Yes. Oh, yes. I one hundred percent needed this.
Our coffees are stone cold by the time we gather enough energy to reach for them, and Ethan offers to get us fresh ones while I shower—an offer I readily accept.
He shoves on his grey joggers and a t-shirt then moseys out while I lay there a moment longer, lingering in that happy, fuzzy place between lust and all-consuming love.
I should probably get up too. I roll out of bed and cross the hallway, completely naked, still half-mindless, floating on that yummy post-sex high. I reach for the bathroom door then pause. There’s someone at the other end of the hall.
Juniper. Fuck!
I yank open the door to the bathroom, dive inside, then shove the door shut behind me. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!
“Sorry!” I wail from behind the closed door. Then I wait there, mortified, until I make myself accept she’s clearly turned and fled.
Oh god. I just flashed our host!
I do not enjoy the perfect rainfall shower as I bathe in the natural beams pouring through the slanted skylight above. I do not derive comfort in the blissful heat of the pounding water against my lust-scorched skin. Nor do I take pleasure as I wrap myself in the lusciously thick, forest green towel with its Holly Hill monogram. My god. I don’t revel in it now, but I’m sure I will later, once I’m over my absolute humiliation.
I open the door then peek outside to check the coast is clear before I dart back into our bedroom. I put on all the layers (underwear, leggings, thermal vests, and tops—the lot!) as if the mere motion of adding more than usual will somehowcounteract my being caught wearing nothing at all. Then, I cautiously venture down the hall, back to the living room, to find not two but three fresh coffees. One on the table, on its coaster, alone, and the others cupped in the hands of Ethan and Juniper, who sit side by side on the sofa, chatting and laughing like old friends.
I have no words.
“Hey, beautiful.” Ethan turns as I edge further into the room.
I ignore him, looking directly at Juniper and telling her, again, “I am so sorry!”
Juniper looks right back at me and smiles. “Don’t be,” she says, rather seductively if I am not mistaken. Then: “We were both just saying how fucking gorgeous you are.”
I swallow. Well, holy crap. I was not expecting her to say that!
Juniper now commands the middle seat—my place last night—and she pats the space beside her for me to join them.
Seriously, what is going on?
“Um …” I take up my coffee and sip while I work out what to say, but “Thank you?” is honestly all I can come up with.
They both crack up laughing while I take a seat and a long, long sip. This is weird, right? They’re being weird.
“Oh, come on, Mia,” Ethan says. “Juniper tells me she’s bi too, which means we can all appreciate a beautiful woman.”
Wait. What?
My cheeks burn. Oh my god. He is talking so casually about this! As if a perfect stranger hasn’t just been exposed to his wife’s fully naked body. I mean, Jesus.
I take a breath then put my coffee down. “So you’re um … not horrified by seeing my naked body unsolicited?” I giggle nervously, dropping my gaze.
Juniper doesn’t laugh, though. Instead she tilts my chin so her gaze meets mine.
“Far from it,” she says, and I swear there’s a sparkle of truth in those beautiful blue eyes.
I’m stunned into silence.
“Mia?” Ethan stands and stretches out his hand to me. “Can I talk to you a sec?”
I nod, rising from the sofa as if being tugged by invisible strings. Did Juniper really just call me gorgeous? And did Ethan just say she’s bi?
I follow him out in a daze.
We cross the room, but Ethan pauses at the hallway entrance. He turns to Juniper, who waves us away.
