Luc could cook, no doubt about that. He’d mastered an art that amazed Kimber, since she could barely boil water. Most of the “feminine arts” had escaped her. The by-product of growing up with men always on top-secret missions and paranoid about safety.
Honestly, she was shocked that the lace top and skirt she’d worn tonight hadn’t given her hives. But the reality was, she knew more about firearms than couture.
More about martial arts than makeup.
That had made romance everything from challenging to a big joke in the past. She only hoped that, since Deke and Luc were tutoring her, not dating her, that they wouldn’t mind the same way Jesse didn’t mind.
“Did you like dinner?” Luc asked.
Like it? She was totally impressed by Luc’s culinary expertise. He’d earned his international reputation. But after nearly two hours of rich food, small talk, and everyone avoiding the unspoken topic hanging heavy in the room, the coming night and what it would bring, Kimber’s nerves were sharper than any of Luc’s fancy kitchen knives. She couldn’t take the building anticipation inside her, the bubbling testosterone all around, the thick heat sliding between her legs.
Based on the monosyllables Deke had replied with for the past hour, she guessed he was more than ready to adjourn to the bedroom. Either that or he still wasn’t happy to have her there.
Kimber shrugged off the unpleasant thought. “Dinner was wonderful. Thanks for a lovely meal, Luc. Everything was truly spectacular.”
“More wine?” The words formed a polite question, but his eyes…they danced with mischief, as if he’d asked the question merely to toy with her.
“No thanks. Two glasses is my limit or I fall asleep.”
“Sherry, then?”
A ghost of a smile curved that full, sinful red mouth of his. Luc was beautiful, sensual, playful, easy to talk to, cultured, curious. Shocking that some bright woman hadn’t snapped him up ages ago.
But right now, she wanted to strangle the man for prolonging her agony.
“No more for me.”
Luc stood and cleared his plate, setting it on the counter and reaching for some decadent chocolate confection. “Dessert? I can make coffee, if you want. I have cinnamon hazelnut, Frenchroasted vanilla—”
“I appreciate your effort, but I’d just like the two of you in bed.” Luc stopped in the middle of the kitchen, dishes in hand. Deke sucked in a sharp breath. Neither moved.
Oh, no. Had she misread the vibes? They’d seemed interested. Deke had barely managed civil conversation, and those burning eyes of his had damn near charred her appetite. Luc had flirted, touching her hands, bumping her knee, feeding her from his fork.
Kimber glanced across the kitchen. Luc had hardened, damn near bursting the front of his slacks. To her left, a chair scraped across the floor, disturbing the dead silence. Deke stood, and she discovered he was in the same state as his cousin—
tense, erect, ready.
That meant she hadn’t misread the situation, right? Or maybe not… Maybe Deke’s desire hadn’t totally tackled his reluctance. Maybe Luc was having second thoughts.
Damn it, she didn’t know. Inexperience wasn’t helpful just now.
“I-I’m sorry if that’s too blunt,” she apologized. “I’m not used to tempering what I say, since my family never does, so I—”
“Let’s go.” Deke grabbed her hand and tugged on her arm, nearly dragging her out of the kitchen in his haste.
“To bed?”
“Hell, yeah!”
Deke did want her. Excitement jolted her, screaming through her blood. Now. The time had come. She was going to learn about men and sex and something beyond self-pleasure—and she was going to learn it at the hands of two of the most gorgeous men she’d ever seen. With the arousal bubbling in her body now, she didn’t think accepting a ménage would disturb her in the least.
She’d learn all about it so that when Jesse returned to Texas in a few weeks, she would know exactly what he needed and how to give it to him. He’d race to pursue deepening their special connection because she’d no longer be too innocent to deal with his lifestyle.
Luc tried to look put out. “I spent a lot of time making this torte.” Kimber tossed a teasing glance over her shoulder. “It’ll make a great midnight snack.”
“It will if you let me eat it off your br**sts,” Luc murmured, stalking closer.
She sent him a giddy laugh. “Only if you promise to lick off every crumb.” Luc said something and started after her, but she couldn’t hear, since Deke was already pulling her down the hall, toward Luc’s wide bed. In less than thirty seconds, she was flat on her back, with Deke’s big body covering hers, his knees spreading her legs wide.