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There was a fleeting understanding in my brain alerting me to the time, which was way too early in the morning, before I stopped caring when an arm tightened around my waist and a spicy scent alerted me that it was Graham’s defined chest pressed against my back. I melted into my cocoon.

I’ve tried to become a morning person in the last few years, but I’m still slow out of bed. Most mornings after the humongous task of standing upright, I stumbled down the stairs in search of a strong cup of coffee. While the elixir that gives me life brewed, I forced myself to drink a glass of ice cold water.

But at that moment, lying against Graham felt perfect, and I refused to budge.

“Someone’s broken into your house.”

I savored the rumble of his sleep roughened voice and stopped myself from shivering before I answered. “You don’t seem too worried about it?”

“It’s not my house.”

“But what if they’re secret ninja assassins who are here to avenge something you’ve done in your past, and I’m collateral damage? May I remind you I’m pretty. What if they want to kidnap me after they finish with you?”

Instead of laughing at the remote possibility I’d dreamed up, Graham shrugged. “Are there any ninjas who giggle when they’re breaking in? Also, how would they get in if I watched you set the house alarm on your phone last night?”

“These are deep questions for so early in the morning. But I have to say, if they are ninjas, they could get in anywhere. They’re stealthy, live in the shadows, and oh, did I mention their ninjas?”

“You either like the word or dreamed of it when you were younger?”

“I wanted to be one until I found out the reality. There’s a special school, and you’re recruited young, where they break you down and build you back up to be an elite assassin. Anyway, by the time I learned about ninjas, I was too old to be one. Oh, and not an orphan, it’s another requirement.”

And that did it.

Graham hugged me before he buried his face against my neck and laughed. Our improvised bed shook as I remembered falling asleep in the TV room on top of Graham. Or next to him. Whatever, it didn’t matter.

“You two are ridiculous. Who’s in there with you, Neko?” Riku asked.

“Someone’s in where with whom?” And that was mom.

Blinking open my eyes, I marveled at us cocooned in a blanket. I tilted my head back and caught Graham’s eyes, sparkling from his laughter, before I turned in his arms. His hold stayed firm, but in my new position, I could read his face.

“Why are you allowing people to invade my home?”

“Well, I’m guessing theiryourfamily and you gave them a key.”

“Not to use at what I’m guessing is butt-ass early in the morning on a Sunday when I’m working on my beauty rest.”

At that, one of my sisters ripped the blanket down, exposing our heads. Mine was perched on Graham’s arm and his was on a throw pillow I knew for a fact wasn’t comfortable.

“Do you have a crick in your neck? Is your arm asleep from my big fat head?”

“No, I’m good. But I have to say it’s bright in here for a room with no windows.” And to verify, he squeezed me tighter and relaxed.

My mom thumped my forehead, gentler than she did when I was out of line, and said, “Don’t call yourself fat, Neko-Ren, you know I don’t like it.”

Graham snickered at that.

“My head, mama, not the rest of me.”

“Are you naked under there? Did you guys have sexual intercourse on the couch?” Yuma asked, “because if you did, I’mneversitting there again. You might as well buy a new one, Neko.”

“There’s nothing wrong with sex, Yu.” My dad added.

“Uh-uh, I didn’t say there was. There were fluids exchanged and although it’s treated leather, who knows what kind of kinky stuff they got up to and where things… landed.”

I groaned from this embarrassing conversation. But Graham enjoyed it a great deal, judging by the way his eyes traveled from person to person as they spoke.

“That’s my dad, George, mom, Reo, and my twin sisters Yuma and Riku.”