“I see steam coming off your noggin,” Emerson whispered.
Dash turned his gaze back to Emerson and lowered his hand. “Just thinking I should probably go home, shower, and change before Randall gets here.”
“You can shower here. I’ll find you something to wear.”
“I don’t think it would be smart for me to smell like you,” Dash said.
Emerson leaned in and captured Dash’s lips, his kiss hungry. When he pulled back, he wore a sly smile. “I happen to like you smelling like me.”
“Not sure your brother would agree,” Dash said. “You might want to open up as many windows as you can to air the place out. It smells like sex in here.”
Emerson grinned. “You make that sound like a bad thing.”
He pressed his lips to Emerson’s again before climbing naked from bed. After hunting for all his clothing that had been flung every which way, he got dressed in the salon. Emerson came padding out without a stitch on, distracting Dash. How was he supposed to leave when Emerson looked so good?
“Hurry back?” Emerson asked, crowding in close and stealing a kiss.
“I’ll do my best,” Dash said. He checked his watch. “We’ve got about three hours until Randall said he’d arrive.” Dash paused. “Do you think he knows where he’s going? Should I have warned him it wasyourboat?”
“He might not show up if you do that,” Emerson said. “Things did not go well yesterday.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Emerson shook his head. “Not really.”
Dash frowned. “Maybe you can talk to him more tonight.”
Emerson shrugged, the light in his eyes fading more.
Dash frowned. He hoped tonight didn’t show Emerson an even worse side to his brother. “Maybe we should do this somewhere else. I can postpone until I can figure out another location.”
“You want answers. Better sooner than later,” Emerson said. “Jaye could be in danger. The longer this takes, the higher his chances of not being found.”
“If you’re sure,” Dash said, worried he’d be the one to blame for ruining the brothers’ relationship. He’d been so focused on wanting Emerson’s backup that he hadn’t considered what this might do to them. Yet, if Randallwasinto some shady shit, Emerson needed to know.
Better sooner than later.
“I’m sure,” Emerson replied, eyeing him with lust growing in his eyes.
That lust was all Dash needed to want another round in bed. He had to force himself to leave. Emerson kissed him one last time before he left.
Once home, he peeled out of his clothes and brought them to his nose. Sure enough, he was doused in a spicy, wooden scent. He’d need to be careful with that. If anyone noticed a change in his scent, they might realize something was up. Fortunately, he had a small sliver of a soap that the Black Guard had procured for the few alphas they employed. It masked his scent while on ops. He was pretty sure he could get his hands on more of it. It would hopefully cleanse him of Emerson’s scent, too.
Not that he wanted that, but it was necessary if they wanted to remain safe.
After a long, hot shower, he redressed and collected his notes, preparing to return to Emerson’s boat. Before he could get to the front door, he heard a knock. He crossed the foyer, not expecting a visitor. When he opened it, he found an old friend standing there.
“Jackson?”
His old teammate from the Black Guard, Jackson Powell, stood there. He wore a broad, forced grin. None of the old warmth and friendship was there.
“Heyyy…there he is.” He walked closer and gave Dash an uncomfortable hug—and a quick scent—before stepping back. “Long time, no see.”
Being scented by another alpha caused a quick stab of anger. Dash shrugged it off, deciding to let it go without comment. This time. “Yeah, it’s been a few years since we’ve been face-to-face, hasn’t it?”
Jackson nodded. “Yeah,toolong.”
They stared at one another a few seconds, an awkward silence lingering between them. Calling every once in a blue moon had felt different. They’d had miles and miles between them to allow for comfort. Standing and breathing the same air wasn’t the same.
