Page 18 of Claimed By Two Alphas

“No, he just tied me up and threatened a few times to toss me in the water if I didn’t stop trying to escape.”

I wasn’t even going to lie. Being pressed against Delvin’s naked body did things to me. Thank fuck I had clothes on and it was dark out, or everyone would have seen my arousal.

Delvin helped me into a rowboat. “What about Joshua?”

“He’ll take the second boat.” Jack and Ken climbed in behind us. We glided across the water. I looked back at the building then turned around, watching for any approaching alligators.

When we reached the other side, a loud gunshot pierced the quiet night. Delvin held me tighter as we reached the opposite side. Another gunshot then another. A second later, I heard a loud splash.

Then all I heard were the alligators attacking something.

Chapter Six

Shane

I thought for sure they would take me back to work, but we ended up at Delvin and Joshua’s house. It was bigger inside than the outside appeared. With its hardwood floors, high vaulted ceilings, and plush couches, it felt so cozy that I didn’t want to leave.

Delvin took me to the bathroom and washed my wrists before treating them with antibiotics. “The cuts aren’t deep,” he said as he smeared the cream over my wounds. “Luckily they’ll heal on their own.”

“But they’re going to take time to heal.” Under the lighting in the bathroom, they looked a lot worse than what they’d looked like in the dim lighting at the airboat place. “Are you sure they’re not going to get infected? I mean, did you see that place? Mold was growing everywhere and he pulled the duct tape from under the counter. I probably have tiny, baby mold inside my cuts.”

Delvin frowned. “I highly doubt the mold made babies, Shane.” He wiped his hands off on a cloth. “Now let me bandage your wrists.”

I watched as he wrapped white gauze around them. “Great, now everyone is going to think I tried to slice both wrists.”

“And until they heal, you’re not going to work.”

“What?” I sputtered and gasped. “I have to go to work! I have bills to pay, Delvin. I can’t sit at home on my ass. That’ll drive me crazy!”

“One of us will stay with you at all times.” He winked. “I’m sure we can find ways to entertain you. Besides, you can’t carry serving trays when your wrists are healing.”

I hated that he had a valid point. They hurt like hell, and I could just imagine carrying one of those heavy trays, my wrists giving out and spilling the contents of the tray on some unsuspecting customer. I would be mortified.

“Fine.” I sighed. “Where’s Joshua?”

“Making something to eat. When was the last time you ate?”

I pursed my lips as I tried to remember. “Lunch, I think. I munched on a fruit platter.”

“Well, you’re about to munch on whatever Joshua is cooking.” Delvin ran his fingers delicately over the gauze on both wrists, looking at them thoughtfully. “I hate that he took you. I feel like I failed you.”

“Nah.” I pressed my hand against his bearded face. “You rescued me. That’s all that matters. Second time, too.”

“Let’s not try for a third.” He led me out of the bathroom, and the smell of something delicious smacked me in the face. My stomach rumbled, even though I hadn’t been hungry seconds before. My mouth watered as we walked toward the kitchen.

“All better?” Joshua asked as he looked over his shoulder at us.

He was shirtless. Who fried food without a shirt on? My gaze slid over his back down to his tapered waist. Yummy. I wanted a piece of him.

“After you eat,” Delvin whispered in my ear.

“What?” I’d been busted checking out Joshua, but I wasn’t going to admit to a damn thing.

Delvin just chuckled. “Take a seat at the table.”

He pulled some things out of the refrigerator. Just as long as no one was frying fish. The smell of John’s shack was still taking up residence in my nose. I’d showered, and Delvin had gone to my house for clothes, but I still felt the humidity on my skin, like I was still at John’s. It wasn’t Delvin and Joshua’s house. They had their central air on. I wasn’t sweating, but it felt like it. It felt like I couldn’t get enough air, as those memories kept me in their grip.

So I looked around the kitchen, noticing the lacy curtains hanging in the window above the sink, the crisp white walls, potted plants, and the appliances, which looked new, chrome and black and all shiny. The room was spacious with light brown flooring. A few rugs were scattered by the sink and stove. The room had more windows to the left of Joshua. Two big ones tucked past a breakfast nook.

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