25. Time to pitch a tent
25
TIME TO PITCH A TENT
Archer
The phone beeped but I was conscious enough to know it was Saturday. No way was I answering any work messages on my day off. My boss and I had come to a new agreement since I came back from my stint in the other office. Unless it was urgent, neither of us contacted the other on the weekend. And if my brain was working correctly, this was a three-day weekend.
It dinged again. But it was different. Sounded more like the clack of a typewriter. Micah’s phone. I opened my eyes. Another beep and one more from his phone.
Shit. Another leak or someone coming to commandeer Micah’s apartment. Ryder and Ivor having a huge argument while Kellan fanned the flames? Or had Daire’s friend turned up again and freaked Neil out? There was always something happening in Sunshine Manor.
I rolled over and stared at Micah, phone in my hand. “Should we do this together?”
He nodded. “On three. One, two…” Both of us clicked the message which was from Daire before he got to three.
Family , it read followed by a heart emoji and then a wave as in ocean waves not a hand flapping back and forth. Fancy a weekend at the beach? I didn’t want to pay exorbitant prices for accommodation by the ocean, and Ivor definitely couldn’t. Neil wouldn’t be happy about it either. At my folks’ house .
“Does he mean the country house by the lake where we shift during the week?”
“No,” Micah got up on one elbow. “His parents own a huge place overlooking the water. But something’s up. I’ve never been invited to stay there. Driven past once. There’s something he’s not telling us and based on how he lets out bad news drip by drip, my guess is he’ll tell us shortly.”
I’ll drive us in the van but we need to be out within the hour.
“What’s happening in sixty minutes?” I asked. “Will Sunshine Manor be demolished?” I glanced out the window expecting to see a wrecking ball.
“Wait for it.”
The building has termites and needs to be tented. So, if you can gather your stuff—there’s a fully stocked pantry and plenty of wine and beer—and meet me out the front in fifty minutes.
I leaped out of bed and peered underneath. “Termites. Ewww!”
Micah grabbed me and pressed his lip to my brow. “Don’t worry. They nibble on wood, not tasty wolf shifters. But…” He dropped his gaze to my hard-on. “Not sure about morning wood.”
My wolf was close to the surface but I batted him away. We’d gone from sixty to fifty minutes so there was no time for sex. A quickie yes, but Micah and I went in for marathons. I hurried down the stairs to Daire and Ivor’s place as technically I was still staying there, leaving Micah to gather his stuff, but then had to message him asking him to bring my toiletry bag. And I brought in my bicycle not wanting it to stay outside all weekend.
“Bring it to the beach,” Daire said as he came up behind me. Before I could protest, he’d taken it and attached it to the van’s bike rack.
When I walked into 1A, Ivor was in his room flinging clothes on the floor and muttering to himself. “Did you have plans this weekend?” I poked my head through the doorway.
“No. Other than imagining horrible things happening to Kellan. And I’m not sure where Ryder and I are with each other.”
I couldn’t help him with that. “Has he been here? Kellan?”
“Don’t think so. But if he sniffs out we’re at Daire's beach house, you bet he’ll turn up.”
I put my arm around him. “Stop thinking of bad stuff that could happen and look at this as you and Ryder’s first weekend away together.”
He collapsed onto his bed. “Except we have the entire Sunshine Manor family with us. There’ll be no privacy.”
“There’s always the beach,” I said over my shoulder as I headed to pack.
When we finally assembled outside, Neil had three enormous bags and was glancing around as if he expected to see someone, Ivor had his head down but kept sneaking looks at Ryder, Micah was on the phone and Daire was complaining about how much luggage we had.
“Neil’s the one with all the bags,” I protested.
“Hey, I’ve got my camera gear and makeup, clothes and wigs. I have to work this evening and tomorrow while you all cavort around the place.”
“Cavorting?” Ryder asked. “How does that work exactly? ”
Ivor chimed in. “Not sure I know the meaning. Can you demonstrate, Neil?”
I grinned and joined in the teasing. “Like this?” I wriggled my ass and circled him.
“You’ve got it wrong,” Micah added. “It’s like this.” He jumped on the spot waving his hand in the air.
Our human friend ignored us and got in the van. “I can’t hear you,” he sing-songed. “And I hate you all.”
“Everyone in,” Daire yelled as he stuffed the last bags onto the floor of the van.
The drive to the shore was the usual Sunshine Manor outing. Everyone was talking at once, complaining about Daire’s driving and discussing what we were going to eat.
When Daire pulled up at a mansion, no make that a palace and punched in the key code, I stared at the camera perched high on a post recording our every move. There was a huge wall surrounding the house, which kinda negated being right on the water as the view was obscured unless you were on the second floor.
