Sloane laughed around a mouthful of potato. “That’s just wrong. Besides, then we’d have to get turquoise and tangerine ones for the wedding party. Ash would make sure we never made it to the altar.” A thought occurred to him, and he had to swallow before he choked on his laughter.

  “What?” Dex asked.

  “I dare you to call up Lou and tell him we’re switching our tuxes to tux mankinis.”

  Dex let out a bark of laughter. “Oh my God, yes!” He put his plate on the coffee table and swiped up his phone to call Lou. Within seconds, Lou picked up. “Hey, Lou. Yeah, everything’s great. Listen, so I was thinking about our tuxes for the ceremony, and we thought maybe we’d go for something a little more… creative.”

  Sloane put a fist to his mouth so he wouldn’t laugh. He could just see Lou’s face. The poor guy.

  “Yeah, we were thinking of, you know, being a little different, and figured why not just go for it? So we decided to go with tux mankinis.”

  Sloane waited.

  “What’s a mankini?” Dex’s lips twitched, and Sloane could tell he was trying desperately not to burst. “Why don’t you google it. I can wait.” Dex winked at Sloane when a roar of expletives in both Spanish and English came blasting through the phone. They couldn’t hold it any longer and busted into peals of laughter.

  “But, Lou, it’d still be classy. They got little bow ties, and—I only understood the word saints. Lou, are you blaspheming right now? Think of your poor abuelita.” Dex quickly moved the phone away from his ear. “Oh, he really didn’t like that.” With a chuckle, he held the phone out to Sloane. “He said your name.”

  Sloane shook his head. “No way. He still wants to smother me in my sleep over the color scheme incident.” Dex waved the phone at him, and with a groan Sloane took it. “Hi, Lou.”

  “Sloane,” Lou said through gritted teeth. “If your fiancé so much as hints at any ridiculous changes, I’ll be forced to do the unthinkable.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “I will send my mother to your house.”

  Having dealt with few mothers in his lifetime, Sloane wasn’t exactly sure how that was a threat. Dex arched an eyebrow at Sloane, and Sloane shrugged. “He said he’s going to send his mother to our house.”

  Dex’s eyes went so wide Sloane thought they were going to pop out of his head. Before Sloane could say a word, Dex dove for the phone and snatched it out of Sloane’s hand.

  “Lou, hey. Let’s not be too hasty now. I was just kidding. Of course, I wouldn’t do such a thing. I’ll be on my best behavior. At least until the reception. I promise. Please, please don’t send your mom to our house. Pinky swear. Cross my heart. Do you need me to put it in writing? Sign something? A contract? I’ll do it. Whatever it is, I’ll do it. Just don’t tell your mom!”

  Sloane went back to finishing his dinner, amused by Dex’s panicked look. Was Dex really afraid of Lou’s mom? How bad could she be? After promising profusely that he wouldn’t cause Lou any more near heart attacks, Dex hung up.

  “Okay. Crisis averted.”

  Sloane laughed and placed his plate on the coffee table. “You should have seen your face. You’re really scared of Lou’s mom?”

  Dex turned to face Sloane. “You have no idea of the horror. Lou’s dad is Dominican and a chef. Oh my God, his food is to die for. That’s where Lou got his love of good food. Lou’s mom is Cuban. She also makes awesome food, but I swear to you, Sloane, I have never, ever faced a more terrifying adversary.”

  “Adversary? You make her sound like some kind of Bond villain.”

  “Pfft, amateurs compared to this lady. She’s this tiny little woman with a supersweet smile and a perfect little bob, and holy shit, she will bust your shit up without laying a finger on you. I don’t know how she does it, but she has this death stare. Like Medusa. If you look directly at her, you’re screwed, except she doesn’t turn you to stone, she destroys you with her mom guilt. Like how can you break her heart? How can you crush her soul? Which is what you’re doing by saying no or disagreeing with her. You say yes, and you fucking run. You run fast, Sloane.”

  Sloane was in tears from laughing. He could picture it so clearly. “Are you telling me there’s someone out there who’s immune to your Daley charm?”

  “You have no fucking idea. I shit you not. You know how Darla does that Southern ‘I’m smiling, and sweet-sounding words are coming out of my mouth, but I’m actually about to shank you with a spork’ thing? Well this is worse. So much worse.”

