26. King
TWENTY-SIX
king
I'D SPENT THE rest of the day giving them a tour of the estate and the island, even taking the Bronco down to the banana trees at the south end to pick a few. Both got the hang of using the cane knife easier than I expected from a couple of city boys, even turning it into a competition to see who could collect the most bunches.
I'd wisely kept out of that argument, refusing to choose sides, but I did enjoy the fruits of their labor by indulging in the growing piles of fruit in the back of the SUV.
I'd also enjoyed the view of both sporting nothing but shorts riding low on their hips. East's skin was already turning a darker shade of olive after hours in the sun, while Zac's was slightly pinker. The last thing I'd wanted was for him to burn, so keeping him lathered in sunscreen was a must, and I'd taken it upon myself to apply it.
Such a hardship, touching him, running my fingers over the smooth young skin I had no business indulging in. But hearing Zac's breath hitch when my hands were on him… It wasn't just my cock that was affected.
And then there was East—inquisitive beyond belief, but there was something else that was beginning to peek through, the slightest hint of vulnerability, and the way he didn't even notice he unconsciously protected Zac. Definitely pretentious, but in my world, that was a common theme, and it was always an exterior that safeguarded whatever was hiding beneath.
I shouldn't want to crack it right open. I shouldn't want anything more to do with either of them other than fulfilling each other's physical desires. But I found myself wanting to ask just as many questions of them as they did of me.
Insanity, I thought again, still not believing I'd brought them here in the first place. But there they were, walking back to the Bronco with their arms full of bananas, a task I would've thought was below James Easton.
He grinned as he dropped the bunches on top of the others in the trunk. "Kicked your ass, Fletcher."
"You wish, Easton ."
East winked and handed me the cane knife. "He can't admit defeat."
"I'd admit it if that was the case," Zac said, dropping his bundle. "Which it was not ."
East started to reply, but his gaze caught on something and his brow puzzled. "Who the hell is that? Paparazzi?"
I followed his stare to where a boat was pulling into the dock near the main house. "No, that's dinner."
"Really?" East squinted as Chef Ruan and his sous chef unloaded items off the boat. "So are they gonna be laid out buffet style, or…?"
Smirking, I swatted his ass and climbed into the driver's seat. "No, they're the chefs making dinner. Did you think I was gonna put you to work chopping and peeling?"
Zac let out a laugh as I started the engine. "I'd put money on him thinking you would be cooking."
"How much money are we talkin'?" East said.
"Everything's a bet to you."
"It makes things more interesting, don't you think?"
I caught East's eyes in the mirror. "While they're prepping dinner, how about I take you up on a different kind of bet?"
He perked up at that."I'm listening."
"How good are you at cornhole?"
"What the hell is cornhole?"
"A game."
"Isn't that the one where you throw a sack in a hole?" Zac said, turning around to grin at East. "You should be good at that."
"If this game includes sacks and holes, I'm in."
"Yeah," I said. "I figured you would be."
I pulled up to the front of the main house, and when we got out of the vehicle and Zac headed around to the trunk, I shook my head.
"Chef will get them. Let's head down to the cabana." I eyed East over the hood. "We'll have a game and a few drinks while they get dinner ready."
"A game of cornhole ?"
"Don't tell me you're scared I'll beat you."
"Hell no. But I do want it noted that you have had many more years to practice throwing sacks in holes than we have."
I laughed despite myself. "Duly noted."
We followed the winding path that led from the main house through the lush grounds, to one of the handful of cabanas scattered around the island. This one was equipped with a grill, a fully stocked bar and fridge, loungers, and beach games. Including cornhole boards.
"Okay, East, you're on bar duty. Zac, we'll get the game set up."
"Wait a second." East held a hand up. "You want me to make and serve you both a drink? Don't you have someone to do that?"
"Private island, remember? No service here unless you do it yourself. You do know how to make a drink, I assume."
"Well, of course, but?—"
"Then the bar's over there. You'll find everything you need. Zac, what would you like?"
