“Give me the album.”

  Ash walked around to the love seat and dropped him onto it.

  “I’m giving you one more chance. Hand over the package, Agent Maddock, or face the consequences.”

  “Never! You can’t break me.” He wrapped his arms tightly around the album, rolling onto his side and away from Ash. There was nothing Ash could do to make him give up his baby album, filled with pictures of him and his bare bottom sticking up in the air. Or the one his dad took of him potty training, or dear God, the pictures of him running around the house naked during his “clothes are stupid” phase.

  “All right. You’ve left me no choice.”

  Ash lifted Cael’s legs and sat down, pulling him onto his lap as he launched a tickle assault. Cael squealed. Oh no! He was horribly ticklish.

  “Stop!” Cael cried, holding steadfast on to his album. He squirmed and laughed, tried curling on his side, then his back, but nothing eased the cruelty of Ash’s assault. He tickled Cael under his arms, on his sides, his neck, his belly, and his feet. It was ruthless! Cael had tears in his eyes, and his mouth hurt from laughing. Just when he thought he couldn’t take any more, the assault stopped. Cael flopped onto his back, sprawled across Ash’s lap as he tried to catch his breath. He maintained a firm grip on his baby pictures. And then Ash kissed him.

  Ash was kissing him in front of his family and Sloane. Rather than allowing his shock to take over, Cael let himself get swept away by the taste of Ash’s soft lips against his own. He returned the kiss, melting against Ash. A soft sigh escaped him, and the album was slipped from his fingers.

  “Thank you,” Ash murmured, brushing his lips over Cael’s before planting a quick kiss and pulling back.

  Cael glared at him. “You have no shame.”

  Ash let out a husky laugh. “And you’re just figuring that out?”

  Cael sat up, falling into the gap between Ash’s legs when he spread them. He might as well take it like an agent. Ash opened the album and “aw”d. The first page had a sixth-month-old Cael looking up at the camera with huge gray eyes and a confused expression. Not exactly unusual for babies that age. He was also naked, with his bottom in the air and part of him covered by a fluffy cheetah-print blanket.

  “I think I might die of how adorable this is,” Ash said. “This sort of cute should be illegal.” He grinned at Cael and kissed the tip of his nose. “You should be illegal.”

  “Shut it,” Cael griped.

  He had no choice but to sit there—on Ash’s lap—while Ash looked at his baby pictures. At least he was enjoying one of those things. He ignored the chuckles from his family. Ash continued to look through Cael’s album, making silly cute noises and pointing out pictures. There were hundreds of photos of Cael in his Human baby form and then later when he was a little older and his first shift happened, in his cheetah Therian form with his cheetah fuzz sticking up all over. There were pictures of him chirping, of him with bows in his fur thanks to his jerkface big brother, and of him hiding in a bucket while he played hide-and-seek with Dex.

  Usually a Therian’s first shift happened during puberty, but there were always exceptions, and some shifted sooner. Cael had been an early shifter, so he’d still had his cheetah fuzz. Luckily he didn’t have it for too long.

  Cael perked up, and a sly smile came onto his face. Why should he suffer alone in this baby picture hell? “Sloane,” Cael called out sweetly.

  Sloane looked up. “Hm?”

  “That yellow and baby blue album with the little lion on it is Dex’s baby album.”

  Dex gasped. He made a dive for it, but in true Dex fashion, he lost his balance and hit the carpet instead. With a smile, Sloane plucked the album from the table. “Thanks, Cael.”

  With a groan, Dex sat up. He kicked at Sloane’s foot.

  “Ow. Why are you assaulting me?”

  “You could have saved me, you big dork. Instead you went for the album?”

  Sloane blinked at him. “But if I grabbed you, then I wouldn’t have the album.”

  Dex prodded their dad’s leg. “And what’s your excuse?”

  Their dad didn’t even bother looking up from the album in his hand. “It’s not my job to kiss your ouchies anymore.” He jabbed a thumb in Sloane’s direction. “That’s his job now.”

  “So you let me fall?” Dex whined.

  “If I caught you every single time you fell, you’d never learn how to get yourself up.”

  Dex gaped at their dad while Cael snickered.

