“Saying no to you is going to be fucking impossible.”

  Leo tweaked one of King’s nipples, his grin wicked. “I’m glad you’ve realized that early on.”

  “You’re a smart-mouthed little shit sometimes, you know that?”

  “Guess you better find a way to shut me up.”

  King thrust his hips hard, and Leo cursed. “You love to push my buttons.”

  “Hell yes. I love watching you lose control. Love knowing I’m the one doing it. Me. No one else.”

  “Leo,” King warned, snapping his hips again. “You’re playing a very dangerous game.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Leo said with a moan, running his fingers over King’s bottom lip as King drove himself in deep and hard, pumping himself against Leo, his back hitting the wall over and over. Fuck, it felt amazing. King didn’t treat him like he was fragile. Like he might break if he was held too tightly. “Play with me, King. Lose yourself to me.”

  King found a way to shut Leo up all right. He dropped Leo onto the bed, rolled him onto his stomach, and plastered his chest to Leo’s back before lacing their fingers together. He moved Leo’s arms up above his head, kicked Leo’s legs wider, and drove himself in deep and hard.

  “Oh fuck!”

  King jerked Leo toward him as he thrust up, the sound of King’s groin smacking against Leo’s ass joining King’s animalistic growls and Leo’s screams. King’s heavy weight on Leo was delicious, and fuck, he was so full. His body shivered, skin slicked with sweat, every part of him burning with need.

  “Oh God, Ward.” Leo was going to come, every muscle pulled tight as King slammed into him repeatedly, hitting that magical little bundle of nerves inside his ass. The bed moved beneath them, the headboard knocking into the wall, and Leo worried the place was going to crumble around them.

  “Leo,” King roared, burning heat filling Leo, the knowledge it was King filling him with his come had Leo screaming King’s name, his body shaking as he came with his cock trapped between him and the mattress. King continued to pump himself inside Leo until he collapsed on top of him, his ragged breaths warm by Leo’s ear. They lay together, King’s heavy weight on him while their breathing steadied.

  “King?” Leo inquired softly when King didn’t show any signs of life. “Shit, did I kill you?”

  “Fuck you,” King grumbled against Leo’s hair. “I’m not that fucking old.”

  God, he loved the grump.

  Leo’s eyes went wide. Love. Oh fuck, he’d fallen in love. With King.

  “I guess I should move,” King murmured, his breath ruffling the back of Leo’s neck.

  “I’m good,” Leo said, worried King would see the truth in his eyes and make tracks. Because things weren’t complicated enough, that’s just what King needed right now. King slipped out of him, groaning, no doubt at the way his come slipped out of Leo’s ass. At least that’s what made Leo groan. He stayed where he was, a chill going through him when King moved away. The toilet from the en suite bathroom flushed, and Leo sighed when he felt the damp cloth cleaning him up.

  “Roll over.”

  Leo did as he was told, his cheeks burning when King cleaned up his stomach, then the wet patch on the bed. While King went to get rid of the cloth in the bathroom, Leo scrambled up and got under the duvet. When he didn’t hear anything, he chanced a peak and found King standing by the bathroom door looking uncertain.

  “I hope you’re not thinking about sleeping anywhere other than right here,” Leo said, eyes narrowed. Where the hell all the boldness came from, he had no idea, but he was running with it. He wanted King here beside him. The guy didn’t get to fuck him and then disappear. If King meant what he’d said, then he’d join Leo.

  King arched a blond brow at him. “You’re kind of bossy.”

  “Bossy bottom, that’s me. Get that fine butt over here. I’m cold.” He could see King was trying not to smile as he rounded the bed and climbed in beside Leo. Without hesitation, Leo snuggled up close. “Now this is more like it.”

  “I’m glad I could be of service.”

  Leo hummed. “You servicing me. I like the sound of that.”

  “Easy, tiger. Round three will have to wait. And I swear if you say anything about my age, I will take you over my knee and….”

  Leo snickered. “Just realized that wasn’t much of a threat, didn’t you?”

  “Shut up.”

  Leo burst into laughter at King’s put-out tone. He rolled onto his back, and held his stomach, tears in his eyes from how hard he was laughing. It certainly didn’t help him when he looked over to see King glowering at him.

