Page 21 of Going Down Smooth: Part Two

Nate: Baby, I will be your good boy, always. Do I get a reward?

Trey: Hey, we should all get a reward, we’ve all been good boys. Haven’t we, songbird?

Mercy: Yes. Yes, you all have. Come home to me.

Knight drops the axe and curses, “Fuck.”

“Yes, fuck the tree, let’s go home,” Lox says, as he knocks the snow from his clothes as he begins to walk back the way we came.

I want to join him; I want to race and see who can get home the fastest, but one look at Trey and I know what he’s thinking.

“I think we should still get the tree. We should decorate it; we can do both.” He shrugs with a sheepish expression on his face, eyebrows raised, smile all teeth. He looks comical.

Knight swings the axe over his shoulder and starts to walk in the direction of the spruce trees in the distance. “Trey’s right. Nate, this was your plan, let’s see it through. We have all day.” Knight begins to move as our phones ping once more.

Mercy: Don’t make me wait too long.

Lox growls in response and I shift my stiffening cock as we all follow Knight. I don’t think we’ve ever moved so fast in our lives. Snow be damned.

* * *

MERCY

I watch them leave from the window of my reading hideaway, e-reader in one hand, coffee in the other. Damn it feels good to have the use of both my hands. I bite my bottom lip as they traipse across the snow-covered meadow, the song “Hi Ho” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs echoing through my head. Well, in this case four Herculean wanna-be mountain men in jeans, snow boots, and heavy, woolen plaid sherpa coats. They were so cute this morning, I took photos of them without them noticing.

I can hear them whistling, Knight leading the way with a huge axe over his shoulder. They are putting my Alaskan lumberjack romance fantasy to shame. I’m not going to lie; it is definitely a turn on. I almost wish I was with them. I love the snow. When I woke this morning, the sight of the blanket of white on the ground put me in a better mood almost immediately. I had to fight back my sadness as I thought about Faith. Dez’s latest update was that Derrick chartered a private jet, but their destination is still unknown. Instead of letting it bring me down, I shook it off, determined to enjoy the day.

I know what they are up to. It wasn’t hard to miss Nate’s enthusiastic speech about decorating the house for Christmas. I guess he thought I was still lost in my trauma-induced fog and not paying attention. Most days I know I’ve been putting one foot in front of the other, working like a mindless zombie. ‘One day at a time,’my therapist says to me on a daily basis. I checked out on them, and it’s no ones fault but my own. I still feel guilty over the time we’ve lost with each other. After I watched them disappear into the tree line, I jumped to my feet, wanting to prove to them that I am awake and present. I’ve missed so many holidays these past few months, I will not miss Christmas.

Rushing through the house, I yank the front door open, knowing exactly who’s on the other side. “Dane!” I shout his name in excitement, surprising the massive Beta. His eyes widen at the sight of me, he’s obviously not used to seeing me out and about these days. My heart pangs with guilt once more but I push those emotions down and lock them away.

“Miss Mercy, is something wrong?” Dane asks, all bundled up like a gigantic polar bear, the bright blue puffer coat he is rocking only makes him bigger. The knitted cap with ear flaps hanging loose on the side of his face is the icing on the cake. These men look adorable dressed for the winter. His Omega must love to knit. Maybe I should learn to crochet? My mother would love that. I almost snort at the ridiculous thought. I make a mental note to order my guys matching winter hats with a massive pom pom on top.

“I need your help. How many of you are on duty this morning?” The authority in my voice snaps him into work mode as he eyes me warily. I almost laugh again. This man towers over me, could easily crush me with his pinky finger, but at the sight of me he almost shrinks down to size. It’s a heady feeling to feel like my old self.

“Six of us around the house and six around the perimeter of the property,” he replies. His eyebrows shoot up nervously as he watches me rub my hands together with glee. Well, that and the cold seeping into my bones.

I have one more question before I put my plan into action. “How long do you think my Alphas will be?” I tilt my head at the question, surprising myself at how easy it is to call them my Alphas these days.

“Lox said it will take them about forty-five minutes to reach the—” he pauses, trying to stop himself from telling me they went to cut down a Christmas tree. Little does he know I’ve figured it out already. “Forty-five minutes there and back. Why?” he tries to quickly deflect. Okay, big guy, I will let you think you’ve fooled me.

I tilt my head innocently, and his eyes narrow. “Oh, Miss Mercy, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but Knight will have my head.”

“How do you feel about Christmas decorations?” I jump up and down, my excitement building in anticipation. I love Christmas, my decorations are usually up the day after Thanksgiving. Freeya used to hate it. She was in the mind that Christmas decorations went up the week before Christmas. You know, the whole ‘trimming the tree leading up to the day, nonsense’.

“I was just on the roof of my house last night. Lacey was determined we get the house decorated. I can’t deny my girl.” He groans, then smiles as if lost in his own memories. He lifts a brow. “What do you have in mind, Mercy?” he asks. In the past few months I’ve learned a lot about the Head of security. His pack consists of two Alphas and their Omega Lacey. They have two little boys and another baby due next Spring.

“I’m going to let you in on a secret. I know what they are up to, and I want to do something for them as a surprise. Do you think you guys can come in to help me put up the decorations around the house? With all of you helping we could get it done with time to spare before they get back?” I ask, putting my hand on my hips, hoping I am conveying that no will not be acceptable.

“I don’t know if the guys will be okay—”

“They can be mad at me. I gave you the order,” I say, pushing my hip out, attitude at the ready. “I want to see them try to be upset at me for this.” I open the door and step back inside. The freezing temperature makes me wish I put on a coat before I came out here. I watch him hesitate for a second before he turns his attention back to me.

“Forty-five minutes. You have forty-five minutes. If I am not back here on this porch. Lox and Knight will rip my ass apart. My girl likes my ass, Miss Mercy, so. . .” He smiles and walks away to speak into his earpiece as I bounce up and down clapping my hands in excitement.

I am midway through wrapping the garland on the staircase banister when my phone pings in my back pocket. I pause and look around, marveling at the twinkling lights all over the ground floor. Faux pine garlands hang in loops from the ceiling, with red, black, and green plaid ribbon. Wreaths hang on the doors and white lights illuminate each room, like a winter wonderland. The only thing missing is the tree. With all these men at my command, I could take over the world with how fast they managed to get everything put up for me. Many hands make light work as my mother used to remind my sisters and me when we complained about helping her, but now I see exactly what she meant. Apparently, Nate, being the architect and designer he is, decided this year’s theme was country chic. Who knew my sweet Alpha tapped into his inner-Martha Stewart from time to time. I absolutely love that about him.

Pulling out my phone, I snort out a laugh at the sight of Lox covered in snow. His handsome face frowning at the snowball plastered on the side of his head. Trey calling him Loxy the Snowman did not help his mood at all. I keep working as I reply to their teasing texts when an idea forms in my head. I can’t deny the simmering need that makes me clench my thighs together at the memories of their lips, hands, and teeth on my skin the day in the hospital as they claimed me. Trey’s devouring kisses all those months ago.

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