Kayla's Gift: Powertools, Book 3 Page 2

  “Hell, I’m not sure leaving now would be a great idea.” James scratched his chin. “This could be a blessing in disguise. It’s coming harder than we expected. Driving in this would be unwise.”

  The three men faced her as one.

  So much for a peaceful, naked vacation. “Come inside. You’re welcome to stay.”

  “Are you sure…”

  “Yes.” Kayla grabbed Dave’s hand to tug him toward the house. Neil and James shrugged then followed. She shivered despite her recent additions.

  The guys shucked their boots and jackets as she headed for the kitchen. After working nearly twelve hours straight, they had to be starving in addition to cold. “What would you like for dinner? I’m guessing salted-caramel hot chocolate and Morgan’s day-old spice cookies aren’t going to cut it tonight.”

  The crew had fallen in love with her specialty beverage, spurring her to consider making it a staple at the spa. She’d brewed it for them every day at quitting time. Except today, since they’d tried to beat the storm. Tried and failed.

  “You don’t have to wait on us. I know you were hoping for some down time. Why don’t you relax by the fire, read or do whatever it is you do in the evenings? We can fend for ourselves. Stay out of your hair.” Dave approached behind her, inciting another chill.

  When she trembled, he wrapped her in his heat. His strong arms banded around her, tucking her close to the furnace of his chest. She wished their offensive sweaters didn’t create barriers between them. Long, thorough strokes of his broad palms infused her with warmth and dampened her pussy.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. This isn’t exactly a mansion.” She glanced around the log cabin. Open floor plans didn’t allow for much privacy. A low bar separated the kitchen space from the main living area and a steep, narrow staircase led to her loft bedroom. The laundry room and extended pantry sat on the far side of her bathroom, the only truly walled-off space.

  “We’ll have to figure out the sleeping arrangements. You’re the biggest. You should take my bed.” She grimaced when she realized she couldn’t accommodate them all comfortably. If she were petite, she could bunk on the chaise. At close to six feet, no one would call her dainty. Hell, James was shorter than her by a few inches and Neil only had her by a little bit. “I can fit on one couch, and I think James can manage on the loveseat but Neil—”

  “Neil and James sleep together. They can have the bed.” Dave didn’t make a big deal of his revelation. Neither of his friends seemed to mind the sharing.

  She stepped from the shelter of his hold in time to catch a glance James and Neil exchanged. They smiled at each other with a perfect combination smoky sweetness. How hadn’t she guessed at their relationship before? She supposed the seamless interaction of all the guys had disguised the couple’s intimacy. Could more than lifelong friendship be at play in the crew at large?

  “I’ll be good on the rug by the fire. That thing must be a foot deep. Don’t stress.” Dave grinned. “In fact, why don’t you let me cook for you? This could be fun.”

  “Oh crap, you’d better supervise.” James nudged Neil toward the kitchen. “Last time he said that he made chili so spicy I couldn’t sit for a week.”

  Neil chuckled. He landed a playful smack on his boyfriend’s ass before he joined Dave.

  “Yeah, you weren’t laughing then.” James flung the rebuttal at his lover’s back before asking her, “Are you okay with this?”

  James didn’t look away or fidget.

  “With the three of you crashing my alone time or your love for another man?” She sensed, more than heard, the two guys in the kitchen focused on their discussion.

  “Both, I suppose.”

  “Don’t insult me. You really think I’m some kind of ass cookie?” Kayla smothered James in a bear hug. She may have been taller but his lean, muscled arms embraced her with impressive strength. She rested her cheek on his forehead, encouraging him to snuggle into her chest. “You’re always welcome in my home. If anything, I’m jealous. Your boyfriend is smoking hot.”

  “Better watch out, James.” Neil’s usual teasing floated over the bar. “I think you’re riling Dave. No telling what he’ll put in your food if you don’t take your stare off her breasts.”

  They both laughed as they broke apart, any trace of discomfort banished.

  Plates piled with spaghetti and meat sauce along with a basket of garlic bread perfumed Kayla’s house with savory steam. Her stomach rumbled, blocking out the sound of ice pinging off the windowpane for a moment. Snow drifted higher than her shins on the porch. Steady streams of precipitation streaked past the light post, showing no sign of stopping anytime soon.

