company was guaranteed.

Not that he was a slacker - far from it, in fact. Merry could grudgingly admit that Elijah had earned his place as an executive manager through hard work and talent, just as Maddox and Beck had. But it still grated on her that he had the luxury of being able to speak his mind without the fear of repercussions.

And he would, she was sure of it. There was no way he'd want to go through with this charade any more than she did. The knowledge settled her frayed nerves.

Frederick Smith leaned forward, his steely gaze fixed on Merry. "Ms. Miller, I'm glad you've joined us. Your... enthusiasm for this campaign is exactly what we're looking for."

Merry blinked, confusion replacing her earlier anger. Her mind raced, trying to process Frederick's words. Enthusiasm? For a campaign that reduced her to a sex object? She opened her mouth to protest, but Frederick continued before she could speak.

"Your passion for pushing boundaries and challenging norms is precisely why we selected you to lead this initiative," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Elijah chimed in, his smirk widening. "We knew you'd be perfect for shaking things up, Merry. Who else could pull off sexy Santa with such... conviction?"

Merry's cheeks burned. She glanced at the other executives, searching for any sign that this was all an elaborate joke. But their faces remained impassive, expectant, even.

"I... I don't understand," she finally managed, unable to hold her tongue a moment longer. "This campaign goes against everything our company stands for. It's degrading and unprofessional."

Shit, did she really say that in front of the Chairman, who clearly thought his was a good idea, and came from a generation where stereotyping women as sex objects was the norm?

Beck Wilson, one of her contemporaries, cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow to her. "On the contrary, Ms. Miller. This campaign is about subverting expectations and reclaiming narratives. By embracing these roles on our own terms, we're making a bold statement about agency and empowerment in the workplace."

That was seriously where they wanted to go with this? Trying to convince her and every other modern woman out there, that dressing her up as a sexy female Santa surrounded by hunky, half-dressed male elves, constituted empowerment? While having all of them doling out mistletoe inspired kisses like some cheap-ass kissing booth underneath a massive marketing slogan shouting ‘Sex Sells?’

Merry's head spun. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure, and glanced around at the expectant faces of the executives. This had to be some kind of test, right? A bizarre initiation into the upper echelons of the company? "I appreciate the... vote of confidence," she said carefully, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil. "But I'm concerned about the message this campaign sends, not just to our clients, but to our employees. Particularly our female employees."

Frederick Smith leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Go on, Ms. Miller. We value your input."

Merry's eyes darted to Maddox Johnson, the other man in the room, who eyed her thoughtfully, and she had to force down the flutter in her stomach at his classic good looks, which always managed to give her a lady boner. Pushing away the inappropriate thoughts, she continued, "We've worked hard to build a reputation as a progressive, forward-thinking company. This campaign... it serves to reinforce typical stereotypes and reduces our employees to nothing more than their physical attributes."

Frederick clapped his hands together, making her jump, and pointed a finger her way. “Exactly!” he crowed. “I knew you’d get it.”

Get it? This was what he wanted? Of course he did! The man was in his eighties and refused to step down from his position of authority. He was of that era that believed women still belonged in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant. Well, she wasn’t going to put up with this kind of nonsense. She opened her mouth to let forth the stream of righteous indignation building within her, when a movement from Beck caught her eye. He shook his head almost imperceptibly. It was such a minuscule gesture, she wasn’t entirely sure she didn’t imagine it. But it was enough to halt the spewing mass of indignation, which would undoubtedly have scuppered her chances of promotion, at the very least, if not gotten her fired.

“And looking at the four of you together, I know I’ve picked the perfect team.”

Team? What the heck was he talking about?

“Ms. Miller, meet your elves.”

Merry blinked and looked at Elijah, Maddox and Beck. Elves? What the heck? No! She was a modern, independent woman who prided herself on her forward thinking and politically correct marketing strategies and campaigns. This surely couldn’t be happening to her.

Except, it was.

CHAPTER TWO

ELIJAH

“Honestly, Dad… can’t you talk the old man out of this?”

No one else would dare voice such a thing, but Elijah wasn’t anyone, and while he normally balked at using his family ties, this surely was an exception to that rule.

“Believe me, son, when I say I’ve tried. Honestly, I don’t know what’s gotten into him. He says it’s just a bit of festive fun, so maybe that’s the best way to deal with it.” Fraser sighed and ran his hands over his face. "Besides, you know how your grandpa gets when he's got an idea in his head. Might as well try to convince a mule to tap dance," his father chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder.

Elijah left his father’s office and contemplated his impending doom. In less than 48 hours, he'd be prancing around at the company Christmas party in nothing but green tights and jingle bells, along with Maddox and Beck, while Merry, his very prim and proper marketing associate, ho-ho-ho'd her way through the crowd in a fur-trimmed bikini with a minuscule skirt… and although she didn’t know it, the skirt was an addition his father had managed to talk the octogenarian into. His grandfather would have had her strutting her stuff in a string bikini outfit that was almost indecent.

He groaned, picturing himself doling out candy canes and awkward pecks on the cheek to giggling coworkers and astonished clients. It was going to be the longest night of his life. Maybe if he caught the flu in the next day or two...

Except that really wasn’t fair.

Elijah knew he could pull rank and refuse to take part. He could get away with it, too… but he was the only person who could get away with it without repercussions. And if the others had to endure the humiliation, he’d stand right up there with them, because it was the right thing to do. He never wanted to be the guy who used his position to further his own career. It was pointless, anyway. His position within the company was guaranteed, but when the time came, he wanted to direct with the respect of his employees.

Walking back to his own office, he was eventually pulled from his thoughts by Maddox and Beck, who were waiting for him.

“What the hell has gotten into our esteemed chairman?” Beck asked as they moved behind closed doors to speak in private.

“Personally, I think the old man’s living out his youthful fantasies,” Maddox said with a laugh. “It may not be very PC, but I’ll be the first to admit the idea of Merry Miller in a sexy Santa outfit is something I’d pay to see, but instead I’ll get to do it up close and personal-like.”

“Yeah, and dressed in a pair of tights… I’m sure that will do it for her!” Elijah smirked, then winked. “Although I suppose you could just stuff a pair of socks down the front, that might catch her interest.”

Beck threw his head back and laughed. “And every other woman at the party.”

“I’ll have you know, I have absolutely no need to stuff my tights, thank you very much. Like you two won’t be in the same situation.”

Elijah couldn't help but chuckle at Maddox's comment, despite the gravity of their situation. "You might be onto something there. Maybe Grandpa's trying to relive his glory days as a Chippendales dancer."

Beck snorted. "God, don't give him any more ideas. Next thing you know, he'll have us oiling up and doing body rolls."

"Don't jinx it," Elijah warned, only half-joking. He slumped into his leather chair, loosening his tie. "Look, I tried talking to my father, but it's no use. The old man's set on this... spectacle."

Maddox perched on the edge of Elijah's desk. "So, what's the game plan? We can't exactly back out, can we?"

"Not unless we want to risk the wrath of Grandpa Claus," Beck muttered.

Elijah sighed, rubbing his temples. "No, we're in this together. If Merry has to suffer through it, so do we. But maybe we can find a way to make it less... mortifying?"

"Like what? Wear long johns under our tights?" Maddox suggested with a smirk.

"Actually, that's not a bad idea," Elijah mused, sitting up straighter. "We could try to make our costumes a bit more... substantial. Maybe convince Grandpa that a sexier elf is a mysterious elf."

Beck nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, like those Kris Kringle meets Magic Mike outfits. Shirts with tear-away sleeves, maybe?"

"Now you're talking," Maddox grinned. "We could even incorporate some cheesy choreography. Make it so ridiculous that people laugh with us instead of at us."

Elijah felt a glimmer of hope. "And maybe we can talk to Merry, see if she wants to join in on the act. Safety in numbers, right?"

"Assuming she doesn't quit on the spot when she sees her costume," Beck pointed out.

"True," Elijah grimaced. "I'll talk to her. Maybe we can brainstorm ways to make her outfit a little more... professional."

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted their plotting. The trio exchanged panicked glances as the door swung open, revealing none other than Merry herself. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene before her. Elijah knew what it must look like - three of the company's top executives huddled together like schoolboys planning a prank.

"Am I interrupting something?" she asked, her tone cautious.

Elijah cleared his throat. "Merry! No, not at all. In fact, we were just about to come find you. Please, come in."

She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "Is this about the... Christmas party?" Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke.

"Yes, actually," Elijah said, gesturing for her to take a seat. "We were discussing ways to make the whole thing a bit more... palatable for everyone involved."

Merry's eyebrows shot up. "You mean there's a way to make prancing around in a bikini at a work function palatable?"

Maddox chuckled. "We're working on it. Any ideas?"

To their surprise, a mischievous smile spread across Merry's face. "Well, as a matter of fact, I might have a few.”

Elijah leaned forward, intrigued. "We're all ears, Merry. What did you have in mind?"

Merry's eyes sparkled with a mix of mischief and determination. "Well, gentlemen, if we're going to do this, we might as well go all out. But on our terms."

She pulled out her tablet and began swiping through some images. "I've been doing some research. If we're supposed to be sexy Christmas characters, why not draw inspiration from some unconventional sources?"

The men gathered around as she showed them her ideas. There were images of edgy, punk-rock elves, a badass Santa with tattoos and a leather jacket, and even a few steampunk-inspired holiday looks.

"I'm thinking we turn this whole thing on its head," Merry explained. "Instead of just being eye candy, we become walking works of art. We can still show some skin, but it'll be on our terms, covered in intricate body paint and accessorized with some truly outrageous props."

Beck whistled low. "I have to admit, that's pretty brilliant. The old man wants a show? We'll give him a show he never saw coming."

Maddox nodded enthusiastically. "I'm loving this rebel Christmas vibe. But how do we convince Frederick to go for it?"

Elijah leaned back in his chair, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Leave that to me. If there's one thing I know about my grandfather, it's that he can't resist a challenge. We'll present it as a cutting-edge marketing opportunity."

"Exactly," Merry chimed in. "We can spin it as a way to show how forward-thinking and adaptable the company is. 'Traditional values meet modern aesthetics' or something like that."

"Plus," Beck added, "if we really commit to these looks, it'll be so over-the-top that it becomes more of a performance art piece than a peep show. Clients might actually be impressed by our creativity."

Elijah stood up, feeling energized for the first time since this whole fiasco began. "Alright, team. Let's get to work, we don’t have a lot of time to turn this around. Merry, can you start putting together a pitch for Grandpa? Beck, I need you to reach out to your contacts - see if we can get some professional body painters on board. Maddox, you're in charge of costumes. Let's make this a performance they'll never forget."

The group dispersed, buzzing with newfound enthusiasm. As Elijah watched them go, he couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. Maybe this ridiculous party could turn into something truly memorable after all.

CHAPTER THREE

ELIJAH

Over the next 24 hours, the office was a flurry of secretive activity. Hushed phone calls, clandestine meetings in supply closets, and mysterious packages being delivered. Elijah's grandfather, noticing the increased energy around the office, seemed pleased, no doubt assuming it was anticipation for his grand vision.

The morning of the party arrived, and Elijah steeled himself for the confrontation ahead. He knocked on his grandfather's office door,

"Come in!" his grandfather's jovial voice boomed.

Elijah stepped inside, finding the old man adjusting a ridiculous red and white hat with a fluffy pom-pom. "Grandad, we need to talk about this party⁠—"

"Isn't it exciting?" his grandfather interrupted, grinning. "I've got Merry's sexy Santa outfit all ready. Wait until you see the boots!"

Elijah cringed. "That's actually what I wanted to discuss. You do realize how politically incorrect all this is, don’t you? This isn’t just an office party. There’ll be clients attending. It could seriously damage our credibility.”

Frederick Smith’s face cheerful face crumpled so completely, Elijah almost felt bad. He guessed his father was right. Grandpa really was just having a bit of fun.

“Do you really think so, Eli?” he asked. “In my day, this would have been lapped up. Are you trying to tell me I’ve lost my touch? I built this company from the ground up, you know.”

Elijah sighed. This was harder than he expected. His grandfather’s heart was in the right place, after all, and the man had worked damn hard to make the company the multi-million-dollar corporation it was today. “Pops, I don’t doubt any of that at all… but it was sixty years ago. Things have changed, and it’s important as a marketing company that we embrace those changes. You know that as well as I do.”

The old man looked decidedly glum. “Things were a damn sight easier in the old days,” he grumbled. “Maybe it really is time for me to retire.”

“Pops, you know as well as I do, you’d be bored to tears if that happened, although goodness knows you’ve earned it.”

Frederick might be in his eighties, but he had the energy and zeal of a man twenty-five years younger, and the truth was, the place wouldn’t be the same without him.

“All I’m asking, is that you allow me, Beck, Maddox, and Merry to put our own spin on your original brief. What do you say? Are you up to letting the youth show you what we’re made of?” he challenged with a mischievous grin.

“The same brief?” Frederick confirmed. “A Sexy Santa and elves kissing booth?”

“With a twist,” Elijah agreed with a firm nod.

Frederick's eyes twinkled with renewed interest. "A twist, you say? Well, I suppose I could be persuaded to see what you young whippersnappers come up with. But it better be good, Eli. I won't have my reputation tarnished by some half-baked millennial nonsense."

Elijah grinned, relief washing over him. "Trust me, Grandad. We'll knock your socks off."

As Elijah left the office, he pulled out his phone and fired off a quick text to Beck, Maddox, and Merry: "Operation Save Christmas is a go. Meet me in the supply closet in 5."

Minutes later, huddled among mops and cleaning supplies, the four co-conspirators finalized their plan.

“Can I ask one question?” Merry asked when they were done. “If Frederick agreed to our proposition, why are we having this meeting in the supply closet?”

“Umm…” Elijah looked at her, then the other two, nonplussed. “Habit?” he asked with a laugh, since he didn’t have any other explanation.

“Well, perhaps we could use an office from now on,” Merry declared, shifting around him to leave in a way that inadvertently squished her generous breasts again him, and her peachy ass against Beck, who pulled a face like he was in pain, and Eli guessed his friend was battling a hard-on. He knew he was.

“Oh, I don’t know,” he said with a wink. “This place has its benefits.”

Maddox snickered like a schoolboy, but fortunately for both him and the HR department, Merry didn’t quite follow his line of thought.

CHAPTER FOUR

MERRY

Merry had to fan herself after she squeezed by the three sexiest men in the company in order to get out of the supply closet.

Damn, if they had this effect on her when they were fully dressed in their conservative suits, how was she going to cope when she had to cozy up to them with their toned abs and biceps on full display in the skimpy elf costumes? Merry silently cursed old Mr. Smith for this ridiculous idea. It was almost enough to take her mind off her own revealing Santa outfit.

"Everything alright in there, Merry?" called out Roger from accounting with a wink. Shit, had he seen the four of them go in there? Who the heck decided a supply closet was a good choice for a clandestine meeting place? Seriously, there surely couldn’t be anything more suspicious than four people either entering or exiting such a small space.

Merry forced a cheerful smile. "Ho ho ho! Just getting some, um, supplies for the party."

She scurried down the hallway, face flushed, hoping no one noticed how hot and bothered she was. At this rate, she wouldn’t have to worry about fending off the ‘grabby hands’ at the Christmas party later, she’d have to worry about whether or not she’d be tempted to join in, where Elijah, Maddox and Beck were concerned.

Merry ducked into the ladies' room, desperate for a moment to compose herself. Splashing some cold water on her face, she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

"Get it together, girl," she muttered. "It's just a stupid party. A few hours. You can handle this."

But even as she tried to psych herself up, images of Elijah's chiseled jawline and Maddox's piercing blue eyes kept flashing through her mind. And Beck... well, Beck had always been the quiet one, but Merry was certain there was something smoldering behind those thick-rimmed glasses of his.

Damn, she loved a man in glasses.

A knock at the door made her jump.

"Merry? You in there?" She recognized the voice of Janice from HR. "We need to go over some last-minute details for the party."

Merry groaned internally. "Be right out!"

She took a deep breath, smoothed her blouse, and stepped out into the hallway. Janice was waiting with a clipboard and a concerned expression.

