Prologue

"Alec..."

His name was the only word that I could force across the barrier of my lips. The lips that he'd kissed in ways that should be illegal. I tore my soulful gaze from him to Russell, who was staring at me hard, daring me to save Alec and not him.

I swiveled from boy to boy--no. From man to man. Alec, my brother, Alec, my brother. My lover, or my guardian.

But even I discovered that my shifting eyes were resting on Russell just slightly longer.

Alec's amused voice broke the silence. "You don't take poker seriously enough."

But the corner of my mouth twitched up at the reference.

No, I most definitely did not.