  She tugged at the waistband of her jeans when her fingers encountered the denim. Though loose, it still irritated her abdomen. James set one more bundle of wood on the floor of the laundry room before shucking his coat, unwrapping his scarf and peeling off his gloves. She wished she could undress.

  He joined them at the dinner table, stomping his feet to regain circulation. “Shit, it’s colder than a well digger’s left ass cheek out there.”

  “Want me to warm you up?” Neil’s crooked grin inspired a moan to slip from her parted lips.

  “What’s that, Kay?” Dave teased.

  “I said, ‘Let’s eat.’”

  The guys grinned, but didn’t hesitate. They dug into the meal. For several minutes, silence reigned, dotted with the occasional clinks of artistic handmade silverware against heavy earthenware plates, mugs settling on the rustic table and the obnoxious beep of Dave’s cell phone.

  “Shit! I forgot. I had…plans.” He stalked from their gathering, already hauling the device from his pocket. Urgent whispers drifted from the far side of the cabin, where he huddled in the corner, facing away from their gathering.

  Kayla dropped her fork. It clattered off her plate and skidded onto the floor. Did he have a date? Had his kiss been impulsive? Did he regret the brief collision still burning her lips? Was some other woman waiting for him—dressing up and putting on makeup in hopes of luring him into her bed after dinner and a movie?

  Neil reached behind him in the cozy space to withdraw a clean utensil from the drawer on the bar. “Oops, here.”

  When she didn’t accept his offering immediately, James patted her shoulder. “Hey, don’t go there.”

  “Hmm?” She tried not to focus on the wisps of raspy conversation floating into the kitchen.

  “It’s not what you think. That didn’t look good, but I’m sure there’s some other explanation.” James sent her a soft smile. “Dave’s been knotted up over you since the moment we spied you on the porch as we pulled up for our consultation. He hasn’t seen anyone…any women, since then.”

  Kayla swore a blush dusted James’s cheeks. Could he mean…? And why was the idea so appealing to her when she wanted Dave for herself? In a matter of hours things had spiraled out of control. The howling wind couldn’t counteract the heat blazing through her kitchen, igniting insanity.

  “So, what do you two plan to occupy yourself with over the next few days? Sorry to say I don’t even have a TV,” she rambled to avoid eavesdropping on Dave.

  “I think we’re capable of entertaining ourselves.” James winked at Neil.

  “That should be interesting.” Dave ambled to his place at the table, straddled the chair and resumed devouring his dinner. “I don’t mind hearing, seeing…whatever. But Kayla didn’t sign up for the live edition of Skinemax.”

  Her spine steeled. She stretched the neckband of her soft shirt, trying to ease the constriction on her throat. So now he thought her sheltered because she didn’t have a Friday-night hookup to blow off? “How the hell would you know what I’m interested in? Forget voyeurism. Maybe I have guys over for foursomes all the time. Women too. Maybe I’m a freak who enjoys roaming the mountainside in the buff and hooking up with anyone who flips my switch.”

  “Whoa. What the hell just happened?” Dave shot glances to each of his friends as t
hough begging for a lifeline.

  “I think you pissed her off.” Neil attempted to hide his smirk behind his napkin. Too bad no sauce had stained his curved lips. “Moron.”

  “Tell her who called.” James earned a glare for his intervention. He shrugged then blew her a kiss.

  “It was Joe.”

  “Why?” Neil tilted his head. “Did he and Mike run into trouble?”

  “Nah.” Dave adjusted his woven-cedar placemat. “It took longer than they hoped, but they made it home fine.”

  “Man, maybe you’re dumber than I thought.” Neil refused to drop the subject no matter how hard she concentrated on transmitting her thoughts to him.

  Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.

  If they guilted Dave into admitting something she couldn’t erase from her memory, it’d be one hell of a long sentence for them all, confined in such close quarters until the road re-opened.

  “Jesus. You’d think I kicked a puppy. Screw this.” Dave shoved a couple inches from the table. “It was supposed to be a fucking secret, but it’s not like you can spill the beans up here.”

  “About?” Neil and James leaned forward.