  “Ha! You just got schooled by Dad.”

  “Be quiet, Chirpy.”

  “Stop calling me that!”

  Cael jumped to his feet, grabbed one of the couch’s throw pillows, and launched it at Dex, who was getting to his feet. His brother swatted it away, and it smacked Ash in the face. There was a collective gasp from everyone.

  Ash looked down at the pillow in his lap, then up at Dex.

  “Hit the deck!” Dex leaped over the coffee table, rolled, and disappeared behind the armchair. Cael slowly backed away as Ash stood, gently put the album on the table, and took hold of the pillow he’d been smacked with. Cael dove behind the love seat. His brother was a dead man.

  “Don’t break my pillow,” Tony muttered, unfazed by whatever was about to transpire. Cael crawled to the edge of the love seat and peeked out. His dad continued flipping through the pages of the photo album in his lap.

  “Sloane, save me!” Dex used the furniture for cover as Ash stalked him. At least Dex had one advantage over Ash. Having grown up in this house, Dex was familiar with every nook and cranny.

  “Sloane? There’s no Sloane here,” Sloane replied. “Apparently just a big dork.”

  Dex popped his head up from behind an armchair. “Have you no sympathy for my impending demise?”

  Sloane opened Dex’s baby album and chuckled. “Aw, look at you! You look like a little burrito.”

  Dex looked uninspired. “It’s called swaddling.”

  Cael watched as Ash got ready to pounce. His brother had to know he was there.

  “Whatever it’s called,” Sloane said, “it makes you look like a burrito. An adorable baby burrito.” He turned the page. “Oh, now this is precious. Dexter Justice Daley in sheriff footie pajamas.”

  Ash froze, pillow raised high above his head. “Hold the phone.” He arched an eyebrow at Sloane. “What did you say?”

  Tony closed the album in his lap. “Look at the time. I think I’ll head up to bed.” He placed the album on the table and stood. “You break it, you buy it.”

  With that Tony headed upstairs. Cael slowly crawled over the armrest of the love seat, grabbed a throw pillow, and sat with knees drawn up to watch the chaos. Man, he wished he had some popcorn.

  “What?” Sloane asked. He looked down at the album when it seemed to dawn on him. “Oh shit.”

  Ash turned to Dex, a wide grin spreading at the horrified expression on his face. “Your middle name is Justice?”

  Dex shook his head at Sloane. “Why would you do this to me? I thought you loved me.”

  “I’m sorry,” Sloane squawked. “It slipped out!”

  Ash erupted into full-blown laughter. “That’s the funniest shit I’ve ever heard!” He doubled over, laughing so hard he was soon in tears.

  “It’s not that funny,” Dex grumbled, dropping down onto the couch beside Sloane, who drew him into his embrace and attempted to soothe Dex’s epic pouting.

  Cael shook his head. He was related to crazy people. Ash was on his knees and holding on to his side as he laughed. Apparently he was also in love with a crazy person. Sloane kissed Dex’s cheek, then his jaw, and whispered something in his ear. Dex appeared to consider whatever it was Sloane had said to him. The lewd smile he gave Sloane had Cael cringing. Ugh, they were going to have sex.

  “Good night,” Dex declared. He stood and pulled Sloane with him. “Ash, you’re a douchebag.” With that he marched off, Sloane in tow. Cael waited as Ash continued to laugh. He couldn’t even reply to Dex’s insult.

  Maybe Cael should change into his pajamas while the fiercest Therian Defense agent he knew rolled around on the floor laughing like a five-year-old.

  “Is this going to take long, because I might go upstairs and change.”

  Ash wiped his eyes, his laughter easing up. “Man, I have enough material for at least a year. This is fucking brilliant. Best. Christmas. Ever.”

  “It doesn’t take much, does it?” Cael asked, amused by how happy Ash looked. Like a little kid who’d been given a big red fire engine for Christmas.

  “To annoy the living daylights out of your brother? No, it doesn’t. This is payback for every time he’s called me Simba, for that fucking puppet, for every smartass remark.” He rubbed his hands together gleefully. “I am going to have a fucking ball with this.”