"Everything okay? You look a little flushed."

"Oh, I'm fine," Merry lied, forcing a bright smile. "Just busy with the party. What did you need to go over?"

Janice eyed her suspiciously but seemed to accept the explanation. "I just need you to sign a waiver, so we don’t have a ‘politically correct’ nightmare on our hands, since old Mr. Smith is still insisting on all that mistletoe and is expecting the four of you to hand out kisses.”

“I hope that waiver states it’ll be kisses on the cheek only, and no groping allowed,” Merry all but growled.

Janice chuckled nervously. "Well, um, about that..." She flipped through some papers on her clipboard. "Mr. Smith was quite insistent on keeping things... festive. The waiver just states that all participants are willingly engaging in 'holiday-themed physical contact' and won't hold the company liable for any... enthusiastic holiday spirit."

Merry's jaw dropped. "You can't be serious."

"I'm afraid so," Janice said with an apologetic shrug. "Look, just... try to have fun with it, and I’ll make sure the guys have your back.”

As she scrawled her name on the dotted line, Merry couldn't help but wonder how she'd gotten herself into this mess. Sure, she needed this job, but was it worth becoming the office Santa-slash-kissing booth laughingstock? And how was she supposed to concentrate on handing out chaste pecks when Elijah, Maddox, and Beck would be standing there in their skimpy elf costumes, looking like they'd just stepped out of a firefighter calendar?

Merry handed the clipboard back to Janice with a sigh. "Alright, it's signed. Is there anything else?"

"Just one more thing," Janice said, lowering her voice. "Mr. Smith wants you to practice your 'Ho Ho Ho' laugh. He says it needs to be... sultry."

Merry stared at her in disbelief. "You have got to be kidding me."

"I wish I was," Janice replied, looking genuinely sympathetic. "Maybe try channeling Marilyn Monroe singing 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President'?"

"Right," Merry said flatly. "Because that's exactly the vibe we want for a company Christmas party."

As Janice hurried off, Merry leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. She could already picture the chaos about to unfold. Old Mr. Smith, grinning like a Cheshire cat as he watched his ridiculous fantasy come to life. The shocked faces of her coworkers as they realized this wasn't your typical office party. And worst of all, the hungry looks from some of the more lecherous clients as they lined up for their ‘holiday-themed physical contact.’

Merry shuddered and pushed herself off the wall. She could only hope their revised plan kept things somewhat PG.

CHAPTER FIVE

MADDOX

Maddox hadn’t been lying when he’d joked that he’d pay to see Merry Miller in a skimpy Santa outfit. They’d worked together for the past three years, but as much as he might have liked to explore something with her, she’d never given even the slightest hint she’d be interested, so Maddox had opted for the ease of a comfortable working environment and chose not to make things awkward by asking her out.

Now though, with the chairman’s outdated plans for the company Christmas party, things could barely get any more awkward, and Maddox decided he was absolutely going to strut his stuff and steal at least one very un-pc kiss under the abundance of mistletoe already being strung up in the company’s massive conference room. If things went to plan, then hopefully he could claim more than one, and if he bombed, everyone would simply put it down to a stressful event they’d all rather forget and conveniently put it all behind them.

It was the perfect plan. So perfect, he could almost forgive the old man for the crazy idea… as long as he didn’t get mobbed by a bunch of overzealous women in his own very skimpy outfit.

He flexed his biceps as he adjusted the ridiculous red and green elf hat perched on his head aside the spiky faux hawk the hairdresser had arranged his locks into, as per the new brief. Catching sight of himself in the mirror he couldn't help but chuckle. They might have managed to subvert the original ensemble which consisted of nothing more than tights and strategically placed jingle bells, but he still felt like an idiot. Normally it was the actors that made their adverts who did the dressing up. Not the executives themselves.

Yet here he was - in nothing but tight green shorts that left little to the imagination, a red vest that showed off his toned abs, and some extraordinarily realistic looking henna tattoos, which covered his chest and shoulders in this whole marketing parody of ‘turning expectations on their heads’ or ‘thinking outside the box.’

He might feel utterly absurd, but he had to admit, he also looked kind of hot.

As he made his way to the conference room, Maddox's confidence wavered slightly. What if people thought this was all completely stupid? What if they were a laughingstock? He shook his head, steeling his resolve. No, he was going to own this ridiculous situation and make the best of it. It certainly couldn’t be any worse than the original plan Frederick had devised which would undoubtedly have offended pretty much everybody.

He rounded the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. There was Merry, adjusting her own costume in front of a wall mirror. Maddox's jaw dropped. The "sexy Santa" outfit was even more revealing than he'd imagined - a red velvet bustier top trimmed with white fur, matching shorts as minuscule as his own, and thigh-high white boots.

His tongue cleaved to the roof of his mouth. Maddox could honestly say he’d rarely been lost for words, much of marketing was in the gift of the gab, after all, but this might be one of those times.

Merry caught sight of him in the mirror and spun around, her eyes widening as she took in his appearance. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the awkwardness palpable.

"Well," Merry finally said, a nervous laugh escaping her lips, "At least we both drew the short straw, and we’re in this together, huh?"

Maddox swallowed hard, trying to regain his composure. "Yeah, you could say that. Although, I have to admit, you pull off the sexy Santa look way better than I would have."

Merry's cheeks flushed, matching the color of her outfit. "Thanks, I think. You're not looking too shabby yourself, Mr. Elf."

Maddox flexed playfully, causing Merry to giggle, a sound he didn’t think he’d ever heard before, and suddenly wanted to hear more. The tension between them eased, replaced by a shared sense of absurdity.

"So," Maddox ventured. "How are we going to survive this night without dying of embarrassment?"

Merry's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Well, I was thinking of raiding the open bar, personally, for some dutch courage. Care to join me?”

“Maybe just the one,” Maddox agreed. “I don’t want to risk any drunken stupidity. This getup is already bad enough.”

Merry glanced at him, her eyebrow raised. “I’m not sure I can imagine you conducting any drunken shenanigans.”

Maddox couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or not. He’d had his moments, but of course, being the most lighthearted of the three, but the workplace was where he always kept his business head on.

“Have you seen Beck and Elijah?” he asked, letting the comment go.

Merry shook her head. “No, not yet, but I guess we’d better go and find them. Safety in numbers and all that.”

“Amen to that,” Maddox murmured under his breath, as he tried to pretend he wasn’t totally eyeing up her spectacular ass in those teeny tiny booty shorts as she walked ahead of him.

He scrunched his eyes closed and gave a silent groan. His own teeny-tiny booty shorts did not allow for the way his cock perked up. At this rate, the embarrassment would not only be the way he was dressed.

CHAPTER SIX

BECK

It was safe to say, when he’d decided to go into marketing, Beck had never expected to find himself doing something like this. He would never have even donned an outfit like this for a fancy dress party.

Oh well, if nothing else, it would perhaps allow people to see him in a different light. He didn’t exactly resent the ‘geek’ label he’d gotten stuck with; the necessity of wearing glasses did that to a guy. And it was true he’d always been the responsible one; the dependable one, but there was much more to him than people saw on the surface, and sometimes the stereotypes got old. He took care of himself, worked out, and sported pretty decent muscle tone underneath his executive charcoal-gray suit. So, all in all, Beck had decided to simply treat this as a new experience.

You only live once, and all that. What’s the worst that could happen?

Actually, that was something he didn’t want to find out.

Pulling the green spandex shorts over his lean hips, he wondered what the chances of him walking around all night with a permanent wedgie were, and decided they were pretty high.

New experience, he reminded himself. Well, the shorts, not the wedgie. He’d been on the receiving end of those quite enough in high school, thanks. Another drawback of being the geeky kid. Yeah, it had started young.

Beck sighed and reached for the matching vest top, wondering if it was really worth wearing it.

"You decent in there?" Maddox’s voice called from outside his office door.

"As decent as I'm going to get in this getup," Beck replied, running a hand through his hair, and pulling on the red and green striped hat. Dear god! He took a deep breath and opened the door.

Maddox whistled. "Damn, Beck. Who knew you were hiding all that under those suits?"

Beck felt his face heat up. "Shut up," he muttered, but there was no real heat behind it.

His friend grinned, decked out in his own elf costume, he’d already had the benefit of having the henna tattoos painted on, and actually, the effect was really good.

"Come on, it's not that bad. We might even have some fun."

"Fun?" Beck raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure 'fun' is the word I'd use."

"Well, think of it this way," Maddox said, slinging an arm around Beck's shoulders. "At least we're not wearing tights.”

“Was this any better? Beck honestly wasn’t sure.

“The makeup woman’s in the board room office. Merry went to hunt down Elijah, and you’re up next.” Maddox told him.

“You know, they look remarkably real,” Beck mused. I think we maybe should discard these vests and let the tats shine.”

Maddox’s eyes lit up. "Now you're talking! I knew you had it in you, Beck. Let's do it!"

With a mix of trepidation and anxiety, Beck peeled off his vest, tossing it aside. The cool air hit his bare chest, making him shiver slightly.

"Alright, let's get you inked up," Maddox said, steering Beck towards the board room.

As they entered, Beck saw Merry was being slathered in some kind of glittery body lotion that made her look downright edible, and Elijah had beaten them there and was already getting his tattoos applied. The intricate designs swirled across his muscular torso, transforming him.

"Looking good, Eli,” Maddox called out.

Elijah grinned. "Thanks. It actually feels pretty awesome. You're gonna love it, Beck."

Beck took a deep breath and sat down in the chair as the makeup artist finished with Elijah. She smiled reassuringly at him.

"Don't worry, honey. I'll have you looking like the sexiest elf this side of the North Pole in no time."

Yep, that was something he never expected to be hearing.

As she began applying the henna, Beck tried to relax. The cool paste felt strange on his skin, but not unpleasant. He watched in fascination as intricate swirls and patterns began to take shape across his chest and arms.

"So, what exactly are we supposed to do at this party?" Beck asked, glancing at Elijah and Maddox.

Elijah shrugged. "Grandpa was pretty vague on the details. Something about mingling, taking photos with guests, maybe some light flirting. Nothing too crazy."

"Right," Beck muttered. "Because dressing up as sexy elves isn't crazy enough."

The makeup artist chuckled. "Trust me, honey, I've seen much crazier. This is tame compared to some of the gigs I've done."

Beck wasn't sure if that was comforting or concerning.

“Wasn’t there something about mistletoe in the brief?” he asked, casting his bespectacled gaze to a suddenly uncomfortable looking Elijah.

“Ah, yeah, but seriously, don’t sweat it. It’ll be fine.”

Well, they could hope, anyway. They had done their best to turn Frederick’s original directive on its head and make it something more palatable for the modern market, but the old man was still in charge. The four of them were treading a fine line between aggravating their clients on the one hand, aggravating the big boss on the other, and generally making a fool of themselves. The latter seemed likely either way.

As the henna designs neared completion, Beck had to admit they looked pretty amazing. The intricate patterns gave the illusion of tattoos, transforming him into something altogether different.

"Wow," Elijah said, examining Beck's newly decorated torso. "You look incredible, man."

Beck felt an unexpected flush. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

New experiences were a good thing, surely.

CHAPTER SEVEN

MERRY

Booty shorts. There was no other word for the skimpy, skintight garment she was wearing. Seriously, even shorts would have been longer than these things.

The guys were definitely getting the better part of the deal. They’d somehow managed to make their elf costumes cool and edgy, whereas all Merry had achieved was to lose her skirt. She didn’t have the awesome henna tats they got to show off, and she still had the ‘Miss Kissmas’ vibe going on.

At least the boots were decent - thigh-high leather numbers that gave her some much-needed confidence, but it came to something when her shoes were what was giving her the most coverage.

Merry sighed, tugging at the hem of her red velvet top and praying she didn’t have a wardrobe malfunction. "I look ridiculous," she muttered as the guys finally finished.

"You look hot, Merry," Maddox said with a pronounced leer. “The men will be all over you.”

“That’s precisely what I’m worried about!”

"I think we look pretty damn good." Elijah chimed in, flexing his biceps and admiring the intricate henna designs that snaked up his arms.

Beck rolled his eyes but couldn't help a small grin. "Yeah, yeah, Mr. Universe. Just remember, we're here to work, not show off."

Merry tugged at her top again, trying to make it cover more. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one practically naked."

"Hey, you’re more covered than us," Beck protested, gesturing to his bare chest.

"Yeah, but you guys look cool," Merry grumbled. "I look like I raided the closet of a teen pop star."

Maddox slung an arm around her shoulders. "You're rocking it, Merry. And besides, a couple of hours and it will all be over.”

“Thank goodness! Okay, let’s get started on getting this over with then.”

At least the four of them would walk out together, taking the focus off of any one of them.

Small mercies… that was the only way she was going to get through this entire farce.

They walked together into the large conference hall where the party was being held, and three paces inside the room, Merry knew she was wrong. There were no small mercies, only dirty old men with grabby hands. And to think she’d been worried about the offensive nature of Frederick Smith’s initial concept! This lecherous bunch just wanted to get their hands on her metaphorical candy, and if the grimaces from the men were anything to go by, the women were no better.

Magic Mike, eat your heart out. She half expected to turn around and find banknotes tucked into their waistbands.

Merry felt her cheeks burning as she forced a smile, trying to ignore the leering gazes and wolf whistles. This was going to be a long night.

At least there was an open bar. Elijah grabbed a glass of champagne for each of them from a passing server - why couldn’t they have been the ones to be wearing this getup? No that wasn’t fair. Merry wouldn’t wish this kind of belittlement on anyone.

She gulped down half her drink in one go and almost choked when the bubbles went up her nose. That was her cue to slow down. Many of the guests were well on their way to being merry; she couldn’t decide whether or not that was a good thing. While they might be more relaxed, it also meant their judgment was equally eroded.

As the evening drew to a close, Merry was exhausted. She’d fended off more men than she’d ever had to deal with at once, all while attempting to sidestep guys, young and old, who expected more than just a chaste kiss on the cheek, including a gentleman who must have been ninety if he was a day, who thought she was a kissogram and asked if she was going to do a striptease.

She was accosted by two very puritanical women who accused her of selling out the liberated female population, and somehow managed to persuade them that she was in fact turning the patriarchy on its head by posing as the very antithesis of a jolly old man and, unexpectedly, they actually bought it and applauded her genius. And she had an ‘almost’ in depth conversation with a college intern, who insisted on trying to understand the message behind what was playing out that evening. At which point, Merry encouraged him to look at everything happening around them, the actions and reactions, and interpret how that might reflect on the marketing machine. To which he excitedly took his phone from his pocket to start taking notes and exclaimed about how he was going to make it part of his presentation to the board of directors.

While she was pleased with his enthusiasm, especially since her response had largely been a cop out on her part. Being discussed by the directors… not so much.

The four of them were required to stay until all the other guests had left, and Merry couldn’t deny she was happy when Elijah blatantly used his position to close the bar, which drastically encouraged patrons to move on.

When they shut the door behind the final guest, she collapsed onto a chair and wondered if it would be bad form to start stripping off the high heeled boots. Her feet would thank her.

The thought didn’t have time to take root before the guys were all in front of her. “Great work, everyone,” Elijah commented. “That’s a wrap.”

“What’s happening about the clean up?” Merry asked, looking around at the mess and cringing.

Elijah raised a hand. “Nothing we have to worry about. A cleaning service is coming in tomorrow, since the offices are closed.”

“Then I guess that means we’re done?”

“Not quite,” Maddox disagreed, causing Merry to turn to him with a frown. “There is one final thing that needs doing.”

“What is it?” she asked, looking around to see if anything leapt out at her.

He pointed above her head, and even then, when Merry looked up, it didn’t quite click with her what he was talking about. Not until he walked up close, took her wrist, sending a pulse of awareness streaking through her system, and pulled Merry up out of her seat, with a nod towards the mistletoe hanging above her head.

She glanced up again, but before she’d even returned her eyes to his, Maddox dipped his head and took her mouth with his. Closing her eyes, she leaned into him. It was her aching feet, she told herself, but Merry knew she was lying to herself. His lips were firm and warm, his tongue sweeping the seam of her mouth, demanding an access she was only too willing to give.

