Page 4 of Castaway Heat

“Well, we can’t all be partiers like you, Sage,” Ronin murmured, finally dragging his gaze away and eyeing Sage.

Seconds later, it returned to Shiloh.

“Oh, where are my manners?” Sage said. “Over there is my friend Eirin Foster. I don’t think you two have met before.”

Ronin nodded at Eirin. “Nice to meet you.”

“Same,” Eirin murmured.

“And you remember Shiloh Anderson, don’t you?” Sage asked Ronin. He chuckled. “But of course you do. He was that skinny little teenager who followed you around all moon-eyed during Thanksgiving and Christmas a few years back.”

Shiloh closed his eyes, mortified. Fuck. Thanks a lot, Sage.

When he reopened his eyes, he glared at Sage. Getting up and leaving the scene of the crime was tempting, but it would only make things worse. It would be better to play it off, like it was nothing. Otherwise, Sage would push that button even harder the next time.

Ronin’s gaze searched his face. “It’s been a while, Shiloh. How are you?”

“Wonderful, thanks,” Shiloh forced out.

“Oh, he’s doing more than wonderful,” Sage interrupted. “He just got his master’s and has been accepted into the graduate program at BBU. In a few years, we’re going to have to call him Doctor Anderson.”

A hint of a smile crossed Ronin’s lips. “Doctor Anderson, hmm? And what is it you’re studying?”

Shiloh cleared his throat, terrified his voice wouldn’t work. “Chemical Oceanography and Marine Biology.”

“Chemical Oceanography? What’s that?” Ronin asked, moving a step closer to Shiloh’s lounger.

He also turned his body so Shiloh was his sole focus.

“The study of the chemical composition of the ocean.”

Ronin leaned in slightly and lifted a brow, hinting he expected more of an answer.

“We analyze chemicals present in seawater, investigate how they interact with each other, and how that interaction might affect marine life and the ocean ecosystem as a whole. For centuries, we’ve polluted our earth.

Toxic chemicals have been trapped by layers of ice at the poles, century by century.

As our oceans heat up, more and more of those chemicals have been released and we need to determine how much that will impact the life within it.

Our studies will help those seeking ways to reverse the damage we’ve done to our oceans and marine life. ”

A few seconds of silence fell after he’d stopped speaking.

“Beauty and brains, hmm?” Ronin asked, smiling a bit too sensually for Shiloh’s peace of mind.

His face warmed, which he would’ve thought near impossible as hot as he was. Is he hitting on me? No… there’s no way. Get that out of your head, Shiloh.

“Savior of the planet, too,” Sage added, humor in his voice.

“Hardly,” Shiloh said, doing his damnedest to not look at Ronin.

Sage patted the lounger beside him and Ronin sat down, his long legs struggling to fit in the narrow gap. His knees brushed against Shiloh’s thigh. Shiloh pulled his leg away as if he’d been burned.

“Your father didn’t charter you a yacht?” Ronin asked Sage, the heat of his gaze directly on Shiloh. “It would’ve been less crowded.”

“I like dancing and drinking and having fun. I need people to do that with,” Sage said. “I’d be bored with just these two for company.” Sage turned to them. “No offense.”

“We also aren’t alphas, so there’s no way we could scratch Sage’s itch,” Shiloh added.

Sage pointed at him, winked, and clicked his tongue. “Shiloh knows me so well.”

Ronin scanned the three of them. “So that’s what this trip’s for? Scratching all of your collective itches?” His gaze landed on Shiloh again as soon as he finished speaking.

The way Ronin was staring was unnerving and unexpected. His inner sixteen-year-old was cheering, but the grown man was smart enough not to get his hopes up.

“I’ve made it my mission to get Shiloh laid before we leave the ship,” Sage replied.

“Sage!” Shiloh snapped. His face burned as he felt Ronin’s stare. “I didn’t ask for that help, nor do I want it.”

“But it’s been literal months. You’ve already wasted your time here so far. Do you plan to waste the rest?” Sage asked him.

“Maybe I do,” Shiloh said. He waved at the group of alphas in the pool. “I’m not interested in drunken frat boys like you are.”

“They’re not frat boys,” Sage said. “They’re a New Zealand rugby team on holiday.”

“Well, we all know your history with team sports,” Shiloh said. “I’m afraid there’s no bleachers to suck their dicks under, though.”

Ronin and Eirin both snorted with laughter. Both tried to hide it, too. Shiloh immediately felt bad for saying it, yet Sage’s smile only grew.

“Oh, kitty kat’s got claws. I think I like annoyed Shiloh. I’ll have to embarrass you more often.” He clawed his fingers at Shiloh.

