Page 65 of Endless

“Never,” he vowed. Then his voice was closer. “Your indecency is only for us to see, princess.”

It didn’t matter how hot the sun was, I was hotter. “Fuck.”

“I tried earlier, remember?” Vaughn asked. “We were interrupted.”

“All right, all right.” Ellie pushed through the pack to get to me. “Hands off my sister. We need her. And we’re going to kick your ass.”

None of them looked like they believed her, and I kept my face even. What they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them until it was too late. She smirked, and I paused before following her. “Want to wager something?”

“If we win,” Hawk said, “you sleep naked for the rest of the time we’re here.”

“Done,” I said.

He stopped short, surprised I’d agreed so quickly. “And if we win, the next time we go somewhere, I get to open my own doors.”

A laugh slipped out. “Fine, baby girl. If that’s what you want.”

It was a small bet, because I liked them doing things for me, but I still wanted to prove a point.

I joined the girls on the other side of the net. There were way,waytoo many of us, but no one really cared. Ellie and I stayed at the front. My guys and Warren stayed there too, looking at us like we were their favorite meal.

All I did was smile.

Vaughn served it, and I jumped on pure muscle memory and instinct, spiking the ball straight into the sand.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

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VAUGHN

Ilifted a sleeping Isolde off the chair and began to carry her down the beach toward our end of the house.

We’d earned the spanking we got during the volleyball games. Served us right—pun absolutely intended—for assuming we would be better. Then we found out Isolde played volleyball all the way through college and the only reason she didn’t go further was because she chose to retire, not because she didn’t have offers.

Shaking my head, I looked down at my sleepy Omega, hair windswept and sandy, lips parted just enough to make them kissable. I imagined them red and swollen from too many kisses, the way her mouth would look after I chased her, caught her, and made her mine.

The whole group had played games until we were starving. Then we ate, played some more, and it had become an impromptu party. No bonfire this time, but music and drinks. Some people went in the water. A bridesmaid who had a pack had gone inside with her guys. One of the groomsmen and his husband also left for some alone time.

We’d stayed, watching Isolde as she talked with her sister and Warren. Chatted with the other bridesmaids. Watched her open up like the flowers she smelled like and be in her element.

But a whole day of people and sun wore her out. It wasn’t late, but she’d started drooping even though she hadn’t been drinking.

A figure stood near the steps to our veranda. I smothered the growl in my chest and turned to the others behind me. “Someone take her, please.”

Hawk lifted her out of my arms and into his. She barely stirred, snuggling into his chest. “What’s up?”

I nodded over my shoulder. “He and I are going to have a chat.”

“Be careful.” Rowan put a hand on my shoulder as he passed.

It wasn’t a warning for my safety, but for Isolde’s. Don’t make anything worse for her. That wasn’t my intention.

But this asshole had already done enough in her life. She didn’t need him skulking around in the shadows waiting to pounce and make her talk about things she didn’t want to remember.

Isolde had us now, whether or not she believed it, and as her Alpha, my job was to protect her. So that’s what I would do.

I stayed back until the others were inside, watching as they passed Beau. He didn’t stop them and didn’t speak, just watched. Clearly he’d been hoping she’d come back by herself.

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