Page 101 of Why Cruise

“It’s just a spa appointment. Ren and Justice aren’t going to show up, anyway.”

I stopped dead and looked at him in horror.

“No, it’s not. It’s Aria’s appointment. Her personal appointment. She told me everything was booked, so it’s her spa day we’re taking. She told me she’d be mad if we were late.”

“Oh, shit.”

“Exactly. Aria scares me a little.”

Theo now was the one dragging me.

“And what do you mean, they’re not going to show?” Now it was my turn for a jaw-cracking yawn. After that stupid auction,Justice had taken us to Tiger’s Table. We’d taken over the private chef’s table room and didn’t leave until 3 a.m.

“They are not spa day alphas.”

Theo had a point. Didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to be late.

He pulled the door open to Tranquility. The air was cooler than outside but warmer than most of the air-conditioned areas of the ship. The air smelled sweet, like they had just barely sprinkled sugar in the air, but with no other background notes. I closed my eyes and inhaled deep. That was it. That was the scent. It was just sweet, with no top or bottom notes.

Theo tugged on my arm again and pulled me through another set of doors. And they were there. Justice was leaning against the wall, tall and thin in another set of linen pants. Ren was in dark gray.

“We… we didn’t think you’d come,” I blurted out.

“And disobey a direct order from Aria? I don’t have a death wish.” Justice reached out a hand for me and then kissed my knuckles. He had done that last night, too. It was intimate and possessive.

“Is everybody afraid of her?” Theo asked.

Justice guided me toward the door that Ren held open.

“Yes, even those who fuck her, apparently,” Ren smirked.

Justice rested his fingers on the back of Theo’s neck and briefly kissed his forehead. I snapped my eyes forward and swallowed a sudden lump in my throat. I was having a hard time thinking straight. Daryl and Brock were saying and doing everything I had been wanting them to.But why didn’t it feel good?Ren brushed the back of my arm as I stepped through the door he held.

Theo and I had stayed up till almost dawn talking about Justice and Ren, obviously. Every time the conversation slid to Daryl, I changed the subject.

Daryl knew me. He had always been there. He was there when I first perfumed. When I had my first heat spike. When I missed so much school and couldn’t keep up with all the work they sent home, he turned it into a party. He made a big bonfire, and we tossed in all the homework and books and roasted marshmallows and drank champagne. My first champagne. He moved me into his apartment and gave me my own nest so I wouldn’t have to share with my birth pack sister. It was tiny but mine. He painted stars on the ceiling for me. He bought every single stuffy from the dollar store and filled the whole room with them. He did everything for me.

But none of it felt as good as Justice’s lips brushing my knuckles or Ren’s fingers skating across my skin.

Daryl was home. This was a fantasy.

I smiled brightly and nodded my head at all the right times. Massages were first. They led us into a softly lit room. They were laughing softly, taking off clothes. The masseuse gave out fuzzy towels. He had kind eyes and a gentle smile. He took a step toward me, his big hands handing me a towel.

Daryl’s hand hitting my butt.

Brock’s fingers digging into my thigh.

Sam’s fingers in my hair, pulling.

Chaz’s hand squeezing my boob.

Leaf’s palm between my legs.

The masseuse held his hand out for me. I backed up another step, and another, right into Justice, but I didn’t stop. I took another step back, like I could crawl into Justice’s aura.

“I don’t want them touching me.” I said as softly as possible.

“Manicures then,” Justice said simply. His hands went to my waist and guided me into the hallway, making it a little easier to think.

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