Page 29

“Well, at least they didn’t show up last night after your nap.”

Neko glared. “I want to point out…” His eyes traced down my body from my shoulders, chest, stomach, concentrating on my cock for longer than any other place, before moving back up, losing his complete train of thought.

I used the advantage of his shocked state and turned on the water, waiting for the right temperature before I guided the younger man underneath the spray. While he studied me, I washed his hair, being careful of his eyes, and reached for a washcloth on the bench seat. I scrubbed him down, even being rewarded with a moan as the water washed the soap from his body and down the drain.

His hands landed on my chest and I sucked in a breath as he splayed his fingers, the touch hot and pulsing, until he bent them and clawed at my chest. The bite of his nails against my skin drew an instant reaction, and I hissed out his name.

“Do you like that?”

“Fuck, sweetheart, I can’t explain how much.”

“It… it doesn’t hurt?”

I shook my head. “The sharp sensation snapped me back from the hazy desire your touch draws out of me, making me crave more.”

“Huh, so, if I were to ask you to say… spank my ass as I ride your cock, or tease my nipples—”

I devoured his mouth, cutting off his suggestions and saving my sanity. But as he moaned, I jerked back and panted.

“You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”

Tapping his fingers down my chest, he blinked up at me, an innocent expression on his face. “Why, pookie, I would never do that. Besides, I ensnared you in my trap, you cuddle monster you, why the fuck would I get rid of you?”

“You can’t request that I spank you when we’re about to, you know, interact with people you’re related to and love you as much as I do.”

“Okay, sugar lips. Let’s dry off and get dressed. I promise I’ll behave. Until tonight, then all bets are off.”

As we walked into the kitchen, Ri said, “About time.”

“Hey, it’s his birthday. He needs more time to get down the stairs at thirty-four.”

A chorus of ‘happy birthdays’ and a whirlwind of hugs greeted me. Reo promised to take me shopping in the afternoon for whatever present I desired, no matter how long it took.

During a break in the celebrations, I leaned over and whispered in Neko’s ear, “You’re a horrible boyfriend.”

“Yes, yes, I am snookums. But it’s a day to celebrate.”

“Graham, your phone’s been buzzing for the last fifteen minutes and it’s driving me crazy because I can’t figure out the code to unlock it and I’m without the right equipment to hack it,” Ri said.

“At least you’re honest about it, Chaos. And the code is zero three thirty-one ninety-eight.”

“Damn it, I should have guessed you’d choose Neko’s birthday. You’re sappy like that, aren’t you, big guy?”

Not even able to deny it, I shrugged and went to grab the waffle mix we’d made last weekend with the knowledge the twins requested Neko make them the second weekend of every month. The chorizo tacos were a surprise, but since Neko stocked everything, I knew we’d have what we needed.

“Can you check to see whoever is trying to bother me?”

Yu snatched it from Ri’s hand and her tongue shot out as she sang out a taunt. When she entered the code, her eyes widened.

“Grahamster, you have like thirty e-mails. Is that normal?” Ri asked, peering at the phone over her twin’s shoulder.

“Sometimes, but a flood of them on a Sunday is abnormal. Can you read one?”

“Dear Mr. Norris, your recent actions aren’t representative of our future business and we’re ending your retainer. Although it’s been several years since we last worked together, we wanted to inform you we will not be extending you another contract in the future.”

Yu paused and tapped through the emails as I stood there, wondering what actions they were writing about. I was on retainer with several dozen companies. The initial contract I signed with all of them states they base future negotiations on the ever changing business environment. It sounded as though they ended the retainer and wanted nothing further to do with me because of an unspecified reason.

“Can they do that? Not laying out a defined reason they are letting you go?” George asked.