Page 21 of Theirs

“I thought the plane belonged to Alex too?” I asked, glancing over at Colin.

He shrugs. “Alex and Mac share the plane technically.”

I stand up from my lounger, surprising all three of the men and myself as I get up to defend myself from his possessive comment.

“Mr. MacKenna,” I say, staring him in the eyes. “While I appreciate your hospitality in letting us use your jet, I am no man’s property. You bought one date with me, you didn’t buy me, you’ll never own me. Don’t think for a second that I’m a young naive little girl who doesn’t know what you’re trying to do. If you want me to submit, you’re going to have to try a little harder, Sir.”

I turn away from him, and reach for the sunscreen bottle so I can get my chest. I can practically feel Mac’s gaze trying to burn a hole in me.

I glance up at him, and push the envelope a little more. “Oh, I forgot, I actually like my eggs scrambled with avocado on top. Thanks.”

“Why you little brat,” I hear MacKenna say, taking a step toward me, but Ben pulls him away. I smile, knowing I’ve now got Mac just where I want him. I’m not actually opposed to being his sub, I just want him to work for it, and be fully aware of what he’s getting into with me.

“How about that tour, Benjamin?” I ask, putting my hands on my hips. Ben smiles at me and leads me toward the stairs, I look back at Colin who is beaming at me. “Are you coming with me?”

He nods and follows us, a brooding Mac left in our wake. So much for his good mood this morning, I think I royally fucked that up.

***

After Ben gives me a tour of the yacht, we head out to the front to soak up some sun. Way Less Sad by AJR is playing on the amazing sound system of the yacht. I’m lying between Ben and Colin, all three of us on our stomachs, when I hear someone else plop down. I lift my head up and find Alexander, without his phone lying on his back next to Colin.

“Well, look who it is,” Benjamin says. “Finally decided to join the cool kids.”

“Finally got my client off with just six months of probation,” Alex says. “Now I’ve got about twenty-four hours to enjoy some me time.”

I push up so I’m on my knees, looking over at him. “So not the mafia?”

Colin and Ben laugh, and Alexander actually gives me a smile. I’d take two more weeks of him not speaking to me, if it was going to earn me a smile that dazzling.

“Not mafia,” he agrees. “Just very busy, and always stressed.”

“Time for drinks?” I ask him, pushing up so I’m standing in only my bikini.

“Yes,” he agrees. “Time for some drinks.”

Ben offers to come help me make some mixed drinks, but Alexander says he’ll help, which surprises me. He follows me down to where the full kitchen is and I grab a bottle of coconut rum off one of the open shelves, Alex gets the pineapple juice from the fridge. I haven’t seen Mac since he told us breakfast was done. It’s a big boat, but it’s not that big that he can hide for the entire weekend.

“Hey, Teagan,” Alex says, getting four tiki themed glasses down. “I’m sorry I cancelled our date.”

I shrug my shoulders. “It’s fine.”

“It’s not,” he says. “I’m not sure why I even bothered bidding on you.”

My heart falls, it feels like he’s breaking up with me, even though we’re not a thing. “Ouch,” I say. “Damn, you really know how to knock a girl’s ego down.”

“No, not like that,” he says. “I just got out of a really shitty divorce a year ago, she kind of ruined me. I’ve been in my head ever since, working, drinking, working more. I’m not in a place to be dating right now.”

I let out a sad laugh. “Well, thanks for telling me, but it’s not really dating. Just one auction date you bought. If that’s how you choose to throw money down the drain, that’s on you.”

“I still wanna take you out,” Alex says, pouring the juice in some glasses. “Just not sure how much fun I’ll be. If I’m not in the office, I’m still working...”

“That sounds like a boring and lonely life.”

He smiles, quiet for a moment. “What’s going on with you, Ben, and Colin?”

“Nothing,” I lie.

He turns to me, leaning his hip on the counter and crossing his arms across his toned chest. “I could smell your heat from the front of the plane, Teagan. Even if my mind was on work, I can still smell when a woman is turned on. It wasn’t that big of a plane, and believe it or not, you weren’t that quiet.”

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