Jay arched a brow in a look he’d definitely learned from Soren. “I might make a mess of your mansion though.”
“Have at it. I’m only using the kitchen to make cocktails.”
And then Jay giggled, hugging Soren around the middle. He gave Soren a little shake of his own. “You could’ve told me, you know,” he said softly. “What you want matters too.”
The sweetness was a punch to the gut, worse than any accusation Jay could have thrown Soren’s way, but Jay was already skipping out the door, either to unpack whatever sartorial atrocities he’d brought or to beg Alexei to defile him in the sand.
Gabe sauntered out of the closet, looking far too smug. Handsome and extremely kissable, but far, far too smug. “How terrible do you feel right now?”
Soren cocked a brow. “I planned an amazing, luxurious, wholesome family vacation for our whole den. I deserve a goddamn medal.”
Gabe approached him with a grin, then placed a soft kiss on Soren’s cheek. “I agree. You do.”
His sincerity had Soren deflating the tiniest bit. “Thank you.” He sniffed, turning to the bed. That was enough guilt. Soren wasn’t spending the whole vacation wishing he was somewhere else—especially when it was somewhere he didn’t even want to be.
He went over to the bed and began taking items out of the pile he’d placed there, holding them up to Gabe. “These shorts. This shirt.” Soren held back the shirt before Gabe could take it, giving him a look. “Unbuttoned.” When he was sure Gabe had received the message, he handed it over. “And these sunglasses.”
Gabe eyed the pile in his hands. “I feel like a Ken doll.”
“A Ken doll wouldn’t argue.”
But Gabe made no move to change.
Soren huffed. Why was everyone on earth determined to give him a hard time today? “You’re looking for a reward, Highness?”
Gabe smirked.
Soren tapped a finger against his cheek, pretending to consider. “Let’s see… If you agree to let me choose your outfits every day of this vacation, I’ll let you eat me out in the shower tonight.”
“Done.” Gabe grinned like he’d won something. “But you know I’m just going to be in a swimsuit half the time.”
“Still worth it.”
“Well, yeah, of course it is, brat. You’re getting what you wantandgetting your ass eaten.”
Soren narrowed his eyes. “Would you like me to change the prize?” he asked, his voice full of false sweetness.
“No,” Gabe said immediately, his grin dropping. He placed his pile back on the bed and grabbed Soren by the ass, pulling him close. “I’ve earned it.”
“You haven’t, actually,” Soren told him, though his arms were floating up without permission to wrap around Gabe’s neck. “You’ve only promised to.”
Gabe nuzzled his nose along Soren’s hairline, murmuring, “Same thing.”
He started walking them backward, toward the bathroom. Soren pulled back. “Ah, ah, ah.” He pointed a finger at the bed. “Change.”
Gabe’s hands tightened on his ass. “Shouldn’t we shower first?”
God, he looked gorgeous when he was trying to manipulate Soren into bed. Gabe didn’t need the vacation sun either—he was already golden, perpetually sun-kissed from his many runs in the woods.
But Soren had to stay strong.
“The others are arriving,” he said curtly, as if he wasn’t two seconds away from letting Gabe toss him wherever he wanted and have his way with him. “And I’m the host.”
Gabe gave him a sulky look, which he shouldn’t have been able to pull off at his age, but which made Soren want to bite into him anyway.
Soren pulled out the big guns. “You want your brother to come looking for us and stumble into hearing distance while you’re getting your reward?”
Gabe blanched, releasing his hold. “Jesus. Okay, fine. Your personal doll is getting dressed now.”
