“Sex.” I looked at each of them in turn. “I want you to teach me how to have sex.”
17
ZOE
The silence was beyond deafening.Shock seemed to radiate to every part of the room, and my face burned. I wondered exactly how big the can of worms I had just opened was.
I could still take it back and tell them I was joking.
But I didn’t.
The twins had both tensed at my side. I felt them shift, scooting just slightly away so they could turn and look at me. The warmth of their bodies that had been pressed against mine moments ago felt suddenly distant. Asher’s mouth had dropped open, but he was the one who found his voice first.
“I’m going to need you to say that again,” he said slowly.
“And put it in writing and sign it,” Kai added.
Landon didn’t say anything. I was too nervous tolook over at him, to gauge his reaction. My hands were clenched in my lap, nails digging into my palms.
Asher cleared his throat. “Three things. First off, what the fuck? Secondly, which one of us are you asking? And thirdly, what thefuck?” There was more emphasis on the last word this time.
Short of getting up and throwing myself into the fire, the only way to get through my extreme embarrassment was to pretend it didn’t exist. In other words, to bluff.
“What’s the big deal?” I forced myself to meet Asher’s eyes, then turned to Kai. “It’s something you know how to do and I don’t. So teach me.” Kai’s blue eyes were wide. “It’s no different from you teaching me how to ski,” I told him.
“It’s completely different from teaching you how to ski,” he said immediately.
“Why?”
That seemed to stump him for a few seconds. “Well, for one thing, the dress code is very different.”
I felt Landon shift beside me and wondered if he’d finally found his voice. And if the first thing he was going to ask me was if I was insane.
But that wasn’t the approach he took. “Think about what you’re asking, Zoe,” he began gently. “It’s not like a subject you learn in school. There are feelings involved.”
“Why?” I looked at him now, projecting confidence into my voice. “There weren’t with skiing. Except for frustration that it was so damn hard.”
Kai, for once, mimicked his brother’s calm and thoughtful tone. “I really don’t think you’re getting how different they are.”
Asher leaned forward in his chair. “If you really think they’re the same, then go roll around naked in the snow. Then do it in a bed and compare.”
My cheeks heated further, but I pushed on. “I’ve been learning what I need to know to run a luxury hotel for four years. I’ve done that to prepare for my future. Well, this is also something I need to know for my future.”
Landon gave my hand a light squeeze. “Does this mean you’re a virgin?” he asked softly.
I nodded because I didn’t want to admit it out loud. My throat felt tight.
“How is that possible?” Kai asked.
“Well, I was born that way.”
Asher gave a short laugh, and I tried again. I really had sprung this on them out of nowhere, but the feeling had been building inside me for days. “We’re here, spending our evenings together. Having fun around the fire. Why not make it more fun?”
“So it doesn’t matter who we are,” Asher said flatly.
“What?”
“It doesn’t matter who you’re with, as long as they have a cock.”
