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Was he hurt? Harmed? Dead? What?

About the time Hawk reached for him, Cosmo gave a long, slow snore.

Oh, bless him. Someone had been having trouble sleeping, he would bet.

“Cosmo…” He lifted Cosmo out of the chair and into his arms. “Come lie down on the couch.”

“Mmm… Is there room for both of us?” Cosmo cuddled right in.

“There is.” If he propped up pillows and sat rather than lying down… Which was worth it. “I was going to make breakfast.”

“Mmhmm. In a minute. Now, just stay.” Cosmo held him tight.

“I would like that.” Like was such a pale word. He needed a phrase that spoke of the joy his body and soul felt when Cosmo touched him, smiled at him.

Cosmo cuddled under his chin, hands flattened over his heart. He grabbed a blanket, tugging it over them. Then he breathed in deep, taking in Cosmo’s scent. “Hello, little rose.”

“Mmm…hello, dragon. I couldn’t sleep for needing you…”

“I know. I wanted you all night, and you seemed so far away in the tower.” He kissed the top of Cosmo’s head. “I am trying to respect your brothers, but it is difficult.”

“Mmhmm. My bed is big. Really big.” Cosmo sighed, wiggling against him.

“Is it?” He grinned, his body reacting to Cosmo’s closeness and motion.

“Mmhmm, and I have lots of pillows and blankets.”

“Shall we go to your room?” He rose again, lifting Cosmo. If Cosmo wasn’t worried, then neither was he.

“Yes. Let’s go. I need to be somewhere that’s just us. Just the two of us, together.” Cosmo licked him, nice and slow. “With a locked door.”

He laughed, the sound husky to his own ears. “Absolutely. They shouldn’t knock it down, should they?”

“No. No, they respect the boundaries more than that, I think.” Cosmo did seem a bit worried, but he understood. This was a new situation.

He had a feeling Cosmo had done his share of going out and about and finding a partner for a night, but no one had ever invaded the brothers’ space before.

And he was staying here with Cosmo and his house.

“I’m up at the top. I love the round room.”

“That had been my room, sweet. Of course it’s yours.”

“Oh. I wonder where your bed is… I mean. I found mine in a storage room.”

“Maybe it is mine, then. If it’s as big as you say.”

“It’s like it was built for the space, you know?”

He trekked up to the round tower room, the one with the window he’d set by hand, and sure enough, that was his bed. He grinned, kissing Cosmo’s cheek. “I do like your blankets and pillows.”

“Thank you. I need to be cozy.” Cosmo put his hands on his shirt, but didn’t get farther than taking that off.

“I can see that.” He watched. Cosmo had seen him fresh from his bath, but he hadn’t seen all of Cosmo. And he wanted to. So bad that he was already hard and aching.

“I’m skinny,” Cosmo admitted. “But I’m pretty.”

“Oh, little rose. You’re so perfect I can hardly bear it.” He tugged off the sweater that almost fit him and the pants that were too short and too big in the waist. Corbin was stocky and shorter than he was.