But unlike Sunshine Manor, this house was modern. It had a three sided-porch, a huge pool and barbecue area, and I was certain the flowering plants and shrubs were Daire's handiwork. We piled out of the van, grumbling at the way Daire had packed our stuff until he said, “If you don’t like it, you can walk next time.” That shut us up.
Once the door was open, Micah grabbed my hand and tore inside and up the stairs. “What’s the rush?” I panted.
“We need to choose the best room.”
“Shoes off,” Daire yelled. “And I have dibs on the bedroom at the top of the stairs on the right,” he mumbled as he raced behind us.
Turned out the bedrooms had attached bathrooms and they all had a view or partial view of the beach along with a balcony. The sumptuous room we chose had a massive king-size bed, walk-in closet and a bathroom to die for.
“Ready for a swim?” Micah asked as he rummaged in his bag.
“Sure. Let me find Neil. Not sure how he feels about swimming in the ocean.”
Ivor
There were six bedrooms in total, so enough for each of us and with Micah and Archer sharing, I had the choice of two rooms. Feet padded behind me on the wooden floor. There was no need to turn around as I scented Ryder. He stood behind me while I hovered near the doorway checking the view .
But he didn’t speak so I strode inside and after dumping my bag on the floor, opened the glass sliding door and walked onto the balcony, breathing in the salty ocean air. It instantly made me feel better and reminded me of the times I’d spent at the beach as a kid.
“Can we talk?”
“Go on.” I didn’t look at him, but leaned on the railing.
“I have frequent nightmares about Kellan. He’s a bad guy and our relationship was fucked up. I just didn’t want to admit I’d failed and it was easier to stay in than get out.”
He placed his hands on the railing. The hands that had been on me and in me, making me scream in the best possible way. I longed for them to do it again but my belly was jittery and I worried if I said something, it’d be a jumbled mess of mixed up words.
“As far as I’m concerned, Kellan is out of my life.”
“And there’s the problem.” I faced him. “Does he know that?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t be in a threesome, Ryder.”
“What no? What makes you think…?
I cut him off. “You and me, along with Kellan thinking he makes three and interfering in our lives.”
He sighed and studied the waves. “I like you.”
“Me too. I mean I like you, not me, though I like me too.”
He grinned and brushed hair off my forehead. “Can we agree to take things slowly? We both live in the same building, and we work together when you’re not at college.” He extended his arms toward the beach. “And we’re staying in a multi-million dollar house overlooking the water. Let’s have fun.”
He was right. There hadn’t been a lot of fun in my life up until now. I walked back into the room. “Where’s your stuff?”
“Huh?”
“Shouldn't your bag be here if we’re sharing a room this weekend?”
He drew me into his arms. “The bathrooms have waterfall showers. After we swim, we can get clean together.”
Time to be bold, which I never did, except the night I slept with this stag shifter. “I’m dirty now.” My wolf growled, agreeing with my decision.
Ryder slammed the bedroom door closed with his foot and swung me over his shoulder. “Because who wants sand in their hair and their swimsuit.”
Neil
I unpacked my clothes and camera gear and put everything into the walk-in closet. I didn’t need to get ready for hours as my sessions were very late this evening. I’d brought the same background I always used plus the cushions and bed cover. My customers didn’t like change and I didn’t want to upset them. Besides, I agreed with them.
“Coming to the beach, Neil?” Archer asked.
“I’m more comfortable with the pool.”
“Do you want us to be with you? Or we can join you after swimming in the surf?”
“That’s fine.” I was happy to lie on the lounger with a book. Being in the sea scared me and I hated it if seaweed got tangled around my legs. Gross!
“Lunch is served around the pool in five minutes,” Daire yelled. In a big house like this, there was a lot of yelling, though he could have used the intercom.
“Did he get takeout?” Archer asked.
“Nope. The house comes with a chef. He lives in the guest house out back, along with his mate, the housekeeper.
Archer’s mouth formed a huge O.
Ryder and Ivor emerged with wet hair, with Ryder grumbling about being interrupted and Ivor saying they needed to eat. They rubbed shoulders as they walked downstairs. “They’re cute,” I whispered to Archer.
“Let’s hope Kellan can’t scale walls.”
Micah joined us and we wandered to the pool area. “Wow. This is quite a spread,” Archer noted.
“There’s even a vegetarian section,” I pointed out.
“Who wants champagne?” Daire shouted.
I draped an arm over his shoulders. “We’re all here. No need to yell.”
“Sorry. The last few weeks have been… yeah… a lot.”
I kissed his cheek. “I’ll have a glass.”
“Me too,” everyone chorused.
We toasted to the weekend. “Cheers, family.” Daire stood and raised his glass. “If anyone wants to shift this evening, we can do it behind the house. There’s nothing there for miles.”
“What about you, Neil?” Archer was a dear friend, always looking out for me.
“I’ve got work and then I’m happy to stay in with a book.”