Page 107 of Why Cruise

I continued wandering around the room. I wanted to touch everything. Open every drawer and closet. But that was probably rude. I peeked through a door. A bedroom. The one Justice was using. His scent coated everything. I wondered what his bedroom at home looked like. Probably gorgeous.

“Looking for panties, Mackenzie? Maybe you’ll find a library for Theo.”

I spun around. My cheeks burned. So did Theo’s. I hadn’t told him yet about the panties thing, about Ren. A lot had happened. But by the look on Theo’s face,somethinghad happened in a library.

“Should we take the photo and get the next clue?” Justice asked.

Ren picked up the globe. It was small, but it looked heavy.

“How should we do the photo?” Theo asked.

“We all put our hands on top.”

Justice put his palm down, and Ren immediately covered it with his own. His thumb stroked Justice’s. The tension was almost delicious, much better than angry flirting. Theo added his hand. Justice handed me the phone to take the picture. I rested mine on Theo’s and swiped through the phone to snap the picture.

“Mackenzie on top. As it should be.” Ren said casually. Was Justice blushing at that one?

I fumbled with the phone but managed to send the pic. Immediately, a little ding sounded and the next clue popped up. I blinked at it.

“What does it say?” Justice asked.

“It’s a dare.” I looked at the three men standing around me. “It says, ‘Dare - Kiss an alpha.’”

Ren’s smile went completely wicked. He leaned into me, over the globe and our hands about an inch before his lips reached me, I shoved the phone between us, forcing him to basically kiss the phone instead of me. He reared back, confused.

“It says kiss an alpha.” I turned the phone so he could see the screen. He backed up more and squinted at it. “It did not say an omega had to do the kissing.”

Theo snorted. “She is correct.”

We all looked at Justice. Ren had hurt him. Badly. During that first dinner, Justice could have walked away. He could have told Ren to fuck off or do that alpha thing where they worked out their feelings with fists. At the steakhouse, when Ren had confessed undying love, basically, and told his story, Justice sat and listened. He had been angry. But he didn’t leave. They’d showed up together and waited for us at the spa. He wanted Ren. But he had to decide if he wanted his hurt and anger more.

The air between them was tense. Justice was breathing hard while Ren softened, ready to accept whatever choice Justice made. Theo slipped his hand into mine and squeezed hard, like the fate of the world rested on what happened next.

Ren smiled. It wasn’t the wicked smile or the nasty one he gave other alphas. This was a smile only Justice got to see.

“Your call, Mr. Twill.” Ren said, giving Justice all the power.

His breaths were shaky while he tensed. Justice closed his eyes slowly. My stomach sank. When he opened his eyes, he’d say something flippant, and we’d be back to angry flirting. Theo squeezed my hand harder.

Blindly, Justice reached for Ren. Their lips met. It was desperate and anguished at the same time, like they were tearing through a decade of hurt to get to each other. Ren tossed the globe he had still been holding to the side. It shattered like the wall between them.

I took a half step back to give them space. Ren’s arm shot out and grabbed me by the front of my shirt dress, and yanked me back. But he did not break his kiss with Justice.

Finally, Justice came up for air, literally. He was breathing so hard he might pass out. He ran a thumb across Ren’s bottom lip. That wickedness came back to Ren’s smile.

He pushed me into Justice and hissed, “You haven’t thanked him for his panties.”

I choked back a laugh. Justice raised an eyebrow. And I stole some of Ren’s wickedness and took a risk. “I ruined them. Ren made me drench them.”

“Fuck.” Justice gasped like he had been hit by bricks. “I’ll buy you more.” He pulled me closer with a hand at my neck. His tongue filled my mouth. This was the kind of kiss that made omegas come on the spot.

“Theo!?” Ren said in mock surprise. I staggered into Justice when Theo crashed into my back. A second later, Ren pulled me from Justice and switched our places.

“Justice,” Theo gasped behind me.

Ren held my eyes for a second before kissing me, gratitude pouring into me from his very soul. I could almost touch it like it had weight.

But then I was back in Justice’s arms. They traded us back and forth, tongues in our mouths, lips on our necks. All the while, Theo never let go of my hand. I couldn’t breathe. It was fucking fantastic.

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