Chapter 62

The open great room was beautiful. The polished hardwood floors were pale, and the furniture was comfortable and casual in shades of cream and turquoise with accents of coral and lime. Sunlight streamed in through the yards and yards of UV-filtering glass. Part of me longed to go out into the warm, semi-tropical sunshine, but I wasn't suicidal. At least in the modern era I could enjoy sunlight through filters, which hadn't been possible even thirty years ago.
The great room was empty, but I heard voices coming from an adjoining space, so I turned the corner and spotted an archway leading to a spacious, gleaming kitchen. Two of the brothers were in here, Christos sitting at a breakfast bar eating while the other - Elek, based on the shoulder-length hair caught in a ponytail at his nape, was cooking something that smelled divine.
Christos stood as I approached the breakfast bar. He must have the hearing of well...a cat. I smiled at the errant thought and in response to the warm, welcoming grin on his face. "Good evening, sunshine. You look even prettier now that you're rested."
How could a girl not be flattered when he spoke in such a fervent tone and his amber eyes radiated sincerity? I decided not to let myself be flustered by their offer from the night before and just enjoy their company. I took his outstretched hand and let him help me up onto the stool beside his. "What's for breakfast? It smells wonderful."
"Elek's a professional chef." Christos fetched me a plate a fork from a cabinet nearby. "Would you like orange juice? It's fresh - Theron picked it up in Key Largo this morning."
"That would be great."
He went to the fridge and pulled out an icy pitcher of juice. It was nice to be waited on for a change, so I sat back and accepted the crystal goblet he handed me.
"What's on the stove is gumbo, but it won't be ready for a few hours." Elek finished adding chopped vegetables to the pot and turned to beam at me. "I made pineapple-pecan waffles for the others. Want some? There's batter left in the fridge."
"Thank you." Watching him work in a tight t-shirt and denim cutoffs was no hardship. I sipped my juice and half-turned to Christos. "So if Elek's a chef and Theron's a pilot, what do you do?"
"Actually, piloting is Theron's hobby, not his career. He's our resident brainiac - he runs the business side of our operations. We own a fitness spa and restaurant in New York. Elek runs the kitchen and I run the gym. I'm a personal trainer."
"But you used to work for Dermott?" I couldn't see him employing a trainer.
Christos' smile was warm and open, his tawny eyes twinkled. "Sort of. Our mom died when we were still cubs. We were living kind of rough on the streets of Athens for a while until I tried to pick Dermott's pocket. He took us in, and we've all done various jobs for him until we figured out what we wanted to do long-term."
"How long have you been friends?" It was a personal question, but hey, they'd offered to have kinky group sex with me. I figured personal was fair game.
"About eighty years." Christos didn't seem bothered by my nosiness at all. "It took thirty or so for him to get that we were all grown up, so if you're asking, we've only played together for the last fifty or thereabouts."
"And do you do that...often?" I was scandalized, but I had to admit, my pussy was clenching at the thought of having all four gorgeous hunks of masculinity at my beck and call.
He shrugged. "Now and again. More often just the three of us, but Dermott has joined us a handful of times. It's fun and nobody ever gets hurt. We always make sure going in that nobody is looking for anything permanent."
I nodded. "So none of you - you and your brothers - ever plan on a permanent relationship?"
"Maybe someday." Elek slid a pair of crisp waffles onto my plate with a practiced hand. The fragrance of pineapple and nutmeg was amazing. "When it happens, if it happens, things might change. Meanwhile, our philosophy is to enjoy each day while it lasts." In a few more swift movements he'd handed me a bowl of fruit compote and another of fresh whipped cream.
"That's not a bad philosophy." I believed that on some level, even though my personal life lately had been pretty much the opposite. I ladled some of the fruit - mango and papaya and pineapple in thick syrup - on top of the waffles and added a dollop of cream. The first bite was so delicious it was almost sexual. Perfectly melded flavors burst on my tongue. When was the last time I'd sat still long enough to really enjoy a meal? It bore thinking about. Later. For the moment, I closed my eyes and just concentrated on the food.
Christos chuckled beside me. "Elek's food has been known to have that effect on women. It gives him an unfair advantage. You'll have to let me give you a massage later, to make up some ground."
"I just had a hot stone massage at the spa yesterday." I'd been so wired up about the auction, however, that I hadn't really relaxed, even then.
Christos winked. "I'll bet mine's better."
The thought of having his hands - broad, tanned and strong - kneading my muscles was awfully appealing. Part of me balked at the idea of being "unfaithful" to Dermott, but having sex once didn't imply a monogamous relationship. Besides, he'd been the one to suggest I get involved with the brothers in the first place. I took another bite of waffle rather than open my mouth and say something I'd regret later.
"Which leaves Theron what, doing her taxes?" Elek was apparently the smart-ass of the group.
"Actually, I was thinking of taking her sailing in a little while." Theron strode into the room from an outside door, in a pair of damp swim trunks, beads of water glistening on his bronze skin.
I almost choked on my waffle. Damn, just when I thought the eye candy couldn't get any better, the third member of the trifecta walked in. It was impossible to say who was the most attractive of the three - kind and muscular Christos, elegant and smart Theron, who was also seriously ripped, if not as bulky as his brothers, or Elek, graceful and artistic.