Chapter Seventeen
Aside from Jensen throwing me in, I avoid getting in the water. Though there’s nothing particularly wrong with the beaches of Phantom Shores, the water is more dismal green than the typical bright blue people are accustomed to seeing at the beach. I’m perfectly content staying dry and soaking up every inch of the sun’s blazing rays.
After refusing the countless orders from my apparent new big brother Grayson to apply sunblock, he takes it upon himself to point out I will be burnt beyond recognition tomorrow. He goes as far as going into detail on not wanting to smell burnt flesh over dinner tonight. Eventually, he throws the sunblock directly at my head before storming off down the beach for a walk, which seems more like an excuse to escape Wyhtt and I’s constant teasing.
I’m willing to fully accept my fate of turning into a lobster if it meant I won this odd, unspoken fight for dominance between the two of us. Wyhtt and Jensen both mentioned how Grayson was always acting as a mother hen when it came to them. At the time, I had no idea how literal they meant it. Come tomorrow morning I may regret my stubbornness, but for now, being stubborn is my prime source of entertainment.
“Not to agree with the mother hen or anything, but he would never know if you applied it now. He won’t be back for awhile.” Wyhtt suggests, a crooked grin on his face once Grayson is out of ear shot. “I would hate for you to be burnt tomorrow. Not out of concern for your stubborn ass, but because it’s me who will suffer. I’m the one who will be stuck with you all day tomorrow while we shop in town. Unless by some miracle we hear back from the airport tonight on the luggage they lost.”
“I highly doubt we’ll hear from them, Wyhtt.” I say into my towel, having grabbed another after Grayson stole my first one. “I also know logically you are right, but it feels like he wins if I give in.”
A shadow engulfs my entire body, erasing every inch of the blistering rays. I turn over in my chair, looking up to see Jensen smirking down at me, sunblock in hand.
“Not you too,” I hiss.
“Nope, just offering to apply it for you. Wouldn’t want that perfect skin of yours burnt.” His tone sends my toes curling, even the thought of his hands on me has goose bumps appearing despite the scorching heat. It doesn’t help that the man looks like a fucking godly bronze statue from an art museum. Attempting to keep the drool from falling down my chin, I pull myself back together as I force myself to remember the only friends rule I set. I remember the rule feeling like a rational decision at the time, but now I wanted to drown myself in the ocean for setting that boundary. I manage to squeak out a meek, “I can do it.”
I look away quickly, only to see Wyhtt muffling his laugh with a fake cough. I glare at him, which only seems to encourage him more.
“I can do it for you, Serenity.” Wyhtt teases, making his way over to us with an overly dramatic puff of his chest. The use of Jensen’s nickname for me is a direct slap to Jensen and I. Jensen’s attention is turned solely on Wyhtt, a lesser man would have shrunk beneath the stare that is meant as nothing less than violent promise.
This could be fun, I think, seeing my opportunity to cause more chaos.
“Yes, please do.” I say sweetly, causing both men to whip their heads in my direction. Wyhtt’s face is lit up in pure joy, he knows exactly what game I’m playing. In comparison, Jensen’s expression is one of icy rage. His eyes are full of jealousy that he has no right to feel, and it’s getting me off. Knowing he still feels that way causes me to lick my lips and take in both men before me as I continue playing into the bit. “I’m waiting, Wy.” I say, grinning up at him, while pretending Jensen isn’t standing over me, glaring at the scene playing out in front of him.
“Yes ma’am!” Wyhtt says eagerly before jumping to my side, excited to annoy his brother.
Jensen grits his teeth before a knowing smirk replaces his murderous expression. He turns toward the dumbass attempting to take the sunscreen and shoves Wyhtt a few feet into the water. I bark out a laugh as Wyhtt is slammed by the water, wave after wave.
“Not as fun as it looks?” I shout with another laugh. His response is only a finger in the air. A message to us that I choose to believe means I love you.
Jensen storms toward me, reaching me in four long strides before leaning down, hovering mere inches away. “You think those little games of yours are fun?”
I grin at him in response.
“You think I am going to let another man—even my brother—touch you?” He breathes into my face. “Fuck that, Serenity. He may protect you like you’re his blood, but he is still only a man and you are temptation embodied.”
I open my mouth to protest, but he shushes me before I get a word out.
“Not your turn to talk. We may be friends,” he raises his fingers to add air quotes as emphasis as he spits out the word. The word friend seems to insult him, which earns a sly grin from me as he continues. “But we weren’t always friends, which means I will not sit back and watch that happen. I would rather cut off his hands before allowing him to touch you. Or I would burn my own eyes out if I couldn’t stop it from happening.”
I can’t stop the laugh that erupts from me with a shake of my head. “You’re insane, Jensen.”
“You have no idea how true that statement is, my dear. Regardless, will you please just be a good girl for once and either allow me to put this sunblock on, or do it yourself? Grayson will never know, I swear.”
I rise slowly, my face now at his chest slick with sweat and accept the offered bottle of sunblock from his hand. Lowering myself back onto the chair, I watch as he releases a breath.
“Of course, aren’t I always good?” I ask. He steps back slowly, watching me with an intense gaze as I start to apply the lotion all over my body. “Well? Aren’t I good?” I repeat, baiting him to give me praise.
“Fuck, Serenity.” He growls before grinning. “Nothing but trouble.” he mumbles before walking back to his towel and plopping underneath the umbrella. I’m grinning ear to ear as Wyhtt comes back from the water.
“That was a fun little show to watch.” Wyhtt remarks, shaking the cold ocean water onto me, causing me to bat him away.
“No idea what you’re talking about.” I smile knowingly as he settles beside me again.
“Yeah, okay. Glad I got drowned for nothing then.” We both laugh, which only draws Jensen’s attention to land on us once more.
Not us, I quickly realize, me.