“So, because they were not his life mate, it is all right that he treated them like a commodity?” Gia asked, one eyebrow arched. “That he used them for his own pleasure, got what he could from them, and then tossed them aside like disposable tampons?”
All three men cringed at that analogy and Gia rolled her eyes. “Almost a millennia of experience between the three of you and you still act like mortal preteens when it comes to the mention of feminine hygiene,” she said with disgust. “Honestly. It must be a North American thing. My cousins would not react with disgust to such a comment.”
“No doubt they’ve learned better from their time with you,” Anders said mildly.
Gia considered that and then nodded with a slow grin. “No doubt.”
“Don’t worry,” Decker said now, slapping Justin on the shoulder. “Anders and I will help you out. We’ll advise you on how to woo your Holly.”
Justin gaped at the man with dismay, horrified at the very prospect. Decker and Anders giving him advice on women?
“Don’t be a smartass,” Anders growled. “Even in your head.”
“Yeah,” Decker agreed with a scowl. “We both have life mates; we’ve learned from them what women like. We can help.”
“Dear God,” Justin muttered. He then sank down in a seat and laid his head on the kitchen table with a miserable sigh.
Six
“Foot rubs?” Justin echoed with disbelief.
Decker nodded. “Dani likes it when I rub lotion into her feet while we watch television.” He paused and pursed his lips briefly, and then added, “Mind you, that usually leads to rubbing her calves, and then her thighs and . . . On second thought, perhaps you should stay away from foot rubs,” he decided.
Justin sagged back in his seat with disappointment and the men fell silent briefly.
“The bath,” Anders suddenly said.
Justin raised his head with disbelief. “What?”
“If I know Valerie intends to bathe, I will slip into the bathroom ahead of her to start the water running and set out a clean towel and washcloth for her,” he explained. “It takes but a moment, and she thinks I am the most considerate of men and gives me a grateful kiss.” He paused, suddenly frowning. “Of course, that kiss usually leads to another, and then another and the next thing you know we are both naked in the bath, and—-”
“I think it’s probably better you don’t run a bath for her either,” Decker interrupted.
Anders paused, cleared his throat, and then tugged at the collar of his T--shirt and nodded. “Yes. Stay away from the bath business.”
Justin hung his head in misery. The two men had been “helping” him for several minutes now, each coming up with a suggestion of something thoughtful and considerate that they did for their life mate. Unfortunately, each thoughtful endeavor had invariably led to sex and the suggestion that the action should be avoided rather than used. In other words, they weren’t helping at all.
“You men,” Gia said on a laugh. She shook her head and then said to Decker and Anders, “You are obviously good men and treat your women well, but—-” She turned to Justin. “The simplest thing for you to do is to talk to her. Find out what she likes, what her interests are, and go from there.”
“Gia?”
They all turned to glance toward the door at that uncertain call from the hall.
“In here, piccola,” Gia responded.
“I’m not sure this outfit is quite me. I—-Oh,” Holly interrupted herself as she reached the doorway and noted the occupants of the room. Her gaze slid from Gia to Decker and Anders. She eyed them with a brief curiosity and then her gaze continued on to Justin, and he fancied there was a glimmer of relief in her eyes when they settled on him.
“The outfit is perfect, piccola,” Gia pronounced, moving toward Holly to take her hand and hold it up. “Turn for me.”
Holly flushed, but turned on the spot as instructed.
Once their eyes broke contact, Justin turned his attention to the outfit and now his eyes widened incredulously. Gia had given her another red top to wear, one that hung off one shoulder and reached down to her thighs, barely. It was belted at the waist over black tights.
“That’s not a damned outfit, Gia. It’s half of one at best. Where’s the rest of it?” he asked with dismay. “Where are her pants?”
“Those are the pants,” Gia said with amusement, brushing a bit of lint off Holly’s lower thigh.
“They’re panty hose,” Justin protested.
“They’re tights and are worn as pants in today’s fashion,” she lectured.
“I think they’re cute,” Decker complimented, grinning at Holly.
Justin scowled at him and then insisted, “At least give her one of those hankies you call skirts so she can feel half decently dressed.”
Gia shrugged and waved Holly toward the door. “If you’d rather she wear a skirt than the tights, I guess I can—-”
“With the tights, with the tights,” he growled and thought, Dammit, I need a skirt myself to hide the effects that Holly is having on me.