This Man Confessed(78)

“Oh?” I lean forward, utterly rapt by this news. “And will he?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know, but I haven’t heard from him since Saturday.”

“I knew he was there.” I’m scowling. “What happened?”

“Sam happened,” she answers quietly. “We’re only going to have sex with each other from now on.” Her face is somewhere between amusement and complete seriousness—amusement because I know my mouth has just fallen open, and seriousness because I know that despite her openmindedness and blasé approach to her relationship with Sam, she really likes him, and that has never happened.

I close my gaping mouth. “I’m happy for you.” I’m ecstatic, in fact. “So why are you here then?”

“There are private suites.” She grins.

“Your bedroom is private!”

“It is, but it’s not”—her grin widens—“furnished suitably.”

My lips clamp shut, my eyes widen…and I laugh. Holy shit, the filthy little minx! I’m really laughing, tears and all. “I can’t believe you.” I snort. “And who have you and Sam invited to play? Before you made this new rule, I mean.”

Her blue eyes dance in delight. “A certain dashing, black-haired moody type.”

“No!”

She nods with wide eyes. “Just as moody in the bedroom. It’s hot!”

“Fuck off!”

“I will not!” She measures out at least eight inches between her palms. “And he’s fucking brilliant with it.”

“Oh God! Stop!” I blurt on a hushed snort.

She falls back in her chair and fights to keep her laughter under control. “He might be good, but he can’t match Sam for stamina and skill.” She sighs on a smile. “And he doesn’t make me laugh like that adorable twat.”

I can’t help the huge smile invading my face. We have a breakthrough, and I’m so happy. “You don’t know how pleased I am to finally hear you say that.”

“Yes, I do,” Kate retorts dryly, leaning across the table. “Let me just tell you one more thing, and then we speak no more of Mr. Moody, okay?”

“Ooh, this sounds interesting.” I mirror her pose, leaning in so our faces are only a few inches away from each other. “Dish.”

“He has a piercing.”

“Nipple?” I ask, far too enthralled, but she shakes her head. I sit up straight and measure roughly eight inches between my palms. She nods. “No!” I look over to the reserved, standoffish Drew, my eyes automatically dropping to his crotch.

“You won’t see it through his jeans, Ava.” Kate chuckles, and I’m off again, too. Uncontrollable, belly clenching, might-pee-my-knickers laughter. Through my tears, I see Kate stick her tongue in her cheek. “I nearly cracked a tooth.”

“Please!” I’m falling all over my chair. I’m helpless.

“Something funny?”

I battle to pull myself together and wipe my eyes, looking up at my Lord of the Sex Manor, who’s staring down at his giggling wife with a bemused look plastered all over his face. “No, nothing.” I bet he knew about this, which was why he persistently told me to mind my own business.

Jesse sits down next to me. “Here’s your dinner.” He signals Pete, who’s wandering over with a tray.

“Ooh, I’m starving.” I get myself comfy in my chair and smile a thanks when my steak is placed in front of me. “Medium?” I ask.

Pete smiles fondly. “Just to your liking, Ava.” He hands me a knife and fork, and then sets Jesse’s plate down. “Can I get you anything else, sir?”

“No, thanks, Pete.”

“I’ll leave you to eat.” Kate makes to stand, but I wave my knife at her.

“It’s fine. Sit down.”

She lowers to the chair again. “Okay, you don’t have to get all violent on me.”

Jesse’s hand is suddenly wrapped around my wrist and pulling it down to the table.

I look at my knife, which is now safely set on the side of my plate. “Sorry.” I start carving my way through my steak and sigh, long and satisfied, as I plunge a piece into my mouth.

“Good?” Jesse asks, and I look at him, finding a pleased beam around his fork.

“As always,” I confirm before returning my attention to Kate. But I quickly realize that our new company is preventing any further questioning. In fact, I can’t think of anything to talk about now. All of the interesting stuff is now off the cards, even more so when Sam and Drew join us.

My chewing slows down, and I watch as Drew sits on one side of Kate, Sam on the other. I’ll never look at them the same again, and damn if my eyes won’t stop wandering into Drew’s lap. A piercing? And a piercing there? I fail to prevent the small chuckle that spurts from my mouth around my mouthful of steak. Kate catches my eyes and sticks her tongue back in her cheek.