  “Yeah, yeah. Smartass.”

  When Leo was done, he rolled toward King, smiling at the contented look on his face. He snuggled close, and King wrapped an arm around him, holding Leo against him. He closed his eyes.

  “Go to sleep, sweetheart.”

  Leo placed a kiss to King’s skin before closing his eyes. He couldn’t think about what would happen next. One day at a time. That’s how he had to take this. It was all so very new to him, and from what King had said, to him too. They were both navigating uncharted waters, and Leo hoped wherever it led them, it didn’t end with Leo sinking into the darkness below with a broken heart.

  Livid wasn’t a strong enough word to describe the various shades of red and numerous levels of anger Bowers experienced when King told him he was taking Leo to Ponte Vedra for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Two days of not working on the program. The dude was a total Grinch, without the cute dog. If Leo hadn’t promised he’d work nonstop on the remaining three sections of code the moment he got back, who knew what Bowers would have done. The truth was, Leo was very close. He’d have to really push himself, but he could get it done. Then it just needed testing. He was almost free. Before, Leo had been trying to get the project finished so he could go back to his life, but now he was finishing with the hope that once he got back to his life, it might include King. He wanted to see where things went between them more than anything.

  Once Bowers accepted, informing them he’d send a small army with them to keep watch on Ace and Colton’s property, Leo started feeling nervous for other reasons.

  King squeezed his hand as he drove them north on I-75. “It’s going to be fine.”

  “What if your sister hates me?” Surely she wanted the very best for her brother, and Leo wasn’t sure he was it.

  “First of all, my sister’s not like that. Unless someone’s an asshole to her or her family, she loves everyone. Her husband, Nash, is a great guy, and so are Mason, Colton, and Laz. You’ve already met the rest of the guys, and they love you, but I know it can be a bit much when everyone’s together, so if you need to escape at any point, you just let me know. No one’s going to be offended. Red sometimes needs a little quiet time, so you’ll see him go off on his own for a bit and come back later.”

  Leo nodded. He knew King was right, but that didn’t stop him from feeling nervous. As they got closer to Ace and Colton’s mansion—because seriously, of course Ace snagged himself a billionaire who lived in a mansion on the beach—Leo tried to push down his nerves. He reminded himself this was King’s family, and like King said, he’d already met the most important men in King’s life, and they seemed to like Leo, so maybe the rest would feel the same.

  Bowers’s men were already on the property, and Ace had promised Leo that he and Colton were okay with all the added security. Colton sounded like a great guy, and if he was with Ace, Leo figured the man had to have some major patience. Ace was awesome, but he was kind of like Leo in some ways. A big ball of energy, though Leo was more rambling-nervous energy and Ace was more “always seems high on espresso” energy.

  They pulled into Colton’s drive, and Leo smiled so wide his face hurt. “Oh my God.” The multistory mansion was gorgeous, decorated in what had to be thousands of twinkling white lights, making it look like an ice palace in the middle of a winter wonderland.

  “Ace loves Christmas, and Colton loves spoiling Ace. Can you tell?”

  “And Ace doesn’t mind it?” Leo asked, getting out of the car. He waited for King, who came around the front and took hold of his hand. People tended to get a little funny where money was concerned, especially in relationships when one person had a lot more than the other.

  King led Leo toward the front door. “Nope. Everyone has a different way of expressing their love. Colton is an only child from a very wealthy family. I think the way he grew up has something to do with it, but that’s how he shows Ace his love. Don’t get me wrong, he shows it in other ways too, but he’s got plenty of wealth, so if he wants to spoil the man he loves, why shouldn’t he? Ace isn’t going to stop him. Colton’s also very responsible. He doesn’t buy things on a whim. It needs to mean something to Ace.”

  The door opened, and a very tall, handsome man in an expensive-looking suit greeted them, his genuinely warm smile reaching his bright blue-gray eyes. “King. How wonderful to see you again.” He moved his friendly gaze to Leo. “You must be Leo. I’m so excited to meet you.”

  Leo returned Colton’s smile. “You are?”

