“A house cat?” I ask.
“Yeah, they do what they want and don’t come when called.”
I’m floating next to him on his right side. The spot where he was shot isn’t as red as it was before, but it’s puckered and shiny. I touch his elbow below the spot. “How is it?”
He paddles around me, turning his left side to me. I don’t think he even knows he’s doing it. Hiding a wound that can’t be hidden.
“Stiff. But fine.”
“You’ve got some mud in your hair still, right there.” I brush over his ear, and he cocks his head, letting me wash it away. “Stiff?”
“Always, when you’re around.” A wiry smile slips onto his lips.
“You’re sounding more and more like Dante. Want me to scrub your scalp?”
“Yes, please.” Easton lies back, and I try and figure out how I’m going to do what I offered without drowning.
But I manage. Dirt loosens and drifts away in the waves. He’s making noises like a German Shepherd being petted. Little grunts and groans. He closes his eyes, and for a moment, I think he might have fallen asleep. I lean over him and gently kiss his forehead.
Easton grabs my shoulders and twists me around into his arms, and I wrap my legs around his waist.
“Is this okay?” I lean back and use my arms to help keep us afloat.
“More than okay.” Easton’s naked, and I can feel his cock pushing against my shorts.
“I think I got it all out.”
“You, sure? You could check for more.” He tilts his head to me, and I laugh.
“I’m sure. We should get out. You must be hungry.”
“I’m hungry, all right.”
“You really are turning into Dante.” I rest my hand on his chest. “I’ve eaten already, but I’m hungry again.” And now I’m not sure if I’m talking about Dante’s meal or what I did with him by the clump of flowers standing on the rock. I’ve done a lot of crazy things since being on this island, but that was one of the most... When the orgasm took me, it was like I was the bird flying out into the sky.
“It’s getting late.” Calvin’s snuck up behind us. His fingers skate down my shoulder and back. His lips pause on my shoulder blade.
The three of us float for a while. Their hands roam over my skin. Until Easton tosses me on his back and takes off, swimming the butterfly. It’s like I’m riding a dolphin. His powerful strokes take us along the shoreline before he turns and heads for the beach. Up and down, his breaths blowing out with every few arm motions. I’m holding on, my legs clamped around his waist. It’s exhilarating, how fast he’s going, and I want more.
I’m laughing so hard that when a wave hits us from the side and water slides down my throat, I’m coughing, but I’m still laughing as he dives, taking me under with him. The tweak of his ribs gives me a nanosecond of warning that he’s going to dive under the water. I get my mouth closed before I become a water balloon. A few good strokes and we’re close enough to shore that he can stand. He cinches me up with his right arm, but it gives way and I fall back into the water.
“Chiefie.” Calvin high-steps through the water.
I spit and cough a bit when I stand on fawn legs. The waves crash against the back of my legs, but a few steps and I’m free on the hard-packed sand of the tidal line. Calvin reaches me first. I’m bent over and coughing.
“I’m good. No worries,” I say into the sand.
He frowns and stares over me at Easton coming out of the waves.
“My arm locked up. Shit. I haven’t done the butterfly stroke since?—”
“Since you were fucking shot. I told you to be more careful.” Calvin growls.
“Right.” I put one hand on Calvin’s chest and the other on Easton’s. It’s like a flashback to the first day on the beach when I got in between the two of them when they were getting ready to fight and my ankle ended up twisted.
It’s a lot different now. Things are a lot-lot different. Then I was going to flash them. Now I have more powerful weapons in my arsenal.
“Don’t.” I point at Calvin.