  Sloane thought about it. “Like Julia?”

  Dex shook his head. “I would walk through fire for Julia. No one wants to disappoint Julia. Lou’s mom is more like, if you disappoint her, you’re the biggest asshole to walk this earth and you’re going to hell for causing this poor innocent little lady so much pain. She’s pure evil, I tell you. Evil wrapped in floral chiffon.”

  Sloane fell over onto his side, holding his stomach, which started to cramp from laughing so hard. His face hurt. He was dying to call Lou up and have him send his mom over just so he could witness this great feat. He needed to get some tips from the woman.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Dex said with a sniff as he stood with his empty plate. “If you so much as even hint at what you’re thinking, there will be no sexy times for you for the foreseeable future.”

  Sloane sat up with a scoff. “Please. Like you would last a day.” He picked up his plate and followed Dex into the kitchen. Dex took it from him and started washing, grumbling under his breath, making Sloane laugh. He wrapped his arms around Dex from behind and nuzzled his temple. “And why would you want to?” He kissed behind Dex’s ear, loving the shiver it sent through his sexy-as-sin partner. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t subject you to such horrors.”

  Dex finished washing up, his lips doing that adorable pouty thing. When he’d dried his hands, Sloane took his hand and pulled him into a twirl before dipping him. Dex let out a laugh, and Sloane planted a quick sweet kiss on his delicious lips, then brought him back up. Dex shoved at him playfully, shaking his head before he turned to walk away.

  “Come here, baby,” Sloane said in a low sultry tone that immediately got Dex’s attention. His sexy man turned to him, laughing when Sloane crooked his finger. He bit down on his bottom lip before giving Sloane his hand. Sloane pulled Dex against him, and they danced around the kitchen, through the dining room, and into the living room. Sloane’s heart was ready to burst from how happy he was. This right here, this was what mattered. Whatever happened in their work lives, whatever job they were doing, whatever operation they’d find themselves in, this was what he would look back on, what he would draw strength from. This was worth surviving whatever trials came their way, and hopefully someday soon, they could retire and spend every evening in each other’s arms, dancing, laughing, and loving each other unconditionally.

  After dancing, they went back to watching TV before showering and changing into their pajamas. Cael called, and while Dex chatted with his brother, Sloane put some laundry away. Afterward, he was in the mood for some ice cream. They’d gotten so caught up in their being sappy that he’d forgotten about dessert.

  Sloane headed into the kitchen and searched the freezer with a frown. Where the hell was it? “Babe, where’s my ice cream?”

  “Oh.”

  Sloane closed the freezer door and turned to find Dex standing in the middle of the kitchen, spoon near his mouth and what looked suspiciously like Sloane’s Cherry Garcia in his hand. Or rather an empty carton of what was once Cherry Garcia. Considering the carton of Phish Food had also been absent in Sloane’s search of the freezer, he was going to hazard a guess that a certain someone had devoured that as well.

  “Um.” Dex dropped his gaze to the carton, then looked back up at Sloane, big blue eyes wide and innocent. “I can explain.”

  Sloane leaned against the counter, his arms folded over his chest. “I can’t wait to hear this.” He arched an eyebrow at Dex and motioned for him to proceed.

  “The thing is,” Dex began, and Sloane could almost see all the little wheels and cogs working furiously in that sweet little Dex brain. “I, um…” A lightbulb went off somewhere, and Dex met Sloane’s gaze, his expression serious. “Sloane, I didn’t know how I was going to tell you this with everything going on, but…” He sniffed, and Sloane straightened.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Dex’s bottom lip wobbled, and he let out a shaky breath. “I’m pregnant.”

  Sloane’s expression turned deadpan. “Really?”

  Dex nodded. “It was a craving. I’m so sorry. I’m eating for two, you know.” He put the spoon and the empty carton in the sink before placing a hand on his belly. He gasped. “Quick, give me your hand. I can feel him kicking.”

  Sloane rolled his eyes, and Dex let out a loud, disturbingly long burp. “False alarm. It was just gas.”

  “Classy.” Sloane shook his head and walked around the counter as Dex washed his spoon. Dex then dived onto the couch when Sloane sat down. Sloane flipped through the channels, and Dex rolled onto his back, his head in Sloane’s lap.

