Page 22 of Double the D
Dane said nothing, just lay between us, his fingers drawing little patterns on both of our skin.
I finally pushed up, looking out at the crashing waves.
"Don't even think about it," Dane said, his eyes closed.
I pushed out my bottom lip. "You don't even know what I was thinking."
"Any other beach, I'd join you. The surf here is too rough. I'm not dragging your ass out of a riptide."
I raised an eyebrow, a mischievous little part of me bubbling to the surface. "But I thought you were big brave marines. SEALs even. Surely you can keep me safe if I'm only up to my knees."
Dane opened one eye, sending me a frown. "Not falling for it."
"But I'm all sticky…"
He sighed, sitting up. "Fine, but only to your knees."
"Promise."
Under the light of the half-moon, the stars looking on, we frolicked in the waves, my two men looking after my both my body and my heart – determined to keep me safe.
Chapter Eight
Drake
I'd never been this nervous in my life. Sweat trickled down my back, and my overly starched collar scratched at my neck.
"Breathe," Dane whispered to me.
The house sat in darkness, waiting for Blue to arrive home. We could hear her come through the door, muttering something about deadlines and dinner reservations. We'd told her to come home early, that we had a surprise waiting for her birthday.
I suspected she wasn't expecting this.
She opened the door, clicking on the light in the hall.
"Drake? Dane? Where are you guys? Why are the lights off… oh." She must have seen the rose petals we'd laid out on the floor. There was a shuffle, the sound of something scratching against the floor, then her soft footsteps as she followed the roses.
I glanced at Dane, my heart now thumping through my chest. He looked cool as a cucumber; his gaze fixed on the entrance to our bedroom.
We heard her quick gasp, her steps faltering.
She'd moved in a week ago, finally giving in to the inevitable. The damage to Blue's house had been more substantial than initially anticipated and she'd ended up spending a month in our bed. She'd returned home, protesting that we all needed space. Instead, we'd practically moved into her house, sleeping there every night she wasn't at ours. After a month of that nonsense, she'd finally agreed to move in here.
It was step one in our new plan. Tonight, we implemented step two.
I'd spent the day reorganizing the house, creating spaces for her things. We wanted Blue to see how easy our integration could be.
The hall she walked down I'd filled with photographs and artworks. I'd removed some of our items, replacing them with hers. We didn't have many shared memories just yet, but we would. If tonight went to plan.
She neared, and Dane's hand came down on my shoulder, squeezing. "We got this, babe." He whispered to me, his lips brushing the shell of my ear.
I straightened, taking that strength and confidence and projecting it back.
Yeah. We got this.
Blue walked through the door of the bedroom, pausing just over the threshold. Her eyes were wide and a little dewy as she took in the sight. It had taken an hour but every damn candle we could find decorated the room, lending it a soft glow.
"Happy Birthday, baby." Dane stepped forward, pulling her into the room.
