King lay against his side, his chuckle reverberating through Leo. “I can almost hear your brain working furiously. Hold on. Let me get us cleaned up before we end up glued together.” He carefully got up and disappeared toward the little kitchen.

  Leo didn’t budge. He barely breathed. Too afraid if he did, he might wake up from whatever work-induced dream this was, because that was the only explanation he could come up with for why Ward Kingston, ex-Special Forces soldier, had confessed to wanting him, and had jerked them off together. Leo promptly shut his eyes tight. Everything was okay. If he didn’t open his eyes, nothing would change, everything would remain magical and he could stay in this blissed-out moment forever.

  “Leo, open your eyes.”

  “Nope.” Leo swallowed hard at the damp cloth against his skin. A heartbeat later, he felt King looming over him.

  “Get up.”

  “I’m good. But thanks anyway.” Leo’s eyes flew open when King picked him up. “Dude, you can’t do that!”

  “Do what?” King asked innocently as he sat on the couch, then lay down with Leo sprawled on top of him.

  “You can’t just pick me up like a stray kitten because you have ginormous biceps and an eight-pack.”

  “I can’t?”

  “You’re not cute.”

  “Actually, I believe you said I was adorable.”

  “You know what’s not adorable?”

  “My being right?”

  Leo sighed. “I’m not going to win this, am I?”

  “No. Now do you want to talk about what happened?”

  Leo laid his head over King’s heart and traced the lines of King’s tattoo with his fingers. “Could we maybe close our eyes and stay like this for a while.”

  King kissed the top of his head. “Sure. Remember everything I said, okay? None of that has changed.”

  But everything else had changed. Leo wasn’t sure how to feel about it. On the one hand, he was ridiculously happy. On the other, he was afraid he was in too deep. Afraid King would wake up in the morning and think it was all a big mistake, or worse, would do so weeks from now, months from now, when Leo’s heart was wrapped up in the amazing man holding him. Who the hell was he kidding? Leo’s heart was already wrapped up in King.

  Not wrapped up in King, falling for him.

  Oh God. He was falling in love.

  Chapter 7

  King woke up the next morning like he never had before—with a smile on his face.

  Leo lay sprawled over him, his head on King’s chest and arms holding him tight, as if he were afraid King would leave. What would it take for Leo to trust in him? Leo trusted him with his life, no doubt on that, but when it came to his heart, Leo had been pulling away more and more. King couldn’t blame him. Not when King couldn’t come right out and say what he wanted. Mostly because he didn’t know what he wanted. He knew who he wanted. He’d told Leo as much last night. The problem was what came next? That’s where Leo’s past heartaches came into play. Even if whatever was going on between them didn’t go anywhere, King still wanted Leo to be a part of his life. Now if he could just get Leo to believe that.

  King ran his fingers through Leo’s soft hair, closing his eyes and inhaling Leo’s sweet scent—a mixture of peppermint, citrus, and Leo. What would the General think if he saw them? Would he be happy for his son? The General had never mentioned anything about his son’s relationships or the type of person he wanted for Leo. He’d only ever mentioned wanting him to be happy. Could Leo be happy with someone like King?

  “What are you thinking?” Leo murmured sleepily. “And you say I think loudly.”

  King chuckled. “I was just wondering what your dad would think of this.”

  Leo took a few breaths. “Of what?”

  The hesitant way he had asked the question wasn’t lost on King. “Us. You being with me.”

  “That’s easy. He’d be thrilled.”

  “You think so, huh?” King continued to absently stroke Leo’s hair. “How do you figure?”

  “He’s only ever wanted me to be happy, and yeah, he worries a lot. Way more about me than my sister, but it’s you. He trusts you.”

  “Pretty sure that trust wasn’t an invitation for me to get into your pants.”

  Leo trailed kisses up his jaw. “No, that was my invitation.”

  Knowing where this was heading since Leo’s hands had started roaming, and King couldn’t trust himself not to make a mess out of Leo, he sat up, laughing softly at Leo’s very loud groan of displeasure.