  “Don’t be mad.”

  Sloane wasn’t mad, but that didn’t mean he was going to let Dex off the hook that easily. Dex knew better than to eat two cartons of ice cream in one night.

  “You ate your ice cream and mine.”

  Dex pouted. “I’m sorry. Being half Therian is hard. I’m hungry all the time.”

  Sloane scoffed. “Nice try. You were hungry all the time before.”

  “Yeah, but now it takes more food to fill me up.”

  “Which we buy,” Sloane reminded him. “Admit it. You wanted ice cream, and since you’d eaten all of yours, you thought you’d eat mine and then pretend like I’d finished it.” It wouldn’t be the first time. Sloane knew Dex far too well by now. Sloane rarely ate dessert, which meant his lasted longer, or at least until Dex gave him the sad puppy eyes and Sloane gave in.

  Dex threw a hand dramatically over his brow. “I can’t help it, Sloane. I’m weak, and ice cream is so tasty.”

  “It also bloats you.”

  “This is true.” Dex got up and shoved his butt in Sloane’s face, making him laugh. Damn it. He didn’t want to give in that quickly. “Does my ass look bigger?”

  “Get your butt out of my face,” Sloane said, trying hard to sound annoyed.

  “But you like my butt in your face.” Dex wiggled his ass, and Sloane slapped it. “Ooh, yeah, baby, just like that. I’ve been a naughty boy.”

  Sloane let out a bark of laughter. “Oh my God, all right. I give up. I’m not mad.”

  Dex dropped down onto the couch and resumed his spot with his head in Sloane’s lap. His smile was ridiculous.

  “I knew you loved me.”

  “Shut up.”

  Dex did the opposite. He was relentless. Until he had Sloane where he wanted him, he wouldn’t give up. He snapped his fingers, and Retro Radio came floating through the speakers. Dex rolled off the couch, popped up like a jack-in-the-box, and broke off into song, replacing the lyrics “the boy” in “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” with “my Sloane” all while pulling his best Footloose moves.

  Oh dear God. Sloane pressed his lips together and shook his head. He was not giving in. He was strong. He could do this.

  Dex arched an eyebrow at him. He snapped his fingers, and the Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams” started playing. Dex arched his brows and sang along as he did deep lunges across the living room, his eyes never leaving Sloane no matter which way he turned.

  Not happening, Daley. No dice.

  With narrowed eyes, Dex snapped his fingers, and “Two of Hearts” came on. Sloane inhaled deeply and braced himself as Dex did his best eighties Jazzercise. Seeing as how that didn’t work, Dex moved on to the next song, and Sloane knew he was in trouble the moment he heard the first chord. He closed his eyes and shook his head. The couch cushions dipped, and Sloane was forced to open his eyes. He bit down on his bottom lip to keep from smiling as Dex lip-synched to Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration,” dramatic hand gestures and all. Dex straddled Sloane’s lap and put everything he had into his performance, one hand going to his heart, the other out grabbing air. During the chorus, he grabbed Sloane’s head and brought it against his chest.

  “Okay, okay. I give,” Sloane said with a laugh before he was smothered. Dex released him, and he sat back. “If I hold it in anymore, I’m going to pop a spleen.”

  “Yes!” Dex jumped to his feet, then fist-pumped the air. He lowered his voice, mimicking a certain burly gladiator. “Call me Victorius Maximus.”

  “All right, Victorius Maximus. Get over here.”

  Dex happily obliged, lying down on the couch with his head in Sloane’s lap once more. Sloane grabbed one of the throw pillows. “Head up.”

  Dex lifted his head, and Sloane placed the pillow under him. They settled in together, and Sloane ran his fingers absently through Dex’s soft hair as they watched TV together. Sloane couldn’t remember the last time they got to just hang out and spend time together like a normal couple without some kind of crisis hitting. So this was how the other half lived? Waking up, running errands, doing chores, cooking, watching TV, spending time together. They’d griped about how their laundry detergent wasn’t as good as it used to be and that they should try out a new brand. It was all so oddly satisfying.

