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CHLOE

C ooking.

That was what the girls told me to do. Plan a dinner where we all have to cook. It was some sort of bonding exercise. But Jessie had suggested it, and I trusted her. She even volunteered her kitchen for us to use. She would be having dinner with the Kingstons at their place, so I had the house to myself.

I gathered supplies from the dining hall and Jessie’s kitchen to make chicken primavera. Jessie’s idea. I’d never actually made it myself, but I guess that was supposed to be the point. All of us cooking together and coming up with something.

While I waited for the guys to arrive, I settled on the couch. Twenty minutes later, the heavy pounding on the door drew my focus from the latest romance novel I had Lacey pick up for me. When I told Holly and Lacey all the details, Lacey said I needed to read a few books for research. She picked out a few with three, five, and even ten guys with their girl. I didn’t think the ten-guy one was going to be any help, so I started with the three. At least if things got serious, I’d be prepared.

I was immediately hit by the warm spring air when I opened the door to find Matt, Kyle, and Hunter. Stepping to the side, I let them enter, each one giving me a quick kiss. “Make yourselves at home. We don’t have to start dinner right away,” I said as I made my way to the living room. “How was everyone’s day today?” I nestled on the cushion I’d just abandoned. My book was safely stashed in the side table.

“Good,” all three said at the same time.

“Well that tells me everything,” I laughed. “Does anyone actually want to share what they did?”

Kyle was the first to jump in. I knew I could count on him to be the first to offer a snapshot of his day. “Sapphire and I went around the event course with Liam and Grace. We found a few spots that needed to be cleaned from the storm last month. We marked what needed to be refreshed. I think after the wedding we’re all going to go out and paint and repair a lot of the jumps.”

“That sounds like fun.” I smiled. Over the past few days, I noticed Kyle almost instinctively knew what I needed. He may be a little shy, but he was extremely sensitive and giving compared to the other two.

“We had a few deliveries today, so I was reorganizing the hayloft and unloading.” Matt shrugged.

“When’s the next time you get to go out and see the herd?”

“Next week. You still coming with me?”

“Absolutely. I can’t wait.” I smiled but noticed Hunter grimace from where he sat in the armchair. “What’s wrong, Hunter?”

“I don’t want you getting hurt out there. You never know what to expect with those longhorns.” Hunter rubbed his neck.

“She’ll be fine. We aren’t herding them down. Just checking on a few things. We’ll probably bring a few things for whichever team is camping out. She’s a good rider. She can handle it.”

I sat a little straighter under Matt’s praise while also noticing the underlying sense of annoyance behind his words. I had a feeling it was that he took what Hunter said as an affront to him, implying he couldn’t keep me safe.

“What did you end up doing today, Hunter?” I asked. He was the only one who hadn’t answered yet.

“I trained with Blake and helped Gavin redo the tack room. We needed more room for some of the training equipment for the foals.”

“Oh, right. I heard about that. The first foal is over a year now, and they were going to start with some groundwork.” Matt scratched his chin. “I’d like to see that when it happens.”

“Me too.” Hunter nodded.

“Me three,” I added.

“So what are the plans for tonight, Greene?”

“Cooking dinner. I thought we could all pitch in and get our hands dirty.” I looked around at each of them. “Shall we start?” I slowly untangled myself from the couch and made my way to the kitchen. I heard the guys get up, but I hadn’t expected them to be so close when I turned around.

“Umm, first, let me grab all the ingredients.” I started for the fridge.

“What are we making?” Kyle asked.

“A chicken primavera.”

“You know how to make that?” With my head in the fridge, I couldn’t tell if Hunter was surprised or questioning me.

“Not exactly, but I thought we’d give it a try.” I took out the vegetables and handed them off to the guys.

“Okay, tell us what to do.” Matt leaned against the island and held his hand out for the next container.

I assessed the ingredients. “Someone will need to cook the chicken, someone needs to chop the veggies. Pasta needs to be cooked, and the sauce needs to be made. So there is a task for everyone.” I went into the cupboard and retrieved a box of bowtie pasta.

