Graduation and Gifts (Untouchable Book 8) by Heather Long (best books to read for beginners TXT) 📕

Archie said. “But Frenchy is also not our problem. Or a problem. Rachel can totally take him for the team.”

I groaned, and she snorted. “Yes, that’s totally why I rode his face—so I could take it for the team.”

“We really don’t need the salacious details,” Archie began. “But if you want to compare tongue technique, tell me, did he pass your test?”

Oh, God. They were both going there.

Jake refilled my glass, then Rachel’s with champagne.

“He excelled,” Rachel said, then glanced at me. “How many times in one session have they made you come?”

“Oh hell no,” I commented. “You two leave me out of this.”

“I think our record is seven right now,” Archie said. “Or is it eight?”

That earned a speculative look from Rachel.

“Still think she missed out?” Archie snarked, and I stared up at the sky.

“Until she tries vag, I’m always going to think she’s missing out,” Rachel countered, and I did snort my champagne this time.

“Anyway,” Ian intruded. “We’re going to talk about the places and things you’ve seen and not the people you’ve done. If you girls want to catch up on that later, that’s fair.”

“Spoilsport,” Rachel teased, then slanted a look at me. “He did ask about you.”

That surprised me, but I smiled. “I hope you told him I was well.”

“I told him you’d stopped denying your boyfriends and the five of you were living in a life of poly hedonism. He was very happy for you.”

I grinned.

“Poly hedonism,” Coop repeated. “I like that. And there, I didn’t think Frenchy was so bad.”

I just rolled my eyes, but Ian nudged him and muttered something about ‘move on,’ and I shot him a grateful look. Teasing was fine, but this was apparently going to be a sore point for some time.

Rachel, bless her, let it go, but I made a mental note to ask her for more later. If she needed to talk about it, she could absolutely tell me.

We spent a couple of hours at lunch and finished a bottle of champagne and then one of wine while we ate. It sounded like Rachel had an amazing adventure so far, but she promised that she had saved the Eiffel Tower for when I got there. She also didn’t mind retracing her steps with me.

I was lightheaded and relaxed by the time we went for a walk along the river. Yes, we needed to head to the hotel, but I wanted to see some things before we did. Ian and I made a beeline for the guitar player.

I was glad I wasn’t the only one who wanted to hear the music. We put some money into his case as he played. The others drifted over to join us, and Ian wrapped his arms around me from behind as we swayed to the music.

After, we wandered down to some of the shops. In the very first one, I found a selection of berets and bought several ’cause I had no idea what Chloe’s size was. I also found a couple of things for Patience and for Kelly, Hank’s wife. There was an apron that Coop popped around with that said something about Paris and the food and we got that for Jeremy.

Just ’cause.

There was also a stuffed black cat that reminded me so much of Tiddles that I couldn’t help cuddling it. I hadn’t been away from my cats this long in forever. A wave of melancholy hit, and while part of me knew it was the wine, I still wished I could hold one of them.

Archie plucked the cat from my arms and handed it to Ian along with our other purchases. I really didn’t need it, but we all went a little crazy, leaving that shop and then the next few with more and more bags.

Rachel laughed at us, particularly after I picked out a rather obnoxious and colorful scarf and found one for her too.

Another thing I noticed, no one seemed at all askance when I kissed Coop or Ian or Archie or Jake one after the other. I’d walk into one store tucked against Ian and leave under Jake’s arm.

“It’s Paris,” Rachel reminded me as we walked a little ahead of the guys. I was still tipsy, but a good tipsy and not quite so lightheaded. “They love love here, and you are surrounded by love. Of course they adore it.”

“I’ve missed you, Rach.”

“Of course you have,” she said. “Because I’m me.”

I laughed. We were in Paris. We were young, and she was right—I was in love.

“Come on,” she told me, clasping my hand and hauling me forward abruptly. “We’re going to get caricatures made of us…”

I didn’t know how she’d spotted them ahead of us, but there were a bunch of artists.

We didn’t get out of there without spending most of the euros we had in our pockets, but not only did I get caricatures of all of us, I found a stunning scene of the river itself painted from just that vantage point.

Some memories got selfies. Some got souvenirs.

This counted for both.

Chapter Twenty-One

French Kissing and Other Things

Frankie

We had a huge suite on one of the upper floors, so we had a long, and private, elevator ride. Our first twenty-four hours here had been a bit of a blur. After our wine and shop hop along the Seine, we retreated to our hotel where we unpacked, settled in, and the guys left me and Rachel in her room to catch up.

I had fallen asleep in there, but I woke up with Coop and Archie, Jake and Ian were heading out to explore while they also went for a run. I’d given it about five minutes of thought and went back to sleep after I gave them perfectly reasonable kisses. The next time I woke up, it was just me and Coop and it was dark outside.

Coop snored lightly next to me, but his hair was damp and his cheeks shaved. The rest of the room was empty, so I dragged myself