  Kayla got the feeling they didn’t often keep each other in the dark.

  “Joe asked me to shop with him tonight. For a ring. An engagement ring.” Dave’s smile nearly blinded her. “He’s planning to pop the question to Morgan next month, on Valentine’s Day.”

  “No shit.” James scrubbed his hands over his face. “Like it wasn’t coming sooner or later. He might as well have asked her to marry him on Halloween. He was playing for keeps even then.”

  “I know.” Dave shrugged. “He’s still nervous for some reason.”

  “There’s not a chance in holy hell she’ll say no.” Neil beamed. “Morgan’s too smart to turn down her destiny. You can feel the electricity between them any time you’re near. And I don’t even mean the times we’ve…”

  “What?” Kayla could have kicked herself for cutting in when their revelations stalled.

  Dave scanned around the table. James and Neil nodded so subtly, she might have missed it if she hadn’t stared at them with wide eyes.

  “It’s no secret we’re great friends.” Dave set his utensils on his plate and gave her his full attention. “The crew is tight. Closer than brothers. We share everything. Including sex. With women we’ve cared for through the years, and—”

  “With each other,” she finished for him. It made perfect sense.

  “Yeah.” Neil confirmed her suspicions.

  Yum-o-licious. She squirmed in her seat. A pulse of arousal dampened her panties. “Nice. How does that work?”

  “Figures.” Dave laughed before reaching over to clasp her hand. She squeezed his fingers. “I debated telling you for weeks, and you’re genuinely curious. No censure, no embarrassment, no disgust.”

  “What a high opinion you have of me.” She rolled her eyes.

  “It’s hard to admit your kinks, no matter how sure you are someone’s cool, that it’s safe. It’s still a giant leap of faith.”

  Kayla sighed as she recalled her own omission. Who was she to give him shit?

  “You’re right.” She drew their joined hands to her lips and kissed his knuckles. “So if Morgan’s aware of the crew’s preferences, why is Joe worried about proposing?”

  “It’s dumb. He’s afraid she might not accept his nature for the long haul. As if it’s one thing to date and fool around, but another to marry someone, to bond with them forever, because their tastes are unconventional.”

  “Bullshit.” Neil shook his head. “They’re already fused. He couldn’t pry them apart if he tried. They’d both shatter.”

  “Duh.” Dave rocked onto the back legs of the pine chair. “I’ve been over this a million times with him. Part of him gets it, the rest is terrified he’ll lose his soul mate. Morgan’s been burned before. I think he’s scared she’ll bolt. Not that I agree.”

  Kayla peeked at him from beneath her lashes. He returned her stare as though waiting for her to weigh in. She barely resisted shoving her sleeves up her forearms. Damn, it’s hot in here. “Sounds like Joe’s freaked out over nothing. Tell me what it’s like between you guys? How do things work now that Kate and Morgan are in the picture?”

  “Why don’t we clean up the kitchen then move this party by the fire so we can be more comfortable while we divulge our convoluted life story?” Neil suggested.

  “We’ll answer all of your questions.” James nodded.

  “Then maybe you can tell me if you’re still interested in investigating the chemistry between us.” Dave’s murmur sent a shiver through her. “I’m dying to taste you again.”

  “You could be our dessert. Who needs TV?” Neil laughed when James smacked his rock-hard abs with the back of his hand. “What?”

  “Behave.”

  “Make me.”

  The two men chased each other around the kitchen island, trading a few stinging spanks with a spatula and a wooden spoon before turning serious about their chores. Suds flew as Dave plunged his arms into the dishwater, scrubbing so fast a bit of the foamy liquid sloshed onto his socks.

  Chapter Three

  The four of them snagged overstuffed husband cushions from the corner of the room and piled them on the area rug in front of the fire. They sank into the comfy cross between beanbags and pillows.

  Kayla sighed, wishing she could feel the texture of the faux fur on her legs and the crinkled silk on her back. She yanked the hem of her sweater.

  “What’d that thing do to you?” Dave winced then smoothed the pucker she’d made in the cornflower blue fabric of her sweater. The caress of his hand on her trim belly made her hips jerk in his direction. If he noticed, he didn’t call her out. “You’re uncomfortable. Go ahead and change. We don’t mind you hanging out in your pajamas. Hell, I’d sign on for dish duty for a week if it’d net me a pair of sweats right now.”