Hunter unwrapped the chicken from the packaging. “I’ll handle the chicken. Where are the seasonings?”

I pointed to the cupboard behind him and handed him a knife. He set to work, cleaning the chicken breasts and sprinkling them with seasoning. Matt grabbed the veggies and removed a knife from the block. “The recipe said to have the veggies julienne and sautéed until a little tender. Once everything is done, it all goes together and cooks for a few more minutes.”

“Cutting board?” Matt glimpsed around the kitchen.

“I think they’re next to the stove.” Matt opened the cabinet and grabbed a large wooden cutting board.

“I honestly have no clue what to do in the kitchen.” Kyle shrugged, the corner of his mouth lifting in a half smile.

“You take the pasta. The pots are hanging beside the fridge. Grab a medium one, fill it about halfway with water, and set it on the stove. Turn the burner on high, and when the water boils, we can add the pasta. Good?” I kissed him on the cheek.

“Got it.” His face pinkened, but he nodded and headed for the pots.

I followed behind him to grab a saucepan and shivered when our bodies touched. Instinctively, I leaned into him and wanted to swoon when he lightly kissed the top of my head.

It was important we all participated, regardless of our skill level in the kitchen, and I didn’t want him to feel like he wasn’t a part of this. I made a mental note to ask him to help me with the sauce, so he didn’t have to sit around watching the water boil.

“Dude, you’re cutting the vegetables all wrong. Do you even know what julienne means?”

I turned to see Hunter peering over Matt’s shoulder.

“Do you?” Matt set the knife down as I inspected the cut vegetables.

“No, I’m just fucking with you.” Hunter smirked. “I have no idea what a julienned vegetable looks like.”

Matt gave him the middle finger, and I noticed he had a smile on his face when he turned around.

Kyle shook his head, but he was smiling too.

Their ridiculous banter was just what we needed to ease the tension. I could’ve kissed Hunter for doing what he does best—bringing levity to the night.

“You think you can snap those beans for me, Kyle?” Matt asked.

“What do you mean by snap?”

My poor guy. He really didn’t know much about cooking. Maybe he and I needed to have some private lessons. Just thinking about being alone with Kyle had my nipples hardening and thoughts going to places they shouldn’t right now.

Hunter picked up a bean and snapped off the ends before tossing it into the bowl Matt had put aside for the veggies. Kyle nodded and worked through the pile Hunter placed in front of him. I loved the quiet intensity he brought to the task.

“Chicken’s almost done,” Hunter announced. Matt took a plate from the cabinet and set it beside the stove for Hunter to pile on the meat. It was cute seeing them working together without even realizing it.

“Will you toss me the garlic?” Matt asked Kyle as Hunter oiled the pan for Matt to start the veggies. Kyle tossed the seasoning to Matt and then checked through the spices.

“Isn’t this an Italian dish? Do you want the Italian seasoning too?” Kyle shook the spice shaker at Matt, then tossed it to him when he was ready.

“Water is boiling.” Matt jerked his chin to the pot on the burner. I smiled as Matt slid out of the way and made room for Kyle to empty the box of noodles in the water. Hunter glanced over Matt’s shoulder, then turned and placed a pot warmer on the counter. Matt lifted his pan off the stove and set it on the warmer. “Thanks.”

“Kyle, help me with the sauce?” I asked, placing a saucepan on the newly vacated burner.

“Sure.”

“Will you grab the heavy cream and the broth from the counter? And the cheese that’s in the fridge?”

Adding in the ingredients one by one, Kyle stirred for me, and I pressed the garlic and chopped up a few herbs. “Keep stirring. I’ll be right back.”

I practically danced from foot to foot, needing to run to the bathroom but terrified of what might happen while I was gone. I worried my lip between my teeth and decided to let things happen as they were supposed to. I knew deep down I wanted all three of them, but it was up to them to see the same.

It took everything in me not to run down the hall, but I heard the guys casually talking and took a second to calm my racing heart. I stopped before turning the corner and leaned lightly against the wall to take a deep breath. From here, I could see the kitchen reflected in the double stove doors. The three of them seemed to be working around each other with ease.

