Tangled in Tinsel (Holidates #1)(27)

I ignore their reaction because I’m too busy laughing. Hard. Like hands coming to my knees hard.

“Guys are stupid. And you guys are the most stupid.”

My hair swishes over my shoulder as I stand back up. I start fanning myself again because this damn suit feels like a boiler the more I move around.

“True,” Cole adds, not trying to hide his smile. “But at least we don’t have herpes.”

I roll my eyes.

“I was saying it as a placeholder for all things requiring ointment and/or penicillin.”

“Valid”—Reed chuckles—“and yet, still funny.”

Jace rests his forearms on his knees, stealing my attention because he’s smiling sweetly, even with humor still behind his eyes.

“We were never laughing at you.”

“Yes, we were,” Reed cuts in, but Jace shakes his head.

“No. We weren’t. It was unexpected. You caught us off guard. But let me answer. We’re all tested and clean. We can show results to you on our phones, and nobody fucks around outside these arrangements without protection. But we’re happy to wrap up if you’d prefer. Or even if you just want to because you’re not on the pill.”

I’m standing, still fanning myself, quietly absorbing what he’s said as my weight minutely shifts back and forth. That’s exactly what I was hoping they’d say. My tongue darts over my bottom lip before I nod.

“Okay. I like it. That sounds perfect.” I grin, looking at Cole. “And since I’m not a virgin, more like a woman with a body count envied by the likes of Mortal Combat, I can also show my clean bill of health. Oh, and I’m on the pill.” A tiny laugh escapes as I add, “So I guess we’re raw dogging it.”

I hear it the moment I say it. Reed groans, narrowing his eyes. “Why are you torturing us? Just say yes already. I know you’re going to. I want. Gimme.”

Oof. This version of Reed’s charm is quite possibly the most dangerous. I pinch the jacket between my fingers, pulling it away from my chest over and over.

“How do you know I’ll say yes? Maybe I won’t.”

Cole interjects, “Because we listened at your door.”

My mouth pops open. Sneaky bastards. Why does that make me like them more? Instantly the memory of how Reed left my room makes me smile.

“Cheats,” I snark.

Cole shrugs. Completely unapologetic. “I prefer Samantha enthusiasts.”

My shoulders shake as I lift my phone, blowing air down toward my chest, trying to refocus. But as I start to read, So when we’re all fucking— Cole stops me, standing.

“I’m getting a drink for the rest of this conversation. Who else would like one?”

I scarcely get out “The sun’s barely up” before hands shoot up from the others. Cole laughs, and I shiver at the bass even though I’m sweltering in the heat of this suit. He walks past me, stopping to turn his head, eyes meeting mine.

“If you expect us to remain even somewhat gentlemanlike, after you’ve done nothing to filter that filthy mouth, then we’re going to need alcohol. No matter the time. Now, I believe you promised expedience. Get to it, princess.”

“Oh.”

I smile, plucking the jacket away from me, feeling hot air rise.

My eyes blink slowly and not even fully before I turn back to the couch as Cole leaves for the bar.

I’m staring at the questions, feeling flustered. He’s sexy. Just fucking sexy. Damn.

“Where was I?”

“Question number two,” Alec offers, crossing his legs, looking at me as if he’s slowly undressing me.

“Right, question number two.” I open my eyes wider, trying to focus before I read, “When we’re fucking, do you guys…do guys?”

Cole chokes on his newly made scotch. As Reed breathes out, “Now it’s a party.”

Goddammit. It sounded way more discreet when I wrote it. I tuck my hair behind my ears, feeling dampness on my hairline.

Am I sweating?

Jace grins. “Sammy—”

But I cut him off, embarrassed.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m totally fine with it. I was just hoping to be the star of the show. Because that’s my personal fantasy. And since it’s a weekend romp…” Jesus, the more I say this out loud, the dumber it sounds. “Scratch that. Just plow ahead.”

Now they’re all on their feet as Cole walks toward me.

“I mean…I didn’t mean. Plow ahead. That sounds weird. Asses aren’t fields. Fuck. What I mean is you’ll need to give me the rundown. How does this happen? Am I fucking everyone? Will you take turns? Does Jace fuck Reed while Reed fucks me? There’s just a lot of choreography, and I’m not a skilled dancer…so—”

I’m surrounded. Eyes on me as I drown in so much male energy that I gasp. Oh fuck. I reach for my jacket, feeling like I’m boiling.

“How many more questions do you have on that app thing?” Cole growls.

“A few,” I answer, trying to pull the zipper down some more, but it’s stuck.

Cole slips my phone from my hand.

“Whoa. No. Give it back.”

I try to reach around him as he hands it to Reed, but my arm is effortlessly moved.

“Answer these,” Cole directs, still staring at me. “Do it now because I want to hear her say yes.”