Page 72 of Adrift

“Slow is the only way this will work,” Calvin grunts at me like I’m going to attack her.

The inside of the raft smells like leftover fish guts and sweat.

“All I’m saying is you could let Haley use the cushion.” Zane’s pointing to the one cushion we have.

“I’m fine, Zane.” Haley has her life vest bundled up as a pillow. “Dante’s still injured. Let him use it.”

“So are you. And he doesn’t need to be a cushion hog.” Zane is sitting still; he’s laying it on thick.

“Well, I’m staying out of Cushion Gate. You can use me as a pillow if you need, Haley.” I lie down between her and Dante.The fool took a cushion over the girl. But I didn’t have a chance to talk to Dante alone. Perhaps that’s part of the plan.

She laughs. “You’re hardly a cushion, Easton. More like steel.”

“Man of gold and steel. Just what we need to feed his ego,” Dante quips, but he’s snoring not long after.

“Well, none of you are squishy like me,” Haley whispers.

Dante snores and mumbles something in his sleep. He might look healed, but he’s not. He rolls away from us and snores again.

“You’re not squishy,” I whisper. She’s facing away from me. “But maybe I need a pillow, then?” I reach out and pull her to me. I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her ass to my front. It’s presumptive and a bit of an asshole thing to do, but after last night, I don’t care. Hell, I may never care. I want her. Right now I want a lot of things I might never get, but I’m a winner—that’s what I tell myself.

And when she pushes herself flush with me, I know I am a winner.

Chapter 29

Bearing North

Haley

Ilove snuggling. It’s odd. I’ve never met so many guys who like snuggling too. But when Easton tugs me up against him and pulls me even closer, the chill in the evening air is gone. Even my toes, which were on the verge of freezing, are heating up. And my core is more than heating up.

Zane has given up on the cushion and is lying in front of me. “Sweet dreams, Haley.”

“You too, Zane. Are you cold?”

“A little.”

“Snuggle with us for warmth.”

Behind me, Easton stiffens. Odd. I’m not sure why he wouldn’t want Zane to be warm too. A guy like Easton couldn’t be interested in me. I’m just what’s available. His hand is on my stomach. Oh lord, Steven used to complain about my stomach. But Easton’s full-out pressing into me. It was different last night—the life vests kept us apart a little—but now there’s no doubting what’s going on. I should stop it.

“Thanks, Haley.”

When Zane pulls in close to me, the raft sways on the sand. But I don’t because Easton has a firm grip on my side. And my front is warm. Zane’s backside is up against me. I’m a sandwich with some high-end, good-looking bread.

I don’t know what to do with my arm, but Zane solves the problem for me. He tucks it between his arm and chest, holding my hand to his stomach.For warmth, I repeat over and over in my head. But then Easton moves, and his hard length is nestled between my butt cheeks. I freeze, still not knowing what to do. Nervous butterflies flit around my stomach. This is less than what happened this morning, but half-awake Haley who thinks she might die is a hussy. And right now, while I’m tired, I’m not her. I want to be her. With a shot of tequila, I could be her. But the good girl in me isn’t going to let that happen. Being attracted to four guys is wrong. Not that anyone is going to blame me.

I let my breath out slowly. Why do I always think about what other people are going to think?

“Are you comfortable?” Zane rolls over, and he’s facing me. While it’s dark, it’s extra dark from the raft’s red canopy. But the moon has come out, casting a light glow around the raft. His eyes are open, and he smiles at me. “You okay, Haley? We’re not crowding you?” His eyes flit down to my lips.

Now Easton has his chin nestled into my neck, his fingers spread over my stomach. His breaths are long and warm beneath my ear, but they’re not the breaths of someone asleep.

“I’m good.”

“Good night, then.” Zane smiles at me.

And I hear their breath changing. I’m nuts. I really thought Zane was going to do something. Make a move. Or Easton. More than snuggling. What was I thinking? That two handsome guys would both want me? One maybe, but two? I laugh out loud.

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