12. Zack

Spending the day beneath the water with only my breaths and thoughts to keep my brain company wasn't exactly relaxing. Neither was watching Callum and Landon in nothing more than swim shorts gliding through the water with graceful undulations of their hips that reminded me of sex.

Sleek movements. Flexing muscle. Firm ass cheeks mere feet in front of me proved a better sight than any coral reef and colorful fish. I imagined stripping both men bare but got caught up in too much possibility to focus on one fantasy. Watching. Directing. Being on the receiving end. In the middle. Owning Callum's ass while he plowed into Landon.

Swimming with a hard-on wasn't exactly comfortable, but at least the group we were a part of seemed intent on the sea life around us rather than a horny man on the verge of nutting.

At the back of the group, it would be easy to rub a quick one out. Just a few strokes over my swim trunks would cause it to happen. Temptation to do so had me reaching for my aching cock, but a fish caught me by surprise and brushed against my leg, making me kick closer to those in front of me.

But the flagging erection quickly returned.

I managed to force the damn thing away by watching a curvy woman in a string bikini take in the sights, since nothing about her soft body turned me on. Sure, her new husband was easy on the eyes, but I kept my focus on her. Jealousy had weaseled in over the newlyweds' public affection while we'd been aboard the boat, that same sense of missing out I experienced with the guys from home.

Until my head broke the water line and sunshine kissed my face, my dick had chilled.

Once back on land, the three of us walked through warm sand, stopping at one of the bars for a drink. The momentary peace we'd agreed to was tenuous at best, a mere means of getting through the next couple of days.

Since Callum had said Landon could have whatever he wanted, if he initiated, I would look at him like a client. That made it easier to avoid thoughts of how much I still lusted after the brat. Pleasuring Landon would be nothing but a good time.

I just had to keep deep-rooted feels on lockdown and stick purely with fucking the asshole from my system like I was desperate to do.

Like I'd told Landon, I didn't do spontaneity, but this situation was beyond my control. I wouldn't overthink, just lock my heart away and enjoy my little vacation. And if that included sex, bring it the fuck on because I needed release by some means other than my own fist.

Things weren't forgiven and forgotten between me and Landon, but the animosity had taken a backseat for now. As long as I didn't focus on the fallout of his actions from back then, we could make it through the days ahead without any heated tension outside the sexual sort.

I'd explained to Landon over the empty breakfast table between us earlier in the morning that I hadn't intended on leaving after I'd turned eighteen. While I didn't go into my reasons for why I'd planned to stick around—him—I'd assured him that his distress had been unfounded. And I, in turn, accepted his explanation for his outburst, his fear over being alone in a house void of unconditional love and support.

Neither of his parents had time for Landon back then, both too focused on the campaign trail that would lead to his father eventually running for president. I'd been his everything—big brother, hero, and best friend all wrapped into one. While I still reasoned away his supposed undying love for me, how he looked at me was familiar.

I'd seen too many of my co-workers with the same something on their faces when watching their partners.

Yes, it was love as far as the retired Elites went, but I couldn't find it in me to trust what Landon's eyes told me no matter how much my heart longed to. He'd been on the receiving end of my jaded thoughts for too many years for good feels to simply wipe the shit away and take us back to what we used to be.

But fuck, the man was sexy as hell, even more so with mussed, salt-dried hair, his shirtless torso revealing ample muscle, six-pack included. Callum drew my eyes just as often, having the same effect on my body with his similar build. Turned out, the two men enjoyed sparring and also weight trained together to keep in shape.

I allowed myself a moment's fantasy of watching them sweating and swinging at each other. But my libido took over, which ended with them fucking on the floor, panting and groaning.

Then my thoughts shifted—what if they returned home and that exact situation arose…without me?

I clenched my jaw and assured myself I didn't care. Goddamnit, I needed to focus on the now. Hopefully, fucking Landon from my system.

After a few drinks where we discussed the gym, our favorite workouts, and healthy meals, we went to our separate suites to shower with an agreement to meet back up for an early dinner. We hadn't eaten anything substantial since Landon and I had joined Callum earlier that morning after our talk where all three of us had our fill from the breakfast buffet.

I arrived at the outdoor restaurant first and was seated alongside the live band rather than back in one of the private nooks like the night before.