Heat and anticipation zinged through her veins, chasing away all vestiges of the tiredness she’d been feeling just moments before. The world fell away. The fact they were at their place of work with two colleagues watching was no more than a vague perception in her subconscious. If anything, it only served to make the moment all the more titillating.

It was over far too soon. One of the others cleared his throat and Merry might cheerfully have cursed him for spoiling her fun, except a moment later, Beck stepped into the space Maddox vacated and replaced Maddox’s mouth with his own.

Merry whimpered low in her throat. Beck’s kiss was entirely different. Dominating and demanding in a way she never would have expected from the quiet, mild mannered, man. His firm hands bracketed high on her waist, his thumbs brushing back and forth treacherously close to the undersides of her breasts, but even that was enough to have her nipples peaking and throbbing, desperate for more stimulation.

It’s always the quiet ones.

The juxtaposition of it all caused a thrill of desire, which bloomed in her lady garden. But once again it was over too soon. This time, however, she was hoping, if not expecting the switch, when Elijah threaded his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against him. His hand came up to her cheek, and he stroked his thumb across her full bottom lip, still damp from Beck’s kisses… why was that so goddamn hot?

For a moment, she thought he might say something, but he simply shook his head, before dipping down and tangling his tongue with hers.

She could feel the hard swell of his erection against her lower stomach and had to rub her thighs together to quell the ache that built there. Her nipples hardened further, and Merry felt the urge to rub herself all over him.

No, not just him… all of them. The thought should have shocked her. Her colleagues might just have kissed her under the mistletoe, but she wanted all three. Wanted them with an intensity the likes of which she’d never felt before. And she didn’t even feel guilty about the fact.

When Elijah lifted his head, they were both panting heavily, and a single glance showed her desire was reflected back at her from all three men.

Damn did she want them all.

What the heck was she supposed to do now?

CHAPTER EIGHT

MERRY

It seemed her three colleagues had their own idea about what they were supposed to do now.

Elijah grabbed her hand. “Come on,” he encouraged, heading towards the door before Merry even had time to assimilate what was going on.

She turned, ready to stop him as she searched for her coat and bag, but Beck was already there. He slipped her warm, full length wool coat over her shoulders to shield her from the chilly December weather, and pressed her purse into her hands, while Maddox closed up and locked the building behind them.

Elijah was single minded. He led them all towards his SUV, opening the rear door for Merry before running around and switching on the heater as the first flurries of snow started to flutter down from the sky.

Beck - so much the gentleman, Merry wondered if she’d actually imagined his dominant behavior during their kiss - helped her with her seat belt and climbed in next to her, while Maddox joined her on the other side.

Merry barely had time to acknowledge Elijah had started driving before Maddox smoothed his fingers behind her neck and lowered his mouth to hers once again in an erotic dance that had every cell in her body perking up.

Vaguely, she was aware of Beck’s fingers, drawing circles on her knee before inching higher up her leg. Instinctively, her thighs dropped open to give him greater access, the sensations building the closer he crept to her core, and Merry again cursed the damn skintight booty shorts, which halted his progress.

Never let it be said, however, that Beck Wilson wasn’t both inventive and persistent. It was a whole new side to him Merry was eager to explore. His fingers drew lazy circles between her thighs, and somehow the barrier enhanced that touch. Having his fingers on her, but not on her was a delicate kind of torture. While Elijah drove, and Maddox deepened their kiss, Beck scraped his fingernail down the seam of her shorts, right over her clit.

Damn, the man had moves! Merry had had boyfriends who couldn’t find the clitoris in broad daylight with her clothes off, but she already knew Beck would not be one of them. Holly Moses. If he was this skilled before they got naked, she couldn’t wait to see what he could do within the freedom of the bedroom.

Or the shower. Or the lounge. Or the kitchen, for that matter.

It wasn’t until the car finally stopped that Merry realized she wasn’t at home. She blinked as Maddox reluctantly released her lips, and Beck removed his talented fingers, leaving her feeling unexpectedly bereft, and looked around. “Where are we?” she asked, looking up at the striking all glass building.

“Our places,” Elijah told her, handing his keys to a valet to park before coming around and tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow.

Merry’s brow furrowed. “You live together?” Lots of people shared rentals, she knew. This was an expensive city to live in, but they all earned good money, and Elijah’s family were wealthy, so there was no need for them to do that.

“Not exactly,” Maddox replied as the double doors swished silently open and he nodded to greet the liveried concierge. “There are three penthouse apartments in this building, and it just happens that we each own one.

While Merry took that in, Beck called the elevator with a special key card. It arrived in seconds and swept them right up to the top floor without stopping. It was so fast she felt her stomach dip, and there was barely even time for Elijah to pull her to him and sweep his tongue across her bottom lip before the doors were opening again.

Three doors led from a rather small and unassuming foyer, and Beck pointed. “That’s mine. Next door is Maddox, and Elijah has a double unit,” he explained.

Then the door was opening, and Elijah was leading them all inside his place. Merry had a brief image of soft taupe walls with navy accents and thick, plush rugs over a dark, hardwood floor, but she was whisked through the living area far too quickly to really take any of it in.

Her coat was taken from her shoulders. Her purse plucked from her fingers. And a moment later she was surrounded by three hard bodies, their chests still bare since none of them had changed out of their elf outfits.

Instinctively, her hands brushed against the two sets of abs in front of her. One smooth, the other with a smattering of chest hair. Both tantalized her fingertips and beckoned her to explore.

Lips caressed the back of her neck, sending shivers of pleasure down her spine to pool in her lady garden. Beck again.

“Tell us you want this,” Maddox encouraged, his breath warm on her temple as he feathered sweet kisses over her hair.

“Or just say the word and we’ll stop,” Elijah promised, his fingers slowly crawling the length of her collar bone as he stared into her eyes.

Merry was mesmerized. “Don’t stop,” she murmured, her voice husky and low. “I want this.”

Beck groaned and bit lightly on her ear lobe, sending goosebumps skittering across her sensitized flesh. “Just get me out of these boots before my feet drop off,” she joked.

A moment later, she was swept up into a strong pair of arms. Beck carried her like she weighed nothing, and once again, Merry marveled at everything this man kept hidden under his immaculately tailored suits and thick rimmed glasses. Fuck he was hot.

Ahead of them, Elijah led the way to the bedroom, an impressive room with floor to ceiling windows which looked out over the city. The only view Merry wanted to admire, however, were the three sexy men in front of her.

Carefully placing her on the massive bed, Beck knelt before her, lifted her leg, and with painful slowness started to pull down the zipper on the thigh high boots. With every inch he revealed, he placed a kiss on her skin. When he reached the sensitive area at her knee, Maddox joined them, doing the same with her other boot, while Elijah climbed onto the bed behind her, brushed her hair across her shoulder and placed nibbling kisses over her nape as his fingers deftly undid the trimmed velvet bustier she was wearing.

Merry's breath caught in her throat as the bustier fell away, exposing her breasts to the cool air of the room. Eli's warm hands cupped them gently, his thumbs brushing over her hardening nipples. She arched into his touch, a soft moan escaping her lips.

Meanwhile, Beck and Maddox had finished removing her boots and were now working their way up her legs, their lips and tongues leaving trails of fire on her skin. When they reached the waist of her booty shorts, they exchanged a heated glance before making short work of the button and zipper and slowly peeling them down her thighs.

"God, you're beautiful," Maddox murmured, his eyes dark with desire as he gazed up at her.

Beck nodded in agreement, his hands caressing her calves. "Absolutely stunning."

Elijah's lips found the sensitive spot just below her ear. "And all ours," he whispered, sending a shiver down her spine.

Merry felt herself melting under their combined attention, her body humming with anticipation. She’d never fantasized about anything like this, never mind actually doing it, but it was without doubt, the most erotic experience of her life, and she was here for it.

CHAPTER NINE

MADDOX

Maddox considered himself a healthy, red-blooded male. Sure, he had fantasies, and plenty of them involved the woman currently sandwiched between him and his two best friends. But he could honestly say, without a shadow of a doubt, that the reality of sharing Merry blew any fantasy he might ever have imagined right out of the water.

As Merry let out a breathy moan, Maddox caught Beck's eye over her shoulder. His friend's pupils were blown wide, a look of dark desire etched across his features. Maddox imagined his own expression mirrored Beck's.

Eli, ever the ringleader, whispered something in Merry's ear that made her gasp and squirm delightfully against Maddox. He groaned, fighting to maintain some semblance of control, but her skin was like satin underneath his touch, and the breathy noises she made, so different from the straight-laced colleague she always appeared at the office, were driving him wild. He couldn't resist trailing his fingers and mouth up her thigh, savoring the way she arched into his touch.

"God, Merry," he breathed, nuzzling into her neck. "You're incredible."

Beck hummed in agreement, his hands roaming over Merry's curves. Elijah chuckled, a low, seductive sound that sent shivers through all of them.

"Our girl deserves to be worshiped," Elijah purred, his fingers tangling in Merry's hair. "What do you say, gentlemen? Shall we show her just how much we appreciate her?"

Maddox nodded, his mouth suddenly dry. He'd always known Elijah had a dominant streak but seeing it in action was something else entirely. As if reading his mind, Eli shot him a knowing smirk before turning his attention back to Merry.

"What do you want, sweetheart?" he asked, his voice honey-smooth. "Tell us how to please you."

Merry whimpered, her eyes fluttering closed as she pressed herself closer to Maddox. "I-I want... everything," she breathed, her voice trembling with desire. "All of you. Please, I can’t wait any longer."

Maddox felt a surge of heat course through him at her words. He exchanged glances with Beck and Elijah, seeing his own mix of lust and awe reflected in their eyes.

Elijah grinned wickedly. "Your wish is our command, sweetheart."

With practiced ease, Elijah guided Merry onto her back on the plush bed. Maddox found himself mesmerized by the sight of her sprawled out before them, her skin flushed and her chest heaving with anticipation.

"You're so beautiful," Beck murmured, echoing Maddox's thoughts as he trailed reverent kisses along Merry's collarbone.

Maddox couldn't resist any longer. He leaned down to capture Merry's lips in a searing kiss, swallowing her gasp of pleasure as Elijah's clever fingers found their way between her thighs.

"That's it, sweetheart," Elijah crooned. "Let us take care of you."

As Beck lavished attention on Merry's breasts, Maddox deepened the kiss, his tongue tangling with hers. He could feel the vibrations of her moans against his lips as Eli worked his magic below.

Maddox broke away, panting, to trail kisses down Merry's neck. He was like a kid in a candy cane shop. He didn’t know where to start first. He nipped gently at her pulse point, relishing her sharp intake of breath. His hand found its way to her hip, fingers digging in slightly as he fought to control himself.

"Please," Merry whimpered, her hips bucking against Eli's touch. "I need more."

"Patience, kitten," Elijah chuckled, though Maddox could hear the strain in his voice. "We've got all night."

Beck lifted his head, his eyes dark with desire. "Speak for yourself, dude. I don't know if I can wait that long," he admitted roughly.

Maddox nodded in agreement, his body thrumming with need. Elijah seemed to consider for a moment before a wicked grin spread across his face.

"Well then, why don't we give our girl exactly what she's asking for?"

CHAPTER TEN

BECK

This was surreal.

Sure, Beck had done some risqué stuff in his time. He wasn’t the nerdy geek a lot of people imagined him to be at first glance, but what was happening here with Merry and the guys was beyond his wildest dreams.

Yes, they’d shared before, in between relationships. But that had been when they’d all been a lot younger. Before the pressures of moving up the ranks in the company had forced them all to be a little more circumspect.

And there was also another glaring difference. Those other women had been nameless strangers, out for a good time, hungry to cross four-way sex off their bucket lists. They were one and done.

But this was Merry. They worked together, and Beck knew from the conversations over their frequent shared evening meals, that both Maddox and Elijah were attracted to her as much as he was. It was another reason why none of them had acted on it. Because none of them wanted to step on the others toes.

There wasn’t any kind of fraternization policy at Smith Marketing Associates, but each of them was acutely aware of just how badly things could go wrong… ever since Elijah had taken an intern for drinks - nothing more - and she had turned full blown stalker on him and was convinced they were getting married.

Eli had gotten lucky. Her work had suffered as a result of her obsession, so she wasn’t hired on after her internship finished, and eventually she’d moved away to find another job. But it had been all kinds of awkward for a few months. Especially since Elijah - despite his position in the company - never once considered having her fired. He’d just gritted his teeth and endured it all, but he’d learned his lesson.

They all did.

And now they were here.

With Merry.

Not some temporary intern, but a highly respected colleague.

This was a whole new ball game. Beck would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous… just not nervous enough to turn down the opportunity that presented itself.

It was just… where did they go from here?

But they were all adults, right?

And then she was right there, laid out in front of them on Eli’s massive, custom-made bed, which was big enough to sleep six, and whatever misgivings Beck might have had were completely washed away in a deluge of desire.

They undressed her. All three of them peeling off various items of clothing, kissing and caressing Merry’s soft, supple skin.

Even though they’d done this before, everything felt electrified. So much more than any previous encounter they’d explored together. A quick glance at the others, and Beck was certain they felt it too.

Elijah took the lead, like he normally did, but Beck had too much of a dominant personality in the bedroom to be directed, so it wasn’t long before he took matters into his own hands.

Getting himself seated on the bed, he plucked Merry away from the other two and tumbled her over his knee. The guys knew what came next, and thankfully, they always seemed to get off on watching.

“Beck?” Merry’s voice was breathless, anticipation evident in her tone. He rubbed his hand in a slow circle over her firm, pliant, perfect ass. "What are you⁠—"

Her question was cut short by the sharp crack of his hand meeting the soft flesh of her backside. Merry let out a surprised gasp that quickly morphed into a moan of pleasure.

Beck felt a thrill run through him at her reaction. He glanced up at Elijah and Maddox, their eyes dark with desire as they watched. Encouraged, he brought his hand down again, relishing the way Merry squirmed across his lap.

"You've been a naughty girl this Christmas, haven't you?" Beck growled, his voice low and husky.

"Yes," Merry whispered, pushing her hips back, silently begging for more.

Beck obliged, alternating between firm smacks and gentle caresses. Each impact sent shockwaves of pleasure through Merry's body, and he could feel her growing wetness against his thigh.

Elijah moved closer, running his hands through Merry's hair and along her spine. Maddox knelt beside the bed, his lips finding Merry's for a deep kiss. The combination of sensations—Beck's spanking, Elijah's caresses, and Maddox's passionate kisses—had Merry moaning and writhing with pleasure.

Beck felt his own arousal growing, his cock impossibly hard against Merry's stomach. He delivered a few more sharp smacks before gently rubbing her reddened skin.

"I think she's learned her lesson," Eli murmured, his voice thick with desire. "What do you say we reward her now?"

Beck nodded, helping Merry up and positioning her on the bed. She lay on her back, her chest heaving, lips parted, eyes dark with lust. The sight of her like this, so wanton and willing, nearly took his breath away.

Maddox was the first to move, settling between Merry's thighs. He ran his tongue along her slit, eliciting a gasp of pleasure from her. Beck and Elijah positioned themselves on either side of her, their hands and mouths exploring her body.

Beck captured one of Merry's nipples between his lips, sucking and teasing the sensitive bud.

His hand trailed down her stomach, fingers dancing across her skin. Merry arched into his touch, a soft moan escaping her lips. Beck could feel the heat radiating from her body, her skin flushed with arousal.

Elijah mirrored Beck's actions on Merry's other breast, his teeth grazing her nipple. The combination of sensations had Merry writhing between them, her hands clutching at the sheets.

Maddox continued his ministrations between her thighs, his tongue working magic on her most sensitive areas. Beck could see the muscles in Merry's legs tensing, her hips lifting off the bed as she chased her pleasure.

"Oh god," Merry gasped, her voice breathy and desperate. "Please, I need... I need..."

