Page 43 of Too Far

“You could join us, Cap.”

“Careful, Mama,” K warns under his breath in a low rumble.

I ignore him. I’m tired of being careful. Treading lightly. Tiptoeing around the reality of the dynamics forming between us—at least between most of us—and what I’m dreaming of for our future.

“What do you say, Crusade? Want to hop on board at the next stop and be the conductor of the train?”

Chapter 17

Kendrick

Theenergyonthisboat is charged and eager. We’re all watching the unexpected show Josephine is putting on as she bates Cap.

Our girl is playing with fire, and we all know it.

But Kylian, Locke, and I sit back and let her do her thing. She’s already proven to be flame resistant. And I, for one, am curious about how this will go down.

Nicky and I have been with our girl together. The night she called Kylian to my room last weekend was, hands-down, the single hottest experience of my life.

Though I’ve only played on a team twice so far, those events won’t be the last. We’re all committed to this. All the way in, in every fucking way.

Except Decker.

It’s obvious he wants her, and the man isn’t so traditional or narrow-minded that he’s opposed to an unconventional relationship.

If I had to guess, it has more to do with some sort of martyr mentality. He’s under constant scrutiny, and that’s only going to increase in the future. He wants to shield Jojo from the world. But he wants her, too.

Maybe he’ll never come around.

Or maybe he just needs a little push.

He can’t have her all to himself and he knows it. It’s time to make his intentions known.

Decker’s position on the fence doesn’t serve anyone, least of all her. It’s not fair for him to be one foot in and one foot out with her or with us.

We’ve always been a team. It’s about time he was reminded of that.

She’s propped up on tiptoes, murmuring words I can’t make out. His eyes are darting around, searching. He scans the water, looks to the shore. Eventually, he glances at Kylian, then over to Locke and me.

“Brother,” I call out, chin lifted.

His eyes widen in the dark. It’s a gut-punch reaction, as if he’s a child who’s been caught doing something he knows he shouldn’t be doing.

A small scoff escapes me. “There’s no need to be on high alert. Not with us. We’re all fine. She’s good, too. Aren’t you, Mama?”

Jojo nods, looping her arms around Cap’s neck.

When she buries her face in his neck, he closes his eyes in pleasure, accepting her affection.

I hold back a groan, knowing exactly how supple and warm her mouth feels on his skin right now. Despite the lavish attention she’s giving, his fists are still clenched at his sides and he’s still focused on me, his expression rigid.

“Come on, Cap,” I tsk. “You have to know none of us would ever intentionally hurt her. In any way. We trust her. Weloveher.” I pause on the confession, letting it carry on the cool breeze making the pontoon sway. “If she says she’s good, she’s good.”

Kylian clears his throat. “Cap needs proof. Show him just how good you are, baby. Show him how much we want this.”

Jojo peers over her shoulder in Kylian’s direction. “Cap has a rule about boat sex.”

Nicky chortles. “Cap has a rule about everything.”