According to the dossier they received from Vaughan on the plane ride over, the luxury resort was a two-hour drive from Marrakech. It boasted over thirty rooms, all of which would be occupied by his Human guests, their plus-ones, and their Therian “playmates.” Security was tight, but Delacruz was assured it wouldn’t be intrusive. The place was teaming with Vaughan’s Therian and Human security and heavy surveillance, but the complex itself was isolated and shrouded in dense greenery, which would come in handy for sneaking around.

  The helicopter blades slowed after they landed, and Sloane unbuckled his seat belt, his narrowed gaze on Vaughan’s man, who went to stand at the same time he did. The guy swiftly dropped back down into his seat, and Sloane held back a smile as he unfastened Dex’s seat belt, then helped him down. Sloane followed before the guy inside scrambled out with their luggage and carried it to the shiny black Suburban waiting for them.

  The drive to the hotel gave them a chance to study the terrain in the guise of boring observation. They traveled down a wide two-lane road, nothing but sand and a few trees to either side. Sloane’s guess was that the lab was somewhere off-property, but not far. Vaughan would want to be able to get there quickly should the need arise. Hopefully, Keane would be able to do a scan of the terrain and get them more information. Vaughan would need a high-tech lab, and the electricity had to come from somewhere.

  Half an hour later, the car stopped outside the hotel’s gated entrance. The huge double doors were made of thick dark wood and iron, displaying two iron lion heads, an iron ring between their jaws. Inside the gate, a small entourage waited, the red mudbrick building displayed proudly behind them. Sloane had to admit, the place was impressive, and this was just the outside.

  A tall, handsome man, with broad shoulders and fair hair, approached them. The white linen suit he sported distinguished him from the half dozen people trailing close behind, two of them clearly bodyguards.

  “Mr. Delacruz! What an absolute pleasure!” Vaughan moved his attention to Sloane and gasped, a hand flying dramatically to his chest. “Is this him?”

  As if he hadn’t been watching them for hours.

  Vaughan appeared to be in his early fifties, strong, with sharp steel-gray eyes. He’d been in Morocco for some time—or somewhere with a good deal of sun—judging by his deep tan.

  “Yes. This is Broderick. You can call him Brodie.”

  “How very exciting. You stated there would be no… behavioral issues?”

  “That’s correct.” Dex turned to Sloane and sensually ran a hand down his arm. “Brodie answers solely to me. He’s well aware of the consequences should he displease me.”

  Sloane grinned wickedly. “Pleasing Mr. Delacruz is much more… beneficial to me.”

  Vaughan’s eyes widened before filling with delight. “You continue to impress, Mr. Delacruz.”

  Dex bowed his head at the compliment.

  “Would you mind demonstrating?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Please, forgive me. I’m not questioning your integrity,” Vaughan said quickly. “But should any of the other guests express their concern, I’d like to assure them I’ve personally witnessed your control over him.”

  “Of course.” Dex took a step forward. “As you know, jaguar Therians are rather… intense. If you hurt them, you’ll most likely lose a limb.”

  Vaughan nodded his agreement. “They’re quite wild.”

  Sloane readied himself. They’d prepared for this. His concern was more for Dex than himself. Dex stepped in front of him and backhanded him, pain exploding across his face as his head snapped to one side, the ring on Dex’s pinky drawing blood from his lip. His inner felid hissed, confused by his mate’s actions. The only movement Sloane made was to wipe the blood on his lip with his thumb.

  “Incredible,” Vaughan said, his tone one of awe. “All that raw Therian power and he submits to you, a Human.”

  Sloane gritted his teeth when Dex cupped his cheek, his smile gentle. Only Sloane could feel the pain in that smile.

  “It was necessary.” He petted Sloane’s head, and then his hand came to rest on Sloane’s cheek again.

  “So polite,” Vaughan commented.

  “To command respect, you must show respect, Mr. Vaughan.”

  “So very true,” Vaughan said as he circled Sloane, then motioned for them to accompany him. “Shall we?”

  Sloane remained close behind Dex as he followed Vaughan and his entourage toward the main building’s entrance and reception area.