Beck knew exactly what she needed. He shifted his position, moving up to capture her lips in a searing kiss. His hand replaced his mouth on her breast, pinching and twisting her nipple between his fingers. He’d felt her response to the spanking, paid careful attention to how the pinch of pain had ramped up her pleasure. Their prim and proper Merry was secretly a dirty girl who liked an edge of rough. And damn if he didn’t want to explore all kinds of other kinky scenarios with her.

Just as he expected, Merry’s back bowed high off the bed, and she ground herself against Maddox’s mouth as her climax hit.

His friend sucked hard on her clit, his fingers plunging into her wet heat which left none of them in any doubt about how soaked she was.

Her orgasm spurred them all into action. It was time to take this up a notch.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

MERRY

Her thighs quivered, and Merry collapsed back on Elijah’s enormous bed, utterly sated, and needing a moment to catch her breath.

Her body was utterly sensitized, and as soon as she’d managed to regain her scattered equilibrium, she’d be ready to take this to the next level.

Merry's chest heaved as she tried to regain her composure. She felt the bed shift as Maddox moved up beside her, his warm body pressing against her side. His fingers trailed lightly over her stomach, sending little shivers through her overstimulated nerve endings.

"You okay there, sweetheart?" he murmured, nuzzling her neck.

She managed a breathless laugh. "More than okay. Just... give me a minute."

On her other side, she felt Beck's weight settle onto the mattress. His hand found hers, intertwining their fingers. "Take all the time you need," he said softly, kissing the inside of her wrist, a move so at odds with the way he’d recently spanked her and tormented her aching nipples.

Merry's eyes fluttered open to find Elijah watching them all from the foot of the bed, his gaze hungry. As their eyes met, he smiled slowly.

"Ready for more?" he asked, his voice a low purr that sent heat pooling low in her belly once again.

Merry took a deep breath, feeling desire stirring anew. She squeezed Beck's hand and turned to press a kiss to Maddox's jaw before looking back at Elijah.

"Oh yes," she breathed.

Elijah's smile widened, predatory and eager. He crawled onto the bed, his muscular body moving with feline grace. Merry felt a thrill of anticipation as he approached, her body already responding to his nearness.

"Good girl," he murmured, settling between her legs. His hands slid up her thighs, parting them gently. "Because we’re nowhere near done with you yet."

Merry gasped as Eli's fingers ghosted over her most sensitive flesh, still slick from Maddox's attentions. Beside her, she felt Beck and Maddox shift, their hands roaming over her body, stoking the flames of her desire higher with every touch.

"What do you want, Merry?" Elijah asked, his voice low and commanding. "Tell us."

She whimpered, overwhelmed by sensation as Beck's lips found her breast again, Maddox's teeth grazed her neck, and Elijah's fingers teased her mercilessly. She’d never imagined the desire could ramp up again so fast after she’d already climaxed, but the three of them were proving her wrong.

"I... I want..." she panted, struggling to form coherent thoughts.

"Yes?" Elijah prompted, one finger circling her entrance teasingly.

“Fuck! I want your cocks!” she cried, leaving what tiny shred of modesty she still had left, far behind. There was no place for it here, anyway, sandwiched, as she was, between three hard bodies.

Hard in very much more than one respect.

Elijah chuckled, a deep, rich sound that sent shivers down Merry's spine. "Such a greedy girl," he purred, sliding one long finger inside her. "But I think we can accommodate that request, can't we boys?"

Merry felt Beck and Maddox murmur their agreement, their hands and mouths never ceasing their delicious torment of her body. She arched into their touch, desperate for more.

"The question is," Elijah continued, adding a second finger and curling them just so, making Merry gasp. "How shall we take you? All at once, or one after the other?"

The thought of all three of them inside her simultaneously made Merry's head spin with lust. She'd never done anything like that before, but right now, she wanted nothing more. But he was right, she was greedy. Merry wanted everything.

"All," she managed to choke out. "Please, I want all of you, all of the ways."

She heard Beck groan against her breast, felt Maddox's grip on her hip tighten. Elijah's eyes darkened with desire.

"Are you sure, sweetheart?" Maddox asked, his voice rough with need. "It might be a lot for you to handle."

Merry nodded emphatically, throwing caution to the wind. "I'm sure. I want to try."

Elijah's fingers continued their maddening rhythm inside her as he considered. "Alright then. But we'll take it slow, and you tell us immediately if it's too much."

She nodded again, beyond words as the pleasure built within her once more.

"Beck, why don't you start?" Elijah suggested, and Beck wasted no time laying on the bed, stroking his long, thick cock in a way that made her mouth water. "Merry, sweetheart,” Elijah continued with his instructions, and somewhere in the back of her mind, it occurred to her that this didn’t seem new to them. “Get on your hands and knees and straddle him."

With some assistance from the men, Merry managed to position herself as instructed, her body trembling with anticipation. She felt Beck move beneath her, his hands gripping her hips.

"Ready?" he asked softly.

"Yes," she breathed. "Please, Beck. I need you so much."

She moaned as he entered her slowly, stretching and filling her deliciously. Once he was fully seated, he paused, giving her time to adjust.

"Good girl," Elijah murmured, stroking her cheek. "Now, open that pretty mouth for Maddox."

Merry eagerly complied, leaning forward as Maddox kneeled on the bed near her head. Her lips parted, welcoming Maddox's thick shaft into her mouth. She moaned around him as Beck began to move beneath her, setting a steady rhythm. The dual sensations were intoxicating, and she lost herself in the pleasure of it.

Elijah's hands caressed her back, sliding down to her ass, and briefly reigniting the residual sting from the spanking Beck had given her. She felt him spread her cheeks, and then the cool touch of lubricant against her puckered entrance. Her breath hitched as he slowly rubbed one finger around the rim.

"Relax, sweetheart, it’ll make things easier," he murmured soothingly. "I just need to prepare you." He pressed inside with a single digit, stretching her carefully, but even that felt too much with Beck’s cock taking up all the available space. How would this ever work?

Merry forced herself to breathe deeply, focusing on the pleasure Beck and Maddox were giving her. Gradually, she felt herself loosen around Elijah's probing finger. He added a second and she felt the burn as he scissored them in preparation for her to take his very much bigger cock. She shivered at the thought. Was it even possible?

When he finally positioned himself behind her, the blunt head of his cock pressing against her entrance, Merry trembled with nerves.

Elijah leaned over her, his chest pressed to her back. "You can tell us to stop at any time, Merry." he reassured softly.

As apprehensive as she was, Merry realized the last thing she wanted was to stop. She nodded, unable to speak with Maddox's cock still in her mouth, but relaxed as much as she could, focusing on the sheer delight coursing through her body.

Elijah began to push inside slowly, the stretch becoming more intense until it bordered on painful. Merry whimpered around Maddox, her fingers clutching the sheets.

"That's it, sweetheart," Elijah murmured, his voice strained. "You're doing so well."

Beck’s strong arms supported her, lifting her off his own cock to give Elijah more room, allowing her to adjust. "You okay, Merry?" he asked softly, stroking her sides with his thumbs. Funny how such a little thing could distract her so well.

She nodded again, breathing deeply through her nose, as she swallowed around Maddox’s hard length. The initial discomfort was fading, replaced by a feeling of utter fullness. It was overwhelming in the best possible way.

"Good girl," Elijah praised as he bottomed out. He held still, giving her time to acclimatize. "You feel incredible, Merry. So freaking tight."

After a moment, Merry couldn’t take the stillness anymore. They were being so careful with her, even Maddox pulled most of the way out of her mouth. But that wasn’t what she wanted.

She began to rock slightly, prompting them; signaling she was ready for more. The men took their cues from her, starting to move in a coordinated rhythm that soon had her seeing stars.

The sensations were overwhelming as the three of them moved in tandem, filling Merry completely. Each thrust sent surreal waves of pleasure coursing through her body, building and intensifying with every passing moment. She moaned around Maddox's cock, the vibrations making him groan in response.

Beck's hands gripped her hips tightly as he thrust up into her, his pace increasing. Elijah matched his rhythm, the dual sensations of fullness and friction driving Merry wild. She could feel herself tightening around them both, her climax approaching with the force of a tsunami.

"That's it, sweetheart," Elijah murmured, his voice strained with effort and pleasure. "You're taking us so well. Are you close?"

Merry could only whimper in response, her mouth still full of Maddox. She felt his fingers tangle in her hair, guiding her movements as she sucked him eagerly, until he was fucking her face.

And she loved it!

"I think that's a yes," Beck chuckled breathlessly from beneath her. "God, you feel amazing, Merry."

Their liberal praise and the incredible sensations were pushing her closer and closer to the edge of a precipice, the scale of which she had never reached before. Merry felt like she was about to shatter into a million pieces. Her body trembled with the intensity of it all and she vaguely wondered if she would ever be the same again.

Suddenly, Maddox pulled out of her mouth with a groan. "Fuck, I'm close," he panted, his hand working his shaft furiously.

The loss of his cock between her lips freed Merry to cry out as her orgasm finally crashed over her. "Oh god, oh god, oh god!" she chanted, her body clenching around Beck and Elijah as tumultuous waves of pleasure wracked her frame.

Her climax triggered the men's releases. Beck thrust up hard, holding her hips down as he spilled inside her with a deep groan. Elijah's grip on her hips tightened as he followed suit, his hips jerking erratically as he came, and the way they both surged inside her at the same time, stretching her to the limit, caused a second orgasm to crash through Merry, taking her by surprise.

She felt the warm splash of Maddox's release on her back and shoulders as he finished himself off with a strangled cry. Next time, she’d swallow every drop he gifted her with, she promised herself.

For a long moment, the only sound in the room was their collective heavy breathing. Merry felt utterly boneless, supported only by the men surrounding her. Slowly, carefully, Elijah eased out of her, making her whimper at the loss, then he helped her move off of Beck.

She winced slightly, feeling thoroughly used in the best possible way. The men crowded around her, their hands gentle as they stroked and soothed her trembling body.

"You were incredible, sweetheart," Maddox murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"How do you feel?" Beck asked, concern evident in his voice as he brushed her hair back from her face.

Merry took a moment to assess herself before answering. Her body ached pleasantly, and she felt utterly sated. "I feel… amazing," she breathed, a lazy smile spreading across her face. "That was just... wow."

Elijah chuckled, his hand running soothingly along her side. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. You took us all so beautifully."

She blushed at the praise, feeling a warmth spread through her chest that had nothing to do with physical pleasure. These men, so powerful and dominant, were treating her with such tender care. It made her feel cherished in a way she'd never experienced before.

"Let's get you cleaned up," Beck suggested, always the thoughtful one.

Merry agreed, but in her mind, she was already wondering when they could do it all again.

CHAPTER TWELVE

ELIJAH

Leaving Merry in the care of Maddox and Beck, Elijah headed into his sumptuous en-suite to run her a bath.

He threw in a handful of Epsom salts, which he knew would ease the muscles she’d probably never used before… as well as other parts of her delectable body and told himself he was doing it for her. But if he was truly honest with himself, he needed a moment.

What had happened with Merry wasn’t new in a factual sense - although it had admittedly been a long time since he, Maddox, and Beck had shared a woman together - but on an emotional level it had blindsided him.

Eli leaned against the marble countertop, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the edge. The sound of running water filled the bathroom, but it couldn't drown out the soft laughter and murmurs coming from the bedroom.

He closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing. Merry's scent still clung to his skin, an intoxicating mix of jasmine and something uniquely her. He couldn't shake the image of her flushed face, eyes wide with wonder as she'd taken the three of them earlier.

This was never supposed to happen, but they’d all gotten swept up in the moment. Yes, they’d been drinking, but he didn’t think any of them were truly drunk. All four of them had been in full control of their faculties, and none of them had tried to stop what was happening between them. They’d all gone into it with their eyes wide open.

Elijah wasn’t sure where they went from here. Certainly for him, at least, this was more than just a bit of fun, even if he couldn’t speak for the others. Where that left them now, though, was anyone’s guess. Maybe they really should have given all this a little more thought before they gave in to their base instincts. Would it even be possible for the four of them to go back to being just plain work colleagues as if none of this had ever happened?

The way his chest tightened when he thought of that suggested not, but where the heck did that leave him? Unlike the others, this was his family business. He wasn’t in a position where he’d ever be able to walk away.

A knock on the door startled him and pulled him out of what was becoming a rather melancholy reverie. "Everything alright in there?" Beck's deep voice called out.

Elijah quickly composed himself. "Just about done," he replied, forcing a casual tone. "Tell Merry her bath awaits."

He heard Beck's footsteps retreat and took one final steadying breath. Whatever this was, he'd have to get it under control. Fast. The last thing any of them needed was for things to get complicated, especially with Merry. They worked together. None of them could afford for things to get awkward. He needed to get his head together.

Elijah turned off the faucet and gave the bath water a final stir, watching the salts dissolve into shimmering swirls. He stepped back into the bedroom, his eyes immediately drawn to Merry's lithe form as she stretched languidly on the bed.

"Your bath is ready, sweetheart," he said, his voice huskier than he intended.

Merry's eyes lit up as she rose, her naked body moving with a newfound confidence that made Eli's breath catch. She padded over to him, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Thank you," she murmured, placing a soft kiss on his cheek before slipping past him into the bathroom.

The brief contact sent a jolt through Elijah's system, and he had to force himself not to follow her. Instead, he turned to face Maddox and Beck, who were lounging on the bed, looking thoroughly satisfied.

"So," Maddox drawled, a knowing glint in his eye. "What's the plan now, boss?"

Elijah ran a hand through his hair, buying time as he formulated a response. "I think we need to talk about this," he said, keeping his voice low and measured, even though he felt something akin to panic rising up inside him. It wasn’t a sensation he was used to. Damn, he needed to tamp that shit down. "But not right now. Let's give Merry some time to relax and process everything."

Okay, so he really meant himself, but he had an idea they all needed it.

Beck nodded in agreement. "Good call. This was... intense for all of us. Especially… her."

Elijah pulled on a pair of gray sweats and stalked off to the small built-in bar in his living room, pouring three glasses of whiskey. He handed one each to Maddox and Beck who followed him in and dropped down onto his couch, before taking a long sip of his own, savoring the burn as it slid down his throat.

The three men sat in companionable silence for a few moments, the only sound the faint splashing from the bathroom. Eli's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the emotions swirling inside him. He'd never felt this conflicted after a sexual encounter before.

"You're overthinking this, Elijah," Maddox said softly, breaking the silence. "I can see the gears turning in that head of yours."

Elijah raised an eyebrow. "And you're not? This isn't exactly a typical situation, even for us."

Beck chuckled. "When has anything involving the three of us ever been typical?"

"Fair point," Elijah conceded with a wry smile. "Still, this is uncharted territory, we need to tread carefully. This isn’t something any of us can afford to mess up."

"Agreed," Maddox nodded, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. We don't even know how Merry feels about all this yet."

As if on cue, they heard the bathroom door open. Merry emerged, wrapped in Elijah's plush navy robe, her damp hair curling around her flushed face. She paused in the doorway, taking in the sight of the three men lounging in the living room.

"Room for one more?" she asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

Elijah's heart skipped a beat as he met her gaze. He patted the empty spot beside him on the couch. "Always," he replied, his voice low and warm.

Merry padded over and settled next to him, tucking her feet underneath her. Elijah couldn't help but notice how small she looked in his robe, how delicate. An overwhelming urge to protect her washed over him.

"How are you feeling?" Beck asked, appearing so much more together than Elijah felt. Except… Elijah saw a brief glimpse of the uncertainty in his friends’ eyes. Was Beck struggling in the same way? And what about Maddox?

Merry smiled softly, her eyes flicking between the three men. "A bit sore, but in a good way. That bath was heavenly, thank you Elijah."

Eli nodded, trying to ignore the way his body responded to her proximity. "I'm glad it helped. Can I get you a drink?"

"Just water for now, please," Merry replied.

As Elijah moved to the bar to fetch a chilled bottle of water, and a glass full of ice cubes, he could feel the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. When he returned, Merry took the glass with a murmured thanks, her fingers brushing his.

"So," Beck began, his tone carefully neutral. "I think we should probably talk about what happened tonight."

Merry took her time pouring water from the bottle, then took a sip, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Yes, I suppose we should."

