Adonis lifted his chin in pride. “It is no challenge.”
Connor grinned. “We’ll see. I have a drawer set out for you there. Put on shorts at least.”
“I do not need them.”
Connor paused at the doorway. He stopped his ascent and approached Adonis. “Shall I go naked, too? And let everyone see my body?”
Adonis’s lip curled back in displeasure. The mere thought of others gazing at Connor’s bare form was infuriating. He didn’t mind them admiring him clothed, but he would dispose of any that dared gaze at him naked.
“I feel the same way about people looking atyou,” Connor said. “So, cover up, please.”
Adonis grunted. “Yes. It would be bad for your family to lose their eyes. I will dress.”
Connor blinked, his expression unreadable for a moment.
“I’d better keep that comment in mind,” Connor said. “If you want to harm someone, I’d prefer if you run it by me first.”
Adonis recalled Connor’s anger when he’d pushed Laurence from him. Adonis still believed it had been his right to get Laurence’s hands off the claim marks he’d left on Connor… to see Laurence prod at them so openly had been infuriating. “I will tell you first,” Adonis promised.
“If it’s a case where you’ve been kidnapped, or I’ve been kidnapped, or anyone like those scientists and that rich prick are trying to harm us, then you can act first.” Connor’s gaze darkened. “If they think they can put you in a cage, show them how stupid they are.”
“I will,” Adonis promised, enjoying the sight of Connor’s protectiveness.
“Are you two having sex?” Laurence called.
Connor rolled his eyes, breaking away from Adonis. “Get dressed. I’ll go help him aboard.”
Adonis listened to him go upstairs as he pulled on a pair of pants. He was getting more used to being clothed thanks to Connor’s insistence, and now that he had been warned, he would be sure to keep himself covered in the presence of others. He hadn’t realised Connor felt the same coveting urge that he did, and it pleased him greatly to learn.
He could not wait to show Connor his world, sights in mind that he was eager to get Connor’s reaction to. Though he was keener to have Connor stay in his nest for more than a few days… they had time. Connor had promised for weeks that they would be able to enjoy their time together without interruptions soon.
Adonis went outside and found Connor tying Laurence’s speedboat to their larger vessel.
Laurence smiled at Adonis as he spotted him. “Connor told me I was a brat. But he always says that.”
Adonis grunted his agreement. “Yes. You are a whelp.”
Laurence’s smile vanished. “Whelp? What does that mean?” He looked at Connor for an answer.
Connor leaned against the railing, casting a grin at Adonis before nodding at Laurence. “It means you’re a big baby.”
“What? It doesn’t mean that, does it?” Laurence looked at Adonis with wide eyes. “Adonis?”
“That is what it means,” Adonis confirmed.
“Come now, whelp, do you want to surf?” Connor taunted.
Laurence’s eyes flashed in indignation. “Don’t call me that.”
“What a whelp of a thing to say,” Connor said. Adonis recognised the signs of amusement in the crinkling lines around Connor’s eyes. He walked to him and leaned against the railing next to him.
“If you repeat that toanyone, I will wake you at five a.m. from now until forever,” Laurence threatened.
Connor hummed. He was going to repeat it. Forever.
Another boat approached with Trevor and Nick standing on the front bow and a red-haired man at the helm. Adonis’s nerves prickled at the sight of Trevor, and Connor reached behind him for his wrist, squeezing it without even turning his head toward him. Adonis struggled to get his defensiveness into order: he knew how Connor loathed to see him hiss at Trevor. He was too ingrained with his sire to show him disobedience, but Adonis hoped that once they departed, Connor would see that he did not need to answer to anyone but himself, especially with Adonis at his side.
As the new boat came abreast to Connor’s vessel, Adonis noted the way Connor eyed it with contempt. Adonis had found the pictures adorning the hull attractive—even in the water, the ship had caught his eye at times—but he knew how Connor despised any variety of octopi and squid, even paintings of them. Contrarily, he’d been furious with Adonis when he brought a dead squid to him—wrongfully thinking that perhaps Connor would indulge in the creature if it was already dead when presented. He had learned to avoid them at all costs, instead bringing fish Connor would accept with a smile.