  Cael chuckled and got up. “I’m going to go change.” A thought occurred to him. “I haven’t shown you my room, have I?” Ash had seen his apartment bedroom plenty of times when he crashed at Cael’s, but Cael had never taken him up to his old bedroom.

  Ash shook his head and got up off the floor. “Can I see it?”

  “Sure.”

  Cael beamed at him. He motioned toward the stairs, and Ash accompanied him. Upstairs there were several doors. He pointed to the door at the far end of the hall, away from the others.

  “That’s Dad’s room. The room closest to his is mine, across the hall’s the bathroom, and the first room here is Dex’s.”

  There was faint moaning coming from Dex’s room.

  “You’ve got to be shitting me,” Ash grumbled, grabbing Cael’s wrist and hurrying toward Cael’s bedroom. He walked in and closed the door behind them. “How can you sleep with them in the next room sexing each other up? I had to sleep in your dad’s freakin’ office Thanksgiving night.”

  Cael winced. “Sorry, should have told you about the headphones.”

  “Headphones? You were wearing headphones?”

  Cael took a seat on the edge of his bed. “Yeah. So was Dad. That’s why we didn’t hear anything. Dex warned us.”

  “That fucker. He didn’t warn me.”

  Cael couldn’t help his laugh. “Sorry.” He so wasn’t sorry. “I have a spare set you can borrow if you need it.”

  Ash flopped down across from him. “I shouldn’t have to sleep with headphones. I can’t believe your dad lets your brother get away with it. It’s not like anyone’s asking him to refrain from having sex for the rest of his life. It’s one fucking night.”

  “You’ve known Dex over a year now. When has he ever not gotten away with something? If Dad told Dex no, he’d come up with an elaborate scheme to do it anyway, and believe me, the alternative would most likely be worse.” Cael fell back onto the bed. “Those two are like freakin’ bunnies. All the damn time.” He turned his head to observe Ash, who was taking in the room around him.

  Like Dex’s bedroom, their dad had kept Cael’s room how he’d left it when he’d moved out. Unlike Dex, who moved out when he went to college after buying his own house, Cael had stayed home. It wasn’t like he had to go far to get to school. His bedroom furniture, bedding, and carpet were varying shades of gray. A dark gray bookshelf on the far wall contained all his old textbooks and all the books his dad had read to him since he was little. A few toys from his childhood, along with some gadgets, were arranged here and there. Boxes filled with all his baby belongings were stacked neatly in his closet, along with his toys, and later his Little League equipment. Their dad didn’t believe in throwing their childhood belongings away, especially since he’d taught his boys how to appreciate what they had from an early age.

  “Who’s this?” Ash got up, walked to the bookshelf, and picked up Cael’s favorite stuffed toy from his childhood.

  “Oh, that’s Braveheart Lion.” Man, he’d loved that thing. Still did.

  Ash ran his hand over the fuzzy brown mane, a big smile on his face. “He’s cute.”

  “I’ve had him since I was a baby. He was my favorite growing up. Had him with me everywhere I went.” Cael chuckled at the memory. There was nowhere he’d gone without Braveheart. When Dex wasn’t around, Braveheart kept him from feeling scared.

  “That’s adorable.”

  “Well, he used to be Dex’s favorite. It was his.”

  Ash put Braveheart down. “Less adorable.” He walked back to the bed and resumed his spot, flopping back next to Cael.

  “My dad said when he brought me home Dex insisted I have Braveheart because I needed him more than he did. I took him everywhere. When I was unsure or scared and Dex couldn’t be with me, Dex would say that Braveheart would help me be strong and brave. I believed him.” He couldn’t help his smile.

  “Must’ve been something.”

  “What’s that?” Cael hadn’t expected the almost wistful tone in Ash’s voice. He couldn’t begin to imagine what Ash’s childhood must have been like. Cael had been lucky. If Tony hadn’t adopted him, who knew what would have become of him. With all the conflict and intolerance going on, he would have been another Therian child lost in a world that didn’t want him.

  “Growing up here,” Ash replied quietly, drawing Cael’s attention. “Your dad’s an amazing guy. Your brother….”

  Cael couldn’t help his smile. “My brother…?”

  “Isn’t always a jackass,” Ash admitted. He actually looked like it pained him to say the words, and it made Cael chuckle.

