Dex kissed him, and Sloane took over, determined to let his husband know in more ways than one that they were in this together. Whatever happened, nothing would change their love for each other. That was the promise they’d made when they’d exchanged rings almost four years ago.

  Sloane slid his hands under Dex’s T-shirt, fingers gliding over smooth muscle as he pushed the shirt up his torso, then over his head to remove it. He peppered kisses across Dex’s skin, loving the way his husband writhed beneath him with desire. Dex arched his back, and Sloane continued to leave a trail of kisses as he tugged down Dex’s pajama bottoms, revealing his leaking, hard cock. Sloane let out a groan.

  From the moment he’d met Dex, he’d been struck by those brilliant blue eyes and those full pouting lips. He’d wanted Dex desperately, even when he hadn’t realized it. Sloane had tried to fight it, but the battle was quickly lost. Dex had been made for him. His lean, strong body, the way he shivered at Sloane’s touch, the delicious way he responded to Sloane’s mouth, his hands, his body.

  “Sloane,” Dex begged, his fingers in Sloane’s hair as he thrust his hips up.

  Sloane licked at the rosy head of Dex’s cock, humming at the salty taste of precome. His husband started to pant, his fingers closing around fistfuls of Sloane’s hair as Sloane licked and flicked his tongue over Dex’s slit, his finger finding Dex’s hole and teasing the outer rim.

  Sweat beaded Sloane’s brow, the sweet torture as much for him as for his husband. When he couldn’t take it anymore, he got up and grabbed the lube from the nightstand. Quickly he undressed, then returned to his gorgeous man. Dex moved up on the bed, and Sloane joined him, moaning when Dex bent his legs and spread them wide for him. He took himself in hand, his eyes never leaving Sloane’s.

  “I need you so much,” Dex said. “Always.”

  “Same,” Sloane replied. He poured some lube onto his fingers and kissed Dex as he prepped him, enjoying the taste of Dex, his hot mouth and talented tongue. Whatever Dex needed, Sloane would provide. When his husband was ready and practically breaking apart from want, Sloane pushed inside him.

  “Oh fuck!” Dex threw his head back, his lips parted and his fingers now clutching at fistfuls of the duvet. “Yes! Oh God, Sloane. Please.” Dex opened his eyes, glowing amber filling the blue. “You know what I need.”

  Sloane did. He always did. With his elbows to each side of Dex’s head, he pulled out and snapped his hips hard. Dex cried out. He threw his arms around Sloane, the tips of his claws digging at Sloane’s back.

  “Fuck, yes,” Sloane growled. He slammed his hips over and over into his mate, his husband, the bed moving wildly beneath them. Holding Dex in place, Sloane pounded Dex’s ass, thrusting in deep, hard, and fast. Drops of sweat rolled down the side of his face as Dex gasped and cursed, the delicious sound of their bodies smacking together incredibly hot. Dex reached between them and furiously worked his cock, his shout filling the room as he came hard, ribbons of thick white hitting his muscled abdomen and chest.

  Sloane kissed Dex with an insatiable hunger he possessed only for his husband as his hips moved wildly, his groin pounding against Dex’s ass as his orgasm exploded through him and he filled Dex with his come. He continued to pump himself inside Dex until he became too sensitive, then carefully pulled out. With a warm smile, he pressed kisses to Dex’s jawline, his chin, his lips, and one to the tip of his nose.

  “I’ll be right back.” Forcing himself to get up, he grabbed the wet wipes from the nightstand and cleaned his husband up, then himself. He got into bed with Dex and pulled him close, humming in contentment as Dex snuggled into him.

  This right here was what mattered, what made everything they did worth it. Dex snapped his fingers, and Journey’s “Faithfully” floated quietly from the speakers. Sloane smiled and kissed the top of Dex’s head. As Sloane drifted off to sleep, he held Dex close. They might be navigating murky waters, but they’d do it together.

  Dex had been right about not canceling the barbecue. Having the backyard filled with the sound of their family talking and laughing lifted Sloane’s spirits. More importantly, their family was keeping Dex so busy, he didn’t have time to focus about their mission. Thinking wasn’t possible with Cael bouncing around after mistaking Rosa’s mocha Frappuccino for his decaf chocolate Frappuccino—Cheetah Therians and caffeine did not go well together. Then there was Seb’s brother Hobbs, who lived to tease Dex. Ethan Hobbs might not speak because of his selective mutism, but the guy was the most expressive, “talkative” guy Sloane had ever known, and he loved to bug Dex, who had a soft spot for the ginormous loveable tiger Therian.

