Page 45 of Back in the Hunt
“Iknowthis is the answer and that Tony will be in good hands. Who’s up for a boat ride?” he asked everyone. “That’s a trick question. We all have to go. I’m not moving Tony without both hounds but we’re not leaving Everly unprotected. It’s about an hour-and-a-half to Pooles Island. We leave after dark.”
That’s how Everly came to be on a boat, heading up the Chesapeake Bay with Bryn, Arawn, Nox, Merlin, and Fletcher.Nelson had stayed behind to watch the Continental and Fletcher’s van. And because he didn’t enjoy boats. Apparently, Nelson got seasick the last time they had to take one.
Everly had never been on a boat so he was enjoying the experience, despite the overcast night and the cold wind whipping at his face.
“It’s a real pea souper!” Nox declared for the fourth time, waving his fist at the night as he steered through the fog. He had borrowed a bay boat from his and Merlin’s friend, Clancy, and Everly was enjoying the adventure.
Tony was bundled up in a sleeping bag, wearing layers of thermal underwear and flannel and Nox had given him a flare in case he got tired of waiting to be found. He was sleeping again, with Arawn and Bryn hovering and monitoring his vitals.
“I see it!” Fletcher called from the front of the boat, pointing at a weak beam of light in the fog.
“Cutting our lights,” Nox shouted back and turned down the engine so they could sneak up on Pooles Island. They were all dressed in black and Nox had loaned Everly a black beanie to go along with his ensemble. He felt like a commando and grabbed onto the side and Bryn’s hand when Nox warned everyone to hold on as he gunned the engine, then cut it.
The boat came to a rough, lurching halt as it ran aground on the island’s sandy shore. Everyone but Everly and Merlin sprang into action, with Nox, Arawn, Fletcher, and Bryn quickly hefting Tony’s sleeping bag up and over the side of the boat and onto the beach.
“I swear, I wouldn’t leave you if I wasn’t 100% sure you’d make it, T,” Nox said as he bent and kissed Tony’s forehead.
“I know. Go!” Tony slurred and pushed him away and Nox signaled for Bryn and Arawn and Fletcher to give him a hand. They counted and pushed with the tide while Merlin steered and they were able to get the boat back into the water and running.
“Hey!” A deep voice boomed, far off in the misty night, and they heard dogs barking as Nox sped away from the island.
Everly squinted through the fog and could just make out Tony’s sleeping bag. The shape of a large man was hunkered next to it as several large dogs barked and searched the beach. “Do you think he’ll be alright?” Everly asked Bryn loudly over the boat’s engine.
He nodded and gathered Everly in his arms so he could talk in his ear. “Some say that sailors started being called ‘salty dogs’ long before the US had a navy. They claim it was an old nickname for merrow men who had taken to the ocean as sailors and captains, in boats instead of swimming with their tails. Merrow men never lost their love for the sea and it’s always loved them back. They’re natural fishermen, sailors, divers, marine biologists… But you can tell they’re merrow men if they’re cranky bastards and they take your breath away, they’re so ugly.”
“That’s not nice!” Everly scolded, but laughed as he turned and snuggled into Bryn for warmth. “I’m so glad Tony’s going to be okay. Maybe Tony and Ronan can be friends.”
“Maybe…” Bryn said and spent the rest of the boat ride teasing Everly and keeping him warm.
The mood had changed dramatically by the time they returned to Nox’s townhouse. Jeff was waiting to whisk an exhausted Merlin home in the Bentley and Fletcher and Arawn wished everyone a goodnight, declining Nox’s offer for a celebratory nightcap.
“We’re going to turn in too,” Bryn told Nox. “You and Nelson deserve some quiet time.”
Nox snorted as he offered Bryn his hand. “Quiet? With two loved-up hellhounds in the house?” he teased and they looked toward the stairs when they heard an ecstatic cry. “Sounds likeFletcher’s already celebrating,” he said, making Everly giggle as Bryn shook Nox’s hand.
“We’ll do our best to keep it down. Thanks for putting up with us.”
“Any time and thanks for helping with Tony. He’s family too, even if he doesn’t totally understand what that means or involves.”
“See you two in the morning,” Nelson said as he clasped Bryn’s hand. Then, he gave Everly’s shoulder a firm squeeze, like he was one of the guys now too. “Thanks for helping me guard the place while they were gone.”
“I was happy to!” Everly offered Nox a high five and let Bryn throw him over his shoulder. “I like being part of the team,” he said, waving back at them as Bryn headed up the stairs.
“We wouldn’t be a team if it wasn’t for you,” Bryn informed Everly.
“Really?” His feet kicked, he was so happy. “I’ve never been on a team before but our team is the best!”
“I don’t know about that…” Bryn chuckled as the bedroom door shut behind them and Everly was set down on his feet. “But we’re better because we have you.” He gathered Everly’s face in his hands and kissed him tenderly. “I spent so many years running to Annwn and back, but I found my own heaven here.”
“You’re my Heaven.” Everly was grateful to the universe and all the gods for sending Bryn to protect him. “I died and you were there when I woke up and you turned me into an angel.”
“Ev!” Bryn swore as he rushed Everly backwards and they fell onto the bed. “You’remyangel. Forever,” he said roughly, shoving and ripping their clothes out of the way so he could touch Everly.
His large, strong hands gripped, scratched, and pulled as they rolled and writhed and Everly felt like he could fly. Hewas so warm and happy and light, he would have floated to the ceiling if Bryn wasn’t holding onto him.
Everly sighed, swooning as he was rolled onto his stomach and Bryn parted his thighs. Lush heat washed over his hole and his eyes crossed as Bryn’s tongue swirled and thrust, winding him tighter and tighter until Everly thought he’d explode. Two fingers curled into Everly’s ass and he did, cum spilling from the end of his hard-on as Bryn lapped up every drop.
Once he had stopped giggling and twitching, Everly was helped up and onto his knees, facing the headboard. “Take me for a ride, Ev,” Bryn rumbled in his ear, sending goosebumps rushing down his spine. Bryn sat on his heels and guided Everly back until he was impaled on thick, throbbing heat. “Get to bouncing,” he said with a playful slap to Everly’s bottom.