Shrugging, he took his time draping the towel over the rail to dry before stepping into his shorts. “He asked for my help with her first time with two men and I gave it to him. What’s Zach got to drink?” They had all agreed to stay off the liquor while indulging their sexual kinks at sea, but right about now, Dax wished he could break that rule.
Expecting Sean to follow, he pulled his polo shirt over his damp head as he padded to the covered outdoor kitchen in the center of the deck. He took a minute to admire the swaying breasts and spread thighs of the women gyrating on Troy and Trevor’s cocks as they lay back on the lounges. With their subs’ hands bound behind them, the Carlsons kept control and aided in their balance by keeping a tight hold of their hips. At least everyone else is having a good time.
Checking the mini-fridge, Dax snatched two cold sodas and tossed one to Sean before leaning against the end of one of the tables and crossing one foot over the other in a show of nonchalance he doubted would deter Sean from questioning him further. When he did pop another question, it wasn’t the one Dax expected.
“You talked to your parents since you got back?”
“What the fuck brought that on?” Damn it. Sean, as well as the rest of the guys, knew how much he hated talking about the two people whose biggest contribution to his upbringing had been siring him.
“It’s obvious you don’t want to talk about what bug crawled up your ass that sent you running for the last year and half, so I chose another topic.” Sean took a long drink, eyeing Dax with a sardonic glint in his eyes.
“Well, pick another one.”
“Still not in the mood to forgive and forget, huh?”
“Since Darci is still dead, no.”
Why Donald and Barbara Hayes ever became parents would always be a baffling, unsolvable mystery to Dax. His childhood memories of himself and his twin sister growing up were anything but warm and fuzzy. It was still too easy to recall how he and Darci had huddled under the covers together during their parents’ screaming matches that usually included throwing and breaking things and slamming doors, followed by hollow silence when one of them stormed out. The good memories were of when they climbed on chairs to reach the peanut butter, giggling and playing make-believe their parents wouldn’t ever return, or of sneaking out at night, running down to the playground on the corner, chasing each other in the dark until they were tired enough they could fall asleep without worrying over when the next big blow-up would occur.
Yeah, the best days of his childhood were the times it was just him and Darci. The worst came after her death at fourteen from a rare, genetic heart condition.
“They didn’t know, Dax. How long are you going to punish them for that?”
“They would have if they’d paid attention. The signs were all there,” he argued.
“But it wouldn’t have mattered. There still would have been no cure,” Sean insisted with his usual patience.
“I know that,” Dax snapped at the reminder. Crumpling his empty can, he lobbed it into the trash before glaring at Sean. “But maybe, just maybe, they would’ve made a stab at actual parenthood that included showing affection before she died. Although why I think they would have, I have no idea.”
Finishing off the rest of his soft drink, Sean followed Dax’s move and tossed his can in the bin. “All I’m suggesting is that you remember we all make mistakes, some we pay for with huge consequences, such as losing a child.”
Dax scoffed. “I doubt those two even remember they had a daughter.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised.”
Sean turned and walked back to his sub with that cryptic remark. Shaking his head, Dax wondered what he meant then decided it didn’t matter. Nothing would ever change the way he felt about his parents.
Zach, Miles and Jackson appeared topside in the next few minutes, the flushed faces and distended nipples of all three women sure signs they’d been having a good time in the playroom. Zach had spared no expense nor left anything out when equipping the enclosed main space on the middle deck. Dax could too easily picture Krista bound on the medieval fucking chair, her legs spread wide on the cutout seat that left pussy and anus open and easily accessed. Giving his head a mental shake to dispel the image, he decided he’d take up the next offer to share that came his way. It was time to move on, one way or another, and it’d be best to relieve some of the tension of his homecoming before his reinstatement at the hospital tomorrow, and seeing Krista again.
“I was hoping you’d have the food up here before Miles to give us a chance to get our fill first,” he complained with a teasing wink at Miles’s date. The women were all comfortable in their nudity except for Sandie. She was the only one covered with a bikini bottom, yet she still blushed crimson and looked away from him when he stepped forward to take the tray laden with bowls of various salads from her. After gaining Zach’s nod of approval, he ran one finger over her nipple, drawing her green eyes back on him in a flash of surprised heat. “Better. I’ll set this on the table.”
His mood improving, Dax helped at the grill and asked Jackson how the preparations for his annual adoption fundraiser were coming. They liked to rib the veterinarian about preferring his animals to people, something he never denied.
“Good. I just hope I get a big enough turn out. I can’t afford to be too picky about available homes, except for the animals that’ll require special handling due to health or temperament. I have to find a way to slow down the drop offs though, or I’ll be right back where I was in no time.” Flipping patties, an irritated frown drew Jackson’s brows down.
“Why don’t you install a movement activated camera by your front gate?” Troy suggested. Being a cop, he knew about surveillance techniques. “Might be enough to deter some who wouldn’t want to be caught on film. They’d just get a slap on the wrist, but again, that might be enough.”
“Hey, bro, you can come up with a good idea once in a while.”
“More often than you,” Troy shot back to Trevor.
Dax’s mood lightened during the famili
ar banter. This was what he’d missed most during his self-imposed exile, the natural camaraderie among the people who were most important to him. He waited until everyone had filled their plates before taking a seat between Sean and Miles, wishing he had a warm, soft body on his lap to enjoy his meal with. He saw now it had been a mistake to attend this cruise alone. Not that he wasn’t sure of any one of his friends’ willingness to share, but bringing along a sub who would’ve required his attention would have helped keep his mind off tomorrow, and his worry over his reaction to seeing Krista again.
With thirteen gathered around the two tables, talk grew loud as they now strove to sate another hunger. By the time they were clearing the tables away, Dax’s pleasure in the food and the company seemed to have revived his interest in sex. Or maybe it was watching the roaming hands and the responses those touches generated which were responsible for his change of heart. Whatever the reason, Miles must have noticed because he was the first to extend an invitation.
“Zach finally got the St. Andrews cross aboard. Want to help me break it in?”
Thankful that Vicki was gazing at him out of dark, hopeful eyes instead of bright blue ones, Dax accepted the invitation. “The cross is always a favorite. Lead the way.”
“I noticed last night Dr. Hayes has two patients admitted already. One’s scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning.”
Krista pushed up from her prone position on the yoga mat until her arms were locked straight and her hips and extended legs lifted by the downward pressure of her feet. Arching her torso back, she flicked an irritated glance over to Alessa before concentrating on holding the upward facing dog warm-up pose.
“What’s your point?”