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“Okay,” I said. She was getting some, good for her.

“She’s also sleeping with other people,” Pierce said.

Camden asked, “What? How could she do that to you?”

“Didn’t she tell you that in the permission discussion?” I asked. Drakcol talked about everything. There was no way Bimwoxcol would start fucking Pierce without telling her about the other people.

Pierce nodded. “Of course she did.”

Camden raised his eyebrows. He wasn’t sleeping with a drakcol apparently.

“I just didn’t expect it to bother me,” Pierce continued, waving a hand. “I’ve never had a casual relationship before, but after everything, I thought it would be nice. I wanted my needs met without even a hint of pressure, and she’s nice and caring, and most of all, safe.”

“Did you talk to her? Drakcol are pretty open about discussing everything.” I mean, Don was. I assumed it was fairly normal, especially from what Seth had said.

“Yeah, she doesn’t want a serious relationship either.” Pierce looked away, eyes growing moist. “I thought I was the same, but I’ve really started to care about her. I want more. I want to be the only person she’s with.” A tear slipped down her freckled cheek.

Panic, sheer male panic, grew under my skin and curled in my stomach. I hated when anyone cried, but when a woman did, it bothered me on a different level. You would think being gay would take that away, but nope. I glanced at Camden and he had the same deer in headlights look as me.

She started laughing wetly and wiped her cheeks. “God, you guys are useless.”

“Tears and comforting people aren’t my thing. Can I interest you in a sarcastic remark?” I offered.

“No thanks.” Pierce took a deep breath. “It’s fine.

I should’ve known this was what was going to happen.

Bimwoxcol warned me she was sleeping with other people and intended on continuing those relationships.

Deep down, I thought I would be different, which isn’t fair to her.

She’s allowed to sleep with whoever she wants. ”

Camden patted her shoulder awkwardly. “Cry it out, I guess.”

My heart raced, and my mind whipped to my own situation. Don currently wasn’t sleeping with anyone else besides me, but he hadn’t said he wouldn’t either. We were friends with benefits. It was wrong to try and make this exclusive, but damnit, that was what I wanted.

I hated the thought of anyone else touching Don, or seeing that half-smile that formed when I complimented him, or hearing the quiet moans he gave as I pleased him, or sharing his gentle thoughts. Don was mine, but I sure as hell couldn’t keep him, because I was going home.

“Do you guys ever consider going back?” I asked when there was a lull in the conversation.

“To Earth?” Pierce asked.

“Yeah.”

“Of course, I did,” Camden said. “Part of me wants to go home because I have a younger brother that I miss terribly, but I have a shit ton of student loans, a dead end job, no healthcare, and deadbeat parents. Here, I actually have a chance to get ahead. I think in the end, I’ll be happier here. But I still miss my brother.”

I looked at Pierce, and she sighed. “I almost decided to go back. I still could, but… This is a chance to do something I would’ve never dreamed of.

Will I miss my family? Hell yeah. Do I feel selfish staying?

Yep. But after everything that happened I don’t feel like I can go back.

I’m a different person now, and I don’t want to erase that. Are you going back?”

“Probably.”

“Why?” she asked.

“I’m going back to erase the person I’ve become,” I whispered. Pierce wanted to stay to remain the person she’d become; I wanted to go back to be the person I used to be.

Camden and Pierce shared a look. Out of everyone, they understood, but it looked like they didn’t agree.

“You can, of course, do what you want,” Camden started, “and I don’t blame you for going back, but are you sure that’s what you want? You can’t take it back. You can stay here, or, well, on their planet, for a bit before you decide. I’m guessing you don’t like therapy, but it would help, Vince.”

“You have Seth and Teddy.” Pierce tried to take my hand, but I pulled away. “You have us.”

I couldn’t stay for them, any more than for Don. I had to stay for myself, and I didn’t know what I wanted. Part of me cringed at the thought of never seeing Earth or my family again. Another part of me hated the thought of leaving Don, Seth, and Teddy. I had no idea what to do.

Thankfully, the door opened and a herd of humans came in led by Caleb.

“Come on,” Caleb called.

I leaped up and moved to Teddy’s side, hooking an arm around his waist. He gave me a grunt before draping an arm over my shoulder. I hugged him, then slid away before I got uncomfortable.

