Chapter 9
Mioko
“This place is amazing,” I breathed, turning in a circle to take in the gorgeous crown molding in the bedroom. “The light, the proportions... it’s perfect! Are you renting it?”
“No,” Eli snapped, eyes still on Luke. Or more specifically, on Luke’s lips. That was a good sign. As soon as I was sure they weren’t going to start yelling again, I’d just slip out and let them do filthy things to each other.
I stepped closer, trailing a hand over the windowsill. “I thought that was why I was here? For the rental?”
He cleared his throat. “Sorry, I meant to say… not this bedroom. I’m planning to use the bedroom and living room. But there’s another bedroom, and an office, both connected, with its own bathroom and an exterior door.”
He led me back into the living room, and I followed him through the apartment, running my fingers along the clean countertops as Luke discussed renovating the kitchen and sanding the floorboards.
The space was beautiful—high ceilings, large windows flooding the rooms with afternoon light, and a small fireplace in the corner.
Eli led me to the office, which was a good size, with windows facing the serene forest. He assured me that he could lock the rooms off from the main apartment, allowing me to rent one or both of the spare rooms.
It was tempting, but I didn’t need an apartment, did I?
“So, what do you think?” Eli asked as he led me out to the kitchen, leaning against the counter.
“It’s incredible,” I admitted, turning back to face them. “Much nicer than I expected based on Henry’s description.”
Luke and Eli exchanged a glance that sent warning signals through my body.
They were behaving like they used to, communicating without words, and I wasn’t sure why.
There was something predatory in the way they moved in tandem, the way Luke subtly shifted so he was leaning against a column, boxing me in.
“Luke and I have been discussing what happened on the sleigh ride. How we both ended up there, and you were nowhere in sight.”
“Oh! I’m so sorry about that! Lori called last minute, and I had to go help her. Did you get my texts?”
“Not until after the sleigh ride.” Luke smirked. “And what about the fact that someone sent me to deliver a box of candies addressed to an imaginary guest at the Honeyfern Inn?”
“Or the sudden appearance of a new event on the Honeyfern Inn’s schedule?”
“And don’t forget that Eli was pretty upset when I didn’t meet him at the coffee shop like I’d promised. Via email,” Luke added. “It’s odd, I don’t even remember sending an email.”
I’d been found out. “All coincidences, I’m sure.”
“Were they?” Eli moved closer, his intense blue eyes on me. “Because I think someone has been scheming behind our backs.”
I backed up, bumping into the kitchen counter. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Liar,” Luke interrupted, the word carrying no heat, just amused certainty. “You’ve been trying to push us together since I got back.”
“Not… since you got back,” I hedged.
“Holy shit!” Luke said. “You’re the one who convinced Lori to call me.”
The jig was up. I straightened my spine and decided to own it. “Fine. Yes, I set you up. But only because you’re the most frustratingly stubborn men I’ve ever met! Six years of silence? It’s ridiculous.”
“You don’t know what happened between us,” Luke said.
“Why not? Someone had to, or you’d go another ten years without talking.”
“So you appointed yourself our personal mediator?” Eli raised an eyebrow, and I realized he didn’t look angry. There was something else in his expression. “Why such an intense personal investment in our friendship?”
I crossed my arms, feeling defensive. “You guys made me believe in love, okay? You showed me that I didn’t need my psycho parents to be happy. That family didn’t need to be blood. And then you went and threw it all away!”
Eli perched on the sofa’s arm. “It’s not that simple, Mioko.”
“It is that simple! You two are family, whether you like it or not, and ignoring each other like idiots doesn’t change that. You both look at each other, like you’re starving for something only the other can give.”
A heavy silence fell over the room. Luke and Eli exchanged another loaded glance, having an entire conversation without words.
“Well, this is a lot,” I said, trying to break the tension. “But it seems like you two have things to discuss, so I’ll just...”
I edged toward the door, hoping to exit gracefully and leave them to their long-overdue reconciliation. My hand closed around the doorknob, but it wouldn’t turn. I jiggled it, then pulled harder.
“It’s locked,” I said, turning back to them with narrowed eyes. “Why? Where is the key.”
Luke pushed away from the wall, a slow smile spreading across his face that made my pulse quicken. “Oops. Must have dropped it outside.”
“Very funny. Unlock it.”
“We don’t have the key,” Eli said.
“How could you lock it without the…” I blinked. Henry had led me up the steps and showed me into the house. “Your grandfather locked us in? That’s crazy.”
“He means well,” Eli shrugged, moving closer. “Remember, he helped you with your scheming, too. You’re right, we do have things to discuss. All three of us.”
