When Nysys asks him to share a house in Malibu for a week of fun, Jago jumps on the opportunity. He wants Corbin to experience what a vacation is and to relax, hoping that it will help him step away from his unconventional upbringing.
Corbin would do anything for his mate, so he doesn’t hesitate to say yes when Jago tells him about the vacation on the beach. He could do without all the other people there, especially the weird pink-haired guy, Nysys. Corbin can tell Nysys is trouble with a capital T from the first time he sees him.
And he’s not wrong. What do you get when you put together sun, sand, and a drunken watermelon? Trouble.
Jago pushed another swimsuit into the bag and tried to close it. The damn thing wouldn’t budge, no matter how hard he pulled on the zipper. He huffed and tried again before finally admitting he was going to have to call Corbin to the rescue.
He hated having to do it. He didn’t like the feeling of being unable to do things on his own. It reminded him of when he’d been taken, and Corbin had rescued him. It might have led to their mating, but Jago still didn’t like feeling helpless, be it when he was kidnapped or when he was fighting with a bag.
“Corbin?” he called out.
He didn’t wait for an answer—Corbin never answered. He just appeared, usually scaring Jago half to death.
Sure enough, when Jago turned to check if he’d packed the T-shirts he’d left on the dresser, Corbin was there, staring at him.
Jago jerked and pressed a hand over his heart. “You really need to stop doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Moving without making any noise. You scare me every time.”
Corbin cocked his head in a way Jago knew meant he didn’t understand why Jago was asking what he was asking. It was adorable, and Jago kissed him.
Corbin blinked. “You kissed me.”
“I don’t know why you’re so surprised. It’s not the first time. So, are you going to help me?”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Close this.”
Corbin obeyed. He didn’t ask why, but then he never did. Sometimes Jago wondered if he’d ever get used to their world, the one where he could have feelings and say what he wanted. He knew Corbin loved him, but sometimes he wished Corbin would show him how much.
“Don’t you want to know why I packed this bag?” he asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He’d been planning this for a while, and he hoped Corbin would be happy. He wouldn’t show it, but Jago would feel it.
“Is it important?”
“It doesn’t have anything to do with your job.”
“It doesn’t mean it’s not important.”
“Aww. Okay, so you remember we were talking about going on vacation?”
“Yes.”
“Well, we are. I know we never really discussed it, not seriously, but a friend of mine got this big house on the beach, and he was looking for people to share it with. I saw the pictures, and the house is incredible. Nysys doesn’t need us to share the rent with him, thank God, because we wouldn’t be able to afford it, but he invited us anyway because there are five bedrooms. The house is on the beach, and there’s even a pool.”
Jago sucked in a breath and looked at Corbin. Corbin didn’t say anything, and Jago couldn’t feel anything more than the love he always felt through the bond. He wondered if Corbin was already convinced, or if he’d have to talk more about the house, or the beach.
“You want to go to the beach?” Corbin asked.
