“Can we go back to sleep now?” Riv muttered.
“We have to get up in two hours anyway,” I pointed out.
I didn’t wanna be a minute late for Shay.
River blew out a breath. “Yeah. Two fucking hours, Reese.”
Damn. So touchy.
“All right, fine.” I just had to make a wisecrack first. “So, you don’t want to stay up and talk about our feelings?”
He groaned irritably but couldn’t stop a laugh or two from escaping.
I smiled and pressed another kiss to his shoulder.
I felt much better now. Despite some question marks and concerns about the future, it was easier to relax knowing that River was going through the same shit. One way or another, we’d make it work.
Twelve
Shay Acton
“Boy, are you on crack?” River asked.
“No, Sir, I’m just sweating my balls off.” I grabbed my duffel bag and was out of the truck before he’d killed the engine. “May I go into the pool, please?”
This weekend was going to be hotter than hell, and the last several days I’d spent out here had spoiled me rotten. The day I got my own place in DC, I was going to make sure there was a pool.
“Go ahead. We’ll join you in a bit,” Reese replied. “Give me your bag too. You can jump right in.”
Oh, thank fuck. I handed over my bag and smacked a kiss to his lips. “You rock, Daddy-o.”
It was possible I’d told them I had changed into my new Speedo swimwear right after I woke up at Aunt Mel’s this morning.
I took off in a run, hoping Tate was up. I’d done myself a favor and talked to both him and Kit online, and it felt good to have made loose plans to meet up in the city soon. Kit would be here with his Daddies later, and I assumed they’d stay the night since they had their own cabin.
Ivy would be here this afternoon as well.
Someone was in the water. I heard splashing.
As I reached the corner of the house, I pulled my tee over my head and then came to a screeching halt.
Those are new.
Past the pool, down on the big lawn, were two fighting cages. The black bars gleamed in the sun. They were too far away for me to see clearly, but there was something used as flooring. Perhaps foam mats of some sort.
That was gonna get interesting. Reese told me on the way down here that we’d start training together after the weekend.
“Shay! Are you just gonna stand there?”
I dragged my gaze off the cages and spotted Tate in the pool, along with three inflatable pool chairs. Then I jumped up on the deck and jogged across it before hopping down and aiming straight for the sunbed in the corner I’d missed a bizarre amount.
“Hey. You feelin’ better today?” I stripped down to my swimwear and dropped my clothes on the lounger.
“No, pretty much the same,” he chuckled. “Horny and depressed.”
I snorted and walked over to the stairs. He’d complained yesterday about missing Kingsley so much that it felt like he was “going to die.” Especially since there’d been a party here last night. Tate had tried to join in, but he couldn’t bring himself to approach any Doms.
Jesus, the water was perfect. From the third step, I dove in and washed away the city noise.
I fucking loved spending time with my brothers, but for the first time in two years, it felt okay to be selfish. It felt okay to take some time for myself.
When I resurfaced, I pushed back my hair and saw River and Reese trailing toward their cabin. And I was struck with this forceful sense of gratitude and “I can’t believe this is happening to me.” Those two amazing men had chosen me.
“Hey, Tenley Tops!” I swam over to the other side of the pool as they slowed down and looked over at me. “C’mere, I wanna whisper something.”
River tilted his head at me.
Reese lifted a brow. “If you splash water on me, I’ll throw you into one of the shower rooms when the watersport lovers arrive later, and I’ll volunteer your face for target practice.”
I choked on a breath and widened my eyes.
Tate started guffawing.
“I’m trying to be sweet, fucker!” I exclaimed. “Now you ruined it.”
He smirked and left my bag on the porch in front of the cabin, then walked over to me. “A Daddy can’t be too careful.” He squatted down where I was gripping the edge, and it bugged me how just a single look could disarm me. It wasn’t even heat or sadistic pleasure. It was plain humor and warmth swimming in his moss-green eyes, and it was fucking stunning.
I bit my lip and pushed myself up to rest my forearms on the edge. “I just wanted to say you make me happy, okay? That’s all.”
He smiled widely and touched my cheek. “That’s mutual, baby boy. I guess no one gets to piss on your face tonight.”
I spluttered a laugh and shook my head. “Thanks, I guess. In fact, let’s make that a limit.”
He dipped down for a quick kiss before standing up. “Soft or hard limit?”
“Hard!”
He laughed on his way back to the cabin.
Freaking Sadists.
* * *
“I think I should spend the rest of the summer right here.” Here, being the neon pink inflatable pool chair. It had a cupholder! I took a sip of my Coke and pulled up my knee a bit. I wanted to get some sun along my inner thighs too. Plus, it didn’t escape my attention that people tended to look when I parted my legs.
Maybe there was an exhibitionist in me.
I inhaled the very essence of summer with each breath. Freshly cut grass, chlorine, sunscreen, and the barbecue smell from the hot dogs and burgers Daddy was currently preparing on the grill.
Even the music was better today. I’d sweet-talked Daddy into using a playlist I’d sent to
