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Zane had told him not to bother. He wanted to sleep in and be lazy, maybe watch a K-drama with Felix if he got home early enough.

Soft lips pressed against Zane’s temple, making him smile and bury his face in silky tresses, inhaling deeply. He made a happy sound, his arms coming around Felix before trying to push his face against his neck where his scent was always strongest.

“Morning, baby,” Felix whispered against his ear, teeth catching his earlobe in a nibble that made Zane’s morning hard-on twitch with interest.

“Mmm. Hi, Lixie,” he mumbled, still not opening his heavy lids. “You’re back already? What time is it?”

“It’s already eight-thirty in the morning, sleepyhead. Late night?” he teased, kissing Zane’s cheek, his jaw, everywhere he could trail his lips over without either of them having to move.

Zane made a noise in the affirmative.

Felix ghosted his lips over Zane’s, dipping his tongue inside when Zane’s lips parted easily.

“It’s my turn to celebrate your birthday with you, Zaney.”

Something withered inside Zane’s chest at the word, just as it had the night before.

Birthday.

It was clear none of them were going to let this birthday thing go uncelebrated. But last night was…lovely. Intense. Different. Sexy. Nothing like the birthdays he remembered. Maybe birthdays with his found family—his chosen family—could be different.

Maybe that was the whole fucking point. He wanted them to be different. He didn’t want to dread getting another year older because Beverly had made a point of telling Zane what a burden he was every year on that day.

Not anymore.

He forced himself to push thoughts of her out of his brain. She didn’t deserve the space. She never had. Felix licked the tip of Zane’s nose, bringing him back to the present.

“Did you fall asleep again?”

“No,” he murmured, petting Felix’s hair. “I’m awake. Stay with me.”

Felix shifted his hips where they rested against Zane’s, using his legs to push Zane’s wider, letting him feel his hard length pressed against his hip through the silk robe he wore.

“Oh, I’m gonna,” he said, his voice promising something filthy, making Zane shiver. “Can I give you your present now?”

“Do I have to open my eyes for it?” Zane asked. “I’m so sleepy.”

Felix laughed, his voice breathy and low in that way that made Zane’s brain happy. His voice was Zane’s Xanax. He didn’t talk. He purred.

“No, baby.” He sucked on Zane’s bottom lip, biting it gently, then releasing it. “All you have to do is lie here and let me take care of you. Can you do that?”

“Uh-huh,” Zane said on a sigh, burrowing deeper into his pillows, letting the tension drain from him.

“Good boy.”

Felix’s weight shifted down his body, the way the mattress dipped telling Zane he was kneeling between his open thighs, making Zane aware that he was still naked from the night before.

Felix made an appreciative sound, small hands landing on Zane’s chest and squeezing before running all the way down to his thighs and back again, like he was getting Zane used to his touch.

Sometimes, Zane felt like he knew Felix and Asa’s touches more than his own.

Zane loved being touched, loved the way Felix would pet and caress him, hold him and kiss him, as soft as Asa was hard. They were the perfect counterbalance to each other.

If Felix’s present to him was simply running his hands all over Zane’s naked body, he would die happy.

Zane choked on an inhale as nimble fingers teased over his nipples, then tugged gently. A broken moan escaped as he wiggled restlessly. But Felix’s hands were already on the move again, nails scraping their way down his body once more, leaving a pleasant, sharp sting in their wake.

“Mm, feels good, Lix,” Zane whispered, his back arching into the touch like he was the cat and not Felix. “Love when you touch me. Love it so much.”