Page 4 of Explorer's Revenge
“Not true, you found a dog and rescued it last week. Sandy said so!” I tell him, and his eyebrows rise in his iconic expression I always get, which is why I could never keep secrets from him. He’s always been my best friend, and his only rule was that we do it together.
Now we can’t, though, and it hurts because we should be, but I’ll do it for both of us. I’ll get our name out there, so they remember him for his achievements, not just his illness.
Dexter Carter will go down in history as the best explorer ever. I will ensure it.
“Ajax gave me the opportunity of a lifetime.” I quickly dive into where I’m going and why, holding nothing back despite the secrecy of this job. My dad will always know everything and help me plan. He’s my best friend and my teammate, even if he’s stuck here now.
He nods, asking questions and giving me ideas for equipment I might need. I see the excitement in his eyes before it dampens with a little pain—because he won’t be there with me. His longing is clear on his face, even as he tries to hide it so he doesn’t hurt me.
I guess you never think about getting old or sick when you’re young and in your prime. He never thought he’d be anything but an explorer. That’s where his heart lies and it always will, but I know he’s proud of me and wouldn’t want me to keep it from him.
“So when do you leave?” he asks, holding my hand tightly, but I can feel the weakness in his grip.
“Tomorrow. I came to say goodbye.” I cup his hand. “I’m doing this for us, Dad. You should be there, but I will find it, and when I do, I’ll make sure everyone knows you helped me.”
“No, kid,youare doing this. You were always destined for great things, so don’t diminish that.”
I kiss his hand. “But without you, there is no me.” I blink and look down. “I wish you could be there.”
“I will be, kid. Remember my lessons, and I’ll be right there with you, cheering you on, and when you come back, I’ll be waiting.” He grabs me and pulls me in. “I’m so proud of you, Maeve. Show the world what a woman is capable of . . . whatyouare capable of. Give them hell.”
“Always, Dad.”
THREE
MERRICK
Shoving another pair of shorts into my duffel bag, I straighten and inspect the chaos on my bed. I threw everything on it I thought I might need. We know it’s going to be a jungle with a hot climate, so that helps. It’s horrible when you don’t know what the weather will be like so you can’t pack for it. After the number of times I’ve nearly frozen my balls off because of lack of packing, I’ve learned to adapt quickly. I like my balls where they are, thank you very much.
I check my mental list as I go, making sure I have everything I need.
I forgot my stuff once, and Wilder, my older brother, has never let me live it down, so now I double-check. He calls my bag organized chaos, but it works for me. The others are all doing the same, knowing the faster we fly out of here, the faster we can find the ruins and stake our claim. It’s a race against time and others going for it.
We need to be first.
Once I’m sure I have everything, I zip up my bag and then throw myself down next to it on my bed, bouncing as I unplug my phone from the charger and scroll through my notifications. Opening Instagram, I reply to a few comments and DMs onour team’s page before looking through others’ stories. I sit up when I land on Maeve Carter’s. Despite Wilder’s hatred for her, she’s one hell of a woman and sexy with that dimpled smile that makes my knees weak. Even if she is our competition and enemy as Wilder believes, I can’t help but root for her. She’s brave, crazier than us, and has an amazing record, drawing more notice to our team and Venture.
She’s walking through an abandoned hotel before she starts to climb the elevator shaft, making me shake my head as I laugh. If these two didn’t hate each other so much, they would be perfect for each other. There is a reason we call him Wild, and it isn’t just because of his name.
Once the story is done, I shut and lock the phone then close my eyes for a moment, breathing in the peace of my room. Despite the fact that we spend most of our time across the world, we do have a shared house to come home to. I don’t know when we will be back here, so I make the most of my privacy since I won’t get any when we’re exploring.
Speaking of . . .
My eyes open, and I check that my door is shut before I grab my phone again and open her Instagram page, scrolling through the bikini shots of her explorations. She looks fucking sexy as hell with a body I’ve spent more time jerking off to than I should for our competitor.
Pushing my hands into my sweatpants, I grip my hardening cock and stroke myself, imagining her pushing that tiny white bikini to the side before impaling herself on my cock. She would be wet, wild, and crazy like she is in real life, riding me like a fucking pro.
I pump harder, visualizing her licking down my abs to my dick, her eyes filled with mocking laughter as she swallows me into her hot mouth. I shut my eyes, my phone still gripped in one hand as I fuck my fist faster and faster. I force my eyes open soI can see her picture, needing to see her when I come. My grip tightens on the phone as I imagine Carter sucking me down, her pouty lips wrapped around my cock, and without warning, my orgasm slams through me, and ropes of hot cum splash over my bare chest and fist.
Collapsing back, I lock my phone and close my eyes. I must drift off because when I wake up, I hear the others yelling at each other, which makes me laugh because yelling is their way of showing love. We are a dysfunctional family but a family, nonetheless. Wilder and I grew up together, and although he’s older than me by five years, we have always been inseparable. Logan came to live with us when he was fourteen. We had been close before, but after that, we were inseparable. We protected him as he healed from losing his parents in a car accident, and our parents treated him like one of their kids. The others came along later on. Despite it all, we are family.
They say I’m the joker who helps them calm Wilder down, so I guess that works.
I get up, washing off the remains of my release, and head down to interrupt the yelling and get them to laugh it out together—as usual.
What is family without a few fights?
FOUR