"First and foremost," Beck interjected, his voice gentle, "Are you okay with everything that happened? We got caught up in the moment, but if you have any regrets or concerns, we need to know."

Elijah held his breath, waiting for her response. Merry was quiet for a moment, her fingers tracing patterns on the condensation-slicked glass. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft but sure.

"I don't regret anything that happened tonight," she said, meeting each of their gazes in turn. "It was... intense, and unexpected, but also incredible. I've never experienced anything like it before."

Elijah felt a weight lift from his chest, even as a new tension coiled in his gut. He watched as Merry tucked a damp curl behind her ear, her cheeks still pink from the bath.

"That being said," she continued, "I'm not entirely sure where we go from here. This is all very new territory for me."

Maddox leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I think it's new territory for all of us, in a way. We've never had a... situation quite like this before."

Beck nodded in agreement. "The most important thing is that we're all on the same page. No one feels pressured or uncomfortable."

"Absolutely," Elijah chimed in, finding his voice at last. "Your comfort and well-being are our top priority, Merry. We need to be clear about expectations and boundaries going forward."

Merry nodded slowly, taking another sip of water. "I appreciate that. To be honest, I'm not sure what my expectations are right now. This wasn't something I ever imagined happening."

"None of us did," Maddox said softly. "But here we are."

A comfortable silence fell over the group as they each processed their thoughts. Elijah found himself hyper-aware of Merry's presence beside him, the soft scent of his shampoo in her hair, the way the robe had slipped slightly to reveal her collarbone.

"Can I ask you all something?" Merry said suddenly, her voice small but determined.

"Of course," Beck replied. "Anything."

Merry took a deep breath and appeared to be steeling herself. "Was this... is this... just a onetime thing for you? Or..."

She trailed off, leaving the question hanging in the air. Elijah felt his heart rate quicken as he considered his response. He knew what he wanted, but he was afraid to voice it, afraid of scaring Merry away or complicating things further. He glanced at Maddox and Beck, seeing his own uncertainty mirrored in their expressions.

"I think," Maddox began cautiously, "That's something we all need to consider very carefully. This isn't a decision to be made lightly."

Beck nodded in agreement. "Maddox is right. There are a lot of factors to consider - our working relationship, the dynamics between all of us, potential complications..."

"But," Elijah found himself saying, surprising even himself with the intensity in his voice. "I don't think any of us want this to be just a onetime thing."

He met Merry's gaze, seeing a mix of hope and apprehension in her eyes. "At least, I know I don't," he added softly.

There. He’d said it. Now their future was in Merry’s hands.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

MERRY

Merry's breath caught, her fingers tightening around her glass. "I... I don't either," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Maddox leaned forward, his expression serious. "I think we all feel the same way," he said, his voice low and intense. "But we need to be smart about this. There's a lot at stake here - our jobs, our friendships, the company."

Elijah nodded, his expression a mix of relief and anxiety. "Maddox is right. We can't just dive into this without considering the consequences. But..." he paused, searching for the right words. "I also don't want to ignore what's happening between us."

Beck ran a hand through his hair, looking thoughtful. "Maybe we take things slow? See where this leads without making any big decisions right away?"

Merry nodded, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I think that sounds sensible. I... I care about all of you, and I don't want to jeopardize our working relationship or friendships. But I also can't pretend tonight didn't change things."

Elijah reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "We'll figure this out together, sweetheart. No pressure, no expectations. We'll take it one day at a time."

Merry squeezed his hand gratefully, feeling a wave of warmth spread through her at his reassuring touch. She glanced around at the others, seeing similar expressions of care and concern on their faces.

"One day at a time," she agreed softly. "But what does that mean, exactly? Do we... date each other outside of work? Keep things professional at the office?"

Maddox cleared his throat. "I think we have to keep things strictly professional at work. No exceptions. The risks are too high otherwise."

Beck nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. What happens outside of work hours is our business, but we can't let it affect the company."

"Agreed," Elijah said firmly. "At the office, nothing changes. We're colleagues, nothing more."

Merry felt a mix of relief and disappointment at their words. She knew they were right, but part of her had hoped... she pushed the thought away. "Of course," she said. "That makes sense."

A slightly awkward silence fell over the group. Merry fidgeted with her glass, unsure what to say next.

Finally, Beck spoke up. "So... outside of work. Are we thinking casual dates? Group activities? Or... more intimate encounters like tonight?"

Merry felt her cheeks flush at Beck's blunt question. She glanced around, seeing similar looks of uncertainty on the others' faces.

Elijah cleared his throat. "I think... we should be open to each of those options. We're all adults here. As long as we're honest with each other about our feelings and expectations, I don't see why we can't explore this... whatever it is... in whatever way feels right."

Maddox nodded slowly. "I agree. Communication will be key. We need to check in regularly, make sure everyone's on the same page."

"And if anyone starts to feel uncomfortable or wants to stop, we respect that immediately," Beck added firmly.

Merry felt a wave of relief wash over her. "That sounds perfect," she said softly. "I... I want to see where this goes, with all of you. But I'm scared too. It's a lot to process."

Elijah squeezed her hand gently. "We're all a little scared, sweetheart. This is new territory for all of us. But we'll figure it out together."

Beck leaned forward, his expression earnest. "Merry, we all care about you deeply. Whatever happens, that won't change. You're important to us - as a friend, a colleague, and... whatever else we might become."

Merry felt warmth bloom in her chest at his words. She looked around at the three men - her bosses, her friends, her... lovers? - and felt overwhelmed by the affection and concern in their eyes.

"Thank you," she said softly. "You're all important to me too. I want to make this work, whatever 'this' turns out to be."

Maddox reached out and squeezed her knee gently. "We'll take it slow, figure things out together. No pressure."

Elijah nodded in agreement. "For now, why don't we all get some rest? It's been an intense night. We can talk more later, when we've had time to process. But ah… I mean, I know you guys only live across the hall, but there’s enough room, so…"

Shit why did this all seem so awkward?

Eli shrugged and just said it, easing the tension in the room. “Well, you could all stay here tonight, if you want.”

Merry felt a mix of excitement and nerves fluttering in her stomach. This was uncharted territory, fraught with potential pitfalls. But as she looked at the three men she'd come to care for so deeply, she knew she didn't want to leave. Not yet.

"I'd like to stay," she said softly, glancing around at the others. "If that's okay with everyone?"

Beck nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. "More than okay."

Maddox stretched, his muscular frame reminding Merry of their earlier activities. "Sounds good to me. Though we might need to figure out sleeping arrangements."

Elijah chuckled, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. "Well, the bed is certainly big enough for all of us. But if anyone's not comfortable with that, there's always the guest room."

Merry felt a flush of heat at the thought of sharing Elijah's massive bed with all three men. Part of her was tempted, but another part worried it might be too much, too soon.

"Maybe... maybe we could start with just sleeping?" she suggested hesitantly. "I'm not sure I'm ready for more tonight, but I don't want to be alone either."

The men exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement.

"Of course, sweetheart," Elijah said gently. "Whatever you're comfortable with. We can all share the bed, no expectations."

Merry felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Thank you," she said softly.

They made their way to Elijah's massive bedroom, the awkwardness slowly easing as they went through the motions of getting ready for bed. Elijah lent her a t-shirt which hung comically large on Merry's petite frame.

As they settled into bed, Merry found herself in the middle, surrounded by warm male bodies. It should have felt foreign or overwhelming, but instead she felt safe, cherished.

Elijah curled an arm around her waist, his chest pressed to her back. Beck lay facing her, his hand resting lightly on her hip. Maddox spooned behind Beck, appearing completely comfortable with the position, his long arm draped over both of them to brush Merry's side.

"Is this okay?" Beck murmured, his breath warm on her face.

Merry nodded, unable to speak past the lump of emotion in her throat. She had never felt so content.

She just prayed it would stay this way. Doubts niggled in the back of her mind, but Merry pushed them away. They’d talked it through. They had a plan. They could do this.

She had to believe that.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

MERRY

It was the little things that got to her. Really, Merry hadn’t expected to be quite as affected by the emotional disconnect that happened during their working hours as she was.

They’d spent a thoroughly raunchy weekend, and she’d gone home on Sunday night indulged, sated, and full of hope.

A hope that sadly began to wear off first thing Monday morning.

There was nothing outwardly wrong with the way any of them greeted her. A brief nod and wave was exactly how it would have been before.

Now though, it almost felt like a rebuff, and that led her to start second guessing everything.

She tried to shake off the feeling, reminding herself that they had all agreed to keep things professional at work. But as the week wore on, the little moments of disconnect kept piling up.

When Elijah passed her in the hallway without so much as a glance, her stomach twisted. When Maddox gave a presentation without the usual warmth in his eyes as he looked her way, she felt a pang in her chest. And when Beck barely acknowledged her input during a team meeting, she had to fight back tears.

By the end of the week, Merry was a mess of conflicting emotions. Part of her wanted to confront them, to demand reassurance that the weekend hadn't been a mistake. But she knew that would be unfair - they were all just doing what they had agreed upon. And surely it must be equally difficult for them.

Friday lunchtime, she retreated to her desk, picking at her salad without appetite. Her phone buzzed, and she glanced down to see a message from Elijah.

"Everything okay? You seemed quiet in the meeting."

Merry's heart leapt, then immediately sank. She shouldn't be this excited over a simple text. It wasn’t even personal, it was work related. She typed out a response, trying to keep it casual.

"I'm fine," she replied, then hesitated before adding. "I guess the lack of sleep last weekend is catching up with me."

She stared at her phone, willing a response. Some kind of reassurance. When it remained quiet, she drummed up her courage and made her own play. “How about drinks after work?”

Her phone was quiet for so long, she thought he might not answer, and when he finally did, Merry almost wished he hadn’t. “Sorry, I’ve got a client dinner this evening.”

Nothing else. No offer for the following day. No clue as to when he might be free next.

Merry felt something shrivel inside her. She swallowed hard, blinking back tears and set her phone down, pushing her salad away, no longer even pretending to have an appetite.

Dear god. What had she done?

She needed to pull herself out of this funk - fast!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

ELIJAH

Elijah was frustrated. Nothing was playing out the way he wanted it to. Although they’d all had the best intentions when they’d agreed to keep things professional at work, the disconnect was killing him. He hadn’t expected it to be like this.

All he really wanted to do was grab Merry by the hand, drag her into his office and devour her.

“Damn, this sucks,” Maddox complained when they met up for lunch mid-week.

“Yeah, I don’t know why we have to be so circumspect,” Beck agreed, running his fingers through his hair for the umpteenth time so it stood on end. “It’s not like the company has a fraternization policy we’re breaking.”

Elijah ran his hands over his face. “We have to think about Merry. Imagine what it’ll do to her reputation if she’s caught in compromising positions with all three of us.”

Maddox sighed. “I know you’re right. I’ve heard her complain in the past about how hard it is to get ahead as a woman. I don’t doubt there would be those who would accuse her of sleeping her way to promotion, and she’d hate it if that happened.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to like it,” Beck grumbled, absently kicking the leg of Elijah’s desk with the toe of his shoe. “Roll on Friday!”

“Ah yeah, about that,” Elijah replied with a cringe, knowing he was about to burst their bubble. “Wade Stevens is in town and wants to meet up over dinner to discuss renewing his contract. He wants you there, Maddox, since you delivered his last campaign.”

Maddox screwed his eyes up and groaned.

“Well, that leaves me in the clear.” Beck grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “I’m sure I can take care of our little lady until you’re through.”

“Actually, I was going to suggest you come along too,” Elijah suggested. “You know what Wade is like. As our biggest client, he always wants to think he has one hundred percent of our attention. If we all go, there’s no room for complaint. Between us, we can answer anything that comes up, and hopefully that will get him off our backs quicker.”

Beck huffed out a sigh, but Elijah quickly presented his plan. “Plus, if we’re together, we can all make our way to Merry’s and continue where we left things last weekend.”

“Fine, okay,” Beck sighed. “But only so we offload Wade quicker. I want to spend some time with our girl. This week has sucked, and I really don’t think it worked for any of us, so we need to come up with a new plan.”

Maddox nodded. At least that was something they all agreed on.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MERRY

That afternoon, she stared at her monitor, but she wasn’t really getting any work done. She was so preoccupied, she didn’t even hear Janice walk into her office. Not until the woman waved a hand in front of her face.

“Hey, a bunch of us are heading out to that new cocktail bar this evening. Do you want to join us? Looks like you could do with a break since you’re so engrossed you're oblivious to what’s going on around you.”

Merry felt a moment of guilt, because in all honesty, she’d accomplished precisely nothing, and that was becoming all too familiar. It wasn’t acceptable. Merry had always prided herself on her work ethic, and here she was reduced to mooning over a man - well, three men - like a lovesick teenager.

The invitation seemed like exactly what she needed, and Merry accepted without a second thought. Despite her excitement for this weekend, it seemed she had nothing better to do, after all. But no, she wasn’t going to be the sad sack who dwelled on that. “Sounds great. What time are we meeting?”

Janice gave her the details, and Merry arranged to join them later on, after she’d gone home to change, even though a few were heading there straight after work. She didn’t want to do that though. After the week she’d had, Merry seriously needed to leave all the trappings of her job far behind, and this was just what she needed to take her mind off whatever the hell was - or wasn’t - going on in her personal life.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

BECK

Beck should never have agreed to come to this dinner. Wade was grating and obnoxious, and like many people with almost unlimited wealth, he acted like the world and their dog owed him something simply for shining his rather dubious light in their direction.

Even worse, the guy had brought his spoiled princess of a granddaughter, Josie, with him. She had just turned twenty-one, and much like her grandfather, believed everything was hers for the taking. She’d clearly never done a day’s work in her life and was so vacuous that having any kind of rational conversation with her was a struggle. And to top off what was already a bad deal, her presence meant any possibility of formal business conversation was obliterated, making this entire meeting a complete waste of time.

Time they could be spending with Merry.

Instead, they were forced to endure Josie’s inane chatter and constant demands for attention. And she might only be twenty-one, almost an entire decade younger than the three of them, but boy, was she handsy.

And then the evening took an even bigger turn for the worse. “Well, I need to get back to my hotel for an important call,” Wade said, jovially, like he hadn’t just wasted their entire evening. “But Josie here is keen to experience some night life. I’d consider it a personal favor if you could keep an eye on her for me. Make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble.”

What the actual fuck?

Beck wanted to object, and a quick glance at Maddox and Elijah showed them looking equally uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry, Wade,” Elijah said smoothly. Wealthy in his own right, he always dealt with these rich types better than the rest of them. “But we actually have plans this evening.”

“Nonsense boy.” Wade surged to his feet and slapped Elijah on the shoulder. “I already cleared it with your grandfather. He thought it was a fine idea, and assured me you could make time for Josie, here. I’m sure your plans can be postponed. After all, I’ve come all this way just to sign for the coming year’s contract.”

The contract could have been signed digitally, and while Beck didn’t blame Wade for flying out to ensure his considerable interests were being looked after, the steel in his tone made the words less of an enquiry and more of a threat.

Beck could see the tick in Elijah’s jaw, but his friend handled the situation with his usual poise. “Of course, Wade. The three of us would be delighted.”

Elijah turned a pointed look on him and Maddox. Seriously? He was pulling them into this mess?

Fuck!

Beck bit back a groan as Josie clapped her hands together in excitement. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun!" she squealed, her eyes roving over the three of them like they were pieces of meat.

Wade beamed, clearly pleased with himself. "Excellent. I'll leave you to it then. Have her back at the hotel by midnight, won't you?" With that, he strode out of the restaurant, leaving them with his overly enthusiastic granddaughter.

"So, where are we going?" Josie asked, sidling up to Elijah as the three of them stood, wrapping her arm around his. "I heard there's this amazing nightclub downtown. We should totally check it out!"

Beck exchanged a pained look with Maddox. This was not how he'd planned to spend his evening. He just wanted some quality time with Merry, and now, they were stuck playing babysitter to a spoiled brat who couldn't take a hint.

"Actually," Maddox interjected. “We were thinking of something a bit more low-key. How about we grab a drink at the hotel bar?"