Kyle glanced at his watch and went to the pot of boiling pasta. Using the ladle, he scooped out a noodle and blew on it, then pinched it between his finger and cocked his wrist like he was going to throw it.

“What are you doing?” Matt grabbed his arm.

“Seeing if the pasta’s done,” Kyle responded. I loved how his brow furrowed and he looked at Matt like he was the weird one. I wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation while panic rushed through me.

“That only works with spaghetti, not bowtie,” Matt responded in a gruff tone.

“Oh.” Kyle’s cheeks took on a pink hue, and he glanced nervously away from Matt. His sadness cut at my heart. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea. Kyle had enough doubts. I didn’t want him to feel like he wasn’t an essential part of this relationship.

“Just pop it in your mouth and chew. If it still seems too hard, then let it go longer.”

Kyle tossed the piece into his mouth, his expression thoughtful.

Hunter spooned out a bowtie and chucked it in the air only to catch it in his mouth. “I think it’s about done. Go grab the strainer.” He pointed to where it was hanging with the rest of the pot and pans.

“Can I volunteer never to cook again?” Kyle ran his hand down his face.

“Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it if we cook like this more.” Matt patted him on the shoulder, and my heart soared.

Matt was the biggest holdout, and the fact that he mentioned doing this again had to mean he was willing to give it a shot. My heart pounded in my chest, and hope seemed to sear through my veins. Maybe we could make this work.

I stepped into the kitchen as Matt dumped the ingredients into a dish, Hunter mixed it together, and Kyle rummaged through the drawers and produced a handful of silverware.

“Where are we eating?” Kyle asked when he saw me standing by the wall, watching Hunter and Matt. I pointed across the hallway to the dining room. Kyle gave me a shy smile and set the table.

“Go sit down, kitten. We’ll finish everything here.”

“Are you sure?” It didn’t matter that I was only going to the next room. It made me nervous to leave them alone.

“Go,” Hunter replied as Matt said, “Shoo.”

“If you’re sure.” I playfully shrieked as Hunter pretended to swat at me with the mixing spoon, and I hurried into the dining room. I sat down as Kyle appeared with plates and four glasses of water, setting them at their spots at the table. Luckily, the table was small and sat six max, so the four of us would fit just fine. And I loved that it forced us to be cozy and share space.

“Hey.” I motioned for Kyle to come to me after setting the places. “You don’t have to cook if you don’t want to. I don’t ever want you to feel uncomfortable. I just wanted us to do something together. It doesn’t have to be cooking.”

“It was a good idea. I’m just not hands-on in the kitchen. I’ll set the table and do the dishes any day of the week. I don’t have to overthink or have a chance of messing up.”

I grabbed his face between my hands to bring him closer. “Doing the cleanup is one thing no one wants to do. If you want to do that over cooking, you never have to cook.” I kissed him lightly on his pouty lips.

“Really?” His willingness to participate in something that made him feel out of his depth only endeared him to me more.

“Yeah. I’m not the best in the kitchen either, but I’d much rather cook than clean up. So we balance each other out.” We were so close, our noses brushed together. Heat slithered down my spine at the innocent touch. When he leaned back to place a kiss on the tip of my nose, I couldn’t stop the grin that stretched across my face.

“I can live with that. I want you to sit here and relax. We’ll have dinner served up in no time.”

I wanted to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Tonight was even more than I could’ve imagined. The seat I’d chosen was in perfect alignment to see what the guys were up to in the kitchen.

I propped my chin on my fists as I watched them work so seamlessly together. Each one found ways to help. Matt and Hunter threw a salad together, and Kyle found a serving dish and arranged the food on it. They grabbed the rest of what we needed and placed it on the table as they took a seat.

I held my breath, waiting to see if there was any fighting about who sat where, and when nothing crazy happened, I slowly exhaled.

The guys passed the dish around, placing a generous serving on their plates until it got to me. Hunter grinned and pushed the plate to the other end of the table.

“Hey, what about me?”

“You’re serving is right here, kitten,” Hunter said, offering me the first bite off his plate. I bit my lip. I could easily go along with this. I opened my mouth, making sure to keep eye contact with Hunter as I let the flavors burst in my mouth. The creamy dish was delicious, and I couldn’t help the satisfied moan that left my throat.

