Thomas might be in shock, he thought, watching his grandmother head to the dining room with Ettore, considering the revelations that had just been thrown at him. Pryce didn’t hit as hard, now that he remembered Madoc mentioning a son back in his early days at the frat, but that he and Thomas were related, even if distantly?

That would take some getting use to.

“Tell me,” Madoc asked Orinda, “where is that yummy husband of yours?”

“Madoc!” Thomas exclaimed, all shock vanishing.

Orinda laughed. “Oh, so you’re who offered to have sex with my Victor. You’re a few years too late, he’s all mine.”

“I’m sure there’s some way I can convince you to share him,” Madoc said.

Hadn’t he heard the objection in Thomas’s tone?

Orinda patted Madoc’s cheek. “Unlike Nadia and Karlos, I’m not the sharing type.” She lowered her voice. “But I have it on good authority that Thomas’s been doing his part in demonstrating why the Hertz men are in such high demand.”

“Orinda,” Thomas said, ears burning, “you were supposed to get Victor to be more restrained, not pick up on his habit of oversharing.”

The two of them chuckled.

“I’d love to find out how such an open family managed to produce a boy so reserved,” Madoc said.

Orinda became thoughtful as she took his arm in hers. “If you ever find out, you’re going to have to tell me.” She turned and headed toward the dinning room. “My personal theory is that it’s caused by oversaturation, because if you look at Roland…”

Her voice trailed off as Thomas stared after them. Finally, he ran a hand over his face and muttered, “Most awkward Thanksgiving of the century.”

* * * * *

“How did you meet?” Eric asked Ettore, as he passed the roasted potatoes to Karlos. “Roland, have more turkey, you need the protein. You too Thomas.”

“Oh, honey,” Nadia said, while Thomas glared at the grinning Madoc. “I doubt Thomas has any trouble getting protein in him.”

“Even if there’s protein in cum,” his father replied casually, although he emphasized the ‘if’, “he hasn’t gotten any since yesterday.”

“Actually,” Neiro said, reaching for the gravy and preventing Thomas from pointing out he’d gotten some on the way home. “Cum is nutritious, but main drawback is how little each orgasm produces.” He looked at Thomas, who was still grasping with almost spilling the beans on some of his sex life. “Have you been getting a lot of it?”

“Oh,” Madoc said, adding greens to his plate. “The thirteen of us keep him well fed.”

“Where’s the recordings?” Judith asked, “I haven’t seen my brother on Frats Gone Wild since your first party. I was expecting something from the last one at this point.”

“Come on, sis,” Victor said, “give them the time to edit the thing at least. In that other vid, we can barely tell it’s our brother swallowing that monster.”

“Wait, that happened?” Karlos asked. He looked at Judith, “I was sure you’d sent me some fake clip.” He looked at Thomas. “How was he? Can I get his number?”

“He was—” Thomas clamped down on his muzzle.

“I’ll send you his contact information,” Madoc said.

“No getting Chima to know more of my family.”

The table went silent.

“Are you possessive of him?” Judith.

“No,” Thomas replied, offended. “But If it isn’t Karlos, Neiro is going to interrogate him, and Chima won’t have any problem telling him about the other times.”

“There were other times?” Judith asked, gleeful, and looked at Madoc. “Tell me there are recordings.”

Thomas sank in his char as his family went over the theories of what Thomas and Chima had gotten up to when Madoc admitted that he wasn’t aware of anyone recording them.

When things quieted down and everyone went back to eating, Ettore took a sip of his wine. “My family owns a chain of hotel. I’m in charge of making sure they meet the standards we’ve laid down for them. Looking over the accounting, ensuring the staff is well treated, that the maintenance is up to date. The bottom line is only one aspect of what makes a chain successful, morale also plays a part.”

“So,” Corina picked up, “he just barges into my office, full of bluster, and starts laying down the law about how he’s going to improve how I run the hotel.”