Josie pouted, her lower lip jutting out in a way that was probably meant to be cute but just came across as childish. "But that's so boring! Come on, guys, let's go somewhere fun…” She turned a sly look on Elijah. “Or maybe I should just call Grandpa?"

The threat was clear. Beck gritted his teeth, trying to maintain his composure. He caught sight of Eli's face and could see his friend was struggling just as much to keep his cool.

"Look, Josie," Beck said, forcing a smile. "We really can't take you out clubbing. Your grandfather asked us to keep an eye on you, and we don't want to risk anything happening."

Josie rolled her eyes dramatically. "God, you guys are such buzzkills.” She fished her phone out of her purse, and even the ever-cool Elijah looked rattled, but he didn’t miss a beat.

“How about we compromise?” he asked, his voice soothing. “There’s a new cocktail bar that’s supposed to be really something. Why don’t we go there?”

Josie’s face brightened, and she looked smug, like she’d gotten what she’d planned all along. It made Beck think the threat of contacting Wade was an empty one. No matter how pushy her grandfather was, he didn’t think the man expected them to take his granddaughter anywhere like the club she’d suggested.

As they made their way out of the restaurant, Beck felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out, hoping it might be Merry, but instead saw a text from Maddox.

'This is a nightmare. We need to ditch her ASAP.'

Beck couldn't agree more, especially when he felt Josie press up against his side, her hand snaking around his waist.

Roll on midnight!

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

MERRY

Merry stepped into the dimly lit cocktail bar, feeling a surge of confidence. She'd put extra effort into her appearance tonight, wearing a slinky black dress that hugged her curves and strappy heels that made her legs look miles long. Her dark hair was styled in loose waves, and her makeup was bolder than usual, with smoky eyes and red lips. She was determined to have fun and forget about work - and the complicated situation with Elijah, Maddox and Beck - for one night, at least.

She spotted Janice and a few other coworkers at a large booth and made her way over, sliding in next to them.

"Wow, Merry! You look amazing," Janice exclaimed, eyeing her outfit appreciatively. "Hot date later?"

Merry laughed, shaking her head. "Nope, just felt like dressing up a bit. It's been a long week."

"I'll say," another coworker, Tom, chimed in. "Those execs have been running us ragged lately. I swear Maddox is trying to kill us with all these project deadlines."

Merry tensed slightly at the mention of Maddox but forced herself to relax, doing her best to keep her expression neutral. "You know how it is with big projects. I'm sure things will calm down soon."

She flagged down one of the circulating waiters and ordered a gin and tonic, needing something to calm her nerves. As she sipped her drink, she let the conversation flow around her, only half-listening as her coworkers gossiped about office drama and complained about workloads.

Janice nudged her. "Hey, you're being awfully quiet. Everything okay?"

Merry plastered on a smile. "Of course! Just unwinding. It really has been a crazy week."

Thankfully, she was saved from further questioning when Tom shared an embarrassing story and soon, the table was full of laughter as her co-workers began to overshare while taking shots. Merry still wasn’t feeling it, though, and as the table got louder, she excused herself to use the restroom.

Making her way across the crowded bar, a peal of familiar laughter made her freeze, and she looked around, a deep dread crawling through her mind.

There, at a table near the back, sat Elijah, Maddox, and Beck.

They hadn't noticed her in the crowded room, they were so engrossed in conversation. Merry felt her stomach drop as she took in the scene before her. The three of them were seated at a cozy booth, drinks in hand, looking relaxed and carefree. There was no sign of any clients or business associates - oh no, this looked far more like a social outing. Especially considering the pretty young blonde in her super short skirt who was wedged between them.

So much for the client dinner Elijah had mentioned. This appeared far more like the intimate scenario Merry herself had found herself in with them last weekend. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. Was this their usual MO? Did they drift from girl to girl wooing and coaxing with their sweet-talk and damnable good looks? She’d seen the three of them out with other women in the past, but never thought much of it, since it didn’t concern her. But now those occasions came back to haunt her.

Her blood iced in her veins as reality set in; she’d been such a fool. How many other women had they strung along before her? She should have known from their prowess in the bedroom, the way they were all so comfortable and practiced with the polyamorous aspect of their encounter that it hadn’t been the first time.

For a long moment, Merry stood frozen, unsure whether to confront them or slink away unnoticed. But as she watched, Beck leaned in close to Elijah, saying something that made the other man throw his head back in laughter. Maddox grinned, his hand resting casually on the booth, just behind the young woman's shoulder, like he was moving in for the kill, while Elijah’s hand was out of sight, under the table. Was it on her knee? Creeping up her thigh, tracing sensual circles on her skin, just like he’d done to Merry?

The intimacy of the moment felt like a betrayal. Her chest tightened and her eyes stung. She told herself it was anger because she didn’t want to face the truth. Righteous indignation was better. How dare they treat her like this.

Without overthinking, she strode towards their table, her heels clicking sharply on the floor.

"Well, isn't this a surprise," she said, her voice tight with hurt and anger, no matter how much she tried to restrain those feelings. “And to think I was feeling sorry for the three of you having to work so late tonight.”

Various expressions of shock, guilt, and shame flitted over their features. “Merry, it’s not what you think…” Maddox began, but it was the woman with them who hammered the nails into their coffin.

“Oh no. No more work for these three hunks,” she giggled, running her hand suggestively down Maddox’s chest. “They’re showing me a great time.”

“Oh, I’m sure they are,” Merry replied, derision dripping from her voice. Jeez, was this slip of a girl even old enough to drink?

“Merry…” Beck, the only one who wasn’t being completely pawed over, tried to stand, his eyes wide and pleading, but he was penned in by the others. She stayed his efforts by raising a palm. “Oh please, don’t let me disturb you. I know you deserve to let off steam and enjoy yourselves,” she said with saccharine sweetness, while she threw them a look laced with disgust.

And with that, she turned on her heel and left, her head high and proud, even though she felt like she was breaking inside.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

MADDOX

Maddox felt the breath tighten in his chest during the confrontation with Merry. He’d sat there, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, acutely aware of how this looked to the outside world. To Merry.

He didn’t need to ask what she was thinking. The betrayal was written all over her beautiful face.

She wouldn’t let them respond.

And with Josie there, what the hell could they have said anyway?

Jeez, this was just a freaking colossal shit show.

Merry's face, contorted with hurt and anger, haunted Maddox as they maneuvered Josie out of the cocktail bar. The girl was still chattering away, oblivious to the tension surrounding her, but Maddox couldn't believe how quickly things had spiraled out of control.

"Hey guys, I have an idea!" Josie exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Let's go to the new rooftop bar. I hear the view is amazing!"

Beck groaned beside him, and Elijah elbowed him in the side. "Josie, it's almost midnight. We really should be getting you back to your hotel."

She pouted, crossing her arms. "You guys are no fun at all. I thought we were supposed to be having a good time."

Maddox felt his patience wearing thin. He needed to find Merry, to explain what had happened. But first, they had to get rid of Josie.

"Look," he said, trying to keep his voice level. "We've had a great time, but your grandfather was very clear about when you needed to be back. We don't want to upset him."

They’d been manipulated into this situation through obligation. At least they could use the same excuse to get her home.

Finally, they got her back to her hotel and into the hands of her grandfather. Now they had to find Merry, and that was an altogether different challenge, since she wasn’t answering her phone, and every text the three of them had sent had been ignored.

Maddox turned to his friends, his face etched with frustration. "We need to find Merry, now. Try to explain. I’m sure you all know as well as me, just what she’s thinking."

Beck nodded, already pulling out his phone. "I'll try calling her again."

"It's no use," Elijah said, shaking his head, after each of them tried to get through to her. "She's not going to answer. We need to think about where she might have gone."

Maddox ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Trying to find her in the city could take hours. We know she’s not with the rest of our work colleagues anymore. Do you think she might have gone back to her apartment?”

"I don’t know," Beck said, pocketing his phone after another failed attempt. “But I guess she’s got to go back there sometime. I think we should head there and see if she’s home, and if not, we can just wait until she shows up. I don’t want to leave this until tomorrow.”

The three of them piled into Elijah’s SUV and headed to Merry's apartment building. As they approached her floor, Maddox felt his heart racing. What if she refused to even open the door? What if she'd already convinced herself of the worst?

What was he thinking? That boat had already sailed. They just had to persuade her that what she saw wasn’t true.

When they reached her apartment, Elijah knocked firmly on the door. No answer. He tried again, calling out, "Merry? It's us. Please, we need to talk to you."

Still nothing.

Beck leaned against the wall, his face a mask of frustration. "Maybe she's not home yet."

Just then, they heard the ding of the elevator down the hall. Maddox turned, hope surging through him, only to have it crash when he saw it wasn't Merry, but presumably her neighbor.

The older woman eyed them suspiciously as she approached her own door. "If you're looking for Merry, she came home about an hour ago, looking pretty upset. But then some guy in a suit came by and asked her out for a drink with him.”

White hot jealousy spearing his chest, Maddox exchanged glances with Beck and Elijah. What the fuck? How were they supposed to take that little tidbit of information? Merry had looked smoking hot when they’d seen her earlier, so he could hardly blame any other man for trying, but still…

“Why the hell would she go on a date with another guy?” Maddox gritted out, as the neighbor disappeared inside, anger swiftly replacing his previous jealousy.

Elijah turned and raised an eyebrow at him. “Don’t jump to conclusions,” he grunted. That’s how we got into this mess.

Maddox took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Elijah was right. They shouldn't make assumptions. That was easier said than done, of course. He paced the hallway, while the others tried in vain to contact Merry yet again, his mind racing. Who was this guy? Why would Merry go out with him, especially when she was upset? It didn't make sense.

That’s when Elijah, usually so calm and collected, even under the harshest of pressure, stared in shock at his phone before he started cursing and kicking the wall.

Now what?

CHAPTER TWENTY

MERRY

When Graham Parker caught her in the lobby of her apartment building just as she was about to finally hide herself away and drown in her sorrows, the last thing Merry really felt like doing was going out for another drink.

That hadn’t gone too well for her so far this evening.

But then she reminded herself Graham was a senior executive for another marketing firm, and above all else, she needed to appear professional.

“So, how are things with you,” he asked, making the requisite small talk, as they sat in the quiet bar of a hotel just a block from her apartment.

“Oh, you know how it is,” Merry responded with generalities. “Especially in the run up to Christmas.”

Christmas. Yeah, she really wasn’t feeling that.

The hotel lobby had been decked out with a tree and elegant garlands in silver and a muted green, but any hint of festive cheer she might have been feeling had been stolen by the elves.

Buff, muscle-bound, six-foot elves by the names of Elijah, Beck and Maddox who had shaken her world then pulled the rug out from underneath her while she was still struggling to regain her footing.

She pushed all thoughts of them aside. If she didn’t, she’d end up a blubbering mess, right here in front of Graham.

“I heard about the party old Frederick threw for Smith Marketing Associates,” Graham commented, humor in his eyes.

“Oh lord, don’t remind me,” Merry groaned, fighting the urge to cringe.

“Why not? Everything I heard was extremely favorable. The industry is awash with how you took an old-fashioned concept and turned it on its head, forcing people to question their perceptions of the intrinsic foundations of the institutions on which our society has been built.”

If only he knew!

“In a pair of booty shorts, which were almost indecent?” Merry asked with wry self-deprecation.

“Whatever it takes,” Graham concurred. “The important thing is it got people talking. And in marketing, that’s what it’s all about.”

Merry sighed, trying her best to give him her undivided attention, even though her emotions felt like they were hanging in tatters. “I guess you’re right, but believe me, the humiliation was real!”

Graham chuckled, and she joined in, relaxing a little.

“So, are you still an associate at Smith’s, or have they made you an executive yet?”

She shrugged, wondering where he was heading with this line of questioning, but decided to be honest. “Still an associate, but the opportunity for promotion is pending. I really don’t want to consider that parading around in a suggestive outfit might help me get it, but I’d like to think my ‘can-do’ attitude would.”

“I think it most certainly will,” Graham said with a smile. He might be the director of another company, but he was a good guy and Merry liked him. “In fact, that’s why I sought you out. You’ve impressed our board of directors, Merry. They’d like to offer you an executive position with Shaw Advertising. I can tell you that it’s not only a very competitive package, but they’re keen enough to recruit you that they’ll seriously consider any further prerequisites you might have, in order to get you on board.”

Merry sat, stunned, while Graham pulled an envelope out of the inside breast pocket of his jacket, and passed it to her.

Her first thought was to deny him, and he must have seen that in her eyes. “Why don’t you take a look at what they’re offering?”

With trembling fingers, Merry slid out the single sheet of paper, which bullet pointed the salient details of their offer. She couldn’t help the indrawn breath when she saw the remuneration package. She knew for a fact it was more than she’d get from Smith, since they already had Maddox, Beck and Elijah, three exceptionally talented men, as executives. The best she could hope for at Smith’s was a junior exec position.

Elijah, Maddox and Beck.

The memory of the past week, and how it had affected her couldn’t be subdued. And then there was this evening’s shit show.

Did she even need to think about this?

Merry drew in a deep breath, complete certainty coalescing in her mind “Graham, this is an incredible offer. I think I’d be a fool not to take it.”

A wide grin split his face. “I was hoping you’d feel that way, Merry.” He extended his hand across the table. “Welcome to Shaw Advertising. When can you start?”

Thoughts tripped over themselves in her head. The embarrassment of having to face her three erstwhile lovers. The tumult of emotions she couldn’t seem to control, which she didn’t want to add to her humiliation. The extensive leave she had saved up, since she rarely took holidays. And the salient details of her contract with Smith Marketing. She could take her time off immediately, which would take her to the Christmas break. That would give her time to get herself under control so she could start afresh in January.

New year, new her.

It might be trite, but it had appeal. As an act of goodwill, she could even offer to wrap up any projects she had outstanding from home. Embarrassing Christmas parties notwithstanding, Smith Marketing had been good to her. But Graham’s offer would solve a lot of the problems Merry knew she’d be facing in the light of her own idiocy. Because somehow she had managed to fall for three guys she’d never be able to avoid, who had already moved on.

Finishing her drink, thanking Graham, and shaking his hand once more, her new boss rose to make his way home, while Merry ordered a glass of champagne for a celebration she wasn’t really feeling, whilst composing her letter of resignation in her head. She sat a while longer, wrote out an email on her phone, and sent it before she could change her mind. Then she made the lonely walk back to her apartment, consoling herself all the way, on what should have been a happy occasion.

Even in the unlikely possibility she managed to stay friends with Beck, Maddox, and Elijah, this was for the best.

She’d thought she’d experienced a little bit of Christmas magic last weekend, but perhaps this was really it, because Merry knew she’d never be able to glue together the shattered pieces of her heart if she had to see them every day.

The Christmas elves might not be who she initially thought they were, but it seemed she was still on Santa’s good girl list, because someone was sure as hell looking out for her, and this was the best gift she could have been given.

Okay, that was a lie. Maddox, Beck, and Elijah, gift wrapped in a large bow definitely would have been better. But since that ship had sailed, this was certainly a worthy consolation prize.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

ELIJAH

“What the hell’s the matter?” Maddox demanded, crossing to Elijah and placing a calming hand on his shoulder.

Elijah sucked in a shuddering breath, trying not to feel like his entire life had started to crumble around him. “Merry has quit her job with immediate effect,” he told his friends, knowing this was going to devastate them as much as it did him. “She’s been offered an executive position at Shaw’s, and she’s taken it.” His voice cracked as he imparted that last piece of information.

Shocked gasps and curses littered the air around him, but all Elijah could focus on was the way his own chest seemed to be squeezing so hard it threatened to suffocate him. He slumped against the wall, his knees suddenly weak, and only vaguely acknowledged Maddox punching the same length of brickwork.

Thank god for Beck. His steady colleague seemed to be the only person who still retained his faculties. “We can’t let it go, like this,” he declared, his words commanding, even if the delivery was somewhat subdued. “We need to speak to her and explain. Get her to reconsider.”

“We don’t know where she is,” Maddox reminded, sounding uncharacteristically forlorn.

