Page 67 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

“Dad, you’ve got this.” Jamie was in awe of his dad’s gifts.

“You don’t understand. What makes me nervous isn’t that I might not be able to glean anything from the artifacts, but rather how much we’re about to discover—or how little. I’ve built this up in my mind, and if I go in there and find a thousand-year-old shopping list, I’m going to be a bit disappointed, you know?”

“What does your gut tell you?” Jamie was trying to listen to his more and more.

Another pause, followed by a sigh. “That it’s going to be a helluva lot more than that.”

“Hey, Dad? You want to sound like you’re living in the twenty-first century? We’d say hella more.”

“What? That sounds awful.”

“Here’s what I suggest. Get Orsini to take you, Seth, and Brick out for some delicious pasta—or even a pizza, because a pizza in Italy has to be good, right?—drink a couple of glasses of wine, and get some sleep. In the morning you’re going to be the incredible man I know you are.”

“Love you.” His dad sounded a little choked.

“Love you too. Now go find some pizza.”

Dad laughed. “I’m on it. Good night, son.” He hung up.

Jamie couldn’t escape the feeling that he’d helped, anddamn, that felt good.

He glanced into the small bathroom, and the sight of the shower was enough to have him remove his clothes and climb into the enclosure. The water was warm, so good against his skin, sluicing away the sweat brought on by the day’s heat. He didn’t have a change of clothing, but he was cleaner, and he smelled better.

His stomach rumbled, and he wondered if anyone would mind if he grabbed a bite in the cafeteria. He left his room and headed down the stairs. As he approached the floor below, he caught the sound of two deep, gruff male voices in the middle of an argument.

“All I said was he was cute. Doesn’t mean I wanna do anything with him, okay? And youknowI wouldn’t.”

“Then why all the puppy-dog eyes? Hmm?”

Jamie chuckled.A lovers’ tiff. How sweet.

Then he rounded the corner of the stairs and saw the speakers. Both men were muscled to the hilt, sporting healthy beards, and they had to be at least six feet.

Two walking mountains, he mused. Who had the best taste in cologne, because they smelled amazing.

The older of the men jerked his head in Jamie’s direction, and he dug his elbow into the other guy’s ribs. Both stopped and stared at him, their chests rising and falling rapidly.

“Are you okay?” Jamie asked as he approached them. Their cologne grew more overpowering the nearer he got, and it went straight to his head—

And his dick.

The older guy grabbed Jamie and shoved him against the wall. “Mate!” Then the other guy got in on the action, two hard bodies crushing him.

What the fuck?

Chapter Eighteen

“NAMES WOULDbe nice,” Jamie gasped. “You know, before you drive all the air from my lungs.” Not that he was complaining. Every cell in his body felt as though it was vibrating, and the feel of their hands on him amplified the reaction.

The guy with the shaved buzz cut hoisted Jamie into his arms, his huge hands supporting Jamie’s ass. “Get the door, B.”

“Hello would be good too,” Jamie called out as the younger guy led the way along the hallway to a door. “You know, instead of coming across as full-on Neanderthals?” His heart pounded, and his breathing was ragged.

And damn it, his boner wouldnotquit.

“We can talk in here,” the older guy said as the other pushed open the door.

Jamie had a feeling they were going to do more than talk, and his hole clenched at the thought.

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