Cooper shot a pointed look at Eli, who rolled his eyes. “Darling, surely it’s obvious by now that this”—he flourished his hand dramatically—”is just an elaborate defense. While Oliver was born offensively elaborate.”

“He’s not,” Cooper defended. “He’s just...” Easily enamored with beauty, softer and more delicate inside than anyone else could ever guess from looking at him, a bit of a secret hedonist—

Eli made a small noise of disgust. “The dreamy look on your face right now could star in a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. I feel ill.”

“I don’t know why I’m surprised that a man who spent the evening creeping around my bushes scaring my cat before breaking into my house and demanding I do him an enormous, illegal favor is relentlessly rude to me, but somehow I am.”

Eli gave him a curious look. “While you may not have caught me at my best this afternoon, I generally don’t engage in creeping in the underbrush or terrorizing helpless animals. Why would you think I did?”

“I heard something...” Cooper trailed off. Frowned. “I guess it was a raccoon getting into the pumpkin after all. Oliver would know. He’s good at—”

Eli stood suddenly and left the bedroom.

“Wait, where are you—” Cooper stumbled out of bed, remembered his nudity, and hurriedly put some sweats and a T-shirt on. He was just beginning to follow, poker in hand, when Eli returned. “What happened? Did you just check outside?”

“Check outside?” Eli looked appalled. “I think you have me mistaken for another wolf in your life. No, I merely decided it might be a good idea to secure your window which mysteriously came to be unlocked approximately forty minutes ago.”

“You came in through a window?” Cooper asked.

“And landed in a charming little library of sorts with a very comfortable-looking couch that should make a perfect bed for tonight.”

Cooper blinked at him, taking a moment to process the meaning. “You want to stay here? Overnight?” He looked at Eli suspiciously. “Look, if you’re coming on to me, I have to cut you off right now.”

“Ah yes. Laying bare the worst traumas of my life to my ex-lover’s new boytoy. Seduction 101.” Eli rolled his eyes so dramatically that Cooper wondered if he was slipping again. “My god, read the room.”

“The couch isn’t very long,” Cooper warned.

“If you were paying any attention at all, you’d know I can get a lot shorter. Besides, I’ve slept on worse. Speaking of whom, if Ollie finds out I potentially led trouble to your door and then left you undefended, you’ll have two crimes on your hands.”