Page 58 of High

“Allí están, mijos! I thought you’d never get back.”

I buried my face against Thio’s chest but realized that wasn’t helping my situation. My hard-on thumped against his thigh. Tía Rosa tittered from somewhere behind us. I snatched the glass of water from Thio’s hand and went to slip to the side with my back to her to chug it, and then I would try to decide if I could manage to sneak into the house without embarrassing myself, but Thio tightened his arm securely around me and trapped me against him.

“We’re here,” Thio said. “Give us a few minutes? Please, Mamá?”

TíaRosa laughed, not a stupid woman, and I didn’t know if I would be able to look her in the eye later. One of Thio’s men, Héctor, stood next to the back door, and he shook his head at us. He was tall and pleasantly fat, but muscular, and he kept his long black hair in a small bun at the top of the back of his head. I still didn’t know everyone’s names, but I liked him, so I’d learned it. He wasn’t much older than Thio, and he never gave me the type of look that indicated he thought Thio should have thrown me into the ocean rather than bring me back here from Pedregal.

“Come here,” Thio whispered. He kissed me and then smacked my ass. “Go, get showered. Go with Mamá after. I want you two to have fun.” He stared at me like he thought I could walk on water, even if someone did toss me in, and a thrill shot through me.

“You promised you were going to have me sit in with you the next time there was a meeting.” I tried not to pout at him because it would only give him ammo to use against me being involved in something like that yet, but rather than put me off again, he nodded.

“Yes, but then you told Mamá you would go with her when you talked to her last week, before this meeting was finalized. You can’t tell her you won’t go now, or at least, you won’t.” I flushed. “And I can’t tell these men who flew in from Belize to wait a few hours while my boyfriend takes my mamá shopping.” He lowered his head to bonk his forehead against mine and stare into my eyes up close until I was fighting off a laugh.

“Why not?”

“You know why not. Go. This may drag out until tomorrow anyway.” He gave me a stern look. I didn’t need him to remind me that I couldn’t be seen actually causing trouble in front of the men, so I nodded, kissed his cheek, but stuck my tongue out at him as I went. He laughed and swatted at my ass again.

I glanced over my shoulder at the ocean, and the rolling waves sparkled like glass. I’d only taken the board out once because the waves got rough along this stretch of beach, and I wasn’t in the same shape I’d been in before. They would be great if I could get myself built up for the challenge again, but I just wasn’t there yet. A sense of dread overwhelmed me for a few seconds—maybe I will never be that good on the board again—but I was able to shake it off and go inside to get ready.

Thio followed me through a back door into the smallest sitting room. “If you’re good, you might have an early present waiting when you get home.”

That brought me up short with excitement. Did I need anything? No. But did I want a present from Thio? Something he’d picked just for me? Yes! I turned, my heart thudding harder than when I’d been digging in my feet on the sand. “Thio, did you? Did you get me one?”

“It’s not a tiger.” He shook his head at me.

“Oh.” I was actually disappointed. I’d been kidding, mostly, but the cub had been really adorable.

“Oh? I say I have a present for you when you get back, and that’s what I get from you?” He crossed his arms, but that only made me stare at the firm muscles of his pecs and lose track of what we were arguing about.

“If you shower with me, you’ll get a different ‘oh’ I’m sure you’ll like.”

The slow smile that spread across his face had heat sinking low through my stomach, and my dick immediately plumped. He cut me a look as he casually set his glass down on a coffee table, took mine from me and did the same, and then he bolted forward. With a yelp I ran, and he chased me through the house to the staircase and up the steps.

“Boys! Behave!” his mother yelled from the direction of the kitchen, but she was laughing. I hadn’t been staying in my room, but my clothes still lived there, so I ran in, and Thio shoved open the door behind me when I tried to shut him out. I wasn’t sure why I was running because it wasn’t like I didn’t want to be caught, but I tore through the walk-in closet to the bathroom on the other side in time to close the door in Thio’s face; I didn’t turn the lock, just kicked off my shoes and wriggled out of my shorts and briefs while he swore and wrenched the door open. I was naked with my cock sticking out to greet him by the time he burst inside. I half expected him to remind me I couldn’t do this or that in front of the men, but all he did was rush me and grasp my asscheeks in both hands. I lifted my chin and moaned into his demanding kiss as he pushed down his shorts while he sucked on my tongue.

We took too long in the shower, and by the time I was dressed in black jeans that Thio said made my ass look fantástico, and a nice white shirt to go with them, and made my way downstairs, his mother was waiting near the front door for me. She had on a flowing red dress that came off her shoulders, and her silver-streaked black hair was down. She beamed at me.

“There you are. I was beginning to think you’d drowned,” she teased.

“I’m sorry, Tía. It was all Thio’s fault.”

“Mother, don’t buy his lies,” Thio said as he came down the staircase to meet us. He was in a suit that made my mouth water, and again, I wished I could go with him.

“Thiago, I know my Manny, and I know he’s telling the truth. Of course it’s your fault. Manny wouldn’t lie.” She laughed, and I held out my arm for her to take.

He groaned. “Be good. No tigers,” he snarked, and I sighed. “Wait. Mamá, let Héctor escort you to the car, please?”

She glanced at the guard who came up behind Thio, and I was happy he was one of the ones going with us.

“Sí, Thiago.” She went with a gracious hand wave. Frowning, I turned back to him.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, I just wanted to give you this.” He handed me a small silver knife and I sighed. I pushed a button on the side and the blade popped out, sharp and deadly. When I pushed the button again, the blade retracted. I stared at it and then glanced up into his eyes. I pecked his lips to stop myself from being obnoxious.

“Really? A knife? I carry a larger knife with me when I surf.”

“It’s a start.” He furrowed his brows. “Why do you carry a knife surfing?”