Zac smiled, and I had a feeling he was thinking of something that required a little more than a quick pour. "I'll take a Tequila Sunrise, thanks."
"Good choice. And I'll take a Painkiller. Be sure to be generous with the rum."
East rolled his eyes and turned toward the bar, mumbling, "Want me to hold it while you drink it too?"
I gestured for Zac to follow me to the weatherproof trunk and then unlatched it."Two cornhole boards."
Zac chuckled as I took out the first one and he grabbed the second. The sand was warm beneath our feet as we made our way out from under the shade of the cabana.
"Why do you have games for two or more if you come here on your own to relax?"
I placed the first board down and glanced over my shoulder at him. "Who said I always come here alone?"
Zac opened his mouth, no doubt about to apologize for prying, but I held up a hand.
"Sorry," I said, shocking him. "That was me deflecting again, wasn't it?"
"I mean, I wasn't going to say…"
"Why not?" I said, taking the second board from him. "I told you that I'm not your professor out here and to ask whatever you want, and you did. So let's try that again."
"Okay, why do you have games for two or more?"
"Because there was a time where someone other than me used to come here to help me unwind."
"But…not anymore?"
"But not anymore." I stepped around him to put the second board in place—approximately twenty-seven feet away.
I wasn't sure why I'd told Zac what I had. Maybe it was because I knew a whole lot more about them than they did me, and while that was necessary for many reasons, that particular piece of information seemed more personal than private.
"Your drinks are ready!" East called out from where he stood under the cabana with what looked like an espresso martini. "But alas, no tray to serve them to you on, your highness."
That mouth of his…
Zac dropped the container with the small bags at East's feet as he went to grab his drink, and I shut the trunk.
"So this cornhole game." East frowned at the boards on the sand. "Seriously, they couldn't come up with a better name?"
"What about the game?" I said before taking a sip of my Painkiller. East definitely hadn't gone light on the rum.
"How do you play?"
"We're going to go with basic rules today without counting points. Two play at a time. One person at each end. We take turns throwing the bags, and whoever gets the most bags in the hole wins."
East scrunched his nose up. "That's it? Seems easy enough."
"I'd agree, except for the amount of alcohol you added to this drink."
"Mine too," Zac said, eyeing East's martini. "Did you even add any to yours, or are you trying to get us drunk so you have a better chance at winning?"
"Are you accusing me of cheating?"
Zac nodded. "Yes."
"If you wanted your drink a certain way, then you should've made it yourself. That goes for you too," East said to me. "You're the one who said to not go easy on the rum. Now, back to the game—what are we playing for, clothes?"
Zac scoffed and shook his head. "How about something even more valuable?"
I eyed my TA, who was grinning at me and East over the lip of his straw."Information," he said.
So that little Q&A back there had emboldened him. Well, it wasn't like they'd have a chance once we got going. They hadn't even played this game before.
"Fuck yes." East pointed at Zac. "Information. You're thinking like me."
"God, I hope not," Zac said, and had to jump out of the way as East scooped up a bag to throw at him."I'll take you on first before the tequila fucks up my aim."
"Wait, are you saying tequila will affect your ability to get it in the hole?" East hopped up on top of the bar and let out a laugh. "That doesn't bode well for the rest of the night."
Zac flipped him off as I took up residence at the other board and tossed a bag in the air. "I believe I'm the only one who really needs to be able to get it in the hole," I said.
An exaggerated gasp escaped East as he put a hand over his chest. "Professor Kingston's got a filthy mouth. I approve."
A smile tipped up Zac's lips as stood behind what I'd designated as the foul line in the sand. "So for every sack in the hole, whoever makes it gets to ask a question, no holds barred?"
Look at Zac taking up the inquisitive mantle. I wonder what it is he's dying to know…
Considering I'd brought them both to my island and extended an invitation, there really wasn't any reason not to answer their questions. It wasn't like I had any dark secrets. I wasn't actually Batman.
