Chapter 16

I leave the room and walk into Raymond’s just in time to hear him exclaim in surprise at the fully stocked bathroom, which makes both me and Colt chuckle deeply at his reaction, and I have to admit the cleaners in charge of the barracks really do get shit done around here; call me impressed.

I walked up to Raymond and handed him the phone. “How do you like it? This room wasn’t originally meant to be used, but plans changed last minute. Oh, by the way, here’s your phone. I already put our numbers in it, and I also added our eldest brother, Alpha Draven Eldritch. He’s the pack leader, and he handles a lot of the bigger responsibilities in the pack. He’s busier than the rest of us, but if you reach out to him, he wouldn’t mind stepping away to help if needed.” 

“Thank you, Alpha Draegan! You as well, Alpha Colt!” Raymond says in a slightly higher voice. The smile that spread on his face was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. A warm feeling spread through me, and honestly, his happiness was contagious. 

I couldn’t help tracing his body with my eyes, and licking my lips slightly. Goddess, help me to not cum in my pants from just the way his eyes brighten when he smiles. 

Fuck. He’s going to be the end of me. The things he is doing to me without even trying should be illegal.

“No need for thanks. And you don’t have to add ‘Alpha’ before our names every time either. The only one you need to call Alpha is our eldest brother, and even he might prefer you drop the formalities.” My voice comes out husky.

Raymond starts to fidget some and his breathing seems to quicken a bit. “I think I should hit the shower and then head to bed. The fatigue from the bus ride is getting to me a bit. Plus, it was so hot today; my body feels sticky, and my shirt is clinging to me a bit.” 

I avert my gaze momentarily, though it doesn’t last long. He reaches his hand up to the collar of his hoodie and pulls it open. I can feel my mouth going dry, and my cock starts to grow even harder in my pants. Pulsing painfully as I rake my eyes over his slender pale neck that has fine beads of sweat trailing into his shirt underneath. I traced over him one last time before clearing my throat and looking over at Colt. And damn, he is no better. I can see his cock is also rock hard as well, with a hungry look in his eyes. 

We have to leave now before Raymond notices anything, if he hasn’t already.

I clear my throat and draw my thoughts to a halt, so I won’t lose control. “You’re right. It is getting late. Colt and I will be in the room across the hall if you need anything. We’ll both be taking a shower as well and then heading to bed. Once again, our phones are always on, and if you need anything, you can text, call, or even knock on our door, no matter what time it is.

“Goodnight, Raymond. We’ll see you in the morning.”

I give Raymond a smile and a nod, and Colt does the same. We leave his room, quietly closing the door behind us before heading across the hall to ours. Once inside, we make our way straight to the bathroom, stripping off our clothes and turning on the water. Our shower is spacious, with two shower heads positioned on opposite sides, making it easy for both of us to clean up at the same time. Quick, efficient, and practical; just the way we like it.

I step beneath the steady stream of hot water, the heat cascading over my shoulders and down my back. My left palm presses firmly against the cool tiled wall, holding me steady as I bow my head. Water runs through my hair, trails across my face, and drips from my jaw. My other hand wraps around my cock, moving in a slow, steady rhythm. Every breath leaves me hot and uneven, my chest rising and falling faster as the steam thickens around me. 

I squeeze my eyes shut. 

The image of Raymond slowly peeling away each layer of clothing until nothing remains between his body and the falling water. His pale skin gleams beneath the shower, every droplet catching the light before tracing lazy paths over the graceful lines of his body. Water slips over his shoulders, follows the curve of his chest, and disappears lower, leaving his skin glistening beneath the warm water.

Muffled groans slip past my lips as I lose myself in the sensation, the steady rush of water doing little to mask the sounds echoing off the tiled walls. Behind me, I could hear Colt breathing heavily, the occasional quiet groan. My hand quickens its pace and I feel the growing pressure coiling low in my abdomen. I can feel my cock becoming slick from the pre cum leaking at the tip. Every muscle in my body tightens as my breathing becomes shorter and more jagged, my chest rising and falling in ragged bursts. The hot water pours over me, but it can’t compare to the fire mourning beneath my skin.

A few more strained breaths are all it takes before the tension finally snaps. My load shoots out, hitting the tiles and mixing with the water going down the drain. Pleasure crashes through me in powerful waves, leaving my muscles trembling as I ride out my orgasm a bit longer. My forehead rests against the cool tile while I focus on steadying my breathing, letting the water continue to wash over me until my racing pulse gradually settles back into a normal rhythm. 

After a quiet moment, I straighten and reach for the shampoo, working it through my damp hair before rinsing it clean. I wash the rest of my body and shut off the water. I step out of the shower, cool air immediately replacing the warmth of the steam. I grab a towel, dry myself thoroughly, and secure it around my waist.

A few moments later, Colt shuts off his shower as well. Without saying much, we fall into the routine we've followed countless times before. We brush our teeth and change into a pair of boxers and athletic shorts. Neither of us usually bothers sleeping in a shirt, especially during the summer. Even though the barracks' air conditioning keeps the rooms cool enough, we've always found it more comfortable that way.

I glance over at Colt. He's already stretched out in bed, one arm tucked beneath his head, looking like he'll be asleep within minutes. I can't blame him. Today has drained both of us in more ways than one, leaving a heavy exhaustion settled deep in my bones.

With a quiet sigh, I pull back my covers and slide beneath them, welcoming the cool sheets against my skin. I set my phone on the nightstand within easy reach out of habit, then settled onto my pillow. The room is still, broken only by the soft hum of the air conditioner and Colt's slow, steady breathing. I let out one last long breath, close my eyes, and surrender to the exhaustion, hoping sleep will come as quickly for me as it seems it already has for him.

Sometime in the middle of the night, the sharp trill of my phone slices through the silence, pulling me from a deep sleep. My eyes don't even have a chance to open before recognition settles in.

Raymond.

A flicker of relief passes through my groggy mind. Good thing we'd assigned him a unique ringtone. It means neither Colt nor I have to waste precious seconds checking the screen if he ever calls.

Still half-asleep, I fumbled across the nightstand until my fingers closed around the phone. Without bothering to look at the display, I swipe to answer and bring it to my ear, my voice rough with sleep.

“Hey, Raymond. Are you alright? Do you need anything?”

For a few moments, there’s only silence on the other end—then I hear shallow, ragged breaths. I wake up fully in an instant.

“Help.”

And then, nothing.