  “Come on. We need to get some breakfast in you.”

  “I can think of something else I’d rather have in me,” Leo mumbled, getting up.

  King laughed again and swatted Leo’s perky round ass, making him jump. He was about to get up when Leo straddled him, pushed him down, and kissed King until they were both forced to come up for air. King stared at him, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths. Holy hell. He reached for Leo, but Leo was too quick, jumping off him and stepping away from the couch.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “To get some breakfast.” Leo’s crooked grin was wicked. He was gorgeous. Hair sticking up in all directions, lips thoroughly kissed, pajama pants hanging low on his hips, his chest bare, that sinewy, slender frame on display. King stood and slowly stalked toward him.

  “Is that right?”

  Leo edged toward the stairs. He nodded, his bottom lip pulled seductively between his teeth. Then he turned and bolted downstairs, King running after him. He caught Leo at the bottom of the stairs and wrapped his arms around Leo’s waist as he lifted him off his feet. Leo laughed loudly.

  “Oh my God, put me down!”

  King hoisted Leo over his shoulder and walked with him into the kitchen. The conversation stopped abruptly, the only sound came from Lucky’s Spanish curses as he flailed and fell off the kitchen counter, where he’d been sitting as he talked to Ace, who’d been cooking.

  “Dude,” Leo said with a grunt. “We talked about this!”

  “Did we?” King asked, pretending to recall the incident. “I don’t remember having that conversation.”

  “You can’t just go around slinging people over your shoulder—hey guys—like a towel. Oh God, is that what I weigh to you? Why don’t you throw Red over your shoulder? Let’s see how that feels.”

  Red huffed. “I’m not that heavy.”

  “Buddy, your bicep is the size of my head, nice try.”

  “Also,” King said, pouring himself a cup of coffee, “I can lift Red.”

  “Of course you can,” Leo replied with a disgusted snort. “Seriously, guys? No one’s going to help me out here?”

  Joker scoffed. “Better you than me, pal.”

  “Wow. Thanks. I feel the love. Ooh, are those breakfast burritos? Ace, you make the best burritos.”

  “Thanks. To go?”

  Leo grunted, and King turned to Ace with a grin. “Yep. Leo’s got work to do.” King placed Leo on his feet, laughing when Leo poked him in his side.

  “Thanks, Ace.” Leo took the Tupperware containing two breakfast burritos along with a huge coffee tumbler filled with Leo’s favorite coffee and peppermint mocha creamer. “See you guys later. Thanks for not rescuing me. I hope you all do better if the Russians come.”

  Joker let out a bark of laughter as Leo disappeared upstairs. “He’s awesome.”

  “Agreed,” Jack said, slipping Chip a piece of bacon and laughing when Joker punched him in the arm.

  “I think you should keep him,” Lucky told King.

  Turning, King came face-to-face with Ace, who looked about ready to burst.

  “Just get it out of your system.”

  Ace pumped his fists through the air before thrusting a finger in his face. “Ha!”

  “I’m not sure what your ‘ha’ is referring to.”

  “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

  King stared at his best friend. “Surely you’re not implying what I think you’re implying.”

  “Oh, I imply, brother. I imply. All the implying.” Ace waved his hands at King and his general person. “There is so much implying going on, I can barely stand it.”

  “You’re ridiculous.” King took another sip of coffee and leaned against the counter. Was he really having this conversation? Who was he kidding? He was talking to Ace. Of course he was having this ridiculous conversation.

  “I am, and I don’t even care, because Ward Kingston is falling in love!”

  “Would you keep it down?” King hissed, putting his coffee down and shoving Ace toward the bedroom. He closed the door behind them and spun around, sighing at Ace bouncing around, a stupid smile stretching from ear to ear. “You’re worse than a child.”

  “Still don’t care.” Ace put a hand to his heart. “You should have seen you two. So fucking sweet.”

  “You know what’s not sweet? Me breaking your fingers.”

  “You can be as grumpy as you want, but I know that deep down, inside that steel box where you locked your heart away, a certain cute little nerd didn’t just pick the lock, he blew it up with C-4.”

