Page 177 of Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal
“You were saying how you’re not a hussy?” Otto leads.
Right . . .
Face flushed, I turn toward his parents completely and try to put on a smile despite the sweat building at the base of my spine. “Um, so there was Christmas Cupid Night, where we got to know each other better, but then there was a snowstorm here, and we lost power. Atlas came to check on me and found me on the couch, wrapped up in blankets with no heat. I think that night changed everything.”
Ida presses her hand to her chest, thankfully moving past the awkward moment. “Oh my goodness. You poor dear.”
“He brought me here and honestly probably saved me, because I was not prepared for the electricity to go out. My cottage only runs on electricity?—”
“And Dwight didn’t set her up with a backup battery, so she had nothing.”
“That’s dangerous,” Otto chimes in. “That could have been serious. Atlas, I’m glad you checked on her.”
“Me too,” I say, looking in Atlas’s direction, once again falling into his delicious gaze. “Then he took care of me after that, and, well, it was kind of hard not to grow feelings for him.”
Atlas tugs on the corner of his lip. “Yeah, same. I couldn’t let her out of my sight.”
“Or your arms.”
“Or my bed.”
I truly never really want to leave his bed.
We gaze at each other, hearts sputtering from our eyes as his hand clasps mine.
“Well,” Ida clears her throat, trying to draw our attention, but I can’t tear my eyes from her son. “Isn’t that, uh... sweet? Rescued in a snowstorm.” Ida holds her hand to her heart. “I’m glad you went and checked on her, because if you didn’t, we never would have known that popcorn garland could be wrapped around a penis. Something your father and I can try.”
That snaps us both out of our haze as Atlas turns toward his parents, a pinch in his brow.
“For the love of God, no,” Atlas says, causing his parents and me to laugh.
“That was an eventful evening,” Atlas says as he pulls up to my cottage. It’s started to snow, and instead of walking, he loaded his truck up with a Yeti battery just in case I lose electricity and said that he’d hook it up for me if I do.
“Yeah, not how I expected it to go.”
He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “Sorry that my parents walked in on us. Really wishing I knew how the evening would have ended. Did I come with popcorn around my dick, or was I going to come inside you?”
I chuckle. “Something we will never know.”
“Shame. Are you okay though? I kind of thrust you into a situation of meeting the parents, and I just want to make sure you’re good. Not sure if that was too soon for you, or... or you’re rethinking your decision to date me...”
“Never.” I shake my head. “I didn’t mind meeting your parents at all. It wasn’t too soon for me. I just wish it was under different circumstances. You know, where I wasn’t licking your dick.”
He chuckles. “Trust me, so do I, because when I get home, I know I’m going to be spending an hour cleaning that couch, and it was just my bare ass, but you know my dad is going to be looking over my shoulder, making sure I get every square inch.”
“The price we pay.” I squeeze his hand. “They were awesome though. After the elephant in the room disappeared, I had a really good time. Your mom is really sweet, and your dad is funny. He doesn’t say much, but when he does, it packs a powerful punch.”
“He’s always been like that,” Atlas answers. “I’m definitely more like my mom. Felix has more of my dad’s traits, and Ansel, well, not sure where he came from, because he’s on a whole different level.”
“It’s nice that you have siblings though. Kind of wish I did. Uncle Dwight is the closest thing to a sibling that I have.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed that.”
“And speaking of families, he, uh, he kind of let it slip that my parents are coming into town to celebrate Christmas with me.”
“They are?”
“Yeah, I’m not supposed to know, but maybe... maybe you can meet them? That’s if we get things straightened out with Uncle Dwight. But no pressure if you don’t want to meet them. I don’t want you to feel pressure or anything?—”