“Let’s go,” I said, leading the way to my room with Seth’s hand in mine.

Kal swore at me as he lifted a drunk Seth into his arms.

I laughed, feeling hot and fuzzy. “He had fun.”

“I did,” Seth shouted, making Pierce, who lay on the floor, groan.

The afternoon had turned to drinking games, which got out of hand, and then turned into a night of drinking, leading to the natural conclusion of most people passed out on my living room floor. The only sober one was Caleb, and he was loud enough without alcohol.

Seth mashed his lips to Kal’s, and I rolled my eyes. Seth was a happy drunk. Kal pulled away. “You are too drunk for that.”

“Spoilsport,” he said, giggling, which made me laugh.

“I like that. Spoilsport. Ruining our fun,” I said.

“So true.” Seth squished Kal’s face between his hands. “But he’s so cute.”

I gagged. “Not really.”

“Yes, he is,” Seth yelled.

I laughed, falling back against the wall. “I’m not into blue.”

Seth burst into laughter.

Kal shook his head and looked at everyone who was passed out, then at Caleb. “What am I supposed to do with you and Bartholomew?”

“Fyn’s coming to get me, and I’m sure Mindy will get Teddy. Nice of you to care about the others.”

“They’re not my brothers. You and Bartholomew are,” Kal said.

“Teddy can stay with me,” I said, waving a hand. “We’ve slept together before.”

Kal whipped toward me, and Caleb said in a light tone, “I wouldn’t advertise that in front of Don or Mindy.”

I shrugged. Who fucking cared? They both knew we’d shared a cell at Agk’s fighting ring. When it had gotten cold, we’d snuggled. When I had a bad day, Teddy had held me. We’d slept together a lot.

“We’ve slept together,” Seth said, waving a hand between us.

“What?” Kal barked.

I nodded. Seth had lived with me and my parents when his asshole grandparents had kicked him out as a teenager. He’d stayed in my room, and we’d shared a bed most nights.

I shifted to my knees to prod Teddy. “Wake up. The bed's over there. Come on.”

Teddy groaned and grabbed me, making me teeter. I hugged him close, relishing the feel of him. We somehow managed to get to our feet, stumbling toward my empty bedroom and crashing onto bed.

Teddy yanked off his shirt. “It’s hot.”I grunted. Teddy curled around me, and the first spark of panic broke through my drunken haze, but it faded and I snuggled against him while basking in his comfort.

“I’m pinging Serlotminden,” Kal said from the living room.

“You should call Don too,” Caleb added, who was probably still on the couch. “He’ll want to know.”

I heard Seth complaining the whole way out of the room that he wasn’t tired before the door whooshed closed.

Teddy groaned and rolled out of my arms. “It’s too hot.” He kicked off his pants, sprawling on the bed.

I pushed on his chest. “You’re naked.”

“Am not.” He snapped his briefs. “See.”

“Barely.” I flopped onto my back, and Teddy dragged me closer. I wanted to move away, but I was so tired. My eyes could barely stay open.

“Where is my husband?” Mindy asked in his peppy voice. I moaned in protest, burying my face against Teddy; he held me closer.

A growl sounded, and suddenly, Teddy was out of my arms and Mindy was hovering over me. Icy fear pumped through my veins. I screamed, scuttling toward the edge of the bed. I had to get away. He was going to hurt me.

Strong arms snagged me and yanked me into a solid body, moments before a hand cupped my cheek and waves of peace crashed over me. “Don,” I cried, wiggling to wrap my arms around his neck as I tried to get as close as physically possible.

“I have you, my Vince. You are safe.”

“I didn’t mean to scare him,” Mindy whispered.

Don growled.

“Enough, Dontilvynsan,” a calm voice said. I looked up, and Fyn stood in the doorway. “He didn’t mean to, and Vince is safe.” He brushed a hand through Don’s hair.

I slapped him away. “Mine.”

Don stilled beneath me, and Fyn blinked.

Hand buried in Don’s hair, I said again to make sure everyone understood, “Mine. All mine.”

“It’s fine, Vince.”