"Deal," I said before aiming for Zac's board and tossing the bag. It hit the platform and skidded to the edge of the hole before slowly tipping in.
"Uh oh." East gave Zac a warning look and sipped on his martini.
I reached down for another bag and pondered what I wanted to ask first. "Where do you see yourself in five years?"
"Opening up a second location of The Cellar under my management," Zac answered.
"You're already running one?"
He grinned. "I already answered your question, King. It's my turn."He aimed and threw, but tossed it more like a baseball and overshot the board completely.
"Oh God, this is gonna be a landslide," East muttered.
"Try it underhand. Like this." I pitched another bag at the board and got lucky again as it popped into the hole. "What's your current role at the company?"
Zac ran his fingers through his windblown hair and automatically went to push his glasses up but then realized he'd switched them out for contacts today. "I'm running the restaurants with my father, so once I graduate I'll have the knowledge to open a new location in the city, on my own."
I let out a low whistle. "Impressive."
"Wait, wait, wait." East hopped off the bar. "What are you talking about, you'll open another Cellar? How'd you get that job?"
"My family owns it."
"What?" East's eyes widened. "You never told me that."
"You never asked."
East sputtered, his hands low on his hips, unable to refute Zac's statement.
I shook my head. "For such a nosy little shit, I'm shocked you didn't know Zac is part of the Fletcher family's business. I thought you had your finger on the pulse of all of Manhattan's high-end establishments. The Cellar locations extend far beyond that."
All he could manage was a few curses while he tried to process this new information. "Look, talking hasn't been our strong point."
"You never bothered to ask what Zac's doing after graduation?"
"I'm asking now."
Zac grabbed a bag from the sand. "You want to ask questions, you have to get a sack in the hole. But it's my turn."He used an underhand throw this time, managing to land on the top of the board before it fell in. Zac let out a loud whoop and said, "All right, King, I have to know: why did you become a professor in the first place? If you've got all this, why waste time with delinquents like East?"
"I take offense to that," East said.
"I meant you to. Well?"
"It was kind of by…accident, I guess you could say," I replied.
"Accident?" East scoffed. "How do you accidentally end up with one of the most boring jobs on the planet?"
"I'm so glad you hold me in such high esteem."
"Oh, I do. But not because of your job. In fact, it never made sense to me that someone like you was just a professor. Sorry, but you don't fit the mold. You're too fucking hot."
"Well, for your information, I enjoy being a professor, but you're right—it's not what I set out to do. I started up TerraKohr before I graduated, and that was my sole focus until a few years ago. My favorite professor at Astor, my mentor, was forced to retire unexpectedly, and I stepped in temporarily to take his place."
"Okay." Zac nodded, twisting one of the bags in his hands. "But that doesn't explain why you stayed."
"No, it doesn't, does it?" I reached for my drink and took a long sip, letting the alcohol warm a path down my throat. "You see, I was going to leave a little earlier and continue to pursue my other business ventures, but then…you came along."
Zac's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
"Wait, you stayed for Zac ?" East asked.
I could tell from the stunned look on Zac's face that he wanted to know the exact same thing, and while that technically would count as two questions, I didn't have the heart to make them wait.
"I stayed because I saw Zac's potential." I put my drink down and went to pick up another bag. "We worked well together, and I knew I could help you."
Zac licked his lips, completely and utterly blindsided by my response. "Wow, I…I had no idea."
"I know. There was no reason for you to. You're going to go a long way in life, Zac. I just wanted to help you get there."
East made a gagging sound. "Sorry, but would you two like a moment?"
"Oh, shut it," Zac said, and threw a bag at the imp sitting on the bar. "Do you not have one sensitive bone in your body?"
East spread his legs, and I shook my head. "Doesn't count."
"Well, it should. Anyway, I didn't come here for hearts and flowers conversation." East hopped off the bar and sauntered over to Zac. "So if that's all you've got, move out of the way and let me have a turn. It's time to get some actual dirt on King."