  Hobbs’s boyfriend, Calvin, sat happily on the sofa sketching away, Rowan propped on the back of the sofa watching him draw. Seb and Ash stood talking to Tony, who manned the barbecue, while Letty and Rosa chased Cael around. Keane sat in one of the chairs with his laptop, showing something to Seb’s oldest brother, Rafe, who appeared fascinated by whatever Keane was going on about, while Nina sipped a cocktail next to her best friend, Hudson.

  For years Sloane had believed he’d never find his own family, much less someone who’d love him for who he was. Then he’d met Ash in that godforsaken facility and gained a grumpy big brother, even though they were the same age. Ash had always behaved like the big brother of the two, looking after Sloane. They’d joined the THIRDS and soon gained a family. Sloane met Gabe and fell in love for the first time. Their teammates became their siblings, their sergeant—Dex and Cael’s dad—their father figure. Losing Gabe had convinced Sloane love wasn’t in the cards for him. After all, what were the chances he’d find someone else who’d love a miserable, heartbroken bastard like him? How wrong he’d been.

  Sloane took a sip of his beer, content to simply stand there watching his crazy crew. They’d all been through so much together over the years, suffered heartaches, injuries, and near-death experiences, but it all brought them closer together. Which was why he hadn’t hesitated when Dex decided he wanted to join TIN. He knew Destructive Delta, the team Sloane had help build, would be okay, and as soon as Ash accepted he was the best man to lead them, the decision had been complete.

  “Hey, Sloane.”

  Sloane turned, smiling at Rafe as he drove up to him in his high-tech wheelchair. He held out a hand, and Sloane slapped him a low five, giving his hand a squeeze at the end of it. “What’s up, man. I’m glad you and Nina were able to make it. I know Nina’s schedule’s been kinda crazy lately.”

  “Are you kidding? Wouldn’t miss a Daley event,” Rafe said, offering Sloane a wink. “Besides, she wasn’t going to miss the chance to spend some time with Hudson. She doesn’t get to see him as often these days.”

  When Hudson and his husband, Seb, had been recruited by TIN, Nina, his best friend and a medical examiner, had been promoted to chief medical examiner at the THIRDS. Rafe and Nina had been dating for years, but it was only two years ago that Rafe’s Therian Acheron Syndrome—the same condition his father suffered from—fully manifested, leaving him in a wheelchair. The doctors had been preparing Rafe for years, but as the oldest Hobbs brother, a fierce tiger Therian, and a team leader for the THIRDS, Rafe had refused to accept the diagnosis. He’d spent years lashing out at everyone, including his own brothers. Then one day, his little brother, Ethan, had finally gotten through to him.

  It had been a rough time for everyone as Rafe adjusted to his new life. Rafe had struggled. Badly. But with the love of his girlfriend, Nina, and their family, he had started to come to terms with his new normal. Thanks to breakthroughs in Therian medicine, they managed to keep the worst of the pain at bay for both Rafe and his father, Thomas, but there was still no cure. Seb continued to use his TIN resources in the hopes of finding one somewhere out there, but it had been almost four years now, and still nothing. If a cure existed, they’d yet to hear so much as a rumor about it.

  Rafe and Sloane chatted a bit about Unit Alpha before Rafe excused himself to return to Nina. Ash took the opportunity to approach Sloane.

  “How is he?” Ash asked. There was no need to be specific. Sloane knew exactly who Ash was talking about, and it wasn’t Rafe.

  “Pretending like he’s okay.”

  “Not the first time. Your man always comes back from it.”

  Knowing he could say anything to Ash, Sloane voiced his fear. “What if this time it’s different?”

  “When you agreed to follow him to TIN, it was with the understanding that the job wouldn’t change you. He promised you he knew what you were getting yourselves into, but knowing what’s out there lurking in the shadows and coming face-to-face with it are two different things. We all knew this was a different ballgame, Sloane. Your husband thought he’d be traipsing about the globe playing James Bond, going up against Bond villains. I don’t think he was as prepared as he insisted he was.”