Matt swallowed hard. I held back my smile as he fed me the next forkful. I slowly licked the sauce from my lips and watched as each of their eyes widened. This was fun. Now I knew why the girls had insisted on cooking. There was something very sensual about it.

“I think we need a smaller table,” Kyle said from the farthest spot. He wasn’t close enough to feed me, and I didn’t like that. He needed to be included. If they were going to feed me, then they all would; no one would be left out.

I pushed my chair back and got up. Scooting around the table, I grabbed Kyle’s plate from him and moved it to my spot, then gestured to the chair for Kyle to change seats. He walked over and sank into my vacant seat, eyeing me suspiciously.

When he was situated, I lowered onto his lap. Kyle reached forward and prepared another bite. For the rest of dinner, I sat on Kyle’s lap while the three of them took turns feeding me. I could totally get used to this.

We chatted about a variety of things, enjoying the easy conversation between bites. I ended up with Hunter and Matt volunteering to join me in town the next day. It wasn’t like I needed their help, but it was nice they were working together. Eventually, the conversation slipped away when Hunter kissed me after I accepted his offering. I could taste the delicious, creamy sauce on his lips.

I felt Kyle’s cock stiffening beneath me as every bite was paired with a kiss. If Kyle was turned on by this, I had to wonder if Matt and Hunter were just as affected. Kyle’s hand drifted to my thigh, his fingers brushing along the sensitive skin of my inner leg. My panties grew more damp the longer I stayed in Kyle’s lap. His cock pulsed against my ass every so often, making me painfully aware how turned on we both were.

“Be patient, kitten,” Hunter said when I threaded my fingers through his hair to kiss him deeper. “We’re going to take this slow.”

“Not until we know where this is going. We don’t need to rush anything.” Kyle kissed the side of my neck.

“Are you ready for dessert?” Matt smiled as he rose from his chair, clearing the plates in front of us.

I had a Chantilly cake in the fridge for dessert. Alex picked it up for me on her way home from work. Hunter retrieved it, and I switched laps. This time I settled on Matt’s. It wasn’t until my third bite that things spiced up. Matt smeared the whipped frosting on my neck, then followed his finger with his tongue. Goosebumps sprouted along my skin as they each took turns licking frosting off me. I was extremely thankful I’d decided to wear a low-cut shirt this evening.

By the end, I was so wound up I wanted to take Matt right here in the dining room. His erection was pressed firmly against my thighs, but I couldn’t do anything about it. They’d decided we wouldn’t take it any farther until we agreed, but it was hard to ignore the aching in my core.

As we said our goodbyes, each one gave me a thorough kiss that left me wanting more. I could feel the reluctance to leave in each of them. I didn’t want them to go either, but tonight had turned out better than I’d expected. It surprised me how well they worked together, both in cooking and in their foreplay. I hoped it wouldn’t be much longer before we took things to the next step.

As I got into the shower, I heard my phone ping. I padded to the sink and peeked at the screen.

Hunter: What room are you staying in?

Chloe: Why? Are you going to throw pebbles at my window?

Hunter: Would you open it for me if I did?

Chloe: I guess we’ll have to see. Corner one around the back of the house. Give me ten minutes.

I quickly showered and heard the tink, tink, tink of pebbles hitting the glass as I pulled my nightie over my head. My smile reached from ear to ear as I walked to the window and unlocked it. It was good no one else was in the house at the time, or everyone would have known what was going on when Hunter caught his foot on the windowsill and crashed into the room. I didn’t even try to hold back my laughter, but I kissed every one of his bruises to make up for it.

“I missed you,” Hunter said as he kissed his way across my shoulder.

“It hasn’t even been an hour.” I let out a sigh when he wrapped me in his arms and rubbed his nose along the shell of my ear.

“I know, but I want to hold you tonight. It’s been so long, and I need to feel you against me.”

My heart gave a little pitter-patter. This time, I didn’t have to dream about Hunter all night. I’d fall asleep in his very real arms.