Had it only been twenty-four hours since I'd met Callum? A mere day since Landon had come crashing back into my life totally unexpected—and I told myself unwanted?

He'd been nothing but his usual sweet, pink-cheeked self, constantly checking me out and keeping me on edge all day. Add in Callum's tight ass and the way he looked at the two of us with blatant hunger…

Without knowing what the night held, I'd decided to hold off on giving my balls relief in the shower. Unfortunately, that meant I dealt with a chub of excited expectation that only thickened when the two men headed toward me, their bodies close, shoulders brushing as they walked.

An undercurrent of lust grabbed hold of me, attempting to pull me under into fuck it territory, where nothing good would come as a result.

Talk about a flimsy fucking shield to protect my vulnerabilities. I was burnt toast without the hope of sweet butter to fix the mess in my head. I would please them both, then get the fuck out of paradise where there was no threat to my heart's safety. Where I didn't have to rely on anyone but myself for my well-being.

We skirted any serious conversations, choosing to discuss our favorite pastimes, movies, and shows worth binge-watching. Turned out, we all loved those DIY shows, even though not a single one was any good with a hammer or crowbar.

None of us ate a heavy dinner while we chatted, and while I had my reasons, I couldn't say for the two of them. Landon's hands shook pretty much nonstop, possible nerves if I had to guess. Callum? He glanced between the two of us, his expression going from lust to uncertainty. I wondered if the idea of Landon and I fucking turned him on or made him nauseous, considering how badly he was in love with his best friend.

But I didn't ask, nor did I bring up any topic of conversation that would lead to some big discussion about what we were actually doing and how fucking around while in paradise might affect their relationship.

I was ready for a good time, and it didn't matter to me what the two of them did once home.

Lies.

Fuck, was I full of them.

Envy weaseled its way through me whenever I imagined them returning to Landon's house I'd learned they both lived in. I once more imagined them together, walking hand-in-hand, sharing a bed, loving on each other every night from here on out. They would have what Sean and Matteo did. Drake and Preston.

Shit I wouldn't admit out loud to craving thanks to my suspicious mind and inability to trust another soul.

Once again, I attempted conversation that didn't center around emotions or anything too personal. The snorkeling trip hadn't allowed for much talk, so over dinner we discussed the days ahead of us. Callum shifted a few times as though he had something on his mind beyond the events he'd suggested earlier that morning.

"What's up with you?" Landon asked, pushing his half-empty plate aside.

"I heard from Cyn," Callum said, his focus flitting between the two of us. "I wasn't going to bring it up until later, but…it's bothering me."

I'd already finished my salad, so I sat back, fiddling with my glass of white wine on the table in front of me. Whatever Callum talked about, it had nothing to do with sex like I'd assumed.

"How bad it is?" Landon asked, his tone wary and face a little crestfallen.

Callum pursed his lips together before replying. "Very."

"Fuck," Landon muttered, his shoulders slouching. "Am I looking at hours or days?"

"For a normal guy, days, but I have faith in you."

Landon grimaced. "Shit."

"Yeah," Callum agreed.

I eyed the two men, wondering over their cryptic conversation, a part of me hating I wasn't in the know regardless of my determination to stay out of their lives once we left the island.

"Can it wait until we get home?" Landon asked.

"Not if we're going to keep on schedule."

"Fuuuuuuuck," Landon grumbled, running his hand through his hair.

Callum reached out to clasp his hand and squeeze—exactly as I yearned to do even though I had no clue what the hell they were talking about. "Don't worry about it tonight, okay? Let's just enjoy our evening with Zack."

Still frowning, Landon nodded.

"Wanna dance?" I tossed out since Landon needed a distraction, and putting him at ease would please Callum.

Landon hesitated like a deer in headlights rather than jumping at the chance to be in my arms again like I'd expected.

"Go ahead," Callum insisted, seeming to settle a bit. "You're safe here."

I didn't get what was going on with that statement either, but whatever. I was itching to get my dick inside someone, and Landon was a sure thing.

"Come on." I grabbed his hand, pulling him to his feet, my body vibrating with the need to get the evening moving along in a more pleasurable way than wining and dining.