  “I don’t think facing Humans like Vaughan or Reuter is where he’s struggling.”

  Ash seemed to consider this. “Then what?”

  “You’ve known Dex as long as I have. In all the years we’ve worked together, what’s the one thing you could always count on?”

  Ash’s lips quirked in the corners. “His ability to annoy the fuck out of me?”

  “Okay, the second thing,” Sloane said with a laugh. “Ass.” When he didn’t respond, Sloane answered for him. “He’s never lost.”

  “He lost his parents,” Ash reminded him.

  “He was five.”

  “He’s been stabbed, shot, kidnapped, tortured—all more than once, might I add—and none of that includes the messes he’s gotten himself into.”

  “But in the end, he always won, Ash, because, in Dexter J. Daley’s world, the good guys are supposed to win.”

  “And he lost Kenley.”

  “He never loses, because no one is as confident when it comes to his job as Dex.”

  Ash cursed under his breath. “You’re afraid this is going to fuck with his confidence.”

  “How can it not? Just by looking at him, I can tell he’s questioning every decision, every move. If Austen gets even a hint that Dex’s head isn’t in the game, he’s going to bench him for a lot longer than a few days, and that’s going to make things worse.” Sloane sighed and shook his head. “Sorry, you didn’t come here for this.”

  “Don’t be an ass.” Ash took another sip of his beer and went oddly quiet. “He’s going to need a distraction. A big one.” He quirked his lips and gave Sloane a knowing look.

  “Wait, now? Here? I thought you were waiting for the right moment?”

  Ash shrugged. “It’s him. Any moment is the right moment, and it’s not like he doesn’t know. He’s smarter than all of us, remember?”

  “You’re not wrong. And you think he’d want you to do this for his brother?”

  “It’s Cael. What do you think? Besides, he’s been dying for me to do it, period. Knowing what it’ll mean for Dex, he’ll be even happier.”

  Sloane couldn’t help teasing his best friend. “You sure you’re going to get the answer you think you are?”

  “Fuck off. Of course I am.”

  Sloane laughed.

  “Asshole.”

  “Go on, then.”

  “So fucking bossy.” Ash shook his head and handed Sloane his beer. Then he went off toward Cael. Dex appeared a heartbeat later.

  “What was that all about?”

  Sloane shrugged. “Eh, you know. Ash being Ash.”

  Dex snorted. He grinned wide at Hudson, who walked over with a plate piled high with an assortment of cookies.

  “Well, hello, Doctor Who.” Dex snatched one of the cookies and popped the whole thing into his mouth, laughing around it when Hudson huffed at him, his blue eyes narrowed. Dex washed the cookie down with a sip of Sloane’s beer. “Listen, you and I have to have a little chat about these biscuit stashes.”

  Hudson shoved his black-rimmed glasses up his nose and sniffed. “Et tu, Dexter? As I recall, I’m not the only fellow with snack stashes, though frankly mine are far better hidden. Honestly, Dex. Gummy bears in the nightstand? It’s like you’re not even trying.”

  Dex threw his head back and laughed. “Okay, so my snack stashing game needs improving, but think of your poor husband. Cookie crumbs in bed are not sexy.”

  “I’m guessing you’re speaking from experience.” Hudson popped one of the cookies into his mouth and hummed. The guy was as likely to give up on his biscuits as Dex was to give up cheesy doodles or gummy bears. Sloane had secretly substituted Dex’s gummy treats with a sugar-free version once. It did not go well for either of them.

  “I got cookie crumbs where no man should get crumbs,” Sloane said, giving Dex a pointed look.

  “Hey, I took care of most of them for you, didn’t I? A few were a bit out of my reach, but—”

  Hudson choked and started having a coughing fit. His husband promptly appeared with a mug that looked suspiciously like English breakfast tea and milk.

  “Why is my husband choking?” Seb cast an accusing glare at Dex as Hudson took a big gulp of his tea.

  “Because my husband doesn’t have a filter, and after all these years, your husband is still caught off guard by this,” Sloane replied.

  Silence spread across the yard, and they turned to find everyone had gone quiet, their attention seized by Ash, who stood in the center, Cael’s hand in his.