  “I’ve heard all about you.” Colton jumped when Ace appeared, poking him in his side.

  “Honestly, Anston. Stop skulking around corners.”

  “And so it begins,” King muttered, shaking his head, but Leo could tell he was amused by the way his lips twitched.

  Leo chuckled at Ace’s teasing and Colton’s fussing as if he was put out, but the adoration in Colton’s eyes for Ace shone unmistakably bright.

  “Leo, this is Colton, who for some strange reason has allowed Ace to live in his house.”

  Ace threw an arm around Colton’s shoulders. “Um, because he loves me and can’t bear to be parted from me. Isn’t that right, snookums?”

  Colton let out a mock gasp. “Wait, you’re living in my house?”

  “Funny,” Ace drawled.

  With a rumble of a chuckle, Colton held out his hand to Leo. “Colton Connolly. Lovely to meet you. Welcome to our home.”

  “Leopold de Loughrey, but I prefer Leo.” Leo shook Colton’s hand. “Thank you for having me.”

  Colton turned to King and hugged him tight before giving Ace a playful shove out of the way and stepping to one side so they could come in. Inside the hall, Leo froze. He’d never seen anything so beautiful. The inside of the house was just as lavishly decorated as the outside, with intricate wreaths, lush garland, twinkling lights everywhere, white poinsettias, candles, and all manner of Christmas decor.

  “This is amazing,” Leo murmured, allowing King to lead him farther into the house.

  “Thank you.” Colton beamed.

  Leo paused to admire a stunning white-and-gold reindeer almost as big as him, standing regally near the end of the hall. “After my mom died, we kind of stopped decorating. I think my dad only celebrated because my sister and I were still little. It didn’t feel the same, though. Every Christmas morning, my mom would help us decorate sugar cookies. She even made me a cookie cutter in the shape of a fish in honor of my favorite crackers,” Leo said with a soft laugh. He noticed the way Colton’s expression softened and how Ace exchanged a look with King. Leo had no idea what it meant, but he was too enchanted by the extravagant beauty around him to worry about it.

  Judging by the noise coming from the living room—including a couple of barks—Leo would hazard a guess that’s where the others were gathered. Boisterous laughter filled the air, everyone talking at once. Normally the noise level would bother him, but for some reason, it didn’t. He felt… safe.

  “All right you heathens. Quiet down,” Ace shouted, getting everyone’s attention.

  Suddenly Leo had twelve pairs of eyes on him, including Chip’s, and he took a tentative step back, but King wrapped an arm around him and tucked him in close. Leo relaxed into King, allowing his warmth to wash over him. He hoped his smile wasn’t as awkward as it felt. Everyone remained silent, and it took Leo a moment to realize they were waiting on King to take the lead.

  Clearing his throat, King motioned to a big guy with fair hair and blue eyes. He was handsome, with hair falling over his brow and a crooked grin. “Cowboy here is Lucky’s boyfriend, Mason Cooper. He supervises the department I head at Four Kings and does a very fine job of it. Mason, this is Leo.”

  Mason tipped his head. “Nice to meet you, Leo.”

  Leo smiled at the thick Texas drawl. It made total sense now. He could easily see Mason wearing a cowboy hat and sitting on a horse as he rode off into the sunset.

  King turned to a young man more Leo’s build but taller, with kind blue eyes and his black curls cut in a trendy haircut. By his slim-fitting button-down shirt and slacks, Leo figured he was looking at Red’s boyfriend, the fashion photographer.

  “This is Lazarus Galanos. Red’s boyfriend.”

  “You can call me, Laz,” he said with a wave. “It’s so nice to meet you, Leo.”

  A beautiful blond woman with King’s blue eyes approached, her smile warm, and instantly Leo knew she was King’s sister.

  “This brat is my sister, Bibiana Kingston, but everyone calls her Bibi.”

  “Brat? Who are you calling a brat? I’m the older sibling,” Bibi teased, holding her arms open to Leo, who didn’t hesitate. He walked straight into her embrace and returned her hug. She gave off a quiet, gentle sort of strength, one that reminded him of King. It also made him miss his own sister.

