Chapter 1

The calm and quiet took some getting used to, but that music…

Why the hell is there Christmas music playing in September?

Inhaling the mouthwatering scent of baking bread, Avery slipped off the sofa he’d been lounging on, sharpening his favorite blades, and padded quietly into the kitchen. A tender warmth filled him at the sight of Keiran in snug, dark rose jeans and a white apron, hips swaying to the music playing on Dallas’ phone. Head cocked, Avery tried to place the song, but came up blank. No surprise there, he didn’t know a lot of the favorites from North America, though some had gotten more familiar over the years.

However, the voices he knew very well.

“Since when do Jamie and Danny make Christmas music?” Slipping up to Keiran’s side, Avery swiped one of the cornmeal pan rolls the other sub had set aside to cool. He dodged when Keiran halfheartedly took a swing at his ass with a wooden spoon. “We need to get you out of the kitchen and down to the gym, lapochka. You’re getting slow.”

Huffing at him, Keiran shook his head. “If I wanted to hit you, I would’ve. I know how much you love those, that’s why I make them.” He braced his hip against the counter, his soft, dark brown hair falling over his brow until he brushed it back into place. “Jamie sent me a demo of what they’re putting together for a Christmas album. They're hoping for a big release when all the holiday stuff starts coming out and they’re producing a few videos to go with the songs. He going for sex appeal on a couple and asked if I could help brainstorm with them. I figured I’d listen while finishing this up.”

Made sense. Avery really had hoped they’d get some time together in the gym today, though. Between the renovations of Keiran’s new restaurant, the club, and training, the other sub’s schedule seemed to be getting fuller by the day. Not that Avery could complain. The time he spent with Keiran was precious. And Rhodey would have plenty for him to do.

Keeping The Asylum secure was a priority.

“That sounds like fun.” Avery resisted the urge to fidget with the untucked hem of his dark green shirt, embroidered with golden snakes, one of the many new pieces of clothing Rhodey had commissioned Jacks to make for him. His Dom dressing him in clothes he chose every day was usually enough to settle any restlessness or insecurity, but so much...normal left him at loose ends. When they were on a mission he knew what he was doing and rarely hesitated. Granted, with Dallas and Keiran close, he’d had to learn to keep on task and not worry about them so much—until they’d proven their own merits, lessening the need to watch over them.

Integrating himself at The Asylum was simpler when he remained above it all as Rhodey’s eyes and ears.

Cutesy little events? Getting close and personal with those who weren’t part of Rhodey’s inner circle?

Definitely not my thing.

Keiran held his gaze for a moment, then let out a light laugh, reaching out to latch onto his wrist and draw him close. “You couldn’t make it clearer that you’re not interested if you wrote it on your forehead with a sharpie. I can’t only read you when we’re getting shot at, you know.”

“A shame, since Ana’s going to be part of the more kid friendly music videos.” Dallas glanced up from his phone. “She about lost her mind when Tracey told her it would be like having two Christmases. Jamie’s going all out to make it fun for the kids. I think it’s easier for him to get into, since it’s not close to his birthday and the-event-that-shall-not-be-mentioned.”

Smiling at the thought of Ana having this kind of experience with her new family—not that her old one had been horrible, or they’d be dead—Avery took a bite of the roll. As always, he couldn’t stop the moan as the savory flavor melted on his tongue. It blanked his mind just long enough for him to focus on the mundane conversation and how it involved him.

Despite not knowing exactly how it did. “When she’s not biting the other children, Ana is very social. This will be good for her. Would you mind…” He tongued his lip piercings, flicking his tongue from one to the other in the way Wren always said made him look like a real snake. “Uh...recording some of it for me? She’ll tell me all about it next time we go to Tracey’s, but I’m not sure when that will be. Rhodey finds it safer to keep our distance and let his and Vani’s people watch over her and the kids.”

“That’s at the house, mi corazón.” Keiran brushed his hand over Avery’s hair. “Tracey refuses to isolate Ana and Coal any more than necessary. Of course we’ll record it for you, but you really should come. You hardly leave The Asylum unless it’s for a mission.”

This was true. Avery also didn’t see an issue. Finishing off the roll, he pressed his hands to Keiran’s chest, enjoying the feel of the slender muscles under his palms. “I go shopping with you when you’re worried Curtis will replace items on the grocery order with whatever he thinks should work.”

That got a grimace from Keiran. Then a heavy sigh. “I specified exactly where he could get the three different kinds of high quality salts I needed and he came back with a huge container of table salt. How does one mix up Himalayan pink salt and Fleur de sel with table salt?”

Avery managed to school his features.

Their second Dom, Dallas, sounded like he was choking on air. “Next time, I’ll go with him, sweets. We’ll have a chat about how he wouldn’t accept lower-grade alternatives with his building material. He’ll get it.”

“I’d appreciate that very much, sir.” Wrapping one arm around Avery’s waist, Keiran leaned over as Dallas approached, sighing happily as their Dom claimed a deep kiss.

His lips curved as Dallas lifted Avery off his feet, wrapping Avery’s legs around his waist and dipping him back in one of his ridiculously sweet maneuvers to claim a kiss from him as well. Avery snickered when Dallas tried to put him down, tightening his thighs and curving his arms around the back of his Dom’s neck.