  “That analogy was terrible.”

  “You’re not listening. I. Don’t. Care. What matters is that here—” Ace poked King’s chest over his heart, and King snatched hold of his hand, twisting his arm until Ace doubled over. “Ow, ow, ow.”

  “Are you done?”

  “Never! You’ll have to break my hand, because I will never not be fucking thrilled about this.”

  With a heavy sigh, King released him. “You’re exhausting.”

  “And you’re in love.”

  “I’m not in love.”

  “You’re right. You’re in denial. Don’t worry, the epiphany will come. Always does. Believe me.”

  King dropped down onto the mattress at the foot of the bed. “It’s been, like, a month, Ace. You can’t fall in love with someone in a month. I can’t fall in love with someone in that time.” Shit, it took him longer to pick out a new microwave after Joker blew up his last one.

  “Says who? It was meant to be.”

  “That doesn’t exist. That whole soul mates thing is bullshit.”

  “Wow. Did you ever believe in Santa, or did you come out of the womb asking your parents for power tools and flannel shirts?”

  “I don’t know. Do you ever listen to yourself when you speak?” King asked, squinting at him. “Because half the shit that comes out of your mouth makes no sense.”

  “Growl at me all you want. It’s my measuring tool for gauging how right I am when you argue with me.”

  There was no winning with Ace. So why was he even bothering? He sighed heavily, and Ace joined him, sitting beside him on the bed, both of them going silent. It wasn’t possible. Even if he felt like he’d known Leo for years, they’d only really met not long ago. It took King twice as long to arrange a date after meeting a guy he was interested in. None of this made any damned sense.

  “Do you think it could work between us?”

  “King, I love you, but I don’t love you. Besides, I have Colton, and you have Leo.”

  “I’m going to seriously hurt you.”

  Ace cackled before his expression softened. “Why wouldn’t it? He’s a great guy. A little… eccentric, but sweet, funny, and he’s clearly crazy about you.”

  “But we’re so different. So, so different.”

  “Really? Because what I saw out there wasn’t your differences. Besides, maybe that’s what you need. You’ve always gone for guys who took themselves too seriously. Remember Monochromatic Mitch?”

  King snorted. “How could I forget? We went over to his place for dinner, and when he asked you what you thought of the new apartment, you said it was “like walking into a Hollywood movie—before they were filmed in color. Wonder why he never invited us back?”

  “I seriously thought we’d just stepped into a Hitchcock movie. I was expecting Norman Bates to pop out in a granny wig, wielding a knife. You could practically hear the violins screeching whenever that guy walked into the room. Who the hell wears nothing but varying shades of gray other than a ghost?”

  “I’m not even going to address all the things wrong with that sentence.”

  “My point is, those guys didn’t work out because they weren’t Leo. He’s bright and colorful, keeps you on your toes, and holy shit, King, he makes you laugh. You’ve laughed more times since he’s been around than… ever.” Ace’s smile faded, and he dropped his gaze to his fingers. “It was like looking through a mirror back to before we lost them. I love you, but, man, I’ve missed your laugh.”

  King blinked back his tears, smiling when Ace wrapped an arm around his shoulders and brought him in for a hug. Ace was right. He remembered a time when he used to laugh, and often. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Then everything changed. He changed.

  “There’s no guarantees,” Ace said gently. “We know that better than anyone, but you have a chance at something special. Take it and run as fast and far away with it as you can. Don’t let anyone take it from you.”

  King had a lot to think about. He cared about Leo, deeply. Was it love? He couldn’t say for sure, because he’d never been in love before. He’d had relationships, cared for the men he’d been with, some more than others. But love? No. Love meant surrendering your heart, allowing in the fear, uncertainties, and insecurities. It meant allowing yourself to be vulnerable, to place your trust, your heart into someone else’s hands. Falling in love meant giving up control, and that was something King didn’t think he could give up completely.

  “Speaking of something special,” Ace said, interrupting his thoughts. “It’s Christmas Eve in a couple of days.”