  He pulled away and stepped back into King’s waiting arms. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

  “This is my husband, Nash,” Bibi said, gazing lovingly up at the tall, handsome black man who wrapped her up close and kissed the top of her head. He smiled brightly at Leo and held out his hand.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Leo. Welcome to the madhouse.”

  Leo laughed and shook Nash’s hand. He liked him already.

  With a huff, Bibi poked her husband’s side, making him squirm and laugh. “What? The poor man should be prepared. God knows I wasn’t.”

  “Don’t listen to him,” Bibi said, then put a finger to her lips. “Actually, most of the crazy is over there.” She motioned to Ace and Lucky, who were each trying to push the other off the armrest of the couch where Colton, Mason, Red, and Laz were seated. Didn’t matter there was plenty of empty couch space elsewhere.

  “Hey,” Lucky and Ace protested at the same time.

  “Totally legit,” Nash murmured, laughing when the cousins flipped him off.

  “It’s great to meet you all. Thanks for having me here.”

  Chip trotted over, tongue lolling and tail wagging. He lifted his paw, and Leo laughed as he took the paw in greeting. “Well, hello, sir. It’s nice to see you again.”

  Having greeted Leo, Chip returned to his person’s side, nudging Joker in the leg with his nose to get his attention, earning himself a scratch behind the ear as Joker continued talking to Jack. Rarely was one seen without the other. They were thick as thieves. Leo envied them a little. He’d never had a best friend. Someone who kept all your secrets and got angry on your behalf, who defended you and told you when it was time to get your head out of your butt. Then again, most of the friendships in this room had been forged under fire. A brotherhood that could never be broken. Leo had grown up around soldiers and weapons, but his father had tried his best to raise Leo outside of it all. Many of the military dads Leo had met in his lifetime had been proud their children followed in their footsteps. His dad hadn’t wanted that for Leo. Not because he thought Leo couldn’t hack it—even if Leo himself had believed that—but because he was afraid of losing Leo.

  Leo should have been nervous, and under normal circumstances he would have been anxious meeting so many new people at once, but he wasn’t. It couldn’t just be because of King, could it? Leo’s sister had introduced him to friends of hers and her husband’s, but Leo never felt at ease with those people the way he did here. Maybe it was because of how open and friendly King’s family was. It was clear they were very close and loved one another. They teased, cursed, and hugged one another.

  Ace grabbed Nash and planted a sloppy kiss on his cheek, making the big man laugh loudly. His wife huffed and placed a hand on her hip, rolling her eyes when Ace hugged Nash close.

  “We have to be careful, or she’ll suspect something. We can’t let her find out about us,” Ace said in a loud stage whisper.

  Bibi grinned wickedly. “You want to steal my husband? Go for it. You get to keep his gross collection of unwashed college football jerseys. I’ll keep your hot billionaire boyfriend and his mansion.”

  Ace released Nash. “Wait a second.”

  Nash looked Ace over. “Dang, what was I thinking? If I’d gone for Colton, I could have had my own private plane.”

  “Oh, I see how it is,” Ace said, flipping Nash off. He scrambled over Mason, ignoring the cowboy’s grumbling protest, and crawled onto Colton, somehow managing to wrap himself around the taller man. “He’s my billionaire. You all get your own.”

  “My money feels very loved,” Colton muttered, his face squished against Ace’s.

  Everyone laughed, and Leo joined King on the long couch across from the guys, his heart doing a little flip when King sat near the armrest and tugged Leo close, his arm coming to wrap around him, keeping their bodies pressed together. Had someone said something to the group ahead of time? Because according to King, this was the first time he’d ever brought anyone home for Christmas, yet no one questioned who Leo was or why he was there.

  While Colton detached himself from Ace to join Bibi and Laz, who were headed for the kitchen to get snacks for everyone, Leo leaned in to King, speaking quietly.

  “No one seems surprised to see me.”

  “That would be because Ace talked to everyone the moment he knew we’d be joining them. I mentioned wanting to save you from being interrogated, and he made it happen. He might act like an ass at times, but he’ll always come through for you.”

  “Thank you.” Leo tapped his fingers against his leg until he felt King’s breath ruffling his hair, his voice quiet.