Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
I could totally see that. Reese and Ty had formed a friendship pretty instantly once Ty and Lane had joined our community a few years ago. They were both batshit and hedonistic but had built their brand of craziness on a foundation of knowledge and safety. They’d created a comfort zone in which they could go wild and bring mayhem to their partners.
“If I believed such a thing, I’d say Shay and I were separated at birth,” Lane said quietly. Then he chuckled a little and shook his head. “I know it sounds bizarre.”
“It doesn’t.” Not to my ears. If soul mates were a concept, why not soul friends and soul brothers?
We didn’t have to understand every bond in order to believe it was real.
“There was something about him that drew me in from the first time we met—down in Florida,” Lane admitted. “I was so focused on Ty at the time that I didn’t think much of it.” He paused. “It was Ty who brought it up. He and Reese started talking about us possibly playing together, which we’ve floated several times in the past. Like, without making actual plans. A down-the-road kind of thing.”
I nodded in understanding. It was, after all, how Kingsley and I had become aware of their dynamic eventually. They’d watched me top Lane and Shay. The scene had been fairly nonsexual—but packed with energy and desire, nonetheless. A heady experience.
“I’d imagine that made you look at Shay with new eyes,” I said.
“Heh. Yeah, you could say that. Then one night, River was tipsy, and he had an idea, he said—and things snowballed from there.”
I grinned.
I wasn’t gonna push for details. It felt like Lane needed to talk, so I was just gonna listen.
The next breath deflated him again, and he scrubbed his hands over his face. “I need him to come home like fucking yesterday.”
I gave his knee a gentle squeeze. “Have you talked to his brothers?”
He nodded. “Almost every day since they got back from San Diego. Ty and I pick them up in the afternoon, and we walk Shay’s dogs together.”
Oh. I didn’t know that. But I was sure TJ and Levi appreciated it.
“If there’s anything you need, please let me know,” I murmured. “If you need help with the dogs, if you want distractions, maybe a movie night…? Whatever.”
He bobbed his head and looked down.
Fuck, I hoped the wait was over soon.
Lucas Carter
To me, it felt like time stood still, but to Greer…? Jesus Christ, they’d truly hit the ground running. New York to LA, LA to Colombia—I didn’t know which city—and then straight out into the rainforest and the hiding spot of a drug cartel. That was where the updates had stopped, and Greer had been gone from Virginia for roughly forty-eight hours. He must be exhausted.
It was a quiet night out on the patio, yet it didn’t feel calm or peaceful. Nobody said much, but I’d guess our blood pressure was up there as if we’d gorged on steak and fries. At a rave.
Tate and Kingsley decided to get rid of some energy by doing laps in the pool. Lane was making sure everyone had written at least once in the notebook. I had probably made six or seven entries. Ty was sitting comfortably on one of the low couches, but his eyes were fixed on Lane. Macklin and Walker sat there too, picking at their late-night snacks.
Macklin truly couldn’t stop cooking food. Thankfully, he’d returned to making things we actually enjoyed. Even if our appetites weren’t the best.
Noa, KC, Lucian, Cam, Nathan, Ash, James, Jordan, Colt, and Kit…they sat scattered about with their screens of preference.
Every now and then, people glanced over at Colt. He’d politely requested a bit of space so he could focus on his laptop, so I had no idea what he was doing over there. He had a table to himself.
Hmpf.
We needed an update.
I checked my watch.
Almost two in the morning.
Colt seemed certain something was happening tonight. It was why nobody had gone to bed. But he’d also warned us it could be hours—if not longer—before we heard anything.
“Daddy?” Kit glanced over at Colt. “Can I get you anything?”
Colt offered a quick smile over his laptop. “I’m good, baby. Thanks.”
Kit was seated at one of the picnic tables with Jordan and Noa, and I could smell their scheme from a mile away. They were trying to get close to Colt. But why? He was reading the same news we were—while waiting for Greer to make contact.
“Offer him a blow job.” Noa couldn’t whisper to save his life.
Two hours later, Tate and Kingsley called it a night, and Macklin and Walker were off shortly after.
At that point, Lucian gave Cam and Noa a half-hour warning, and when Noa protested, Lucian pointed to their cabin.
“We’ll be twenty feet away, chipmunk. If something happens, Colt can wake us up.”