Hidden Hearts

Chapter 22. First day part II

When Luke came to fetch me in the library Owen and I had been talking quietly about the plan, our heads close together while we whispered to each other.

We agreed that although I had already confirmed my willingness to give it a try to him, my personal relationship with each boy was to be allowed to develop naturally. There was no rush; I was already part of their family, the dating part would come with time for each one, on our own pace.

Luke knocked lightly on the door before opening it up and sticking his head inside. Seeing me, his ever present smile widened. "Cupcake!" he exclaimed happily, as if he hadn't seen me just that morning.

Remembering what else he'd been doing that morning made me blush as I greeted him, my fingers raising to my lip. "Hi, Luke."

"Good morning to you, too, Mr. Taylor." Said Owen, dryly.

Giving Owen a sheepish smile he said "Good morning, Mr. Blackbourne." Coming inside the room he closed the door behind himself before looking between me and Owen curiously. The light blue shirt he'd been wearing that morning wasn't present anymore and now he wore only a white, tight tank top that showed his muscles too well for my poor heart to stand. These boys would be the death of me... "So, Cupcake, how has been your day so far?"

I knew what he was asking, the boys were all very curious about my relationship to Owen, and I thought I started to understand why. Giving Owen a side glance accompanied with a mischievous smile that he instantly became wary of I turned back to Luke and said. "It was very interesting. Class with Sean was very good and my time with Owen was full of interesting facts."

From the corner of my vision I could see Owen starting to squirm on his chair and I hid my devilish smile. Looking even more curious, probably from picking up on my mood, Luke pulled out a chair from the table and sat down right in front of Owen, while saying "Indeed? Well, do tell." His eyes were shining in curiosity and mirth.

I was about to open my mouth when Owen beat me to it. "We spent a great time studying and discussing a few details about the Kota Society." His tone was controlled and formal, his face expressionless as he began to explain the more uninteresting facts cited on the article. Luke's expression was becoming bored as Owen went on so I interrupted... just as Luke was opening the water bottle he'd had on hand and raised it to take a sip. In case anyone is wondering, YES, I did it on purpose.

"The article also spoke about polyandry relationships." The big gulp of water Luke had taken was spewed on Owen's face as he chocked.

I watched in growing amusement as Luke tried to apologize at the same time as he kept coughing from the water that hadn't immediately left his mouth in favor of Owen's face and shirt.

Owen sighed in exasperation and removed his glasses to clean them with a handkerchief. "That's quite alright, Mr. Taylor." Sending me a sideways glare that didn't scare me on the least, he continues "I wouldn't blame a poor guy for being the victim of Miss Sang's mischief."

Once he'd recovered from his coughing fit Luke turned disbelieving eyes to me and asked "He gave you an article about a polyandrous society?"

I nodded with a serious expression on my face. "Oh, yes. He did. And while I sat here quite shocked at what I was reading he sat calmly beside me, focused on his book. Of course, I wasn't surprised by the look of extreme concentration on his face at the time. After all I imagine that reading Arthur Conan Doyle upside down is a very difficult task."

Clearing his throat while blushing a little Owen said. "I don't know what you are talking about, darling."

"You do." I said.