  Sloane dozed off at some point and woke up to find Dex gone. He checked his watch, surprised he hadn’t actually been asleep very long. The house was oddly quiet, with the only sounds coming from the TV. Maybe Dex had just popped upstairs to the bathroom. After half an hour and still no Dex, Sloane got up. He headed upstairs to their bedroom. It was empty, but the bathroom door was closed. Was Dex not feeling well? Sloane had a habit of worrying when Dex was sick. With Dex’s mutation, there was no telling whether a cold or stomach bug was just that or the start of something more.

  Sloane stopped in front of the bathroom door and reached up to knock but paused when he heard sniffling. Putting his ear to the door, he could hear Dex clearly on the other side. Dex was crying, and it broke Sloane’s heart. He felt the pain then. The heartache. Dex’s heartache. Sloane was torn. He desperately wanted to draw Dex into his arms and comfort him, but he also wanted to give Dex his privacy. It was clear Dex wanted to be on his own, or he would have woken Sloane up.

  Instead of disturbing him, Sloane went back downstairs and checked the house, making sure everything was locked. He switched off all the lights, then returned to the bedroom. After turning down the bed and switching on his bedside lamp, he climbed into bed under the covers. He’d just settled down on his side and closed his eyes, when he heard the bathroom door open. A heartbeat later, Dex joined him in bed, and Sloane’s heart skipped a beat when Dex slipped his arm under Sloane’s and around Sloane’s chest, his body pressed against Sloane’s back from head to toe. Sloane placed his hand over Dex’s and laced their fingers together. He didn’t have to wait long.

  “I’m sorry if I worried you,” Dex said, his voice quiet and rough. “I was thinking about the wedding when I kind of dozed off. I was half-asleep, but still awake, and I had this vision of us getting married, and my parents were there. I woke up, and…” Dex let out a shuddered sigh. “I realized it had been a dream. It hit me harder than I expected.”

  Sloane turned to face Dex and wiped a tear from his wet cheek. Dex pressed his lips together and shook his head. He didn’t want to talk about it. That was okay. Sloane drew him close, and they lay together, limbs entangled. He rubbed circles on Dex’s back and kissed his brow, offering the comfort Dex sought.

  “I love you,” Dex said, his voice so quiet Sloane wouldn’t have heard him if he wasn’t so close.

  “I love you too, baby.” Sloane stroked Dex’s cheek—his mind, body, and soul feeling at peace. He inhaled the scent he’d know anywhere—his beautiful mate, his best friend, and his whole world.

  THREE

  “I can’t believe we have to train during our time off,” Dex whined loudly.

  Sloane refrained from saying a word as he walked alongside his disgruntled husband-to-be. Mostly because Sloane was aware Dex wasn’t really annoyed they had to train during their vacation time. Dex was eager to get in as much training as possible. Even though they’d be spending the next six months after swearing-in getting their asses handed to them in TIN’s Covert Operative Training Program, Dex wanted to be ready. Dex was whining because it bugged the ever-loving shit out of Sparks, and it had become Dex’s life mission to drive her insane at every possible opportunity. To what end, Sloane had no idea. His job was to make sure she didn’t end up pushing Dex in front of a moving bus.

  “TIN doesn’t take time off,” Sparks informed them, oh so calmly.

  “Never?” Dex eyed her. “You’re telling me we don’t get to take a vacation ever?”

  Sparks rolled her eyes. “Every operative gets time off. However, if you’re needed while you’re on said time off, you report in. Criminals don’t take vacations.”

  “I’m pretty sure they do. Are you telling me Moros didn’t have paid vacation time?”

  Sparks arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow at him but didn’t respond, just kept walking.

  “Fine, whatever, but not in the face. I don’t want to walk down the aisle sporting a black eye. It’ll clash with my color scheme.”

  Sparks came to a halt and turned to face him, her hands on her hips. “Are you serious?”

  Dex mimicked her pose. “Do you want to explain to my dad how I got a black eye during my time off before the wedding?”

  “That would not be good,” Sloane agreed. “Tony’s already nervous about being the officiant.”

  Sparks narrowed her eyes at Dex before spinning on her high heels and marching off.

  Dex waggled his eyebrows at Sloane, and Sloane leaned in to whisper in Dex’s ear, “She’s dying to put you in a sleeper hold. I can feel it.”