Chapter 34
Josephine
After the week I’ve had, it’s bizarre how soothing it is to be on the pontoon boat with all four of the guys. Between our school schedules, their NIL commitments, and the drama of the last few weeks, we’re rarely all in the same place at the same time.
The lake is calm tonight—inky black and smooth as glass, the surface illuminated by a crescent moon and countless stars. I snuggle closer to Locke’s chest, relishing in the comfort of his hold.
Decker is at the helm, driving us across the lake.
Kylian is sitting beside us, playing with the frayed denim along the edges of the hole in my jeans.
The sparks that zap through me each time his fingers tease along my thigh make me squirm.
Which makes Locke even harder beneath me, his rigid cock pressing into my ass as he kisses up and down my neck.
Kendrick is spread out on the bench seat across from us, watching with a surly scowl.
Locke smiles against my skin and licks a path up my neck to my earlobe, then takes it between his teeth.
“So this is how it’s gonna be?” Kendrick snarls.
I tense at the anger in his voice, but Locke just shifts me up in his lap and holds me tighter.
Scoffing, K shakes his head. “Every man for himself, out here callin’ dibs on our girl?”
Our girl.
Our. Girl.
“We’d be happy to create a master schedule,” Kylian chimes in. “I could send out calendar invites if you prefer.”
Locke chortles into my hair, not-so-subtly grinding me against his cock as Kylian lets his fingertips linger in the hole of my jeans.
“Joey does what she wants, man. You’re just big mad she doesn’t want you,” Locke offers.
Kendrick leans forward and drops his elbows to his knees, a wicked smirk on his face visible even out here in the dark.
“Ah, but you see, brother, that’s where you’re wrong. I know exactly what Jojo wants, and it just so happens that she and I discussed—”
“Enough,” I scold. I squirm out of Locke’s grasp and plant my ass firmly on the bench seat between him and Kylian. Whipping my head from one side to the other, I shoot them each a warning look, then set my sights on Kendrick.
“I’m fully committed to making sure you follow through on those lessons, big guy.
” He raises both brows, his gaze narrowing with an intensity I could easily get lost in.
“But I promised Kylian I’d go up to the Nest when we get back to the house.
” Softer, I add, “I’m not really feeling the party scene tonight, ya know? ”
Kendrick darts a look at Decker, and I follow his line of sight. He’s still in position at the helm, but his attention is on us. With his lips pressed together in a frown, he glances from me to K and back again, but he doesn’t speak.
Before I can ask what all the looks are about, Locke tucks my hair behind my ear and nuzzles my neck again.
“There’s no party tonight, Hot Girl,” he whispers. “Cap canceled it the second we knew you were safe.”
There’s always a party.
Emotion swells in my chest, catching my breath and making me lightheaded.
“He did it for you, Jo. Didn’t ask us our opinion or need any sort of persuasion,” Kylian says on my other side, answering the question I didn’t ask. “He did it for you.”
“Tell her about tomorrow,” Locke adds.
Kylian squeezes my bare thigh under my jeans, then carefully dislodges his hand so he can play-punch Locke in the arm.
“You have no chill. You know that, right?”
Across from us, Kendrick chuckles, obviously in on their little secret.
“Tell me,” I plead, sounding a hell of a lot needier than intended, but if they’ve got a surprise planned, then I’m desperate for at least a few hints. I turn to Locke, knowing he’ll be the easiest to crack, and drag my nails up his thigh.
“Easy, Hot Girl,” he hisses, snatching my hand mid-stroke.
“Tomorrow’s a beach day,” Kylian declares without fanfare.
“Like, the beach-beach?”
Kendrick chuckles at my question, then holds out a hand, inviting me over.
Carefully, I rise and steady myself. The instant I do, Decker eases up on the throttle, and he doesn’t resume speed until after I’ve shuffled to the other side of the vessel and am seated.
I’ve barely settled on the bench when Kendrick pulls me into his lap, steadying me with one arm around my back and caressing my jaw with his free hand. With a sigh, he presses his lips to the pulse point below my ear.
“We’re going to the beach. A quiet spot. Just the five of us. We’ll pack a lunch and make a day of it. You should wear your pink bikini,” he suggests, his voice low and gravelly.
“I don’t know if that suit can hold up against the ocean,” I tease.
“Exactly.” He nips my earlobe, then helps me to my feet and smacks my ass. “Go on, then,” he directs, tipping his chin toward Decker. It’s hard to be annoyed by his bossy, domineering post-game swagger when it has my pulse racing and my heart thudding in my chest.
I find my balance, then carefully make my way to the helm.
At my approach, Decker takes a step back, making room for me to squeeze between his body and the steering wheel.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I tilt my head back and study him as his eyes flit between the water and me. Always alert. Always so in control.
“It’s Shore Week,” I state.
“It is,” he replies with a small dip of his chin.
“You won the game.”
This time, a genuine smile takes over his whole face. “I sure fucking did.”
“You canceled the party.”
He zeroes in on my mouth as I speak, then he nods.
“You canceled it for me?”
Another nod.
“And tomorrow we’re going to the beach?”
A sly smile creeps across his face in response to that question.
I can’t help the matching grin I wear when I say, “I’ve never been to the beach. I’ve never even seen the ocean.”
Pressing up on my toes, I pull his head down to meet mine. I place a quick kiss on his lips, then release him just as quickly. I know him well enough to know he’s focused on navigating the lake and getting us all home safely.
“Thank you, Decker,” I whisper, adjusting my hold on him so I’m hugging his torso and resting my cheek on his chest. I don’t want to distract him, but I need him to know just how much it means to me.
The parties aren’t just for fun or a way to boost his ego, like I originally assumed.
Decker, Kendrick, and Locke all have season-long sponsorship deals that require a certain number of social media posts each week.
Hosting the weekly post-game party helps them fulfill those commitments and allows them to create content without having to add another to-do to their already very full plates.
Canceling the party is a bigger sacrifice than I ever expected.
But it’s so very appreciated.
“You’re really good at taking care of the people you lo—” I falter, catching myself before I can say something stupid.
But I wasn’t quick enough.
“Say it,” he growls, echoing his demand from earlier, his eyes still trained on the lake.
Peering up, I muster my courage and finish that sentence. “You’re really good at taking care of the people you love.”
Looking at me now, he nods, a satisfied smile teasing at the corner of his lips before he surveys our surroundings.
“Am I one of those people now, Cap?”
The question slips out before I’ve thought through the repercussions, but something inside me has to know. I feel bolder under the cover of darkness. As I wait for his response, I play with the soft, short hairs on his nape.
“You are the person, Josephine. The one and only.”
I tip my chin up, hoping he’ll kiss me again.
Instead, he grasps my shoulders, spins me, and pins me between his body and the console. “I’m gonna need you to stay right here until we get back to the house,” he whispers into my ear.
“And why’s that?” I can’t help but sass over my shoulder. Leave it to Decker Crusade to manhandle me when I’m trying to be sweet and show my appreciation.
He drops his focus from the horizon ahead of us, his fiery smolder practically scorching me.
But Decker’s not studying my face the way I’m studying his. He’s looking at the back of my shirt.
“I need to memorize exactly what it looks like to see my name where it belongs before we get back to the isle and one of my brothers rips this jersey off your body.”