Page 16 of Welcome to Seaman’s Cove: Part Two

I elbow Seb for his pompous tone. He doesn’t always realize how he comes off.

“Don’t worry. He pays his staff well,” I tell Hunter. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

The three of us walk single file down the narrow hall. Seb in front with Hunter after him, and me last. Hunter has to reach out for the wall a few times for support. I hate seeing him like this, but when I try to help, he grits his teeth and brushes me off.

Stubborn bastard.

Seb stops in front of a series of narrow doors. “I’d planned on this being our room.” He points at the first door on the left. “With Hunter next door. But you two should take the bigger room.”

“Seb,” I say, unsure how to finish the protest. Hunter’s my best friend. I’ve secretly been in love with him since we were teenagers, and we only just confessed our feelings to each other. He’s clearly suffering. But Seb’s my boyfriend, my mate, the man I plan to spend the rest of my life with. And even though he doesn’t show it, I know he needs me too. This has got to be a lot for him.

It wasn’t that long ago that I called to try to convince him to come meet Hunter, and ended up fighting with him for an hour. That was right before we all went on our picnic and ended up discovering Ocearus. Before Madi was taken. But it was recent enough for the tension to linger. I’m not going to abandon him now that we’re finally back together.

“Hunter needs you right now,” Seb’s voice softens. “It’s fine.”

“It’s not.” That comes from Hunter. “I’m taking the smaller room. You two should be together. I’m fine.”

It’s clear he’s not, but at the moment, I’m not sure I should argue with him. Sebastian is good at masking his feelings, making people think he’s fine, but I know the anxiety he’s always fighting, and I can tell he needs me. I feel torn in half between the two of them. I want to suggest that we all share the bigger room together, but that would be too much, too soon. They’re not ready. Though I’m really hoping we get there eventually.

While I’m still debating how to move forward, Hunter opens the door to the smaller bedroom and shuts it in my face. Guess that solves that. I really hope he’s able to sleep.

“Are you ready to turn in, too?” Seb asks.

I’m too wound up to sleep, anxious and jittery. So is he. I can tell. We could both use an outlet to blow off some steam, a distraction to keep us from worrying about Madi even if only for a few minutes.

I back Seb against the closed door of our room, my body pressing into his, so he can feel my need. “What do you think, Sebby? Am I ready to sleep?”

11

Ibarely have time to breathe before Phoenix is on me, kissing me like he’ll never get enough. His teeth scrape my bottom lip, and his cock pushes against mine through our clothes. I’m already on the edge, ready to explode in my pants like a horny teen. It’s been weeks since we were together like this. Too fucking long.

“Gods, I’ve missed you so much,” my alpha gasps before diving back in.

I reach behind me and fumble open the door to our room. We stumble inside, still kissing, hands scrambling to undress ourselves and each other. It’s frantic and needy. Phoenix kicks the door closed and shoves me right back against it. My shirt hits the floor just after his. His bare chest touches mine, hands roaming everywhere.

“I’ve missed you, too,” I say as he pushes my pants down to my ankles. “So damn much.”

He snakes his hand into my boxers and wraps his fingers around my cock without taking them off. My head falls back against the door, a curse leaving my lips.

“So, what do you think of Hunter?” Phoenix scrapes his teeth along my neck, igniting a fire within.

“You’re asking me that now?”

He kisses along my jaw, moving back toward my ear and giving it a nip. “Tell me it didn’t get you hot working with him today, studying ancient texts, swapping theories.” His hand works a little faster, pumping me like a man on a mission.

“Why… would that… turn me on?” I grit out through clenched teeth. “We were working.”

“Oh, don’t play coy, beta. I know you love a man with a big… brain.”

Shit, I do. I’ve always had a thing for competent people. Even in his state today, Hunter Anderson was intelligent, insightful, and incredibly knowledgeable. But I didn’t lie to Phoenix. Attraction was the last thing on my mind. Not only is Hunter an alpha, which always makes me a little uncomfortable and intimidated, but we were working on finding Madison. My Madison. She’s a prisoner somewhere in the middle of the ocean, and we need to discover where. We will. I have to believe that, but once we do, what happens then? She’s with Hunter. Phoenix wants both of them. Where does that leave me?

My doubts and insecurities don’t exactly turn me on. The thoughts are enough to have my cock softening despite the stimulation Phoenix is giving me.

“None of that.” He slaps my balls hard enough to make me jump.

“What the fuck, Firebird!” The sensitive tissue throbs between my legs, but he doesn’t slow his ministrations, and the pain morphs quickly into pleasure.

“I know exactly where your beautiful brain just went,” Phoenix growls. “And I won’t let you self-sabotage what’s about to happen. We’re packing up, Seb. It’s time. We’re gonna find our girl. I know you want her just as badly as I do. We’re gonna save her, fuck her through her next heat, and bite her. Together. You hear me?”