Page 28 of Trust and Obey

“No, I’m all yours.” He paused, his smile turning wicked. “Why, is there anything you need Mr. Helman?”

I really liked the way he said my name. I traced a languid hand down his spine, stopping to press where it ended just above his ass. “Maybe round two, when you’re up for it.”

He wiggled his ass playfully. “I think I can manage that.” Then Kendall yawned. “After a nap.”

A nap sounded great to me. I leaned back, stretching out.

Strangely, I rarely felt this comfortable with someone, even after getting all hot and sweaty with them. I remember Lauren used to hide under the blankets after we had sex, though there was nothing to complain about with her body.

Nothing to complain about with Kendall’s, either. I checked him out from the corner of my eye. He seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep as well. Then his green eyes opened back into slits.

“See something you like?” he asked.

I didn’t easily blush, but felt my cheeks heat up anyway. “Actually, I was just admiring your tattoo.”

“This thing?” he glanced down. There was a small, simple compass and needle ink stamp on his left pec. It wasn’t elaborate and slightly blurred with age, but I noticed the odd direction the needle pointed.

“Is the needle pointing Northeast?”

“Oh.” He looked down again as if noticing it for the first time, then rolled his shoulder in a shrug. “I got it when I first came to the island. I was young and a little homesick. So, one of the other porters—all the kids start as porters before we’re trained up—talked me into a tattoo.”

“There’s a tattoo shop here?” I asked. I knew the island was all-inclusive, but that was a little much. “Or did you go to another island?”

He grinned crookedly. “No and no. This baby is a homemade, prison style tattoo. Needle and ink and a whole lot of stupid.”

“Youch.”

“Yeah, I was lucky it didn’t get infected.” He rubbed a finger over it gently.

“But why is it pointing Northeast?” I persisted.

“Oh.” Kendall blinked sleepily. “That’s where I come from. East coast. I don’t know why, but I thought it would help with my homesickness.”

I nodded, laying back. “Did it?”

He paused for a long time. “No, but time did.”

I knew I should say something—his words spun around in my mind as if there was a hidden importance there, but I couldn’t figure out exactly what or why.

Later, I promised myself.

I felt Kendall relaxing next to me as well. His arm brushed mine, limp. His breathing slowed and evened out. The sound of it was a warm comfort.

My eyelids slid shut and I fell into a dreamless sleep.

11

KENDALL

I awoke feeling warm and comfortable, cozy and safe. A warm arm wrapped around my middle, snuggling me in close.

Yes, Deacon made a great big spoon.

I floated for a second, caught between sleep and wakefulness, when an idle thought brushed through my mind. What time is it?

Suddenly, in a cascade of realization, I became aware I was not back in my bunk. I was still in a Deacon’s villa.

Shit. Shit. Shit

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