“Redirecting those questions today when they came up. People wanted a definitive answer about my sexuality, and I didn’t know what to say.”

“I know. I sensed you didn’t want to go there, and it’s none of their business.”

“I could have said I was straight. I almost did at one point, but it feels like a lie.”

“And if you’d said you were bi or gay, then it’s like coming out of the closet to the whole world when you haven’t faced it yourself. I get it. You don’t have to explain it to me. You can identify however you want, and no one has any right to question you otherwise. Sexuality is individual to the person. Take asexual people for example. Sometimes they have sex. It’s a fact. It doesn’t make them not asexual anymore. If that’s who they feel they are, no one should judge them. If you identify as straight and enjoy fucking your brother from time to time, then it’s no one else’s business.”

“How astute.” He chuckled.

“Yeah, I’m your brother, and we have sex. So what? They didn’t exactly include that dynamic in the rule book. There is no LGBTQ plus twincest. Technically, we shouldn’t be fucking at all. Whatever. Rules were made to be broken.”

Asher threaded his fingers with mine on his chest. “Thanks for understanding. I’m feeling a bit confused by all this still.”

“And when you figure it out, I’ll be here. I love you, even though I can’t call you baby.”

Asher sneered at my reflection in fun. “We should probably get going, or we’ll be late.”

“Are you okay about later?”

“Yeah. I’m feeling a bit like a nervous virgin right now.”

We both laughed.

“And if you tell anyone,” he went on. “I’ll make you ride the stationary bike for an hour on expert mode every day for a week when we get home. Scratch that. I’ll buy us a stationary bike for the bedroom and make you ride it for an indeterminant length of time in order to earn sex.”

“God, you’re mean. Wow, like, dude, what the ever-loving fuck right now.”

He turned and kissed me, drawing me against him and cradling my face in his hands. When we came apart, he let out a breathy sigh. “I love you. Tonight will be amazing. As nervous as I am, I’m excited too.”

“Me too.”

Chapter Sixteen

DINNER, THANK GOD, was focused on Charlotte. Asher and I disappeared into the background after a brief round of introductions. The talk was centered around business and future endeavors that would help make this series grow even more.