Mason spoke first. “Did you two…?”
“It’s clear they’ve been fucking,” Jackson snapped.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” Dash snapped, staring at his bare feet peeking out of Emerson’s robe.
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Mason said, a warning in his tone.
Dash looked up at his best friend. As soon as his eyes met Mason’s, all Dash saw was disappointment.
“Please tell me you didn’t,” Mason whispered.
“We did,” Dash said, holding Mason’s stare.
Mason’s face fell.
“Wait,” Jackson said, taking a step closer to Dash. “You let him?—”
A naked Emerson was suddenly standing in front of him, facing Jackson and Mason down with Dash behind him. His growl rumbled through them both.
“Back away from my omega!”Emerson roared.
His omega?Dash pressed his forehead against the back of Emerson’s bicep, shaking his head. Mortification filled him to the brim. He peeked around the edge of Emerson’s arm to spy on Mason and Jackson. They both stared, mouths agape.
“Get off my boat!”Emerson roared again.
“Stop,”Dash whispered to Emerson. He was going to make things much worse.
Emerson looked over his shoulder, rage in his eyes. That rage calmed a little the longer he stared at Dash. Other than thelapping of the tide against the side of the boat and a distant boat horn, silence hung like heavy fog.
“Is this truly where you want to be?” Mason asked Dash, his gaze aimed at his feet.“With him?”
Dash took a step from behind Emerson, who pressed a restraining arm across his stomach, his gaze never leaving Jackson.
Jackson stood at the ready, his body poised for a fight.
“This is where I want to be,” Dash murmured.
Mason met his stare. He looked back at Emerson for a split-second before he turned back to the speedboat. Jackson, on the other hand, didn’t look ready to leave. Emerson took a step closer, another growl rising from him.
“Get out of here, or therewillbe trouble,” Emerson warned.
“Do I look scared of you, asshole?” Jackson snapped, baring his teeth.
Dash cut his glance to the side and saw Emerson’s teeth were bared, as well.
Was he really going to have two dumbass alphas fighting over him? He slid closer to Emerson and threaded a hand in his alpha’s, eyeing Jackson—and hoping it would be enough to stop any violence.
Jackson winced, a stab of pain showing in his face.
“Thisis where I belong,” Dash said to Jackson.
He wasn’t trying to throw his relationship with Emerson in Jackson’s face. He wasn’t that cruel. Even though their friendship was strained, he cared about Jackson. But they were never meant to be, and deep down, he sensed they both knew that. If Jackson needed a visual reminder that he was with Emerson to end the fight, so be it.
Jackson’s gaze dropped to Dash’s hand clenched in Emerson’s before he rose. He nodded so faintly that Dash wasn’t sure he’d actually seen it. Jackson stepped over the railing andplopped into one of the two seats on the small racing boat. Mason gave Dash a curt nod and a slight wave before revving the engine and peeling off, the waves of the smaller craft sending Emerson’s boat rocking for a few seconds.
Once they were a decent distance away, Emerson turned to eye him. “Where you belong, hmm?”
Dash’s face warmed.
