“No more running in the sand. You could hurt your ankle,” Dean says. She gives him soft eyes and nods.
“Fine,” she says, sounding put out. River wraps his arms around her, her back pressed against his chest.
“Don’t worry, we can play different games,” he whispers against her ear, and she laughs. Dean looks irritated and swims over to him, his arms already open. His thumb swipes across her collarbone until he is lightly holding her throat.
“Don’t worry, Alpha. I’ll be good.”
“You’re going to give me a fucking heart attack.”
She kisses his cheek. “Have I mentioned how much it means to me that you care? I’ll try to be a good girl.” River laughs and covers it with a cough.
She tries to turn, but Dean’s grip on her throat tightens. “No more running in the sand,” he says with so much authority in his voice that I’m hard, River’s hard, no doubt Liv is dripping slick in the ocean.
She nods her head and kisses his lips. With other people so close, I clear my throat, not wanting others to see what is mine. “Drinks are here,” I say and Liv breaks away from Dean’s kiss, but stares at his eyes.
“No more running in the sand.”
“Good girl,” Dean says to her. Spinning her around so she’s wrapped around his back as we make our way to the cabana.
We spend the afternoon soaking up the sun, caressing each other, drinking, and enjoying every relaxing moment. I can’t help but to smile all afternoon as I watch how relaxed and carefree my pack is. It’s a memory I’ll cherish forever, having them like this.
Dean
Livhardlysleptlastnight knowing what we were doing today, but you wouldn’t be able to tell the way she’s bouncing on her heels or the big smile on her face as the instructor goes over protocol. Before Grayson booked the excursion, I made sure that it was perfectly safe.
It’s a sanctuary for stingrays who have been hurt, and they are actually very docile creatures. Liv’s and River’s love for animals made the need to do this even more crucial, but as one of the slimy fuckers slides against my leg, I almost lose it.
Shuffling close to Liv, who holds my arm and laughs at me, I shudder. “He’s just a baby, Dean. You’ll be fine.”
I scowl at her, but she laughs it off. The instructor hands her a piece of squid and she holds it in front of her as one of the creatures pops up slightly and sucks it down. It glides across her body and she giggles, stroking its back.
“They really are the puppies of the sea,” she says as she waits for another stingray to come by. I’m not sure how Grayson got out of this trip—he said he was planning something. So I had to make sure my Omega and Beta were safe. It seems like they’re both far more comfortable with this activity than I am.
Something touches my back and I bounce forward. River laughs and I realize it’s his hand. “You’re fine,” he promises me, and I nod my head.
“I just don’t like things in the ocean touching me. I don’t think I’m being ridiculous here,” I say.
“No, you’re doing a good job,” he says, no snark in his tone at all. “Look how happy she is.” The snorkel is at the top of her head, her dark hair wet and hanging around her shoulders. She talks animatedly with the instructor as she touches the stingrays as they swim by. One of the larger ones seems quite taken with her. Join the fan club, buddy.
“What’s his name?” she asks them.
“Lorenzo,” the instructor replies, and a grin spreads across her face. She looks at me mischievously and I can’t help the smile that takes over my face. Even though we’re being touched by slimy animals and I want to get the fuck out of here. For her, to be this happy, I’d do just about anything. I just hope she doesn’t get the itch to swim with sharks or some shit, that would be the line I wouldn’t be willing to cross.
“Oh my gosh, can you take a picture of us with him?” she says, raising her hand and beckoning me and River to come closer. Reluctantly I stand in the middle, my hands around Liv’s and River’s waists as Liv holds the squid, making the stingray pop up, and the instructor takes a picture.
“We’ll have to send it to Papa. He has his namesake, after all.” I smile and nod my head, my heart so fucking full. After everything that happened with her biological family, the way that mine became hers is so fulfilling. Liv was already close to my mom, but she calls all my parents by the names I call them. Grayson and River call them by their first names, but for Liv, it’s different. They were already close, but now they truly are her family. My mom and dads all call her their daughter and have been so supportive of when we bonded and the life we’ve created.
“He’ll love that, baby,” I tell her, kissing the side of her head.
“I know he will,” she says confidently. I stand off to the side and let her and River feed the ‘sea puppies’ and talk to the instructor about their welfare and about the creatures in general. The two of them have such big hearts for animals, it’s why we basically have a zoo at our house. Every time a stray dog gives Liv puppy eyes, she takes it as a sign that we need to adopt them.
It’s one of the things I love most about her. The way her heart never seems to reach capacity. I get out of the water and take a few pictures of them so I can show Grayson when we get back to the bungalow. I get the towels ready as both Liv and River climb the stairs and come back to land. Where there are no creepy ass oceanic animals to be seen.
“That was so fun,” Liv says, smiling as I take my time drying off her hair and arms. “Makes me miss the puppies though, I should call Cheryl when we get home.”
“I’m sure she will send a video of your babies,” I tell her and she smiles at me. Liv is usually in a constant state of happiness, but this trip has a permanent smile on her face. I know she’s just happy to be spending time with us, uninterrupted.
Her stomach grumbles and I frown. “You two ready for lunch?”