Our hands slotted together as they'd done dozens of times when we'd been kids, and something shifted inside me, same as it had earlier when we'd shook on our temporary truce before breakfast. I squeezed his fingers a little tighter as we stepped onto the dance floor to join the other couples already swaying to the soft island music. Anticipation prickled my skin, making me feel like a live wire.

I wrapped my hand around Landon's waist and drew him in until our fronts plastered together.

His breath caught, and he stared at me, pink, plump lips slightly parted and tempting as fuck, the same they'd been that night he'd betrayed me. Even though the reminder of that event still knifed anger through me, I couldn't deny how perfectly he felt in my arms.

"Okay?" I murmured, my dick aching.

Swallowing hard, he glanced around before nodding.

"Remember when you taught me how to slow dance for that eighth grade event beneath the stars I had?" I heard myself ask as the memory popped into my mind.

"Y-yeah," Landon breathed, quiet laughter following his answer. "Those ballroom classes Mother made me take as a kid paid off."

I grinned, seeing us spinning around the living room in vivid color. He'd been flushed and laughing while I'd tripped over my two left feet.

I'd never asked a girl to dance that night, but I never told Landon. I let him believe he'd helped me out—and he had, but I never put those lessons to use until years later. Countless times, I'd had to dance at events as an escort, and were it not for Landon's tutoring, I'd have been an embarrassment to my clients.

"I've learned better moves since," I teased, my blood going hot at the thought of how I'd rather dance with Landon.

He arched a brow. "Oh yeah?"

"Mmm." I tucked my thigh between his legs, fitting us together like puzzle pieces, same as I'd done to Callum the night before.

Landon shuddered, gulping at our proximity and my hard dick against his hip. "Jesus, Zack." He bit his lower lip and melted into me, trusting me with his body when that was the last thing he ought to do. I would take—and take some more—and leave behind wreckage exactly as he deserved. A mess of emotion I expected Callum would be too happy to glue together again.

What the fuck ever. I didn't care.

I led him in a dance that mimicked a slow, sensual fuck, both of my hands clasped on his ass to keep his groin against mine. The sweet scent of his shampoo teased my nose, and I lusted to latch onto his neck and mark him the fuck up right there for the world to see.

I hated how easy it was to drown in his amber eyes, to lose myself in the press of his body against mine, the draw of his magnetism that threatened to suck my soul back into a place I couldn't allow.

His hands clasped tight to my shirt, desperation etched in his face. "Kind of feels like a dream—I'm afraid I'm going to wake up."

I refused to acknowledge the same whispering in my head.

"Need me to pinch you to prove you're really here in my arms?" I joked, hoping to lighten my heavy, battling thoughts.

A gorgeous flush rose over his cheekbones, the sight causing my cock to buck in my shorts. And how he stared at me, hunger and sexual energy radiating between us, only made my body crave him even more.

We needed to get this party started one way or another before I busted a nut just from holding this stick of dynamite in my arms. Landon was dangerous. I would be smart to include a third wheel, a hot as fuck sexy man I hoped to get my hands on sooner than later.

"What's the deal with you and Callum?" I asked against Landon's ear, and he shivered. "You ever fuck?"

Landon shook his head. "No."

I shifted us in profile to Callum, glancing his way.

He watched us with an unwavering stare filled with yearning and not an ounce of jealousy. Either the man didn't really love Landon or he didn't mind sharing. That definitely boded well for the next few days. At least for me, anyway. A threesome would be safer for my heart behind its fragile shield, but I wasn't so sure for Callum.

"You want to fuck him though, don't you?" I asked Landon, turning to face him once more.

He stared at me, his pupils swelled, but he didn't speak.

There was no need to him to answer. I knew lust when I saw it.

I looked over at Callum again, motioning for him to join us.

Callum stood without hesitation, and when he moved to get all up on my ass, I swung around to put Landon between us.

"Yeah," I murmured, watching him glance at the back of Landon's head as he hesitated to erase the distance between them. "Right fucking there." I grabbed hold of Callum's hips and yanked him closer, creating a three-man meat sandwich with Landon in the middle.

Landon stiffened, but Callum exhaled heavily and pressed his lips to Landon's temple causing him to whimper. "Too much?"

Landon licked over his lower lip before glancing over his shoulder at his best friend. "It's perfection."

Fuck. Yes.