  “Sloane.” Dex threw a hand out, hitting Sloane in the abdomen, his eyes huge. “What’s Ash doing?”

  “I think we both know what he’s doing.”

  With a wide smile and his eyes filled with adoration for Cael, Ash got down on one knee.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Holy shit!

  Dex blinked. Was Ash Keeler about to…

  “Cael, from the moment you walked into my life, I knew you were special. Falling in love with you was the easiest thing I’d ever done; keeping it from you had been the hardest. But in the end, not even my stubbornness was enough to keep me away from you. When you told me you loved me, I became the luckiest guy in the world, and I’m hoping you’ll continue to make me the happiest”—he reached into his pocket and removed a ring—“by becoming my husband. Cael Maddock, will you marry me?”

  Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!

  Did Dex hear and see what he thought he had? He rubbed his eyes and blinked. Yep. Ash was on his knee, holding a ring, asking Cael to marry him.

  “Yes!” Cael nodded fervently, tears in his big silver eyes. Ash slipped the silver band onto Cael’s finger, then stood, laughing when Cael launched himself at Ash, the yard erupting into cheers and catcalls. Ash hugged Cael tightly to him, his huge lion Therian frame all but eclipsing Cael’s much smaller figure. He finally set Cael on his feet, and everyone rushed in to congratulate them.

  Dex’s head was about to explode. He really shouldn’t be this surprised. Ash adored Cael. The guy, as grumpy and assholeish as he could be, would walk through fire for Cael. Them getting married wasn’t as much of a surprise as the idea of Ash being married, period.

  Cael spotted Dex, with what was most likely a very weird expression on his face, and hurried over with a laugh. “You look like your brain imploded,” Cael said. “It did, didn’t it? Your brain turned into melted gummy bears.”

  “You’re getting married.”

  “I know.” Cael patted Dex’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Dexter. Take your time.”

  Dex blinked. “To Ash.”

  “Obviously,” Cael replied, amused.

  “Ash is going to be your husband.”

  “That’s generally how marriage works.”

  “You’re going to be Ash’s husband.”

  Ash appeared next to Cael. “Did we break him?”

  Cael snorted. “That’s nothing. Watch this. Dex, Ash is going to officially be your brother-in-law! Think about it. We’ll show up at your house wearing matching knit sweaters and ask you to come to Ikea with us.”

  Dex’s eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. He clutched at his heart. “I think I’m having palpitations. So… many… jokes… yet can’t get over brother-in-law.”

  “Now we broke him,” Ash said with a smirk.

  Dex shook himself out of it. “Well then, let’s get this party started!” He pointed dramatically at Cael. “Chirpy, will you do the honors?”

  Cael clapped his hands, then gasped when Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” filled the air. “You shit! Did you Rickroll me at my own engagement party?”

  “You bet your ass I did!” Dex took off, calling out behind him. “I regret nothing!” He ran over to their dad, Cael on his heels.

  “Now you two listen here,” Tony warned. “You know better than to mess with a man when he’s barbecuing.”

  Cael kissed Tony’s cheek, then bounced off to launch himself at his fiancé. Holy mother-loving funballs. Fiancé. Dex threw an arm around his dad.

  “Can you believe it?”

  “About time, if you ask me.”

  Dex chuckled. “Really?”

  “Come on. We all knew it was going to happen.”

  “Did we?”

  Tony arched an eyebrow at him, and Dex laughed.

  “Yeah, okay, fine. We knew. Still.” It seemed like only yesterday his little brother was chirping his head off as he chased Dex in his Therian form, the two of them roughhousing around the house.

  “My boys are all grown up,” Tony said with a sigh.

  “We should all wear fake manes to Ash’s bachelor party.”

  Tony sighed again. “Cael is all grown up.”

  Dex barked out a laugh. God, he loved this man. When he was a kid, he used to wonder what it would have been like if his parents hadn’t been killed. If John and Gina Daley had raised him and Tony had remained his cool Uncle Tony rather than his adoptive dad. When he got older, he realized how lucky he’d been to end up with a second dad as loving and amazing as John had been. Not only had he gotten lucky with Tony, but he’d been gifted a baby brother. He had so many amazing memories from his childhood.