Page 24

I wrack my brain for what’s going on. Am I coming down with a fever suddenly? Am I sick? Why does my skin feel all tingly and my stomach feels so warm? Why do I have the urge to touch Kassian like that? Why do I wanna ruffle Nix’s hair?

As best as I can, I get myself together before straightening once more. Nix tosses his shirt onto the towel and my mouth runs dry all over again. His shoulders are so broad and strong. I might be taller than him but I have no doubt he could throw me over his shoulder and carry me. Why does that thought make me want to squirm?

“Here,” I say, holding my hand out for the bottle as Nix struggles to get his back. “Let me.”

Nix tosses it over and I just barely stop myself from slapping my own forehead. Why the fuck did I just volunteer for this? I’m having an inner crisis and getting my hands on Nix’s body isn’t going to help that!

I squirt some sunscreen onto my hand before carefully slathering it against Nix’s shoulders. I push it down his back, stopping at the waistband of his trunks. His skin is hot to the touch and I’m not sure if it’s from the sun or if Nix just runs hotter. Part of me would really like to learn the truth someday.

My stomach swoops as I touch him. I swear, I feel him shiver and that just makes these confusing feelings inside of me even stronger. I make sure that Nix is completely covered in sunscreen before finally taking a step back.

Swallowing thickly, I murmur, “all done, Nix.”

“Thanks, Dean!”

I look over at Kassian and my face flushes. He’s bent over, applying sunscreen to his long, lithe legs. When he straightens, he takes off his robe. The act shouldn’t be sensual and yet, somehow it is.

My cock gives a twitch and suddenly, everything seems to come into focus. This feeling? It’s arousal.

I think I’m attracted to Kassian and Nix.

I don’t think I’ve ever been attracted to someone before. I’ve never really had these types of feelings or sensations. I never really understood the hype around sex, never chasing it the same way people around me did.

“Can you get my back too?”

“Yeah,” I say, doing my best to smile. “Come here.”

Kassian turns his back to me and I squirt more sunscreen onto my hand. I start at his shoulders and work my way down. Now that I know what I’m feeling, it’s obvious. I’m getting pleasure from taking care of Kassian and Nix. It feels so good to have my hands on their skin, to feel them like this.

Gods, I have to stop. I can’t be the creep who’s getting turned on from something as simple as applying sunscreen! There’s a million reasons why I shouldn’t be feeling this way, yet I can’t stop them now that I have a name for them.

Kassian makes a breathy noise at the back of his throat and I’m a goner. Thank the gods I’m wearing khaki shorts because it helps hide the fact that I have an erection. If I was wearing swim trunks, everyone at the beach would know.

“There you go,” I say, taking a step away and immediately turning back towards my chair. I set the sunscreen down.

“Water time,” Nix says happily, grabbing my wrist and pulling me towards the water. Kassian gives him a soft look as he follows on my other side.

I quickly kick off my sandals before I’m dragged into the water. The water is cold, helping to calm down the racing inside my head. My body comes back to myself, no longer feeling like I’m about to overheat or pass out.

Kassian and I stop once the water gets to about our knees. It laps over our legs, tickling our skin. Goosebumps break out across Kassian’s pale skin.

Nix, on the other hand, runs forward until it’s deep enough for him to dive under the water. He swims for a bit before cresting back up, shaking his head and scattering droplets every which way, not unlike a dog.

I look down at Kassian, seeing him watch Nix, a soft smile on his lips.

Even if what I’m feeling for these two is something more than friendship, it’s easy to see that they only have eyes for each other. I might be new to these feelings, but that doesn’t mean I can’t see what’s in front of me. They belong together.

Maybe that’s why I’m here. Maybe it’s my job to help these two finally get together. Maybe the universe wants me to be the catalyst that will instill change.

“Tempted by the darkness, you will always be my light. May my feet continue forward until I find that which lights my path.”

Kassian startles, looking up at me with wide eyes. The sun reflects off the water, brightening his eyes even further.

“How do you remember these quotes, Dean? Your memory is amazing.”

I rub the back of my neck. “I don’t even know why I said that. The way you were looking at Nix made me think of it.”

“I love that part. Lazar’s devotion is something out of this world. People like that aren’t real.”