“Yes,” I said, watching his reaction, with was satisfyingly irritated. “For a few years, I was strictly dickly. I think I was trying to prove to myself that guys could be into me.”
His expression shifted, jealousy flashing across his features before he schooled them back to neutrality. “I assumed so.”
I stepped closer, emboldened by the crack in his armor. “Did you also assume I spent my college years mastering the art of blowjobs? I hoped I’d get the chance to suck your brains out through your dick and make you forget you were straight.”
Eli’s face flushed, his eyes widening as he processed my words. “That’s not—that’s not even physically possible,” he stuttered, but he didn’t step back.
“Try me,” I challenged softly, my eyes on his. “Once you come in my mouth, you’ll never be the same. I fucking love sucking dick, and if you ever let me have yours, it’ll be full-on worship.”
The tension between us crackled with possibility. Eli’s gaze dropped to my mouth again, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He swayed slightly forward, and I held my breath, certain he was about to—
“Hello? Eli? Henry said you were up here?”
Mioko’s voice shattered the moment, and Eli jumped back like he’d been burned.
“In the bedroom!” Eli called back, eyes on my lips. I didn’t need a psychic connection to know he was imagining them wrapped around his dick.
Mioko appeared in the doorway, her dark hair in her usual messy braid, her expression shifting from confusion to delight as she saw us standing on opposite sides of the freshly made bed.
“Well, this is a surprise,” she said, her smile widening. “Both of you here. Together. How... unexpected.”
Chapter 9
Mioko
“This place is amazing,” I breathed, turning in a circle to take in the gorgeous crown molding in the bedroom. “The light, the proportions... it’s perfect! Are you renting it?”
“No,” Eli snapped, eyes still on Luke. Or more specifically, on Luke’s lips. That was a good sign. As soon as I was sure they weren’t going to start yelling again, I’d just slip out and let them do filthy things to each other.
I stepped closer, trailing a hand over the windowsill. “I thought that was why I was here? For the rental?”
He cleared his throat. “Sorry, I meant to say… not this bedroom. I’m planning to use the bedroom and living room. But there’s another bedroom, and an office, both connected, with its own bathroom and an exterior door.”
He led me back into the living room, and I followed him through the apartment, running my fingers along the clean countertops as Luke discussed renovating the kitchen and sanding the floorboards. The space was beautiful—high ceilings, large windows flooding the rooms with afternoon light, and a small fireplace in the corner.
Eliled me to the office, which was a good size, with windows facing the serene forest. He assured me that he could lock the rooms off from the main apartment, allowing me to rent one or both of the spare rooms.
It was tempting, but I didn’t need an apartment, did I?
“So, what do you think?” Eli asked as he led me out to the kitchen, leaning against the counter.
“It’s incredible,” I admitted, turning back to face them. “Much nicer than I expected based on Henry’s description.”
Luke and Eli exchanged a glance that sent warning signals through my body. They were behaving like they used to, communicating without words, and I wasn’t sure why. There was something predatory in the way they moved in tandem, the way Luke subtly shifted so he was leaning against a column, boxing me in.
“Luke and I have been discussing what happened on the sleigh ride. How we both ended up there, and you were nowhere in sight.”
“Oh! I’m so sorry about that! Lori called last minute, and I had to go help her. Did you get my texts?”
“Not until after the sleigh ride.” Luke smirked. “And what about the fact that someone sent me to deliver a box of candies addressed to an imaginary guest at the Honeyfern Inn?”
“Or the sudden appearance of a new event on the Honeyfern Inn’s schedule?”
“And don’t forget that Eli was pretty upset when I didn’t meet him at the coffee shop like I’d promised. Via email,” Luke added. “It’s odd, I don’t even remember sending an email.”
I’d been found out. “All coincidences, I’m sure.”
“Were they?” Eli moved closer, his intense blue eyes on me. “Because I think someone has been scheming behind our backs.”