“No, but she’s got to come back here sooner or later. Even if Merry’s gone out to celebrate, she’s got to come past us to get into her apartment, and she won’t be able to avoid us any longer when she does.”

The three of them sat down in the hallway to wait, but it didn’t take as long as any of them feared. Barely half an hour had passed before she turned up. Was he imagining it, or did Merry look unusually sad for someone who had potentially just landed her dream job?

She stumbled to a halt when she saw them and looked back over her shoulder. Elijah could see the desire to flee on her face, as plain as day, but he jumped to his feet and hurried over to her before Merry could act on it.

“We need to talk,” he insisted, reaching out and touching her arm.

Merry pulled away, her expression hardening. “I don’t really think there’s anything to say. I certainly have no desire to speak to any of you.”

She resolutely made her way to her door, squaring her shoulders as she fitted the key into the lock.

“Merry, please, just hear us out…”

She turned frosty eyes to Maddox as he spoke. “Talk’s cheap,” she said, coolly. “Actions always speak louder, and your actions spoke loud and clear.”

She pushed open her door, walking through and attempted to slam it, but Elijah threw out his hand to stop her from shutting them out.

“I’m sorry, Merry,” he began, wedging his foot in the door, but making no attempt to barge past her. “This week has been difficult for all of us, but not everything is as it seems. Please believe that.”

“I don’t need your excuses, nor your apologies,” Merry insisted, but her voice didn’t seem to have the same steel to it as before. Was she softening? Or was that just his own wishful thinking?

“Then let us explain, at least. If nothing else, we can part on better terms than how things stand right now.”

She was wavering. Eli could see the indecision warring with what he assumed must be her instinct for self-preservation. He didn’t look away, gazing at her face, appealing to her with his eyes. Maddox and Beck came up on either side, flanking him, and while Elijah didn’t look, he imagined they all wore the same expression. While they’d all desired her - enough to cross the dangerous line from co-workers to lovers - this woman had touched them in a way none of them had expected.

With a huff, Merry backed away from the door. “You’ve got five minutes.”

Her voice was stony, her back ramrod straight, but she’d given them an opening, now they just had to seize it with both hands.

Elijah felt his shoulders lose a little of their tension. They’d passed the first hurdle. Now to make it count.

His mind whirled as he grappled with how to say what he needed to. He knew they didn’t have much time. Merry did not look impressed. He had to make this good, and he had to make this fast.

“Okay, so you know Wade Stevens is our biggest client,” he began, looking to Maddox and Beck for support. “Well, he's in town to renew his contract, and Maddox and I had a meeting scheduled with him.”

Merry narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, plumping her perfect breasts enough that it almost derailed his line of thought. Her words however, soon served to cool his jets. “Uh-huh, sure looked like that was what the three of you were doing.”

“Elijah asked me to go along to make sure every aspect of the meeting with Wade was covered, so we could all get out of there as fast as we could and come find you,” Beck explained, since she’d obviously picked up on the fact the meeting hadn’t initially included him.

“And yet, that’s not what happened.” Her tone was ice cold, but Elijah could hear the hint of vulnerability underneath. He focused on that, grabbing hold of it like a lifeline in the hope she hadn’t quite written them off just yet.

“Wade has his granddaughter, Josie, with him.” Maddox took up the story. “He outright insisted we chaperone her, even going as far as to insinuate he might not renew…”

Beck nodded effusively. “And Elijah still told him we had other plans.”

Merry wasn’t impressed. “Yep, I can totally see how all this transpired into you all laughing and joking with some girl in a cocktail bar.”

They were losing her. Elijah could feel it in his bones. “Wade got Frederick on side. My grandfather told him I’d be happy to look after Josie for the evening.”

“And so it took all three of you to entertain her,” Merry responded, her voice full of scorn. “Right. And I suppose the cold shoulder I’ve gotten from each of you all week was just my imagination.”

She walked away. Just turned her back on them and slipped off her shoes, like their presence meant nothing. “But it’s fine. We had our fun. No harm, no foul. Now I’m tired, and you’re off the hook, so just let yourselves out.”

Had he read this all wrong in the first instance? Had this been nothing more than a quick romp for her?

But if that was the case, why would she risk her job? And why would she quit?

That’s when he noticed the subtle but telling quake of her shoulders.

Fuck it. Refusing to play it safe any longer, Elijah strode over and swept Merry up in his arms. His body urged him to take her to the bedroom, but his head made him sit on her plush leather couch and settle her on his knee. Maddox and Beck sat on either side of him.

“Okay, so the work thing didn’t work out the way we expected. We know that now, but it was what we agreed. Don’t think for a single moment that none of us wanted to pull you into a stationary closet and have our wicked way with you, though, because we did. We even discussed it one day.”

Merry turned her face into his chest, and he sifted his fingers through her hair as she shuddered against him. Beck stroked her back, and Maddox took her hand and twined their fingers together.

“None of us expected this thing between us to explode the way it did.” Beck took over talking, and Elijah was relieved, because he was struggling with what to say. Never had he been more grateful for his friends. “And yes, maybe we handled it wrong, but we did what we thought was right at the time. What we all agreed.”

“I don’t give a fuck who knows you’re with all three of us,” Maddox agreed, vehemently, before his voice softened and he stroked a finger down Merry’s cheek. “But I know that’s not what you want.”

“Please believe us, sweetheart,” Elijah begged. “We’re all just finding our feet here. None of us have answers to how this might or should play out. We’re just doing the best we can in circumstances none of us ever expected to be in. But know one thing, Merry. Here with you is where all three of us want to be. It might take some time, and we might make a few more blunders since this isn’t a regular relationship, but as long as we’re all agreed, we can work it out, I promise.”

“We just need to communicate,” Beck agreed, leaning in, moving her hair to one side and kissing her neck so she shuddered in an altogether different way. One that gave him hope. “And trust each other.”

There wasn’t quite an accusation in his voice when he uttered those words, but there was a hint of steel, overlaid with a hurt it was impossible to miss.

Merry’s head popped up as soon as she heard it, and her tear-streaked face turned to him. Fuck. Elijah knew they’d made her cry, but he still felt like an asshole.

But he also felt the same pain and disappointment as Beck, that Merry had thought so badly of them after everything they’d discussed. And that she’d barely even given them the opportunity to explain.

They all had to do better.

She reached out a trembling hand and touched her fingers to Beck’s face. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “You’re right. I should have waited and listened to what you had to say. It’s just that after a week of being sidelined and ignored, I allowed my fears to overwhelm me.”

She sucked in a shuddering breath. “It’s no excuse, I know. But I was so invested in whatever it is we started, that I was devastated when I saw you with another woman, and I let my insecurities get the better of me.”

She bit her lip and turned earnest eyes on each of us in turn. “Can we start over?”

Relief, unlike anything he’d experienced before swept through him, and they crowded around her in a big, messy, awkward group hug, which was, nevertheless, the best thing he’d ever felt.

Well, almost the best. They’d get to the actual best as soon as each of them had caught their breath.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

MERRY

Merry’s mind was whirling. She’d hurt them as much as they’d hurt her… except they hadn’t meant to cause her pain. She’d done that to herself by jumping to conclusions and not trusting them or waiting for them to explain. And then she’d not only walked away, but she’d thrown gasoline on the blaze she’d started by quitting her job.

As upset as she’d been, she knew Maddox, Beck, and Elijah had equal reason to be hurt and angry… maybe even more.

What had transpired had almost been the end of them, and they would have thrown everything they had away over a stupid misunderstanding.

She turned to them and pressed a kiss against each of their mouths, relieved when all of them deepened what was meant to be an apology.

They could fix this.

Trust and communication, just like Beck said. Yes, this was new and unusual. But that just meant they needed to work harder.

Merry wanted to, and so it seemed, did they.

Her heart felt full, and a bubble of renewed hope built inside of her until she felt like she was going to burst.

Maddox groaned as he thoroughly explored her mouth, and when he finally drew back, he rested his forehead against hers. “You have no idea how much I’ve ached to do that every single day this week,” he murmured, his eyes closed, and an expression close to what she could only describe as bliss on his face. “I want you so much! But more than that, I just want to spend time with you. We all do.”

“You have me,” she murmured, more than ready to take this little reunion into the bedroom.

Elijah seemed on board with that option too, but before he could stand up and whisk her away, dominant Beck made an appearance. He looked at her sternly, making her shiver, and her lady bits throb. “I think someone needs a spanking; punishment for not trusting us. A reminder to think first, in the future.”

Damn, this side of him was such a turn on. Still…

“Do I get to spank you three for being idiots and not telling me what was going on?” she asked cheekily, although, in truth, she had absolutely no objections about the spanking. Last time it had fired their rapport into the stratosphere. Merry was totally up for going there again.

Beck raised a single eyebrow, another move that had her insides clenching, but it was Maddox who lightened the tension surrounding them all. “I’m not opposed to you spanking my ass, baby,” he replied, with a cheeky grin.

And that was it. Everyone burst out laughing. Elijah whisked her off to the bedroom, where the bed wasn’t nearly as large and well-appointed as his own, which had easily fitted the four of us. But right now, nobody cared about logistics.

Beck rolled up his shirt sleeves, leaving her drooling over his lightly haired forearms, and in no doubt about what his intentions were. She’d heard forearm porn was a thing, and the way her thighs clenched at the sight of them, Merry could absolutely attest to it being true… or maybe it was the thought of the spanking doing that to her.

She embraced it, either way.

Maddox was naked in seconds, not waiting around for anything, and she loved that about him. He wasted no time divesting Merry of her own clothing, either, his thick, hard cock pressing against her as he did so. But that was as far as it went, since the next moment, she was tipped over Beck’s strong thighs, her long hair trailing the floor as she grasped hold of one of his calves to steady herself.

She felt a gush of heat between her legs but couldn’t decide if it was the delicious disparity of her being naked while Beck was fully dressed, the image of Maddox, stark naked and ready for her, or that Elijah stood watching. Perhaps it was the anticipation of everything that was to come.

Or maybe all of it, rolled together in one big heap of sexy goodness.

Beck ran his hand over the globes of her ass, and Merry couldn’t hold back the moan that escaped her lips.

“You’ve been a naughty girl, haven’t you, Merry?”

“Yes!” she murmured, quelling the urge to call him daddy. That was a conversation for another day.

“But that’s okay,” he continued. “You take your punishment like the good girl I know you can be, and the slate will be wiped clean.”

Merry like the idea of that, she realized. Liked knowing that she could make mistakes then make amends in a totally sexy way, which did it for all four of them, then put it all behind her. It was a welcome bonus she’d never expected, but she embraced the concept completely. It was freeing.

Beck's hand cracked against her backside, and Merry gasped, her body jerking forward. The sting bloomed across her skin, a delicious warmth that radiated outward. She bit her lip, stifling another moan as he spanked again, harder this time.

"Count them," Beck commanded, his voice low and husky.

"One... two..." Merry breathed, her fingers curling into the fabric of his suit pants. She could feel Elijah's gaze on her, hot and heavy, and imagined Maddox's eyes roving over her body. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

As Beck continued his ministrations, Merry's world narrowed to the sensations coursing through her body. The sharp sting of each slap, the growing ache between her thighs, the whisper of fabric as Elijah shifted his weight. Her voice grew breathier with each count, until she was practically panting.

"Ten," she finally gasped, her body trembling with need.

Beck's hand gentled, caressing the heated flesh of her backside. "Good girl," he murmured, and Merry felt a surge of pride at the praise.

His fingers dipped between her legs. “God, you’re so damn wet for us, Merry,” he said, gruffly.

Merry whimpered as Beck's fingers trailed through her slick folds, teasing but not quite giving her what she craved. She pressed back against his hand, seeking more friction.

"Patience," he chided gently, withdrawing his touch. Merry bit back a frustrated groan. Patient was the very last thing she was feeling.

"Maddox, I think our girl here has earned a little reward. Why don't you come show her how pleased we are with her?"

Merry's breath caught as she heard Maddox's footsteps approaching. His large, warm hands settled on her hips, and she shivered in anticipation.

"You took your punishment so well," Maddox murmured, his lips brushing the shell of her ear. "Now let me make you feel good."

It wasn’t his cock she felt against her soaking sheath, though, but his mouth. Right there, while she was still draped over Beck’s knee.

Merry gasped as Maddox's hot tongue glided along her slit, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her body. Her hips bucked involuntarily, pressing back against his face as he lapped at her sensitive flesh.

"Oh god," she moaned, her fingers clenching tighter around Beck’s leg. There was something purely scintillating about the position she was in.

Beck's hand tangled in her hair, tugging gently to arch her back. "That's it, sweetheart. Let us hear how good it feels."

Maddox's talented mouth worked her over, his tongue circling her clit before dipping inside her. Merry cried out, trembling as the pleasure built. She was dimly aware of movement in front of her and opened her eyes to see Elijah stepping closer, his eyes dark with lust as he watched.

"Please," Merry whimpered, though she wasn't even sure what she was begging for. More? Release? All of them at once?

As if reading her mind, Beck's free hand slid down her back and between her legs, his fingers joining Maddox's tongue. Merry keened at the dual sensation, her hips rocking desperately against them, and then, Eli’s cock was at her lips. She parted them eagerly, taking Elijah into her mouth with a muffled moan. The taste of him, combined with Maddox's skilled tongue and Beck's probing fingers, sent her senses into overdrive. She sucked him deeper, relishing the weight of him on her tongue and the soft groan he let out in response.

Merry felt herself climbing higher, teetering on the edge of bliss. Maddox redoubled his efforts, his tongue fucking into her while Beck's fingers rotated her clit until she saw stars.

"That's it, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice thick with desire. "Take what you need from us."

She hollowed her cheeks around Elijah, taking him as deep as she could, desperate to bring him pleasure even as her own built to a crescendo. Seconds after he spilled on her tongue, pumping his seed down her throat, Beck commanded, “Come for us, Merry,” and it was as if her body had been waiting for permission.

The orgasm crashed over her in waves, her body convulsing with the force of it.

She cried out in ecstasy as she came undone, her body shuddering with wave after wave of intense pleasure. Her hips bucked wildly against Maddox's mouth and Beck's fingers as they continued to work her through her climax, drawing out every last tremor of bliss.

As the aftershocks began to subside, Merry felt boneless and sated, her mind hazy with post-orgasmic bliss.

"Such a good girl," Beck murmured, his voice warm with approval. "You took your punishment so well and rewarded us beautifully."

Merry hummed contentedly, unable to form coherent words just yet. She felt Beck shifting beneath her, and then strong arms were lifting her, cradling her against a broad chest as he seated them both on the edge of the bed. Through half-lidded eyes, she saw it was Elijah who held her now.

Maddox, why don't you and Beck show Merry just how much you appreciate her… together?”

Was he saying what she thought he was saying? Merry’s breath caught in her throat at the implication. Maddox locked eyes with Beck, and she saw a mix of excitement and nervousness reflected between them.

“Do you think you can take us both?” Beck asked, his normally dominant bedroom tone softened, not just for her benefit, she suspected, but because of his own uncertainty. It made her melt all the more that he was so considerate of her needs and comfort.

“I’d like to try,” she said with far more conviction than either man was exuding right now.

"Are you sure?" Maddox asked softly, stroking her cheek.

Merry nodded eagerly, her eyes bright with desire. "Yes, I want to feel both of you."

Though Beck still looked unsure, that seemed to be all the encouragement Maddox needed, and with a groan, he captured Merry's lips in a passionate kiss. She could taste herself on his lips.

Elijah moved his legs so that hers were hooked over the top, then spread his knees, forcing hers open along with his, but content to watch and support her for now, since she’d just gotten him off.

“We’ll take it slow. And if it gets too uncomfortable, you tell us immediately,” Beck insisted as he positioned himself between her thighs.

Maddox and Elijah watched as Beck slowly pushed into Merry. Panting hard in anticipation, and unable to wait any longer, Maddox guided himself to her entrance, pressing in alongside Beck.

The sensation was indescribable. Merry was impossibly tight around them both, her inner walls fluttering as she adjusted to the fullness, but she was so wet and relaxed after what they’d just done to her, that it wasn’t as uncomfortable as she’d expected.