  “Shit.” With everything going on with Leo, King had completely forgotten. After missing one too many Christmases, and never knowing if it would be their last, they made it a point to always spend Christmas with their families. King hadn’t missed one since his return. He supposed it was bound to happen. He couldn’t leave Leo alone on Christmas. He’d just have to apologize to his family and make it up to them somehow. His sister would understand.

  “I know what you’re thinking, and don’t be an idiot. Bring Leo.”

  King stared at him. “You want me to tell Bowers I’m risking Leo’s life and the government’s top-secret project so Leo can celebrate Christmas?”

  “You’re not risking Leo’s life. Colton’s house is stupidly secure. You know this because we made it that way after that jackass tried to kidnap him. If it’ll make Bowers feel better, he can have his guys patrolling the property. Leo’s been working damn hard on this project. His dad’s in another country who knows where, and his sister still isn’t back from Europe and wherever the hell she went with her husband. Leo needs to be surrounded by family.”

  King swallowed hard. Family. King had no trouble seeing Leo as part of his family, but that didn’t mean Leo felt the same.

  “Before you argue against it, think about it. Ask him, see what he says. Lucky and I are taking Colton and Mason down to Miami to spend Christmas Eve with our families, and we’ll be back at Colton’s later that evening.” Ace stood and patted King’s shoulder. “We’ll take care of presents.”

  With that, Ace left.

  The idea of having Leo with him for Christmas made King’s heart swell. His family would love Leo. Most of them already did. The guys didn’t just think he was great—they truly believed he was great for King, and he was. He wasn’t going to fight that part anymore. Leo made him… happy. Groaning, he let his head fall into his hands. One day at a time. He’d take it one day at a time. For now, he’d focus on helping Leo get through this.

  When he left the bedroom, the guys were gone, leaving only Ace in the living room working on his laptop. He didn’t bother looking up but blew King a kiss. Shaking his head in amusement at his best friend, King headed upstairs, where Leo was furiously typing away at his keyboard, weird numbers, letters, and symbols flying across the screen. He’d check on Leo again in a couple of hours, since Leo kept trying to be sneaky, insisting he “forgot” to turn on his alarm.

  In the meantime, King checked in with Jack and Joker, who were in the apartment downstairs. With Leo in the zone, he wasn’t aware of anything but the program he was working on. He wouldn’t even hear them. “Hey, any word on those guys from the bunker?”

  Jack shook his head, the secure video feed showing him and Joker in the background practicing commands with Chip.

  “As soon as Leo gave me access, I reviewed the footage and started running these guys through several databases. I got a whole lot of nothing. No criminal records, no connections to anyone within the US, no known syndicates, gangs, or extremist group affiliations. It’s like these guys don’t exist. You know what that means.”

  “Someone’s gone through a lot of trouble to make it seem like they don’t exist.” The awful truth being it was most likely someone within their government. “What about your contact with Interpol?”

  “He’s working on it, but it’ll take a little time. I’ve been digging into one of the analysts. His behavior is suspect and stood out, but I would wait until we have more information before mentioning it to Leo. No sense in upsetting him.”

  King sat up, his muscles tensing. If one of the analysts had something to do with the attempt to kidnap Leo, Leo was going to be furious. “Who?” One particular name came to mind.

  “Harold Carr.”

  Damn it! He should have known the guy was up to something. “Tell me.”

  “I don’t know if he’s guilty, but the guy’s a total creep. He spent more time spying on Leo than he did working. In the two weeks before you arrived, he was either arguing with Leo, watching him, or following him around. His browser history shows he’s been looking into Leo and the General. I’ve reviewed the footage several times, and in those two weeks, Harold kept sneaking off to talk to Bowers. There’s no audio feed, but it’s obvious he was complaining about Leo. Bowers seems to humor him at first, but after, like, the fifth time the guy ends up in his office, Bowers gets pissed, growls something at him, and tells him to get lost, which clearly makes Harold even angrier. So far nothing in his profile shows any connection to the kidnappers. I’m checking Harold’s finances. On the surface, he seems clean, but something feels off.”