  “If you tell him I said so I’ll deny it till my dying breath.”

  “Don’t worry.” He gave Ash a wink. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

  Ash lay down on the bed so his head was next to Cael’s but upside down. “There were days back then, when I didn’t think I would make it out of there.”

  “The facility?” Cael asked gently.

  Ash nodded somberly. “A part of me didn’t want to, didn’t believe I deserved to, but I did. For Sloane. He needed me. After years of being alone, of feeling like I deserved everything that was happening to me in there, I met someone who needed me to protect him.” He swallowed hard and closed his eyes. “I’d failed my brother. I wasn’t going to fail my best friend.”

  Cael nodded his understanding when it struck him. “Wait. You have a brother?” How was it possible he hadn’t known? Why wouldn’t Ash have told him? Or even mentioned him? Cael was so confused.

  “Had. He’s dead.”

  Cael swallowed past the lump in his throat, watching Ash’s eyes grow glassy. He rolled onto his side toward Ash. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Were you close?” Ash flinched at his words. “Ash?”

  “Arlo and I did everything together. When we were kids, I….” Ash drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I was figuring myself out. There was a boy. I really liked him. One day he told me to meet him behind the bleachers for some fooling around. It was during the riots. I was supposed to have walked home with Arlo. Instead I sent him ahead so I could kiss Davie.” A tear escaped and rolled down Ash’s cheek. He quickly wiped it away. “Arlo was beaten to death on the way home.”

  “Oh, Ash.” Cael put his hand to Ash’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”

  “To make things worse, when I got home, with everything going on, I shifted for the first time. It was too much for my parents, and they called Animal Control. I was caged up and carted away before Dr. Shultzon took me in. He’s the reason Arlo’s information never made it into Themis.”

  Cael couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t so naïve that he wasn’t aware of how cruel the world could be, but he never understood how parents could discard their Therian children so easily. How could Ash’s parents send him away when he needed them the most?

  “Arlo was my twin. I used to tease him that I was the oldest because I was born first.”

  Cael’s eyes went wide. “Your twin?”

  “Losing a sibling is difficult enough, but when that sibling is your twin, it’s a whole other level of loss. Like a part of you is missing. Arlo’s death still haunts me. In my dreams, when I’m awake. That anger and anguish has become a part of me. It’s made me who I am, and I don’t know that I can change.”

  “Why would you want to change?” Cael tenderly stroked Ash’s jaw. “If you want to change who you are, then you do that, but you do it because it feels right to you. If you don’t want to change, the hell with everyone else. I know what’s underneath that gruff exterior. I fell in love with you for who you are, Ash. Every cursing, foul-mouthed, grumpy inch of you.”

  Ash turned his face toward Cael, his expression troubled. “Why?”

  How could Ash not see it? “You mean why would I fall for someone who’s so sweet and wonderful to me? Who drives me crazy in the most amazing ways? Who takes care of me, protects me, stands up for me, who respects me and makes me incredibly happy? Why would I fall for this unpredictable unstoppable force of awesome who’s sexy and fierce? Why would I fall for that guy?”

  Ash’s smile reached his eyes. “I love that about you. The way you look for the good in everyone. You see me the way I want to see myself.”

  “And you can, Ash. One day at a time. I wish you’d let me be there with you while you find your way.” Cael took Ash’s hand in his. “I’m not expecting you to change your online status to ‘in my first relationship with a dude.’ I just want you to give us a chance.”

  “That’s the problem, Cael. I don’t want a chance with you.”

  Cael’s heart sank. “Oh.”

  “No. You don’t understand.” Ash covered Cael’s hand with his own and leaned into his touch. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I tried to stop feeling how I do about you. Haven’t been remotely successful since the day we met.”

  Cael smiled at the memory. “You mean the day I pulled my smooth moves on you, bumped into you, and spilled your hot coffee all over you?”

  Ash chuckled. “Yeah. That day. The moment I saw you, that was it for me.”

  “So why don’t you want to give us a chance?”

  “Because I don’t want a chance. I want a whole lot more. I want everything with you for as long as I can get it. I’m terrified of messing up.”