“No,” I snapped, hugging Don closer. Everything felt stronger and my mind was full of fluff, though oddly focused. Don was fucking mine, and I wasn’t going to share him with anyone. I smashed my lips into his, then gentled my touch as I remembered he didn’t like it hard.

Soft. Soft. Soft. I repeated it over and over. I would be gentle with my Don.

He pulled back. “Not right now.”

I snorted and tears started to form in my eyes. Why didn’t he understand? I wanted to make him happy. He was mine. I would take care of him. I would. I sniffed, and Don made a distressed noise in the back of his throat.

“Is he crying?” Mindy asked while Teddy complained about being hot. “No, keep your undershorts on.”

“He’s crying,” Caleb yelled. “What did you do to him?”

Sobs tore out of my mouth, and I held Don. I didn’t want to share him. I wanted to take care of him. Why was he rejecting me? Was I not good enough? Was I too damaged? Was I too dirty?

“Nothing,” Fyn said. “I promise, Little Soul. I touched Dontilvynsan’s hair, and Vince slapped my hand away.”

Caleb hissed. “Are you alright?”

“It didn’t hurt. Vince was making a point. He doesn’t want me to touch Dontilvynsan.”

“Oh,” Caleb said. “Why is Teddy naked?”

“I’m not sure,” Fyn replied. “Something about being uncomfortable. Who knows with humans?”

Caleb smacked Fyn’s arm, but Fyn smirked at his mate, taking his tail.

There was shuffling, and Teddy groaned, “I don’t want them. It’s hot.”

“I can’t take you back to our room with your butt showing.”

“It’s a nice ass,” Caleb teased, and Mindy growled. “What? It is. I’m gay. I know my asses. I’m an ass man, and Teddy has a nice ass. Not as nice as Seth’s, but it’s nice. I could rank everyone’s asses. That might be fun.”

Fyn chuckled. “I don’t believe that anyone but me would enjoy that.”

“Your ass is number one,” Caleb said.

I wiped a line of snot on Don’s shoulder, ignoring Caleb’s rambling about butts. No one’s ass was as nice as Don’s, and it was mine. All mine. I kept crying, and Don held the back of my head and rocked me in soothing motions.

“I’m taking Vince back to my room.”

“What about the other humans?” Fyn asked.

“They’ll be fine,” Caleb said with a wave of his hand. “Trust me. This is probably not the first time they’ve woken up on the floor with a hangover. Heaven knows, I have many times.”

Don lifted me, and I hooked my legs around his waist. When he turned toward the door, I gripped his hair and declared, “See. Mine.”

Fyn lifted his eyebrows, and Caleb laughed. Mindy was still fighting with Teddy about putting on his clothes, so he didn’t acknowledge me.

As Don walked toward his room, I pressed my face against his neck and breathed him in; my eyes grew heavy. I brushed his hair back and whispered, “I don’t want to share you.”

“You will have to with my brothers.”

I shook my head. “You don’t understand.”

“What? I can’t read your thoughts. They’re too muddled.”

“I don’t want you to fuck anyone else. I promise I’ll get there. Don’t leave me.”

“Vince.” We stepped into his room, and he went to the bedroom and tried to put me down, but I clung to him like a koala.

“No,” I cried as tears began to run down my cheeks. I couldn’t take his rejection. I wasn’t good enough, but I wanted Don.

Don sat down, and I remained on his lap. He ran his fingers through my short hair. “Little Warrior, I’m not going to leave you. I’m not in a rush. Whether you get there or not is fine.”

“You don’t understand,” I sobbed. “You don’t understand.”

“You are a horrible drunk,” he muttered.

I sat back and gripped his cheeks. “I want you to be mine. No one else’s. Bimwoxcol is fucking other people beside Pierce. I don’t want that. Just me.”

“Alright,” he said. “Just you.”

“No. It’s not fair. I’m being unreasonable,” I said, chest heaving.

“I have no idea what you want right now,” he said with a breathy laugh.

I hugged him again, fisting his hair. “We're friends with benefits. I know that, but the thought of you with anyone else makes me mad. While I’m here, while I have my memory, I want to be the only one touching you like this. Just me, Donny.”

Don kissed my neck, arms tight around me. “I don’t want anyone else. Just you, Vince. Only you.”