24. King

TWENTY-FOUR

king

I ALWAYS WOKE up with the dawn, whether I was in the city or on the island. I'd never needed much shuteye, not when there was always a call, or an email, something or someone that needed my attention.

So imagine my surprise when I woke up to the sun high in the sky, the morning already passing me by. I listened for the sound of movement, but the house was quiet. I'd well and truly worn the three of us out, but damn I couldn't remember having a more satisfying night. Standing under the steam shower before passing out had been smart, minimizing the ache in my body as I slid out from under the sheets and got to my feet.

I slipped on a pair of shorts and headed to the kitchen for a coffee. The doors to both rooms I'd shown the guys to were still shut, giving me an absurd sense of satisfaction. What could I say? All that pent-up tension served its purpose.

My staff had stocked the kitchen with everything we'd need and more, down to the platters of sliced local fruit and pitchers of freshly squeezed juice. I opted for a coffee first, but hesitated when I grabbed the single-serve pod.

Did Zac and East drink coffee? I'd often seen Zac arrive with a travel mug, but I couldn't be sure what was inside, and keeping some sense of boundaries meant I'd never asked.

Deciding on a different approach, I put the pod back in the drawer and brewed a big pot instead. That way they'd have the option to indulge or not.

If they emerged before dinnertime.

Steaming mug in hand, I headed out to the back, where a spread of comfortable lounge chairs overlooked the gorgeous, clear blue waters and powdery-white beaches. It was paradise. Not a cloud in the sky and a steady, balmy breeze that kept it from ever feeling too hot. No crowds or tourists littering the view, just peace.

I took a sip of the scalding brew—just the right temp—and faltered as an even better view caught my eyes.

Zac laid out on a lounger, the top half of him positioned in the shade with his long legs spread out to get a little sun. At my approach, he looked up and immediately scooted to a sitting position.

"Oh hi, um, I'm sorry. I wasn't sure when you'd be up, so I came out here for a little bit. But if you'd rather I?—"

"Zac." I held up a hand. "You're fine. You're welcome to enjoy any part of the island. Relax, maybe even breathe for a second."

He took in a breath as I settled into the lounger beside his.

"How about we try this again?" I asked.

Zac shifted until his legs were stretched out again, but I didn't miss the nervous way his Adam's apple bobbed. "I'd like that."

I ran my eyes down his naked torso, then back up to his handsome face. "Good morning."

Zac chuckled. "Morning."

"It's not a good one?"

"What? Oh. Yes, of course it's a good one." He shook his head and muttered, "Stop talking, idiot."

I put my coffee mug on the table beside the lounger and reached over to put a hand on Zac's arm. The second my fingers touched him, his head whipped around and his eyes met mine.

"I know this has to be a little bit difficult for you," I said. "Last night was?—"

"Hot as hell."

"Yes. It was that. But it also changed the dynamic between us, and I want to make sure that you're okay with that."

"I am," Zac said without hesitation. "It's just taking me a second to wrap my head around the fact that it happened in the first place. I've wanted it for so long, and…" His cheeks turned that delicious shade of pink.

"Now you can't stop thinking about it?"

"Yes."

"Neither can I." I brushed my thumb across his lips. "We aren't at Astor, Zac. This week, I'm not your professor. You want something, ask me for it."

"Just like that?"

"I didn't say you'd get it." I winked, and that flush deepened. "But you should definitely ask."

Zac chuckled as I settled back in my lounger and reached for my coffee, the awkward tension now gone and replaced with a sexual one.

"It's not just what we did that I'm trying to wrap my mind around. But also this ." He swept his arm out across the spectacular view. "East is right to ask who you are, because I have no clue, and I work with you daily."

"I know, but it wasn't time."

"And now it is?"

"It's getting closer."

"So cryptic. I guess you really do fit in with the whole secret organization deal."

This was the first time Zac had made mention of the recruitment night, which wasn't that surprising, since he understood how to follow an order, unlike East. But it also got me wondering how he felt about the invitation.

I'd known East would jump at such an opportunity, but Zac I'd been unsure about. He wasn't the kind to flaunt his family's wealth or connections, especially around Astor. I would even bet money that East had no idea who his parents were, considering their sexual arrangement didn't seem to include any kind of personal intimacy.

No, that wasn't entirely accurate. Despite their insistence that their arrangement was nothing more than a hookup, it was obvious there was a level of respect there that neither of them seemed to realize.

I couldn't think of one person—including East's friends—he let get away with ordering him around the way Zac did when their clothes came off, and when they were back on, the sparring between the two of them was layered with a mutual kind of affection I hadn't expected.

