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“If you think about it, Hale exchanged his services for sex,” Van pointed out.
Elisa’s cheeks went hot pink. “I didn’t even think about it that way.”
The elevator stopped at the penthouse floor. “That is not true. I exchanged my services for a few hours in a nice suite. Lucy does not know what I’m planning on doing in this suite.”
“She does. That’s why she told you where the condoms are. Mr. Cole is shockingly open about sex. He wouldn’t mind. If they were here, his wife would probably ask if she could watch,” Van explained helpfully.
His heart fell when he realized she wasn’t getting out of the elevator. He’d thought it was a romantic thing to do, but he hadn’t expected that she would be embarrassed. He’d been in Bliss too long. No one cared. Sex was a part of life, and they all joked about it and talked about it, and if someone needed advice, they discussed it without shame.
She hadn’t been here long at all.
“You’re right. Let’s go down to the restaurant,” he offered. He didn’t want her to associate shame with anything they would do together. Maybe later she would be more comfortable. If she never was, that was okay, too. They could be a very circumspect threesome. Couple. Whatever they would be.
Van was already standing in the elegant foyer, his bag in hand. He looked like a kid who’d had his toys taken away. “But I figured out where Cole keeps the butt plugs and everything.”
“Van,” Hale hissed. He looked over at Elisa, praying she wasn’t offended.
She was silent for a second, and then a laugh came from deep in her chest. She laughed and made her way out of the elevator and threw her arms around Van. “You are a wicked pervert, and I am some kind of witch.”
He hadn’t liked it when that young woman had called her that. He stepped out of the elevator, and it closed behind him. “Chelle was rude.”
Elisa stepped back and moved into Hale’s space. “Sorry about that. For a minute I forgot where I was. I don’t have to be worried that people will judge me harshly here. Well, except for the Chelles of the world, and even then she was more jealous than judgmental. She’d heard about how you plowed your way through the women employees of the lodge and wished she could have been one of the many.”
“There weren’t that many.” The last thing he needed was Elisa to think she was some kind of conquest. She wasn’t a stop in the road. She was the destination.
“It was a lot.” Van seemed intent on playing the happy-go-lucky, good-time guy.
Elisa grinned Van’s way. “You’re going to make him crazy. And you should both know that I don’t care who you slept with before as long as we’re all exclusive while we’re seeing each other. I know Hale feels that way, but you’re…”
“Not interested in seeing anyone else.” Van dropped the goofy grin and moved in close, one hand coming up to smooth back her hair. “I know I can’t give you a long-term commitment, but I’m not going to sleep with anyone else while we’re together. Or have drinks with other women. Unless Marie orders me to. I’m scared of her.”
Elisa’s gaze softened. “I’m glad to hear that. I’m scared of Marie, too, so let’s all do our best to not piss her off. Now let’s see this place Hale sold his soul for.”
“Uhm, it was a couple of hours of maintenance work. The job I just did and one in the future. Apparently the mating ritual thing throws off the third floor water heater,” Hale explained.
She turned his way, leaning in and kissing him briefly. “The Galactic Council thanks you for all you do to keep Earth running.”
Okay, even he knew that was a joke. “Maybe I’ll get a medal. But for now, I’ll take a couple of hours up here. Come on. I’ll show you why it’s special.”
He took her hand and held the key card Lucy had given him in the other. There was a big set of double doors that led into the living area of the massive suite. He swiped the card and the door unlocked.
“This guy doesn’t mind his place being rented out?” Elisa asked as he opened the door.
“It’s not rented out, per se,” he argued. “It’s a perk.”
“Consider Cole Roberts an honorary member of Bliss.” Van walked in behind him. “He lives here part of the year with his wife and husband.”
“Oh, he’s in a threesome,” Elisa said. “But I’ve only heard you guys refer to yourselves as partners. Even when you’re married.”
“Cole and Mason love each other romantically as well,” he explained.
“Ah,” she said as she stopped in the hallway with its marble floors and elegant columns. She caught sight of a picture of what she suspected was the owners of this amazing place. “They look like a lovely family.”
