Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 93942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
“Zoe, this is your first time.” Landon’s voice was serious. “That’s not something you... That’s not something to be casual about.”
“Oh yeah, according to books and movies, the first time is always magical, right? How was your first time?” I turned to Kai.
“Best nineteen seconds of my life,” he said, and I gave a small laugh.
“And you?” I looked at Asher.
“It was in her parents’ hatchback. We parked behind the shopping mall. She stroked me twice, and I came all over the steering wheel.”
Kai laughed. Then we all looked at Landon, and for a moment, I thought he wasn’t going to answer. His jaw worked like he was fighting with himself.
Then he sighed. “Well, it was better than their first times.”
“Because you were two years older than I was,” Kai pointed out.
“Because it was with someone I cared about,” he said quietly.
For a moment, I was jealous of that girl, whoever she was. I leaned forward, reaching for the bottle of champagne on the coffee table.
But Landon lifted his foot and pushed the bottle away from my grasp with his toes. “If you want us to take you seriously, stop drinking.”
That pissed me off. “You’re one to talk.”
“I’m not drunk,” he said.
“No, but you and your brother invented a drinking game for us the other night.”
Landon held his hands up in defense. “True, but this is a big decision, and consent needs to be given freely when you’re sober.”
“An important point,” I said. “Except for one thing. I’m the one who asked for this, so that means I’m seeking your consent.”
“All of us?” Asher asked.
“Well, yeah. I mean, I like all of you.” I paused. “Ish,” I added, looking directly at Asher.
“Trust me, that feeling is mutual.”
The small moment of levity helped. I took another breath. “I just—I’d like to learn, and I’d like you to teach me. And if it’s with one of you, I know my first time will be a hell of a lot better than yours were.”
“She’s got a point there,” Asher said.
“And no steering wheel to clean up,” I added, and he laughed.
Landon tried again. “This is a big decision.”
“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.
“This isn’t right, Zoe. I’ll teach you to ski, how to wrap a sprained ankle in the middle of a blizzard. Hell, I’ll teach you chess, but not sex.”
“I already know how to play chess,” I said a little stiffly.
“Not like I do.”
Neither of the other two refuted that or made fun of it, so he must be really good. But it still hurt.