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we can get you all moved in here where you
belong.
I like the sounds of that.
Eros got his shoes and coat on, and they headed
out to Rico s car. They would have used Eros , but
like him, it was way too small to do the job. Eros
gave Rico directions to his home. He didn t realize
how nice it must appear to an outsider until he
saw the way Rico gaped at it.
Yeah, both of my parents are architects, so
they designed this place together. I personally
always thought it was a bit too much, but they
were proud of it, Eros said.
He looked at the long circular drive that had a
fountain in the middle. The home itself was all
brick and three stories high. It had stained glass
windows on the first floor. The stairs leading to
the double doors were all marble, and there were
twin Lynx statues guarding the entryway.
Your parents really don t hold back, do they?
Rico said as they got out of his car.
No, they don t. Which is why they like to
pretend I don t exist. I m the son they wished they
never had. I have the audacity to not like all the
flair and glamor of their life.
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So you were never the rich bitch they wanted
you to be?
Hardly. Now, Arthur, on the other hand, is a
whole different story. He was even involved in a
few scandals and everything.
Rico gave a mock gasp. You don t say?
Eros was still laughing as he opened the door.
He instantly sobered when he saw his father
waiting for him. What& the& fuck? The man
hadn t spoken more than ten words to Eros in the
past few years, and now he wanted a whole meet
and greet. What was up?
Even though he was small, like Eros, the man
still managed to possess a commanding presence.
His hair was tamed down with product, much like
Arthur s, and he wore a business suit. His father
had a dour expression on his face, and his arms
were crossed over his chest.
Father? Eros asked in a hesitant voice.
You were out all night and didn t bother to
call and let us know where you were, his father
said.
I m sorry. I didn t think you would notice.
Besides, I m twenty-three, so I didn t think I had
to answer to you anymore.
Eros was confused over the sudden interest his
father had in his life. Normally, his dad didn t
give a damn about what Eros did. He could have
run down the street naked and ol daddio
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wouldn t have blinked an eye. Now he was
actually acting like he was concerned that Eros
had stayed out all night when they both knew
better.
Who is your friend? His father sniffed the air.
I can tell he s a Tiger.
I m sorry, I should have made introductions.
Father, this is my mate, Rico. Rico, this is my
father, Alistair.
Nice to meet you, sir. Rico put his hand out to
shake, but Alistair ignored it, instead looking at
Rico s fingers as if they were snakes.
Okay, so it s going to be like that, Rico said as
he pulled his hand back.
What do you mean that you have mated to a
Tiger? Alistair demanded, shooting a filthy look
at Eros.
I think the sentence itself is pretty self-
explanatory, Eros snapped back. I just came
back here to gather my belongings. I ll be moving
in with him.
It s never been enough for you. Has it?
Alistair snarled.
What are you talking about? Eros asked.
He could feel a rage building up in him. After
all these years of ignoring him, his father breaks
the silence only to berate him? Eros didn t think
his parents could sink any lower, but he had been
wrong.
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The thing was, he didn t feel hurt anymore, just
angry. Which was a new one for him. Maybe it
was because Rico had shown Eros that he did
have a self-worth, that his parents had been wrong
all along and Eros wasn t the loser. If anybody
was, it was his parents, because their snobbish
attitude had deprived them of one of their sons.
You have always tried your best to demean us,
to make our family look bad in the eyes of others,
to make us a joke. First, by not finishing college.
Then by working for the coalition instead of going
into a civilian job, and now, by mating outside of
your own kind. I should have disowned you years
ago, Alistair raged.
Do you want me to kill him for you? Rico
asked Eros in a bored tone.
No, let s let him live for today. He can be
miserable and alone with his money and fake
friends. He seems to like it that way, Eros replied.
Besides, he has to put up with Arthur, that s
punishment enough.
How dare you say that? Arthur is a good son,
Alistair insisted.
Until he turns on you. Your kind always
does, Eros said. Now, if you ll excuse me, I m
going up to my room to pack.
And what if I tell you that I forbid you from
leaving? Alistair growled.
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Eros nodded his head toward Rico. Then
you ll have to deal with him. I don t think you ll
want to do that.
Fine, Alistair said. But if you leave, you no
longer belong to this family. You will be written
out of the will. You may never come crawling
back home. You can never so much as call us.
You ll be as good as dead to us.
Dad, I haven t been a member of this family
for years. I used to have a problem with that. But
now I ve built my own family, one that really
cares about me, no matter what. They could care
less how much money I make. Who I mate. Or that
I m a Lynx. They like and care about me, just
because I m me. That s where my home is. Not
here.
With those final words, Eros went up the stairs,
Rico in tow. As they reached his bedroom, Eros
saw Arthur waiting for him. Going by the sneer on
his face, he had a few things to say, too.
Too tired for another confrontation, Eros turned
to Rico. That one you can punch, just don t kill
him.
Rico gave a wicked grin before he said,
Whatever my mate wants.
When they arrived back to HQ, they started to
unpack Eros belonging. They were halfway
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through, when there was a knock on the door.
Eros opened it to find Jacyn at the door.
Hi, what are you doing here? Eros asked.
He hoped he wasn t being called in for duty,
because he was tired. After spending the previous
night making love to Rico, then the confrontations
with his family, Eros was whipped. He just
wanted to get the unpacking done so he could
crash in bed, snuggle up to Rico and sleep for the
next two days.
Doc Featherstone needs to see you in the
cafeteria, Jacyn said.
Confused, Eros frowned. What for? Is there a
mass causality incident in there?
No, it s nothing like that. He just needs to talk
to you, and Rico, too.
Eros looked over at Rico who looked just as
clueless at Eros. Finally, Eros shrugged and said,
Okay, we need to eat anyway, and I m too tired
to cook.
They followed Jacyn to the cafeteria. Eros grew
even more confused when he heard how loud it
was. Usually the dinner rush was over by this time
of night. As they turned the corner, Eros was
further surprised to see the place was packed.
There were also balloons and streamers up all over
the place.
As soon as Rico and Eros walked in, the room
broke out in applause. And everyone was staring
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at& them! Shocked, Eros asked Jacyn. What is
this all about?
It s a double celebration, both for you starting
pre-med and for your mating, Jacyn answered.
I didn t think anybody cared what I did, Eros
answered.
Are you kidding? You are one of the favorites
at the infirmary. Not only does the staff love you,
but so do all the patients. You have a great
bedside manner, and you can usually come up
with a diagnosis faster than any nurse or doctor.
We would be lost without you.
Eros felt his throat tighten with emotion. I
never realized&
Rico came up from behind him and wrapped
his arms around Eros. See, I told you you were
the best. You just doubt yourself too much. Now
do you believe me that you re great?
I don t know about great, but I don t feel like a
loser anymore, Eros said.
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