  “Fascinating.” Vaughan hummed.

  “What’s that?” Dex asked.

  “The way you treat him. You’re not one of those Humans who feels a firm hand is needed in domesticating.”

  “Mr. Vaughan, what do you see when you look at Brodie?”

  “An exceptional specimen.”

  “Exactly. I was very fortunate to come across him. Our arrangement is unique. As you can imagine, he costs me a small fortune, but I consider it a sound investment. I didn’t earn my wealth by making poor business decisions. I also take very good care of my investments. I imagine you have several cars. Picture your favorite, your most expensive. I’m certain you paid several million for it.”

  “Thirteen million to be exact.”

  “Now how do you treat that car? Do you take a baseball bat to it? Leave discarded food wrappers on the floor, spill drinks on the upholstery?”

  Vaughan gasped, horrified. “Good God, of course not.”

  Dex patted Vaughan’s shoulder. “I’m sure you take exceptional care of it. You do everything to keep it running smoothly and looking beautiful, the envy of those around you. It’s a luxury, a pleasure, and an investment.” Dex stopped and took hold of Sloane’s chin, turning his face toward Vaughan, who studied him, enraptured. “Brodie is worth far more than your car, but the same principles apply. If I want to continue enjoying him, I need to take exceptional care of him.” Dex let his hand fall away and turned to meet Vaughan’s gaze. “I agreed to your rules when I accepted your invitation, but please remember I’m here to do business. Should anyone attempt to devalue my investment, I won’t be held responsible for their poor choices. Brodie belongs to me, and he will protect both me and himself.”

  Vaughan’s eyebrows shot up near his hairline, but the set of Dex’s jaw, his posture told Vaughan he wasn’t fucking around. He had the means to deal with anyone who crossed the line with him and his Therian property.

  Seeming to finally get a glimpse of the type of man he was dealing with where Delacruz was concerned, Vaughan tilted his head in acknowledgment. “Understood. However, should you have any trouble, please feel free to notify me or my staff, and we’ll take care of it.”

  “Thank you.”

  “He’s so well-behaved,” Vaughan noted in awe.

  “It was messy at first. That stubborn jaguar Therian streak was difficult to break, and he is every bit the alpha he appears to be, but once he realized no one else could meet his needs the way I could, the rest came easily.”

  “You are an extraordinary man, Mr. Delacruz.”

  “Some would disagree. They’d even go as far as to call me a monster.”

  Vaughan stopped by the front desk and turned to Dex. “Ah, yes. Therian sympathizers. Incredibly foolish and naive to believe Therians are our equals, but let’s leave the politics for later.”

  Politics. Is that what he thought this was about? Sadly there were still countries that denied Therians the same rights as Humans, where Therians had to hide who they were, a difficult task when their eyes easily gave them away. Then there were assholes like Vaughan who took advantage of those countries and their anti-Therian laws.

  A young Human wearing a white djellaba appeared behind the desk, his friendly smile wide. He handed Vaughan a keycard. “Here you go, sir,” the young man said, his accent thick. “Mr. Delacruz’s suite is ready, and the luggage has been delivered.”

  “Thank you, Karim.” Vaughan took the card from him and motioned toward the open door. “Come. I’ll show you to your accommodations.”

  Did the staff here know who this man was? Were they being paid to look the other way, or were they unsuspecting victims, innocent locals who’d been hired under false pretenses? Sloane suspected the latter. The same couldn’t be said for Vaughan’s Therian muscle. What kind of Therians would work for a man like Vaughan? Then again, he shouldn’t be so surprised. After decades in law enforcement, he’d seen it all.

  They headed outside, a haunting tune filled with drums and banjo music catching Sloane’s ear. The sun shone brightly in the flawless blue sky, a hot breeze rustling the leaves of the lush green trees around them. It was peaceful, perfect, or at least it would have been without the Therians being tortured in a lab somewhere nearby. Sloane showed no sign of how much the thought disturbed him, knowing he was surrounded by Humans willing to allow the death of innocent Therians for their gain.