Shiloh’s jaw clenched and he narrowed his eyes at Sage.

“As fun as this has been, I have some snooping to do.” Ronin rose. He captured Shiloh’s gaze. “I have reservations in the sushi restaurant tonight. You should join me.”

“Is that an open invitation for all of us—or only Shiloh?” Sage asked.

Shiloh glared at Sage. When he lifted his gaze to Ronin, curious of what the answer would be, he sensed it had been meant for him.

“You’re all welcome, of course,” Ronin said flatly. “Eight o’clock. I’ll meet you outside the restaurant.”

“We’ll be there,” Sage said. “With bells on.”

Ronin smiled softly before offering them a departing wave. He marched past the rugby players and was soon out of sight. Shiloh spun on the lounger and placed his feet on the deck, glaring at Sage.

“I can’t believe you did that. You laid me out on a silver platter for him.”

“And he ate every morsel,” Sage said, grinning. “Did you not see how interested he is?”

“Why wouldn’t he be? You came as close to asking him to fuck me as you could.”

Sage chuckled. “If you want me to, I can ask him to fuck you after dinner.”

“I’m not going to dinner. Not after you just humiliated me,” Shiloh said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“We both know you’re going to dinner,” Sage said.

“I’m not,” Shiloh snapped. He wanted to. Desperately. But he also feared he was walking into a mistake. He wasn’t any different. A few years older, sure, but he was still the omega who’d been glared at with disgust.

Sage frowned. “I baited him and got him on the hook for you. All you have to do now is reel him in.”

“It was over the top, Sage,” Eirin said. “Even for you.”

Shiloh clenched his jaw and Sage’s face fell.

“I was only trying to help,” Sage said, his voice low. He slid his sunglasses down, worry in his eyes. “You’re shy around men, so I nudged. I didn’t mean to step over the line.”

“You’re too much,” Shiloh barked. “As usual.”

Sage winced. Silence hung between them a few seconds.

“I’m sorry,” Sage murmured. “I’m a lot and I go too far sometimes, usually without even realizing it.”

Shiloh looked down at his feet, absorbing that.

“I care about you, Shiloh. I didn’t do that with ill intent. How do I fix this?” Sage asked.

“I need you reel it in. My sex life is off limits as a topic of discussion unless I bring it up. Period.”

“Okay,” Sage said. “I hear you.” He sighed. “I stepped across the line. I’ll try not to do it again. You can kick me in the shin next time.”

Shiloh winced, realizing Sage wasn’t the only one who’d stepped across the line. “I’m sorry I made that snide comment about teams and bleachers. It was uncalled for.”

“It was meaner than I expected from you,” Sage said with a small grin. “Though, I kind of respect you for it, not gonna lie, babe.” He leaned closer, a pitiful look on his face. “Can we be friends again?”

Shiloh shook his head, trying not to smile. “If you promise to do better.”

“I do.” Sage leaned in and wrapped his arms around Shiloh’s neck, kissing his cheek. When he pulled away, there almost appeared to be tears in his eyes. “I can go find Ronin and tell him I was being an asshole. And not to think less of you for my bad behavior.”

Shiloh sighed. “I appreciate the desire, but let’s just leave that one alone.”

“Will you go to dinner?” Sage asked, watching him closely.

Shiloh searched Sage’s face. “As long as you promise not to embarrass me again.”

“I promise,” Sage murmured.

“Now that we’re all friends again, I think it’s the perfect time to mention that Shiloh agreed to a makeover before you and Ronin showed up,” Eirin told Sage.

“I said haircut. Nothing about a makeover,” Shiloh said, but he knew it was already too late. Wicked delight shone in Sage’s eyes.

Eirin rose from his lounger. “We need to persuade the spa to fit him for a haircut before dinner. A facial, too.”

“Persuasion is my best skill,” Sage said, grinning.

“Oh, fuck,” Shiloh muttered under his breath. Yet at the same time, he wasn’t sure he had any clothes with him that were Ronin Drake date worthy, and he’d need their help there. Date? Who said anything about a date? “I’ll raid your closets but you’re not buying me clothes.”

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Sage snapped before rising. He grinned. “I have Daddy’s Black card on file. We’re going shopping after you’re done at the spa.”

“Divide and conquer,” Eirin said. “Help me convince them, and I’ll stay to direct the cut. You can leave and shop for him while he’s in the chair.”

“Good plan,” Sage said, tugging Shiloh to his feet.

“Remember what I said about crossing lines?” Shiloh asked before they lead him inside.