I grin and kiss her chin. “Exactly. I promise to make it a five-star experience.”
She giggles and kisses me softly. “I look forward to seeing what you consider five-star.”
Her smile alone is going to keep me ready to please. Until my phone rings with my father’s name. Here comes the downside.
VALERIE
Iwrap myself in a robe the next morning, looking at my still flushed face in the mirror. Even after a shower, I somehow have sex hair. I guess Hunter’s just that thorough. I smile to myself and shake my head.
Wandering through the house, I finally find an office with my laptop and a sleek desktop computer. There’s a sticky note saying that my teachers have approved me to connect to the lectures through a video program so I don’t miss anything.
Chase left easy instructions for me and I get through classes, trying to adjust to the change. I turn in my assignments, thank my professors for their flexibility, then text Elaine who’s messaged me no less than three times asking where I am.
The first week is easy, honestly, and fun. The guys keep me completely busy. Chase swims with me, playing around and teasing me. Hunter makes sure we have good food and stays to watch a movie with Chase and me.
Lief goes over self-defense with me. He doesn’t give me a ton of moves, but when I actually manage to hit him, he gives me an approving smile even as I worry over his handsome face.
But I can tell something is bothering all three of them. The way they rotate through so someone is always with me, but I have yet to see all three of them here at once except when they’re switching who’s here.
And that keeps this from feeling like an actual vacation. Because wouldn’t I have all of them, right here, so we could all be happy and relaxed and everything in between? Not that I’m complaining about the effort they're making.
But Friday, it’s just Lief and I playing chess. He studies the board for a long time. “I can’t tell what play you’re doing.”
“But it’s so obvious, Lief. I’m going to win,” I tease, not having a clue at all. I’m just playing it move by move.
His brow furrows and he hunches his shoulders forward to try and study the board to see what he’s missing. He’s cute like that. After another ten minutes of neither of us making progress, I get up, then sit on his lap, wrapping my arms around him.
“Tell me the truth about why you guys are rotating like this,” I encourage.
“It’s not … important.”
“It’s important to me. I worry about all of you, you know that right? And now I’m worried that I don’t know what’s going on. If it’s something bad …”
Lief rubs my hips and kisses my neck. “Hunter and Chase know what they’re doing, pet.”
Still, I watch him, then when he doesn’t answer, I follow him around the house, not caring how annoying it is. I want answers. And I’m seriously tired of being locked up in place and not knowing anything.
“Has Stefan tried to find me or something?”
“Valerie.” Lief shakes his head at me. “Fishing is beneath you.”
“I’m not fishing, I’m asking directly. If any of you are in danger because of me…”
“We chose this path.” Lief holds my face between his hands. We have accepted whatever may come of it.”
“Just because of me?” I don’t like that feeling.
“Yes, pet.” Lief strokes over my hair, then down my neck, kissing my forehead. “I’ve told you, you are important to us.”
He proves that by staying and cooking with me. Lief tells me more about how he grew up, moving around, the hot springs he liked to go to, a place in Denmark where he could see where the oceans met.
Once we finish eating, Hunter and Chase come in. They’re arguing about something, which gets my attention. The three of them talk around me in Russian, voices harsh and talking too quickly for me to hope to catch even the basics I’ve been trying to learn.
Yup, super tired of this.
I simply take off my dress. Chase stares at me, confused, but Hunter and Lief are still arguing. I shrug and take off my bra. I only realize I have their attention when Lief grabs my hands before I can tear off my underwear too.
“What are you doing, pet?” He asks, voice sharp.