  Dex’s hand brushed against his as they walked, and he settled, until a dark-haired man in a white polo shirt and khaki shorts approached. It was a miracle the man could see where he was going, considering how high his nose was turned up. When he reached them, he gave Dex an assessing once-over before turning his attention to Vaughan and smiling.

  “Ah, Ramos, I trust your accommodations are to your liking?”

  “They are. My wife’s already made herself at home in the spa.”

  “Wonderful. Please, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Delacruz.”

  Ramos extended a hand to Dex. “Well, well. The Dash Delacruz. You seem to be all anyone can talk about around here.”

  Dex’s handshake was brief. “Is that so?”

  “So this is what all the fuss is about,” Ramos said, eyes on Sloane.

  Sloane didn’t so much as twitch at being referred to as a “this.” He simply remained by Dex’s side, aware of his mate’s rigid spine and tilted head as he observed the newcomer.

  Ramos circled Sloane, his eyes taking in every inch of him. He stopped to face Sloane and reached out, only to have Dex seize his wrist.

  “I don’t believe I gave permission for you to touch him.”

  Ramos jerked his arm out of Dex’s grip and narrowed his gaze.

  At the mounting tension between the two men, Vaughan quickly stepped in. “You’ll have to forgive Mr. Delacruz. He’s very protective of his… companion.”

  “I suppose that means you won’t be open to sharing,” Ramos said with a sniff.

  “I pay a lot of money to maintain Brodie’s perfect health. I intend to keep him that way.”

  It took a lot for Sloane to stop himself from reacting to Dex’s response, or the indignant look that appeared on Ramos’s face.

  “What are you implying?”

  “I’m not implying anything. I don’t know where”—Dex lowered his head, indicating Ramos’s crotch—“people have been.”

  “Mr. Delacruz, please,” Vaughan said, red-faced. “I can assure you everyone here has been vetted and cleared of any infection or disease, and that includes Therian companions.”

  “That may be, but let me put it simply. No one fucks Brodie but me.”

  Ramos’s smile was wide, but it didn’t reach his cold dark eyes. “I certainly understand the expense of keeping a healthy Therian. I better be going. There’s a martini at the bar with my name on it. Maybe you’ll join us for a drink some time?”

  Dex returned Ramos’s toothy grin. “Sure.”

  Ramos excused himself, and Vaughan waited until he was out of hearing distance before turning to Dex, a deep frown on his face.

  “Was that necessary?”

  “I didn’t come here to make friends, Mr. Vaughan. I came to do business. Bringing Brodie was a courtesy. I’m not about to let anyone put their hands on him.”

  “Understandable, though I do hope you’ll find some enjoyment in this retreat. I know we’re all here for business, but I also intend to give guests a pleasurable experience. It’s five days before the auction. Why not indulge a little? We have an exceptional welcome reception planned for tonight. Perhaps once you meet the rest of the guests you’ll feel more at ease.”

  Dex had to play his part just right or he could rouse Vaughan’s suspicion, and Dex needed to get close enough to Vaughan to gather intel. An apologetic smile spread across Dex’s handsome face.

  “You’re right. You’ll have to forgive me. It’s been a while since I’ve taken part in any group activities. A man in my position can’t be too careful. Force of habit. Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll certainly be making the most of it.”

  “That’s better.” Vaughan patted Dex’s arm. “See? You’re loosening up already. A few cocktails at the bar and next thing you know, we’ll have you on the dance floor.”

  Dex laughed. “Let’s not get crazy now.”

  Vaughan joined in the laughter as he showed them toward the garden. The red mudbrick resort was built in a valley with views of the Atlas Mountains. Everything about it screamed extravagance, from the lush greenery to the pristine red carpet stretching across the stone floor. The luxury Berber tents were only accessible by walking through the beautiful gardens that extended from the main building. They were distanced enough from one another to give each guest plenty of space.

  “It’s a little bit of a walk to your tent, but if you call the front desk, we’ll send someone to pick you up. As you can see,” Vaughan stated. “Our guests’ requests for privacy have been honored, and as with the rest of our accommodations, there are no security devices within the suites. Whatever guests choose to do in their rooms remain a private matter. I take security and discretion extremely seriously. As per the rules in the retreat package that you were sent, Therians must remain in their Human form unless an event calls for them to shift, and when outside of their accommodations, they must remain with their Humans at all times.”