“All three of us?” I repeated, my voice embarrassingly high-pitched. “But I’m not part of Luke and Eli.”
Luke’s smile turned predatory as he closed the distance between us, his movements deliberate and graceful. “I don’t know. We always wanted to try a threesome. We just hadn’t found the right girl.”
“Luke and Eli and Mioko. It works,” Eli said, nodding.
I gasped, heat flooding my face as my body traitorously responded to the idea of being pinned between these gorgeous men. “Excuse me? I’m not—I don’t—”
“You don’t what?” Luke pressed, close enough to smell his woodsy, rich scent.
“I’m not trying a threesome with you two!” I sputtered. “I’m the matchmaker, not the... the...”
“The match?” Eli asked. “Even if it means helping Luke and I finally fuck each other?”
My entire body flushed hot at his crude words, filthy, sensual images flooding my mind. Luke and Eli tangled together, their powerful bodies sliding against each other, hands and mouths exploring every inch of each other before turning to me.
“I’m not that kind of girl,” I said.
Eli laughed, his eyes scanning my body. But then he turned away. “Fine. If you’re not interested, we won’t push. Henry left us a basket of food, so we may as well eat while we wait for him to set us free.”
“Hopefully he hasn’t decided to go to bed,” Luke added. “Might be stuck here until morning.”
He casually walked to the kitchen and started digging through a picnic basket, while Eli watched, eyes on Luke’s ass. And now I was picturing them fucking. I crossed my legs, hoping my fantasy wasn’t painted all over my face.
Luke laid out the contents of the basket at the center of the antique table, pulling out mineral water in glass bottles, a stack of sandwiches wrapped in paper, two bottles of wine, a tray of cheese and crackers, a bowl of fruit, and a box of Henry’s pastries.
Eli opened the pastry box and showed it to me. “Come on. Eat with us, and I’ll text Henry and demand that he set us free.”
“Fine,” I huffed, taking a seat at the table opposite the men. Eli set out paper plates and cups from the basket, offering me water as he arranged the food with an artful ease that told me he was a very good innkeeper.
Luke unwrapped a sandwich and took a big bite. “Fuck, this is good.”
I took a pastry and broke off a corner, and crap. He was right. If I was going to be locked in an apartment with two obnoxious men, at least I had Henry’s cooking.
“How about a game of truth or dare while we eat?” Luke asked.
I narrowed my eyes, suspicious of this sudden shift. “Truth or dare? What are we, twelve?”
Luke nodded solemnly as he chewed, though his eyes sparkled with mischief. “Exactly. It’s a children’s game. Safe, innocent fun between friends designed to resolve our questions. Unless you’re scared?”
“I’m not scared,” I said automatically, then regretted it when both men grinned like they’d won something.
“Great,” Eli said. “Ladies first.”
“Okay. Fine. But only because I need to make sure you two don’t fuck up your friendship again.”
“That’s the spirit,” Luke said, laughing.
“I pick Luke. Truth or dare?”
Eli laughed. “Luke always picks dare. If you want truth, you’re gonna have to ask me.”
“Dare,” Luke confirmed.
“Kiss Eli.”
They looked at each other, years of history passing between them in a single heated glance. Then Luke stood, and Eli followed, stepping closer. Luke didn’t initiate the kiss, just leaned in, like he was waiting for something, asking for permission.
And Eli took control, cupping Luke’s face in his large hands with surprising gentleness. Luke’s eyes fluttered closed as Eli leaned in, brushing their lips together softly at first, almost questioning. Eli made a low sound in his throat—half growl, half moan—and tugged Luke towards him.
Eli didn’t just deepen the kiss. He took it over, hands sliding around Luke’s throat, holding Luke where he needed him as he devoured his mouth. It was brutal and tender—the kind of kiss that didn’t allow for anything except the filthy slide of tongue and teeth.
Luke melted for him, just fucking surrendered, arms gripping Eli’s shoulders as if he might float away otherwise. The sound he made was pure need. I felt it everywhere, the shockwave of their hunger, hot and electric, pulsing in my chest and lower, a growing heat between my legs.
I couldn’t look away. They were beautiful together—Luke’s lean frame against Eli’s broader build, light hair contrasting with dark, their movements both aggressive and tender. The kiss was raw, desperate, years of longing compressed into a moment of connection.
When they broke apart, both panting slightly, their eyes remained locked on each other, as if seeing something new and precious for the first time.
“Mm, I like this game if it gets me kisses. My turn,” Luke said as he sat back down.