I'd often thought Zac forgot how to have fun and be a student, given how conscientious and focused he was around me. But with East those walls came down, and I was learning there was a whole other side to my TA.

So it seemed we'd all managed to surprise each other.

"And you?" I said, eyeing Zac over the rim of my mug. "Do you think that's something you'd be able to fit into?"

"I think so? But I want to know more."

Of course he did. He wouldn't be Zac otherwise.

"We'll get there, when it's time."

Zac was about to respond when the sound of a loud yawn had us both looking toward the main house. Standing in the archway that connected the indoors with the outdoors stood East, coffee cup in hand, towel slung low around his waist and hair wet and mussed from what I assumed was a long, hot shower.

He took a sip of his drink, then a let out a sigh."Now this is the life I deserve."

Zac snorted a laugh and turned his head toward me. "Look what you've done. Encouraged the monster."

I had indeed, but I didn't regret that decision. Not when East walked over to join us, his sinewy body on display. With his hair dripping rivulets down his neck and chest, he was a stunning sight.

"Are we the only ones here?" he asked.

"We are."

"Should we be scared?"

"Probably."

East's eyes took on an expression that was full of mischief as he drank from his mug and then shrugged. "Well, I'm not." He ripped his towel off and tossed it in my lap, revealing every inch of his naked body."Goodbye, tan lines."

Zac's jaw dropped at East's outlandish behavior as I picked the towel up and let it dangle from my finger."Good to see someone's feeling at home this morning."

East glanced over his shoulder at the rolling waves, as comfortable in his skin as he would be wearing a thousand-dollar suit and an ascot.

"Who wouldn't feel at home?" He turned back to Zac and rolled his eyes. "Seriously? You're still hung up on having a little luxury in your life?"

"No. I was just thinking about everything that happened last night?—"

"So was I," East interrupted, reaching down to stroke himself. But Zac completely ignored him, clearly used to this teasing side of East.

"—and was getting everything straight in my head."

East's eyes flicked between the two of us and then down to his hard dick. "I'm sorry, but were we at the same wel coming party last night? Because from what I remember, there was not one straight person in sight."

I cleared my throat. "Tell me something, James. Do you always use sex as a deflection when you're uncomfortable in a situation?"

As suspected, East leaned back against the stone rail of the balcony, spread his legs, and gave himself another stroke."Do I look uncomfortable to you?"

"No. You look sexy. Something I'm sure you're very aware of, since you like to use it at every given opportunity to get your way."

East brushed his thumb over the head of his dick. "And that's a bad thing?"

"It's an interesting thing." I got to my feet, tossing his towel over my shoulder, and he pumped himself a little faster at my approach. "You see, whenever the conversation veers into something beyond the surface, you make a detour to sex."

My hand whipped out and halted his in place.

"And while I appreciate that at certain times, I'd also enjoy some conversation with my two guests over the next week."

East stared up at me, his eyes darkening as I dragged his fist up his length.

"Zac was just telling me how it was taking him a minute to get used to seeing me— all of me—outside of Astor. Are you trying to tell me you have no thoughts on that?"

East's breathing came faster, his eyes shifting over my shoulder—looking for his usual escape route or distraction from the more difficult questions.

"Don't look at him," I said. "He's not going to help you."

"Fuck," he said, jamming his hips forward.

"Not on the table this morning." I chuckled. "Literally."

Defiance flashed through East's eyes. "It was unreal seeing you like that, okay? All strong and alpha."

My lips curled a fraction.

"That what you want to hear?" East licked his full lips. "That I bow to your greatness, my king?"

Brat.

I let him go, making him gasp as I took a step back and threw the towel at him.

"No, but until you can hold a conversation like an adult, you won't be getting anything else from me , little prince."

East opened his mouth, no doubt to hurl back some smartass retort, but before he could get anything out, I turned my back on him and looked to a smirking Zac.

"Would you like some breakfast?"

He got to his feet, clearly more comfortable now, since he didn't even bother to cover the erection my interaction with East had caused. "I'd love some."

"Perfect." I gestured to the open door, and as Zac disappeared inside, I glanced at East. He was where I'd left him standing by the rail, his lips pulled tight, his jaw twitching with frustration.

Did I want to go back over there and stroke him to orgasm, yes, I did. But I also wanted him to drop the fa?ade. He was about to step into the real world and have real power at his fingertips, and he needed to know how to wield it and not act so impulsively.

I was reminded of Archer's warning that East needed a firm hand, so I turned and followed Zac inside before I called over my shoulder, "Enjoy working on those tan lines, James."