  “That won’t help,” she grumbled.

  “Why not?” James narrowed his sexy blue eyes on her.

  “Because.” She debated explaining, but the truth stuck in her throat. Despite their earlier confessions and their permissive views on sexuality, Dave had been right. Sharing her unusual preferences still frightened her. Too many others hadn’t understood.

  “You’ve been fidgeting with your clothes for hours.” Dave stilled her fingers. They’d plucked at the seams of her jeans, which left skindentations on the sides of her thighs. “Actually, I’ve noticed you do it a bunch. Please tell me you’re not worried about how you look. You’re gorgeous.”

  “Thank you.” She blushed. “No, it’s nothing like that. I might have been self-conscious about my height, my size, when I was a teenager. Not now.”

  “Well, don’t let us cramp your style.” Neil waved at the three men. “We’re fine with whatever you want to wear—holey sweats, ball gown or birthday suit. It doesn’t matter to us.”

  “Be careful what you wish for.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean, baby?” Dave scooted closer, taking her chin in his hand. He angled her face until she couldn’t avoid his sultry eyes, which smoldered in the firelight.

  She couldn’t hide any longer without sacrificing her integrity. Besides, it would even their swap of secrets—seal their bond, sort of like blood brothers but hotter.

  “I detest clothes,” she blurted. “All clothes. I can’t stand them.”

  Dave, James and Neil stared at her. None of them reacted.

  Kayla poured out the truth she’d yearned to share for weeks. “My spa? It’s not just for relaxing in the woods. I’m opening a clothing-optional facility. A place where naturists can come to indulge without worrying about others judging them. Someplace sheltered, beautiful and high-quality for like-minded individuals to enjoy a break from their daily routines.”

  She waited for the crew to laugh.

  They didn’t.

  “That’s a damn bit more interesting than a frou-frou spa.” Dave s
miled. “Sounds like a brochure when you pitch it. I can picture it. It’s a great idea.”

  “With you in charge, it’ll be a huge success.” James rested a hand on her knee, where it tucked near his hip.

  “So are you… What’d you call it?” Neil waggled his eyebrows. “A naturist?”

  “Damn straight.” She folded her arms across her chest.

  “Then what the hell are we doing sitting around in our work clothes?” Dave unbuttoned his fly. “Do you have any idea how stiff and scratchy these are? I’m roasting with this freaking bonfire too.”

  “Wait!” Kayla covered his broad fingers with her smaller ones. Bad move. The bulge of his erection flexed beneath their joined hands. “Don’t.”

  “Why not?” James raised an eyebrow at her.

  “You’re screwing me up. All three of you.” She bounded to her feet, yanking on the roots of her waist-length copper hair. “You suck.”

  “Mmm.” Neil moaned. “James and Dave do a respectable job. It’s not really my thing, though.”

  “Respectable?” James flipped Neil off. “That’s not what you said this morning.”

  “Guys.” Dave shushed their squabbling before it escalated into a wrestling match. “Calm down a minute. What’s wrong, Kay?”

  She flinched when he brushed her hair aside to lay one palm on her shoulder. Her stomach did somersaults, begging her to pivot in his hold and steal another sample of his luscious mouth. How strong would the craving be if they were actually nude?

  Undeniable.

  “I’ve spent a large part of my life trying to explain my beliefs to others. Ignorant people will often confuse nudism with some kind of contagious, immoral hedonism. They assume because you’re naked, you intend to fuck anything that moves—willing or not. As if you’ll lure innocents to the dark side with bare skin. Sure… I’m open about my sexuality. I enjoy intimacy with the right man, woman or a combination thereof, but that doesn’t mean I’m some kind of slut—”

  “Stop right there.” Dave cupped her other shoulder then pressed, gentle but insistent, until she pivoted. “You weren’t really teasing at dinner, were you? Your belief in naturism does not make you some kind of dirty leper, driving you to roam around the mountain naked, fucking anything you encounter. We would never believe such bullshit. How could you imagine we would after what we told you about our relationship?”