“Hmm, let’s go there instead. Follow me.” Sabien said, walking past the cabana he initially pointed at. 

And just like that, Aubrey followed him. 

He tried his hardest to not stare at Sabien’s ass, but his gaze dipped after admiring the wide, muscular shoulders shifting beneath his top. He inhaled sharply at the gorgeous swells of muscles shifting beneath Sabien’s fitted pants. 

Capital G—o-d, send help, he thought helplessly.

Behind them, the noise melted away as they walked up some steps. Bigger cabanas appeared, with thick, layered curtains instead of the light sheer red ones by the pool. Security was scarce in the secluded area, which was rather strange since it screamed V.I.P. 

They walked down the aisle, flanked by the private cabanas. Aubrey heard music drifting out of them during their walk, differing from the DJ’s set at the poolside. His face flushed, finding the entire situation illicit and reeking with danger. He visualized himself, once again, as the rabbit. Instead of hopping away, he followed the footsteps of danger—aka, the massive fair-haired wolf named Sabien. 

One must not follow strangers into a secluded area. That was rule number… well, it was somewhere in the top ten, and Aubrey all but screwed up his sense of self-preservation when walking toward the proverbial wolf’s den. 

Although, Sabien wasn’t a stranger, was he? They worked in the same industry. They had a professional relationship until that night at the terrace. A night that had been haunting Aubrey for a good portion of the month. 

“I shouldn’t be here.” Aubrey finally blurted when Sabien drew aside the curtain of an unused cabana at the end of the aisle. “I should be with Wesley.” 

“Wesley is a big boy, Bree. He’s going to be fine. Zachary knows better than to try anything.” Sabien said mildly. “He would be in deep shit with House Genevieve if their new muse is harmed in any fashion.” 

Aubrey pursed his lips. Sabien wasn’t wrong. House Genevieve was known to protect their employees, and Wesley wasn’t helpless. Not entirely. He was sweet and sometimes clueless, but he could take care of himself. 

Aubrey was naturally protective of his best friend. Regardless of their size difference, Aubrey was the one who picked the fights while Wesley ended them. While slightly comforted by Sabien’s reassurance, he couldn’t help looking over his shoulder as the concern lingered. He chewed on his bottom lip, brows furrowing. 

“But…” 

“You followed me all the way here,” Sabien said with a sultry smirk. “Are you having any doubts, Bree?” 

Aubrey inwardly swooned, which upset him, to be honest. He should have a better head on his shoulders around Sabien. Instead, he was short-circuiting and losing the ability to function properly.  

Try as he might to commit to his black cat persona, he was practically arching his back for a scratch from Sabien Grosvenor. 

And the offer was tempting. So fucking tempting. Getting this chance to talk to Sabien and get to know him was a sweet deal Aubrey couldn’t refuse. He wanted this. He’d been wanting this for so long.  

“Yeah,” Aubrey muttered, much to his embarrassment. “I did.” He rolled his shoulders before straightening his stance. “Fine. I’ll have one drink with you.” 

How could he turn away this chance? He’d been crushing on this man for a literal decade. 

“Four.” Sabien offered. 

“One and a half,” Aubrey replied. 

“Two.” 

“Two then.” Sabien agreed, “and a half.” 

Aubrey’s lips quirked in mild amusement. “Okay. Two and a half.” 

Sabien parted the curtain more and gestured for Aubrey to step through.

“After you,” he said. 

“What a gentleman,” Aubrey said wryly and rolled his eyes. 

The cabana was built like a mini-suite. A flat-screen TV was mounted on a solid support structure, turned off. A rectangular coffee table sat between a sectional big enough to fit a large party and a chaise meant for two. A long table with refreshments was pushed to the back, by the TV. Sabien let the curtain fall behind them and lowered himself onto the sectional while Aubrey shuffled toward the snacks table. 

“What do you think?” Sabien asked. A tablet was on the coffee table, and he grabbed it to peruse the digital menu. 

“Um, well, it’s nice.” Aubrey said, grabbing the glass jug of chilled water. His throat felt impossibly dry. He poured two cups of water and walked back over. His body yearned to share the sectional with Sabien. He ended up choosing the chaise for personal reasons. Like safety. The distance was necessary, at least Aubrey told himself that. 

“Got us some water,” Aubrey said. He set the cup on the coaster closer to Sabien and sat back stiffly, sipping his drink. 

“Thanks,” Sabien said not looking at the water. He kept scrolling through the menu. “So, what are you having?” 

“The strawberry and pomegranate daiquiri,” Aubrey answered, silently mourning the one he left behind. 

“Mm,” Sabien said. 

That mm did something, provoking an immediate physical response that had Aubrey crossing his legs. 

“What?” Aubrey said, finding it ludicrous that such a sound could ooze sex in a single breath. 

“I heard the blueberry and pineapple was good, but the peach-mango is a guest favorite.”

Aubrey raised an eyebrow. “Then why don’t you order those?” He replied. Then Aubrey had an oh fuck moment with how that came out. His ears burned as he shifted awkwardly in his seat. He quickly sipped his water and cleared his throat. “I mean, I already chose my drink, thanks.” Aubrey preferred sticking to one drink of choice instead of mixing it up. Doing so would be risky. Aubrey needed to keep a clear head around Sabien, especially after spending nights jacking off to thoughts and dreams about him

Sabien chuckled, “Fine, a strawberry and pomegranate for you.” 

Sabien tapped in the orders before putting down the tablet. He leaned back, giving Aubrey a vision that made his stomach dip. 

Sabien’s big and beautiful body was draped on the couch, his thick thighs spread, one hand on his knee, and his other arm stretched across the back. He painted the picture of casual indifference and dominance, bright blue eyes piercing on a face carved by the gods.

The knot in Aubrey’s neck bobbed as he swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. The crisp water did nothing to help his growing discomfort, particularly the one below his waist. 

“So,” Sabien began, breaking the silence with his deep voice. 

Had it always been that deep? Aubrey had gone a month not talking to Sabien. Memories were a dull comparison to the real vision sitting before him. 

“So.” Aubrey echoed, putting his half-drunk water down. 

“You look good.”

Aubrey blushed, the smile hidden on his face. It was lost to him that this was what Aubrey had said to Sabien that night on the terrace. Was this going to be their thing? If so, Aubrey desperately wanted it. To have a thing that was just theirs. 

“So do you, which isn’t a surprise. You always look good.” Aubrey replied. 

“Mm. I’m not exactly feeling it today, but thank you.” Sabien said. 

Aubrey tongued the inside of his cheek as another silence lapsed between them. He wanted to press Sabien about that comment. Why wasn’t he feeling it today? Sabien looked like he was ready for another shoot. Aubrey couldn’t stop admiring specific parts of Sabien. His hand on his knee, for example. Aubrey trailed his gaze across Sabien’s big knuckles, and absently wet his lips. A searing memory flashed across his head. A dream from this week, of Sabien wrapping his long fingers around Aubrey’s throat while he rammed his— 

“You know… you could sit with me.”

Aubrey choked on a breath, flushed beyond belief that the dream would come up now. 

“I’m fine here.” It’d let me keep a better eye on you, Aubrey thought. 

Sabien shrugged, “suit yourself.”

The daiquiri couldn’t come soon enough.