Page 33 of Burn It Down

“Phoenix. You’re the fucking worst.”

“That’s for making fun of my dick, you jerk.” He laughs and I know he’s just fucking around. Phoenix’s dick is perfectly normal, butman,it didnotlike that lake.

“Alright, ladies, I’ve been driving your asses around for the last hour and a half. Someone make me a fucking drink.”

“Aye aye, Captain,” Hudson responds, digging in the cooler.

This is my favorite part. Yeah, I love being whipped around behind the boat, but getting to chill with my best friends as the adrenaline seeps out of my body is the best feeling in the world and now that Dylan is here with me, I can’t imagine anything being better.

As soon as the anchor’s down, I hold on to my hat and launch myself over the side of the boat, diving in. We come to the samecove every time so I know it’s deep enough to go in head-first even though the murky lake water prevents me from seeing the bottom.

“Dylan, you getting in?” I yell, swimming in small circles.

“Yeah, just finishing...,” he tips his cup back and drains the contents, “…my drink.”

I watch as he stands and finally strips his shirt over his head.

Oh. My. Fucking. God.

This man’s body and the ink on it has me paralyzed. I want to see every fucking inch of it. I want to yank those swim trunks off and see what they’re keeping hidden from me.

I hear Phoenix first. “Sick tattoo, man.”

“Thanks.”

But it’s Hudson who leans forward, inspecting the tattoo with his face two inches from Dylan’s skin. He points to something and Dylan hooks his thumb in his waist band, pulling his trunks down dangerously low on the front of his hip. I swear to God I see dark hair and lose my fucking mind.

“Bro! Are you trying to suck his dick? Let the man in the water!” The joke — which is obviouslynota joke — works and a second later, Hudson straightens up and flips me off while Dylan dives off the boat.

“Keep your panties on, princess. I was just admiring the art.”

Dylan’s body is a work of art alright.

I feel like I’ve swallowed my tongue. I’m thrashing around so much, trying to get my limbs to work that Knox throws two foam floats into the water beside me.

“Jesus, Jake. You’re making me tired. Chill out. The fuck is wrong with you?”

I swim to the raft, grateful as I cling to it. Dylan bobs back to the surface and pushes his black hair back from his face and wipes his eyes.

“Fuck this feels good,” he says with a smile, reaching for the other float. “Hey, Hudson, mind pouring another drink while you have the cooler open?”

I can’t stop staring.Jesus Christ.I thought he looked good with his shirt on, but shirtless Dylan has my cock so hard I have to keep my lower half hidden under the raft I’m desperately holding on to.

“Jacob Samuel Ellington!”Hearing my full name pulls me out of my stupor and I turn my head toward Hudson’s voice.

“What?”

“I asked if you want one yet?” He holds up his cup and I nod my head not entirely sure mixing my current feelings and alcohol is a good idea, but also hoping it helps deflate my cock.

Dylan takes his cup and lazily kicks away from the boat while Phoenix and Knox use the ladder at the front to enter the water, both of them draping their arms over pool noodles to stay afloat. A minute later, Hudson’s arm is draped over the side, handing my drink and sunglasses down to me. After pouring his own, he slips into the water and looks around. “Damn. I poured all the drinks and you bitches took all the floats? That’s messed up,” he pouts.

“Here,” Dylan speaks up immediately. “Take this one. I’ll share with Jake.”

Oh shit.

He doesn’t give Hudson a chance to protest as he slides off the float and pushes it in Hudson’s direction. A second later, Dylan’s got his arms draped over my float, mirroring my position on the opposite side, our legs dangling in the murky water beneath us. He’s so close I can smell him. So close I can see my reflection in his own sunglasses.

Fuck me. He’s gorgeous.

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