Page 25 of Light My Fire

Jackson frowns. “Dude, youhavea fireplace.”

“So?”

“So why aren’t you fucking in front of that thing all the time?”

“Because I have an amazing bed upstairs that’s a lot more comfortable than the hardwood floor in front of the fireplace,” Luke says.

Jackson shakes his head. “Okay. But beds are pretty basic.”

Wyatt laughs. “Well, sometimes having a really soft surface is a plus.”

Jackson laughs. “Okay, I hear you. I’m just saying a unique setting can make it more fun.”

“Well, I’m boring, I guess,” Wyatt says. “I think only once in front of a fireplace.”

Jackson looks at me. “How about you?”

“Um, none.”

He gives me a half-grin. “None again. So are you a traditional, vanilla, only-in-bed girl?”

Would that disappoint him? I’m not saying I am, but I’m curious if Jackson needs all those extras to be interested?

“If you need fancy settings, maybe you’re not as into the woman as you think you are,” I say. “Seems like if you’re really into the other person, it doesn’t matter where you are.”

Jackson looks totally surprised. Then he grins. “Maybe, Brooke. Maybe. I would be very into testing that theory.”

“So where is the most exciting place youhavehad sex?” Wyatt asks.

Here we go. I really should just put this out there. Get it over with. Put out any sparks between us before it goes too far, and he ends up disappointed.

I take a breath and focus on the bubbles in front of me instead of any of the men. “I’ve actually never had sex, so I don’t know.”

There are several seconds of quiet. No one even moves.

Then Jackson asks, “Wait, you’ve never had sexanywhere?”

I finally lift my gaze and look directly at him. “No. I’m a virgin.”

Again, several seconds tick by without anyone speaking.

Then Jackson says, “Oh, okay, holy shit. I was not expecting that.”

“Way to go,” Luke mutters. Then he lifts himself out of the tub.

I’m relieved and disappointed equally to find that he’s wearing boxers. He slicks the water off his face and stomps toward the house.

“I, uh…” Jackson blows out a breath. “I’m sorry, Brooke. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” Then he lifts himself up out of the tub too. He grabs one of the towels from the stack they brought out with them, sets it up on the edge of the tub and also retrieves the blanket I dropped just outside the door, draping it over the ledge close enough for me to reach. He gives me a smile. “I’ll get the hot chocolate started.”

I watch him disappear inside.

Then, with another deep breath, I turn to look at Wyatt.

He’s watching me with a look on his face I can’t decipher.

“I’m sorry we… got into all of that,” he says.

“Don’t be,” I rush to assure him. “I wasn’t uncomfortable. It was all just teasing. Good-natured. I know that.”

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