“And she’s a big girl,” Kai said. “If she wants to stop studying and finally start living, that’s up to her.”
“And to you all,” I said hastily. “I’m grateful for Kai’s support, but I’m not telling you what to do. I’m asking. You’re free to say no.”
Then Ash said something that shocked the hell out of me. “What’s in it for us?”
I blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I meant exactly what I said.”
“Well… sex,” I ventured.
“Sex with a beautiful woman,” Kai clarified, and he gave me a look that sent shivers down my spine.
But Asher was still being prickly. “None of us have trouble finding partners for sex.”
“Even here?” I asked. The average age of the guests had to be in the sixties.
“She’s got a point,” Kai said. “Not really into GILFs.”
I frowned. “That blonde lady in the lobby today wasn’t a GILF.”
Kai shrugged. “She’s married.”
“She looked like she wanted to jump you right then and there.”
“She’s suggested that several times,” he said, unbothered. “And I turned her down each time.”
I was surprised by that. “Are you going to turn me down?” I held his gaze.
Asher stopped him from answering. “This time, after hours, is our free time. Why should we waste it playing tutor? I spend half my day in the kitchen teaching beginners who can’t tell a sous chef from a soufflé.”
That stung. I wasn’t completely clueless, just inexperienced. And frustrated that Asher couldn’t even stop being an asshole even when I offered myself up to him on a platter.
“It’s a good thing we said feelings won’t be involved, otherwise I might be getting pretty pissed off with you right now.”
“With good reason,” Landon said.
Ash seemed unperturbed. “I’m just saying, what’s in it for us besides sex? We get paid for giving lessons, you know.”
“You want me to pay you?” I asked in disbelief.
“Of course not,” he said calmly. “But if you want a top-notch teacher, you need to offer something in return.”
“No, she doesn’t,” Kai said. “At least not with me. Sex is enough for me.” He grinned. “And you already know I’m a good teacher.”
I gave him the side-eye.
“Okay, you already know I can kiss.”
“That’s true,” I murmured.
“It is?” Asher asked.
I turned to Landon. “What about you? What do you want?”
“Nothing. Because I’m not going to do this.”
“You’re not? Why?” That hurt more than I expected.
