“A fake relationship, huh?” Ottis said dryly.
Mathlin covered his throat. “We didn’t do anything!”
He sounded so incriminating that Titan was torn between wincing and laughing.
“Clearly there’s more going on. They didn’t even want to stop and talk,” Gav said, elbowing Titan.
Titan’s face grew warm. “Go away!”
“You invited us in, just to tell us to leave?” Ottis raised his eyebrows. “Ti, this isn’t like you at all.”
“Titan had to give me the claim marks because Mr. Gonal showed up and wanted to see us make out,” Mathlin said. “So Titan slobbered all over me like a wild dog and made funny sounds like he was going to eat me. Mr. Gonal almost called the police.”
Titan stared. Ottis laughed so hard that his face turned red.
“Did you also pee on Mathlin to mark your territory?” Gav asked. Then he sniffed, and his eyebrows shot up. “Huh.”
Fuck, he had smelled the dried slick and cum.
Ottis sniffed, andhiseyes grew round.
“Fuck,” Titan said.
He had never mentioned the Baby Service to his pack. It wasn’t the most upstanding business, selling his cum to strangers on the internet. Besides, his family didn’t need the mental images.
The real question was: Did he want to tell his siblings the truth?
“I hired Mathlin for some things,” he muttered. “It’s within the terms of our contract.”
Ottis frowned. “So you’re faking a relationship, but at the same time, you’re paying him to do relationshippy things with you.”
“No! It’s... for work,” Titan said, realizing immediately how odd that sounded.
“What kind of work involves jizz?” Gav asked, mystified.
Ottis rolled his eyes. “Really, Gav? You really don’t know?”
Gavric froze. Then his eyes grew wide.
“It’s really none of your business,” Titan said tightly.
Mathlin leaned into Titan, his warmth reassuring. “You know they’ll only get more curious. This is a super juicy secret. It would keepmeup at night.”
“Up in what way?” Titan’s mouth had decided to copy Mathlin’s. He cursed himself.
Mathlin flushed bright red, his scent growing warm and sweet. Titan’s instincts rumbled.
The next moment, his siblings’ stares intensified. Ottis folded his arms. “Look, Math is my friend, and also my ex-roommate. He might’ve eaten all my ice cream, but I still care about him.”
“Sorry,” Mathlin mumbled, fumbling for his wallet. “I’ll pay you back. Titan gave me an advance—”
“Put it on my tab,” Titan said before Mathlin could get his money out. It made something settle in his chest when Mathlin glanced at him in surprise, all soft and pleased.
“Ah,” Ottis said. His shoulders relaxed, and suddenly he didn’t seem quite so irritable.
Gav looked away and rubbed his neck. “I feel like a third wheel.”
Hamilton spoke up. “At least you weren’t in the car when they—”
