Page 5 of Castaway Heat
Eirin sat up and searched Shiloh’s face. “Do younotwant to butter your bread?”
“An alpha sandwich. Buttering my bread. With all this food talk, I’m starting to get hungry,” Shiloh said, ignoring Eirin’s question. With the intense heat he was absolutelynothungry, but he’d eat something to get out of that conversation if he had to. “Maybe we should go inside, cool off, and grab some lunch.”
“Of coursehe wants to get nailed. It’s just been a while and he’s obviously out of practice,” Sage said, rising. He searched Shiloh’s face. “Not that he’s practiced all that much, hmm?” He placed his sunglasses back on and grinned. “I’m going to go introduce myself to that pack of wild alphas right now. One of them might be a contender.”
“Theyaren’t,”Shiloh replied.
“I bet they’re Aussies. They look like Aussies,” Eirin said. He eyed Shiloh. “Maybe they’re not as bad as the alphas at home.”
“Either way, I can find my own companionship.” Shiloh turned his focus to Sage.“I don’t need any of your help, Sage.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Sage said before striding off toward the pool and leaving them alone.
“Do not!”Shiloh yelled toward Sage’s departing back.
As he watched Sage easily sidle between two big alphas and plant himself poolside, Shiloh wished it was that easy for him to talk to strangers. He was jealous of that level of confidence, but then, that was Sage. Perhaps that trait came along with being born rich. A side effect of his privilege. He’d grown up thinking the world was his for the taking, so he simply reached out and took.
Shiloh felt Eirin’s stare fall on him. He did his best to ignore it and the questions it implied, but Eirin wouldn’t be denied.
“Why do you always do that?” Eirin finally asked.
“Do what?” Shiloh asked.
“Refuse our help.”
Shiloh frowned.“Help?I wouldn’t call that help. I don’t want Sage to play matchmaker. He should focus on finding someone who isn’t atrocious for himself instead of humiliating me.”
“For years we’ve offered to tweak your look, take you to our salon, get you some new clothes, glam you up a little… but you always refuse us. We’re doing that to help you land a better alpha, you know?”
“One, I’m not a renovation projectnora charity case. You don’t have to spend your money on me. Two, I’m focused on my education right now, notlandingan alpha, better or otherwise. Three…” He winced. “I didn’t realize that I was so hideous that I needed a glam squad’s help.”
Eirin sighed, shaking his head. “Weknowyou’re none of those things. We love you and simply want the best for you.That’s all. I know you’re not focused on a relationship but having a financially secure alpha in your life couldn’t hurt, especiallywhen you seem bound and determined to spend the rest of your young life working on that doctorate instead of finding a mate. Research assistants get paid little to nothing, right?”
“Therearegrants and such. I won’t suffer,” Shiloh muttered. “I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth like you guys. I’m used to living within my means.I’ll be fine.”
“Fine isn’tliving,Shy. It’s existing. Why struggle when you don’t necessarily have to?”
“So, I should go shopping for a rich alpha to foot my bill? That’snotwho I am. Never has been.”
Eirin tilted his head, clearly frustrated. “Shopping for one, nom but can’t you simply beopento the prospect of meeting Mr. Right and see what fate might bring your way? You’re so closed off. I worry about you, babe.”
Sage and Eirin had grown up far different than he did. In their world, alphas were the breadwinners and omegas got to lounge around the mansion, eat bonbons, and pop out babies—so that was their expectation for their futures. Shiloh was a realist. He wouldn’t have some fairy tale prince sweep in and save him from the struggle ahead. Both his parents had worked themselves to the brink of exhaustion, even more so after their divorce.
Thatwas his future.
But at the same time, he knew Eirin was coming from a place of love. Sage, too. They’d always been generous,sometimes too generous, when it came to him. Even if they were misguided, the fact they wanted to help needed to be acknowledged in some way. Maybe if he stopped pushing back so hard they’d calm down and let it go.
“Fine. I’ll let you worka littleof your magic on me. I repeat,a little.”
Eirin’s eyes sparkled with excitement and a smile slowly spread across his face. Shiloh could already see the gears turning and almost changed his mind.
He pulled his wide-brimmed straw hat off. “At the very least, I need a haircut. I meant to slip in somewhere before we left, but I was working on my thesis proposal and forgot. I cringed when I saw how bad it looked this morning—which is why the hat hasn’t come off today.”
“You are such an egghead. How are we friends?”
Shiloh chuckled. “Blame Sage.”
Eirin reached out and brushed back the sweaty mess. “Thank heavens you said this was bad. I feared you’d meant it to look like that and was terrified to say anything. I’ve been aching to break out a pair of scissors and cut it myself. If the cruise line allowed them onboard, I might’ve clipped it in your sleep.” Eirin smiled. “Be glad they’re banned because I always fuck up my hair when I get the wild notion I can do it myself.” He sat back, pondering. “There’s a spa on board.” He tapped a finger against his chin. “I wonder how quickly we could get you an appointment?”
