Vivian gave him a warm smile. “I can try. I should go prepare. I need to ensure that Moore and her

people lose as much power as possible. The lobbyists are making my job harder than ever in DC. But I’m

glad you’re home safe.” She came over and leaned in to kiss the top of Lindsay’s head. Once, it would have

made him cringe, but now it felt comforting. “Take care of each other, and Cyrus.”

“Don’t worry about us,” Dane rumbled, concern on his face. It looked more like irritation, but

Lindsay knew better.

“Well, I won’t worry about you.” Vivian gave him a stern look as she stepped away. “You shouldn’t

have bothered escaping. They’d’ve put you out on the curb in a day or two.”

Dane laughed at her and shook his head. “They just don’t appreciate me like you do.”

“Me, yes. Cyrus, not so much,” Vivian said dryly.

“Not my fault he can hear everything.” Dane got up to walk her to the door and Lindsay resisted the

urge to hide under the covers, cuddling up in the pillows instead.

“You make it impossible for him not to,” Vivian chided. At the door she stood and tilted her chin up,

obviously demanding a kiss, which Dane gave to her on her cheek. “Do try not to get yourself thrown out

before I get home.”

“I’ll behave,” Dane promised solemnly. “I’m a new man.”

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Tatterdemalion

“You are.” Vivian reached up and patted his cheek. “Welcome home, Dane.” With that, she was gone.

Dane closed the door on the sound of her heels on the stairs.

Lindsay looked at Dane carefully, but Dane seemed well enough. “What?” Dane asked, giving him a

grin.

“You didn’t tell me Cyrus could hear everything.” Lindsay wanted to hide all over again. They hadn’t

been quiet last night. Everyone had probably heard them, now that he stopped to think about it. At least Vivian and Cyrus had.

“Cyrus is an old stick,” Dane said loftily. He came back to the bed and bent to give Lindsay a long,

hot kiss, one hand tight in Lindsay’s hair. “Besides,” he murmured, sitting beside Lindsay. “It’s no one’s

business what I do with what’s mine.”

“You like everyone knowing I’m yours,” Lindsay countered. He liked it too. He liked the idea that

someone could hear his voice and know, could see the proof written out on his skin, that he belonged to

Dane. Lindsay liked that he could look at himself in the mirror and know it. He also liked being able to

show Dane with the sound of his voice how good Dane made him feel.

Dane purred and nuzzled Lindsay’s cheek. “You might have a point.” His hair was all over the place,

the scars were faded to almost nothing under the silky fur on his chest, and his jeans were sliding down his hips and barely containing his cock. “You don’t object.”

“I like it too.” The marks on Lindsay’s skin, scars and bite marks alike, wouldn’t fade nearly so

quickly as Dane’s had. He’d wash away the sweat and come, but he didn’t think Dane’s scent would be so

easy to shed, either. Especially not if Dane kept putting it right back on.

Dane gave him that feral grin and kissed him hard and fast. He still didn’t seem too interested in food

when he asked, “Hungry?”

“Depends what you want to feed me.”

“Better feed you something that’ll do you good.” Dane kissed him tenderly this time, and rolled off

the bed. He stretched as he walked back to get their breakfast tray. “Cyrus may have decided I haven’t

completely ruined you, but he’s not going to take me starving you.”

“I’m not going to starve if I skip breakfast,” Lindsay said, laughing.

“Fine, but I might.” Dane set the tray on the end of the bed, and shucked his jeans, tossing them over

the chair again. “Besides, you need your strength, little bunny.” He slid into bed next to Lindsay.

Lindsay looked Dane up and down, and laughed again. “If you wanted me to focus on food, that was

not the way to go about it.” He sat up a bit more and looked at the tray.

There was meat there, a sliced steak on a plate, barely cooked. Vivian apparently knew Dane’s

preferences well. There was toast for Lindsay and cheese and fruit along with the coffee and a dish of fried potatoes. Maybe he was hungry.

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Dane stroked Lindsay’s back when he leaned forward to get a slice of toast. Lindsay smiled,

wriggling into the touch as he sat back again and nibbled the edge of the toast.

Dane rumbled softly, letting Lindsay see how much Lindsay affected him. Lindsay was starting to

understand what worked best, if he were of a mind to get something out of Dane. Dane leaned forward to

tug the tray closer, until it bumped into one of his knees. “Think you can remember how that whole

vacation thing works?”

Lindsay tilted his head. “I think there was sunshine involved. And sex.”

“Very good.” Dane picked up a fork and stabbed a slice of steak, popping the meat into his mouth. He

looked thoughtful. “Won’t be sunny here for a while yet.”

Lindsay worked his way through the slice of toast, and reached out for the bowl of fruit. “It’s not like

I’m going to get a tan anyway,” he pointed out. “I can improvise.”

“I’m sure we can find something to do.” Dane offered Lindsay a piece of steak and gave him a stern

look.

When Lindsay saw Dane’s expression, he sighed and obediently opened his mouth to take the bite.

Dane fed him, and leaned in to kiss him with a satisfied grunt. “You’re going to need your strength for

your vacation,” he murmured.

“I’d better eat up, then.” Lindsay stole another kiss, and then stole Dane’s fork to get himself another

bite of the steak.

Dane laughed and slid his arms around Lindsay, getting Lindsay in his lap once Lindsay ate a little

more. “Good. I’d hate for anyone to say I’m not doing my job.”

Lindsay snuggled into Dane’s lap, getting comfortable, and tipped his head back so he could see

Dane’s face. “Oh, I think you’re doing excellent work,” he murmured, popping a bite of melon into his

mouth.

“So you’ll be keeping me, then?” Dane teased gently, holding Lindsay against him.

“I belong to you, not the other way around.” Finally, Lindsay felt perfectly comfortable with who and

what he was, and his place in the world. He rubbed his cheek against Dane’s bare chest. He knew Dane

wouldn’t willingly give him up, not now.

Dane was quiet a moment, and he pressed a kiss to Lindsay’s forehead. “Yes,” he said. “You have it

right. That’s how it is.” His arms tightened around Lindsay and he ducked his head so that his hair fell all around them and Lindsay was wrapped up in him, safe.

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About the Author

To learn more about Anah Crow and Dianne Fox, please visit www.anahcrow.com and

www.foxwrites.com. Send an email to Anah Crow at anahcrow@gmail.com or to Dianne Fox at

fox.dianne@gmail.com or subscribe to the Fox & Crow Newsletter to join in the fun!

http://www.foxwrites.com/newsletter

No trust without truth.

Many Roads Home

© 2009 Ann Somerville

Fleeing his murderous brother-in-law, Vicont Yveni, heir to the Duchy of Sardelsa, seeks safety

abroad until he can reclaim his birthright. Instead he ends up shipwrecked, captured and taken to the one

country where he dare not reveal his identity. Worse, he’s just been bought by a man with no love for

Sardelsa.

Ripped from his family as a child and sold into slavery, Paole’s natural gift for healing made him a