Page 61 of Touch Me Not: Anniversary Edition

Wow. Lily hadn’t expected that. Or that he’d be so Zen about it either. “That’s cool your family supports his choice.”

“I didn’t say that,” he said, a wry smile decorating his face. “My brothers and I are close, and while all of us may not agree with his choices, we do support him. My parents and my grandparents, though? They were all raised Catholic, and if they knew about Conner’s choice of partners, they wouldn’t be so happy.”

“I know you said you supported him, but how do you feel about it?” She was curious. He’d sounded so outraged when she’d accused him of being bisexual.

“He’s my brother,” he said after a minute. “I want him to be happy, and it doesn’t matter to me who he’s with, as long as he’s happy. Right now, he’s in a relationship with a girl, but who knows? A couple months from now, he might be banging some dude. What do I care as long as my brother is happy?”

Here was another facet to the manwhore she never suspected might exist buried under that fuck-you attitude. He just kept surprising her.

The smile that broke across Lily’s face made him stop breathing. Her entire face lit up like an angel shining her grace upon him.

“So, back to Joe,” she said, her smile still in place. “Where did you two meet? Here at the restaurant?”

“No, I met him at Bastian’s,” he continued. “It’s a sex club.”

She didn’t look shocked at that, which irritated him.

“Joe saw I needed control in sexual situations, but back then, I wasn’t so good at it. I fumbled a lot. Joe took me under his wing and taught me how to have that control and still make sure the woman came out as satisfied as I was.”

“So, what he and you…” She trailed off and wiggled her eyebrows at him.

“No!” he hissed. “I’m not into men. I already told you that. They don’t do a thing for me.”

“Then what did he do, exactly?”

“He and I shared women,” Nikoli told her. “He showed me how to control the situation, how to be the person I am in the bedroom today. He showed me how to be dominant and gain submission. Some of the things we’ve seen at Bastian’s…” He shook his head, disgusted. “Neither Joe nor I are into pain. I mean, some people are, and that’s fine if that is what they need, but I would never willingly hurt a woman. It gives me no pleasure. It’s why Joe decided to help me. He saw I was struggling with how to be dominant without hurting someone. We’ve been friends since that first night, but we’ve been like brothers for a long time.”

“Ah, here is my beautiful girl,” Joe’s voice interrupted them. “Now, tell me, what has Nikoli done to cause my girl to cry?”

Lily looked up to see the concern and the anger in Joe’s face. She wondered what was going through his head. He seemed so upset she’d been crying. She and Nikoli had been in together several times over the last few weeks, and Joe had taken to calling her his girl. It always rankled Nikoli, and now she was beginning to see why. They’d shared women before. What did that say about his feelings for her? Did he even have any?

“Nikoli didn’t do anything,” she said. “I was upset about something, and he made it better.”

“A soul as beautiful as yours should never have cause to cry,” Joe told her, smiling. A low growl emanated from Nikoli, which he ignored. “Anyone who would hurt you will answer to me.”

“That’s my job, Joe.” Nikoli’s voice came out low, hard, and cold.

“And did whoever did this answer for it?” Joe turned his attention to Nikoli.

“Yes.”

That one simple word satisfied Joe, and his smile returned. “Bueno. Now, I have a special today, something that isn’t on the menu normally. Would you like to try it?”

“What is it?” Nikoli asked suspiciously, and Joe to burst out laughing.

“The last time I convinced him to try something, it burnt his mouth so badly, he drank three gallons of water,” Joe explained when he saw Lily staring at them curiously. “He doesn’t trust me now.”

“So, what are you wanting us to try?” she asked, smiling at Nikoli’s disgruntled expression.

“Es estofado de carne.”

“Beef stew?” she asked.

“Well, it’s more complicated than a simple beef stew.” Joe winked. “Think beef stew, but Cuban style.”

“Bring it on.” She laughed. “I’m willing to try it.”

“Excelente.” Joe grinned. “I’ll bring you both a bowl of it.”

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