When Jesse Reid needs emergency surgery, he calls his neighbor to come pick him up instead of one of his many family members. As the youngest of nine, Jesse is used to feeling like a leftover, and he doesn’t need their coddling.<br><br>Holden McRae is a big, beautiful man, everything Jesse wants. But Holden has made it clear he doesn’t want Jesse as a submissive.<br><br>Under the influence of Holden’s care, Jesse becomes bolder and makes Holden see what he’s been missing. The two men’s interests line up, and the attraction that has always been there is something they can finally act on. As Jesse heals, he shares parts of his life with Holden, and Holden helps him see he’s so much more than #9. Their love might not be the most conventional, but maybe it’s exactly what both men need.

Forever Nine

I set the cake on the cleared spot on the table, then looked around to find Holden. Unsurprisingly, his gaze was fixed on me, even though he was doing arm curls with a niece hanging off one arm and a nephew hanging off the other. I gave him a wave, and when he quirked an eyebrow in question, I smiled and gave him a thumbs-up. Even from across the yard, I could practically hear his snort of disbelief. I’d be happy to talk about it, as long as it wasn’t now.


A shadow loomed over me, and I turned to find Cash. I tried for a smile, but it faltered.


“I didn’t realize you hated ‘Nine’ that much.”


Not what I was expecting. At all. I took a breath, and shrugged. “Yeah, well. It got tiresome pretty quickly. And nothing I could say changed it, so…” I gave him a meaningful side eye, then refocused my attention on Holden, who now had a different set of nieces on his arms.


“I’ll try and remember to use your name, Jesse. Remind me if I forget.”


Chapter 26