Behind her, Elijah had dug the lube out of her bedside drawer and dribbled the viscous liquid liberally over the twin intrusion, until everything was slippery.

A glance at the men in front of her showed Maddox gritting his teeth to maintain control, as the dual sensations of his and Beck's hardness within her became almost overwhelming.

"Oh God," Merry gasped, her nails digging into Elijah’s thighs as she gripped hold of him for support. With one more squirt of lube, he threw down the tube and threaded his fingers with hers, bringing both sets of hands to her breasts, and distracting her from the interminable stretch by plucking and pinching at them.

Just as it had when they’d taken her ass and pussy together the previous weekend, the tightness and strain morphed into a dark pleasure that took Merry’s breath away as Beck and Maddox seated themselves impossibly within the slick confines of her body.

You both feel so good like this,” she murmured breathily, throwing her head back and resting it on Elijah’s shoulder as a wave of euphoria made her feel weak.

"You okay, sweetheart?" Elijah asked softly, his breath warm against her ear.

Merry nodded frantically. "Yes. Please, move. I need you to move,” she directed the latter to the two men buried intimately within her.

That was all the encouragement they needed. Slowly at first, then with increasing urgency, Maddox and Beck began to thrust in tandem.

The friction was incredible, unlike anything Merry had ever experienced before. She canted her hips, gasping and moaning with each thrust.

Fuck, you look so hot like this,” Elijah murmured in her ear. “I’m getting hard again just watching.”

He pinched her nipples, then moved one of their joined hands between Merry’s thighs, close to the two cocks that impaled her, and began to rub her swollen clit in tight circles. The added stimulation made Merry cry out, her body trembling with overwhelming sensation.

"Oh god, oh god," she chanted, her voice high and breathy. The dual penetration coupled with Elijah's skilled fingers on her most sensitive spot was quickly pushing her towards the edge again.

Beck and Maddox increased their pace, their cocks sliding against each other inside her tight channel. The friction was exquisite, sending jolts of pleasure through all three of them with each thrust. Merry could feel them both swelling, growing impossibly harder as they neared their own release.

"Fuck, I'm close," Maddox grunted, his fingers digging into Merry's hips. “This is too good, I'm not going to last.”

“Same here,” Beck groaned. "Come with us, sweetheart. Let go."

Merry was beyond words, lost in a haze of ecstasy. Her entire body felt electrified, every nerve ending singing with pleasure. With a few more precise circles of Elijah's fingers on her clit, she shattered.

Her orgasm hit her like a tidal wave, more intense than anything she had ever experienced before. She cried out, her body convulsing as waves of pleasure crashed over her. Her inner walls clenched rhythmically around Beck and Maddox, drawing them deeper.

"Fuck!" Maddox growled, his hips jerking erratically as he found his release.

Beck followed a moment later with a guttural groan, spilling himself alongside Maddox. The sensation of both men coming simultaneously inside her prolonged Merry's orgasm, and aftershocks rippled through her body.

For several long moments, they remained locked together, panting heavily as they came down from their shared high. Slowly, carefully, Beck and Maddox withdrew from her, eliciting a soft whimper from Merry at the loss.

Elijah's arms tightened around her, supporting her boneless form as the other two men moved away. He pressed gentle kisses to her temple, her cheek, the curve of her neck.

"You were amazing, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice full of awe and affection. “Next time, we’re going to do this in exactly the same position, but with my cock buried in your ass.”

Merry couldn’t imagine she would ever be able to take all three of them like that, but she didn’t object. If there was one thing she’d learned, it was never to say never. She would be perfectly happy for them to prove her wrong.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

MERRY

One year later…

Merry struggled out of the elevator with the huge Scots pine Christmas tree. Okay, she could admit it. She hadn’t fully thought through the logistics of getting a ten-foot-tall tree up to the penthouse. She could have enlisted the help of her three lovers. They were experts at making things fit where nobody would ever imagine it was possible. Except this was a surprise.

It was the anniversary of the date they had first gotten together at Smith Marketing’s infamous Christmas party, and as well as decorating their apartment, Merry had decided to break out the booty shorts and bustier of the sexy Miss Kissmas outfit, which had been instrumental in bringing them all together.

The past twelve months had been beyond her wildest dreams. She’d stuck with her decisions to quit her job, knowing it was always going to cause issues, no matter how much her three men, and Frederick himself, had tried to talk her out of it. And she absolutely loved her new position at Shaw Advertising.

Six months ago, Beck, Maddox, and Elijah had asked her to move in with them. Merry had her reservations, wondering about how that was going to work when they lived in three different apartments, but the three men, it seemed, had it all worked out.

In fact, they surprised her by getting various walls knocked down, and the layout rearranged, so now the whole of the top floor was one huge home for the four of them. They’d retained their individual front doors, and officially, Merry lived with Elijah, but she wasn’t sure how many people they were fooling. The funny thing was, as time passed, Merry found she really didn’t care about that anymore. And she knew the guys didn’t.

And tonight, she had big plans to reprise the overturning of yet another gender stereotype, and she’d taken the day off work to get everything ready. She wanted it all to be perfect.

But first, the tree.

Five hours later, Merry was seriously asking herself if she’d bitten off a little too much with her plan. The Christmas tree took far more effort than she expected, not just manhandling it up the elevator and into the apartment but decorating the massive thing.

The old-fashioned kissing booth had come flat packed and needed to be put together. Merry still wasn’t certain she should have quite so many screws left over, but she didn’t have time to check where she might have gone wrong. It seemed moderately stable, and it only needed to last a few hours, so that was good enough for her.

Currently she was collapsed on the couch, calculating how much time she had left before her men got home, and deciding which of her plans were the most important, because it had become blatantly obvious she wouldn’t have time to recreate everything.

The mistletoe she’d wanted to hang everywhere was going to be the first casualty, but she didn’t want to do away with it completely, so instead of hanging dozens of different strands, she divided it into three and hung them in strategic places.

The champagne was a must. If things went the way she hoped, they’d be celebrating, so she made the effort to fill the ice bucket and put a bottle in to chill.

As much as she wanted to make a grand presentation of the buffet she’d so carefully selected, time was against her there, too, and it was all she could manage to get half of it onto plates before her phone chimed the third and final alarm she’d set to remind herself when it was time to get herself ready.

Merry was exhausted as she dragged herself into the shower. She’d originally planned a bath, with lots of pampering to prepare herself for her men, but she’d snoozed her alarm too many times for that. And now, even the hot water from the shower was making her drowsy. She definitely would have fallen asleep in the bath. She felt she could almost do so standing up in the cubicle. It was only the full body multi-jets pummeling her aching muscles that was keeping her awake.

Damn, she would love a nap right about now. But that would spoil all her hard work.

Rejuvenating herself by switching the shower to cold before she could think better of it, Merry squealed and jumped out, haphazardly drying herself before slathering on a glittery body lotion. Then she wrapped herself in a robe while she did her hair and makeup.

Finally, ten minutes before Beck, Maddox, and Elijah were due home, she wrestled herself into the skin-tight booty shorts, struggling for so long with the button, she feared they’d get back before she was ready. But she spritzed herself with their favorite perfume just as she heard the telltale ping of their exclusive elevator telegraph the signal alerting its use.

Hurrying into the large, open plan living room, Merry arranged herself in the kissing booth to greet them as they came in.

The front door opened, and Merry's heart raced as she heard their familiar voices. She took a deep breath, willing her nerves to settle.

"Merry?" Eli's deep voice rang through the apartment.

"In here!" she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

The three men rounded the corner, stopping short at the sight before them. Merry watched their eyes widen as they took in the decorated tree, the champagne, and finally her scantily clad form in the kissing booth.

Beck was the first to recover, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Well, well. What do we have here?"

Merry felt a blush creep up her neck, but she pushed through her nervousness. "Welcome home, boys. Care for a kiss from your very own, personal Miss Kissmas?”

Maddox chuckled, moving closer. "I think we can manage that."

As they approached, Merry's hand instinctively went to the small velvet box hidden beneath the booth's counter. This was it. The moment she'd been planning for months.

Maddox reached her first, his large hands cupping her face as he leaned in for a kiss. Merry melted into it, savoring the familiar taste of him. As he pulled away, she caught a glint of amusement in his eyes. "So, what's the occasion, sweetheart?" he asked softly.

Before she could answer, Beck was there, claiming her lips in a more passionate embrace. His fingers tangled in her hair as he deepened the kiss, leaving her breathless when he finally released her.

Elijah approached last, his intense gaze never leaving hers as he closed the distance between them. His kiss was gentle but thorough, and Merry felt her knees go weak.

When they had all received their kisses, the three men stood before her, varying degrees of curiosity and amusement on their faces.

"So, I’ll ask again, what’s the occasion?" Maddox began, just to huff out a breath when Beck elbowed him in the ribs.

“You know it’s our anniversary, idiot,” he muttered under his breath as Merry’s face fell just a little. “Stop pretending you forgot.”

Maddox chuckled. “Only kidding.” He gave Merry a wink. “I have a gift for you in the bedroom.”

“I just bet you do,” Merry laughed, as he waggled his eyebrows.

“Well, that too, but I do actually have something special for you too. I’ll go get it.”

“Wait. There’s something I want to say before you go…”

“Hold that thought sweetheart,” Elijah said, pressing his finger to her mouth. Because whatever you have planned, I want to have my gift ready.”

She opened her mouth to object as she moved out of the kissing booth, but all three of them were gone, leaving Merry with her nerves.

Thankfully, they were back in mere seconds, although she didn't see any noticeable gifts about their persons.

Pushing the thought aside, Merry took a deep breath, her fingers closing around the velvet box. It was now or never.

"We’ve come a long way in the past year," she said, her voice trembling slightly. “I never imagined this could work as well as it does, and I love you all so much…” Her voice trailed off as she saw the three men exchange glances, their expressions a mix of anticipation and something else she couldn't quite read. She swallowed hard, willing herself to continue.

"I know this isn't traditional, but then again, neither are we," she said with a nervous laugh. "But I can't imagine my life without any of you in it."

She dropped to one knee, and with trembling hands, pulled out the velvet box and opened it to reveal the three matching platinum bands nestled inside.

"Beck, Maddox, Elijah... will you marry me?"

The silence that followed seemed to stretch for an eternity. Merry's heart pounded in her chest as she watched their faces, searching for any sign of their reaction.

Suddenly, all three men burst into laughter.

Confused and a little hurt, Merry felt tears prick at her eyes. "Is it really that funny?" she asked, her voice small.

Elijah was the first to compose himself, he slid to his knees in front of her, and the other two followed suit. "Oh, sweetheart," he said, reaching out to cup her face. "We're not laughing at you. It's just..."

He pulled a small square box out of his pocket.

Beck produced another, identical box and picked up where Elijah left off. "We had the same idea."

Finally, Maddox reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box of his own. They held them in their palms and flipped the lids. Inside were three delicate diamond rings. "Great minds think alike, it seems."

Merry's eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean...?"

"Yes, sweetheart," Elijah said softly. "We were planning to propose to you tonight."

A bubble of laughter escaped Merry's lips, relief and joy washing over her. "So... is that a yes?"

"Of course it's a yes," Beck said, pulling her up from the floor and into his arms. "It's always been yes with you."

Maddox wrapped his arms around both of them, and Eli joined the embrace. For a moment, they simply stood there, holding each other close.

"I can't believe we all had the same plan," Merry said, her voice muffled against Beck's chest.

“Well, it looks like you put a lot more effort into yours than we did,” Elijah admitted. “The best we could do was arrange to have three rings made that would fit perfectly together on your finger.”

With that, they each took a ring from its box.

“I love you,” Elijah breathed against her mouth as he kissed her and slid the first ring into place.

“I love you,” Maddox grinned as he playfully bent her backwards, and almost dropped the second ring with his theatrics.

“I love you,” Beck murmured, putting the final ring in place, and taking her mouth thoroughly.

When they finally let her up for air, Merry gazed at her hand. Together the three rings formed one beautiful, interlocking band.

The champagne cork popped and the four of them pledged their love once more as a toast.

But soon, the food, the champagne, and the mistletoe, was all forgotten, as Beck scooped Merry into his arms. “There are a few other things I’d rather like to recreate from last year,” he told her as he carried her into the bedroom. “And I think we should start with a spanking.”

Merry felt a rush of anticipation between her thighs. Some things just never got old. And right now, she felt like all her Christmases had come at once, and it was time to celebrate in their own unique way.

And later, in the hush of the night, surrounded by the remnants of their shared laughter and passion, the four of them drifted into dreams, their bodies entwined, and their souls forever linked in a special kind of love.

A little bit of Christmas magic, wrapped up in a love that knew no boundaries.

ALSO BY POPPY FLYNN

Club Risqué

A Club kink series

Fool’s Desire

Fears Whisper

Ties that Bind

Dark Consequences

Friends with Benefits

Captive Heart

Tormented Dreams

Risqué Business

On His World is a standalone spanking sci-fi.

Stranded with the Storm Chasers: An action and adventure, forced proximity reverse harem story.

Serendipity

A humorous witch academy series with adult themes. Each book is a complete story following the misadventures of Seren Starlight, but there is an arc of romance and mystery which develops throughout the set.

Serendipity: Samhain & Sorcery (Free on all major retail sites)

Serendipity: Yule & Enchantment

Serendipity: Imbolc & Incantations

Serendipity: Ostara & Omens

Serendipity: Beltane & Bewitchery

Serendipity: Litha & Lore

Serendipity: Lammas & Illusions

Serendipity: Mabon & Magic

Check out the Masters of the Zodiac multi-author series and find

Aquarius

A Serendipity standalone spinoff

What Lies Beneath - A very spicy forbidden office romance with a big, beautiful, body positive female lead.

The Lost Boys series.

A dark, why choose, fairytale retelling

Before

Take a look into what happened before…

(Free on all major retailers)

Five Sinful Saviors

Six Dark Defenders

Five and Six make up a duet in the

Loving in Numbers multi author series.

(The first book can be read as a standalone)

Hating Them

Santa’s Shorts

A series of short, festive novellas.

Three Dads & a Nanny

The Naughty List

Merry Kissmas

Basic Instinct

Forces of Nature

Skin Deep

Dark Redemption

A dark mafia romance series

Tainted Love

Twisted Obsession

See the dedicated page for the tropical kink club series,

Masters of Paradise

MASTERS OF PARADISE

A CARIBBEAN ISLAND, KINK CLUB SERIES

Masters of Paradise

A collection of short story insights into the ten characters who decide to build a tropical kink club playground on a private Caribbean island.

Ebook FREE on all major retailers

Temptation

Surprise Pregnancy

Resurrection

A marriage on the rocks romance.

Valentine in Paradise

BBW Reverse Harem

Scandal

Age Gap.

Basic Instinct

A Christmas RH party

More

A Why Choose collection including Valentine in Paradise, Basic Instinct, and More.

Dirty Dancing

Enemies to lovers.

Featuring the bonus story - Dangerous Liaisons

Indecent Proposal

A total power exchange M/s story

Angel in Hades

Second Chance Romance x 2

(Ties in to Tainted Love ~ Dark Redemption book 1)

DARK REDEMPTION

A DARK MAFIA SERIES

1. Tainted Love

2. Twisted Obsession

LASSOED BY THREE

A WESTERN WHY CHOOSE SERIES CO-WRITTEN WITH CHLOE KENT

Lassoed By Three

Book 1 - Cocky Cowboys

Book 2 - Whiskey Cowboys

Book 3 - Smokin’ Cowboys

Book 4 - Mustang Cowboys

Book 5 - Wrangler Cowboys

Book 6 - Rhinestone Cowboys

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Poppy Flynn was born in Buckinghamshire, UK and moved to Wales at eight years old with parents who wanted to live the 'self-sufficiency' lifestyle.

Poppy's love of reading and writing stemmed from her parents’ encouragement and the fact that they didn't have a television in the house.

"When you're surrounded by fields, cows and sheep, no neighbours, no TV and the closest tiny village is four miles away, there's a certain limit to your options, but with books your adventures and your horizons are endless."

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