  “Understood.”

  The gardens were stunning, with all manner of blooming flowers in an array of fiery reds and brilliant oranges. The tiled path led them past several luxury “tents,” with plenty of space and greenery around each one to allow privacy and seclusion. When the path ended at the final tent in the lineup, Vaughan used the keycard to open the ornately decorated varnished wood door. Eight out of the ten red walls in the room had either a set of double glass windows or doors with thick red curtains. Against the far wall was a Therian-sized bed, and across from that sat a desk and chair, storage, and the AC unit. The center of the room was equipped with a long couch, a coffee table, a comfortable-looking armchair, and a side table, all beautifully carved and painted in bright colors.

  Vaughan took a few minutes to show Dex around, pointing out the private deck with lounge chairs and a private hot tub overlooking the mountain peaks.

  “You’ll find your luggage on the other side of the bed there. If you need anything at all, call the front desk. The reception begins promptly at 8:00 p.m. in the main gardens, the attire formal. I’ll see you then.”

  “See you then. Thank you,” Dex replied, taking the keycard from Vaughan. As soon as Vaughan was out of sight, Dex closed the door and locked it. Sloane took a seat on the armchair facing the door as Dex moved around the room drawing closed all the curtains. He removed his sunglasses and placed them on the nightstand, then turned on the lamps. Using his phone, he scanned the room for any surveillance devices. He tapped away at his watch’s interface.

  “This is Chaos, line is secure.”

  Keane’s voice responded a heartbeat later. “Line is secure.”

  “We’re in our room.”

  “Scan of your location has been received and the system is rendering a 3D map as we speak. Should be complete within the next three minutes.”

  “Copy that. The welcome reception is tonight at twenty hundred hours. You should have a scan of everyone and their phones by the end of the night.”

  “Copy that. K out.”

  Dex pocketed his phone before stepping in front of Sloane. He took a seat on the sturdy coffee table and reached out to tenderly brush a thumb over Sloane’s lip, the gesture intimate. His husband was back.

  “I’m fine.” Sloane leaned in and kissed the top of Dex’s head, offering him comfort and taking it in return. They sat close, holding on to each other’s hands for several heartbeats as Dex shed his persona, his shoulders relaxing, the lines of his face softening.

  “I’ve never wanted to punch someone as badly as I want to punch Vaughan, and I’ve wanted to punch a lot of people over the years. The way that asshole Ramos looked at you? Ugh, I need a shower.”

  “How about I join you?”

  “Now that I like.” Dex leaned closer and kissed him, a short but sweet kiss before standing and pulling Sloane along with him into the luxury bathroom. The shower was big enough for both of them, and Sloane didn’t waste any time undressing them.

  “Whatever happens,” Sloane said, kissing Dex as he led him under the warm spray, “nothing will change who or what we are to each other. Yours, always.”

  “Faithfully,” Dex replied, breathless. He ran his hands over Sloane’s chest, as if he didn’t already have every inch of Sloane’s body mapped out. “Eight years.”

  Sloane brushed his lips over Dex’s and smiled. “This December. Can you believe it?” Who would have thought he’d end up married to the hotshot rookie who turned his life upside down all those years ago? “You were this whirlwind of boundless energy, driving me out of my head. I spent most of my time wanting to either fuck you or bite you.”

  Dex threw his head back and laughed. “Had to keep you on your toes.” He poked Sloane on his side, making him laugh. “And what do you mean I was a whirlwind of boundless energy?”

  “Did I say was? I meant you are a whirlwind of boundless energy.” Sloane nuzzled Dex’s temple as the water sluiced over them. “You’ll always be my blond menace.”

  Dex laughed. “And you’ll always be my Broodybear.”

  They’d been through so much together, it was hard to think back on a time when Dex wasn’t in his life, and why would he want to? After losing his first love, Gabe, Sloane had been such a mess. Then this gorgeous, at times infuriating, always complicated, amazing man barreled into his life, giving him everything. A life and love he’d never believed himself capable of, much less worthy of after having lost so much.