“I’m here for my son,” Dad barks out, voice firm and unyielding. “Time to let him go.”
Pulling from Canyon’s embrace, I swivel around to face Colin. For a split second, he seems ready to pull the trigger of his gun that’s now aimed at Dad.
“Please don’t, Pops,” I croak out. “Please.”
Colin visibly flinches, lowering his gun and darting his brown eyes at me. “I’m your father, not him.”
Animosity ripples from Canyon, but I brush my fingers along his chest, willing him to let me handle this. I walk right up to Colin and nod.
“You’re my pops, yeah. And Quinn’s my dad.” I search Colin’s eyes. “You know I don’t really fit in this life. I don’t think I ever will either.”
His features soften as he studies me. “But you’re mine.”
“I’m his too,” I whisper. “I can be both.”
He blinks hard several times before clenching his jaw. “You want to go back with them?”
“I do.”
“Go on then.” His voice is gruff, but I don’t mistake the sadness in his expression. “It’s where you belong.”
I hug him for the first time of my own accord. The movement shocks him still, but then he returns the hug.
“Maybe we can catch a Gators game one day,” I tell him, stepping back. “Or dinner or something. As family, not business.”
“Hmph.” He holsters his gun and cocks his head to the side. “You have my number. Don’t be a stranger.” He nods at the house. “Grab your shit and go.”
I give him another hug, and then I grab my shit and go.
The hotel is in the heart of the city, a giant moon on top of the building signaling our destination. Ryan pulls into the valet, and we all exit the vehicle. It was an awkward ride to the hotel from Colin’s. One of my hands was squeezing Dad’s in the back seat, and my face buried against Canyon’s chest, holding on to his hand like he might vanish at any second. Carrie and Ryan kept shooting us goofy smiles from the front seat.
I’m back where I belong.
Ryan checks us in and hands Canyon a set of keycards. We make it onto the elevator and head up to the third floor. As we all file out, I realize Dad and Ryan are headed to one room, Carrie to another, and…
“Like we could keep you two apart,” Ryan grumbles. “I just don’t want to hear it.”
Dad walks over to me, yanking me to him for another fierce hug. I think he hugged me for five minutes straight before we even got into the vehicle. “I love you, Son, even if you drive me crazy sometimes.”
I nod, unable to keep the emotion out of my voice. “Love you too, Dad. I’m sorry.”
“We’ll talk tomorrow. Right now, you kids need rest. We all do. We’ve had one helluva few days.” He releases me and strokes my cheek with his palm, his eyes filled with love. “Don’t ever scare the shit out of me like that again.” He presses a kiss to my forehead. “Sleep, and tomorrow we’ll make the most of the rest of our vacation.”
Turning from him, I find Canyon standing in the doorway of the room, waiting for me. As soon as we step over the threshold, he shoves me to the wall, kissing me like he can reach my soul. Joke’s on him, though—it mated with his months ago. We’re Daisuke and Chibi. Two sides of the same coin. A perfect complement to the other.
“We need lube,” he mumbles against my mouth. “Get showered while I wait for the doorman to bring up our luggage. I need to be inside you in the next five minutes…”
I pull back, grinning at him. “Or what?”
“There is no or. I just need to be inside you.”
A knock on the door signals the arrival of our bags. I tug from his grip and walk into the spacious bathroom. It’s retro and a little space-aged, but still pretty damn cool. Quickly, I strip down and turn on the shower. Once it’s steamy, I step under the hot spray.
All tension from the past couple of days melts away. I’m relaxed and finally feeling content as strong arms wrap around me from behind. Canyon’s lips find the side of my neck, and he peppers kisses there.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, barely audible as the water splatters the floor. “So fucking sorry.”
He twists me around and pushes me against the wall. His fingers dig into my jaw, angling my head up so I can look into his beautiful blue eyes. “I knew you were trouble the second you sat on my lap and gave me a boner in front of my girlfriend.”
I smirk at him. “Poor Nae.”
“No, poor me. I had to find out I was gay for you at the same time you did.” He dips down, tugging at my bottom lip with his teeth. “I knew you were trouble, and I wanted you anyway. You’re worth it to me, Wonderland. All the shit you put me through is worth it because we have this.” He places one palm over his heart and the other on mine.
“I won’t ever leave again,” I vow, needing him to understand. “I was scared and hurt. But, the second I was gone, it felt like the biggest mistake of my life.”
“For a perfectionist like you, that had to be humbling.” He smirks at me in that maddeningly teasing manner I adore. “But don’t worry, if you decide to run, I’ll chase you. I’ll always chase you.” His fingers slip into my hair, and he tugs at it. “We both know I’ll win. I always do when it comes to us.”
He slants his sexy mouth over mine, claiming me with a powerful kiss. All I can do is moan and allow myself to be consumed by it. Canyon has that effect on me. He swallows up my fears and confusion and self-doubt. Takes my burdens and makes them his own.
Since he’s stronger than me, he makes it look easy.
When I’m with Canyon, I don’t have to be perfect. I just have to be me. Alis Sommers. His Wonderland.
“I love you,” I tell him. “In case you didn’t know.”
He grins, boyish and wide and so fucking happy. “Yeah, Chibi, I know. Everyone loves the hero.”
“Getting your facts confused again, Daisuke. Chibi’s the hero.”
We both laugh, but it fades out as he smears lube on his dick, kisses me with such fervor we’re both breathless, and literally fucks me into tomorrow.
I suppose home isn’t a place.
Not a trailer filled with mice or an immaculate mansion filled with Pomeranians or a midtown home filled with cartel goons.
Home is wherever your heart is.
And mine is with Canyon Voss.
My enemy turned lover.
My stepbrother with benefits.
My hypothetical cat’s other daddy.
Home is him.
Canyon
Six years later…
Holy shit.
This year’s Anime Con in Orlando is insane. There are more people than last year, and last year I also bitched about the crowd.
Anime is my thing. My dorky obsession. I liked it before it was trendy. All these other assholes are just posers with their cheap costumes, making the lines longer than they need to be.
“When you scowl like that, you look just like Daisuke,” Alis says, grinning at me. “I mean, it’s hot, and you know I’m into it if you wanna roleplay later.”
“There are children present,” Dad grumbles from beside me, swatting out at Alis.