Thomas knew where this was going to end up. If not by what they said, then what the other in the room were going to get them to reveal. He hoped Ettore’s sense of tact and decorum was more in line with Henry or Olavo than Judith or Limbani.

“That’s not how I remember things,” Ettore calmly stated.

“Then you’re not remembering—” she stopped at the smile Ettore gave her.

“We talked about this, Dear. There’s no need to try an impress your family.” He looked at Eric. “There were minor alteration to the procedure, there always are, but none of them could be blamed on your sister. Corina does a wonderful job managing the hotel. On the last day, once everything was done, she asked if I wanted to have a drink.”

“I had to insist,” she said, placing a hand on his. “Make it clear I just meant it as a drink to unwind after everything.”

Ettore caressed her hand, looking thoughtful. “I lost my wife a few years ago,” he finally said. “It was hard, and I dealt with it by throwing myself into my work. That drink with Corina pulled me back enough to remember that life goes on.” He smiled at her. “When I flew through Des Moines again, I called her and invited her for another drink. She said yes.”

“After a few more drinks like that, maybe few months later, he took me out to dinner.” She chuckled. “It was such a fancy place.”

“I might have gone overboard,” Ettore admitted.

She smiled. “But it was so sweet the way you couldn’t stop apologizing and offering to take me somewhere less pretentious. I wish we could go there again.”

“Why can’t you?” Nadia asked.

“There was an incident,” Ettore replied with none of the shame Thomas thought should come from what such a statement implied.

“Oh, do tell,” his mother said, leaning forward.

“Well,” Corina said, stretching the word. “I needed to use the restroom. And Ettore, being the gentleman that he is, escorted me.”

“I needed to go too,” he corrected.

“There was a line up,” she continued, “at both the men’s and women’s.”

“And,” he picked up, “she noticed that the handicapped restroom was unlocked and unoccupied, so she pulled me in with her.”

“Someone else might have taken it before you once I was done,” she said with exaggerated affront.

“Of course,” Eric replied, still eating. Other than the children, he was the only one still doing so, as if nothing out of the ordinate was taking place. Everyone else, except for Thomas and Roland, were hanging on every word.

He didn’t know what his brother was doing, eyes fixed on his plate like he could escape in it, but Thomas was wishing he could scream mentally loudly enough to bury the ongoing story before he found out more than he wanted to know about his aunt and future uncle in law’s sex life.

“Once we were done doing what we went in there to do,” Ettore continued, “I realized that the restaurant wouldn’t have any dessert more appealing than the beauty before me, so I ate her out.”

“He’s very good,” Corina said, fanning herself. “I could not not return the favor, so I sucked him off.” She grinned at Neiro. “I think he might be bigger than you.”

Thomas’s uncle tilted an ear. “More than ten inches?”

“I’m going to have to see it to believe it,” Karlos said, grinning.

Thomas buried his face in his hands with a grown. Not at the dinner table. Please God, let this not become a dick measuring contest.

“Wait until he meet Chima,” Madoc whispered to him and Thomas stared at him in horror. He’d managed to forget about that arrangement.

“Maybe after we’ve eaten,” Ettore said. “Corina has a wonderful mouth, and an eagerness I’d forgotten a woman can have.”

“You won’t believe it,” she said conspiratorially, “but he was still hard once I was done.”

“Us Lewistons are good about having staying power,” Ettore said. “Isn’t that right, Madoc?”

The rat nodded, thinking. “When I’m at the gym, I’d say I can got seven times before I start getting soft, and that happens mainly because the guys there are just too exhausted to continue.”

Thomas tried to decide if acting casual or just running off would be the one reaction that ensured no one remembered Madoc was training Thomas, so had been present at the gym for many of those post workout sessions.

“You,” Neiro said, eyes narrowing as he pointed to Ettore, “get a pass on account of being my future brother-in-law, but you.” He pointed to Madoc. “I’m calling bullshit. I don’t care about genetics. A man’s body just isn’t built to handle that level of horniness.”

Don’t call on me, don’t call on me. God, make it so that Madoc doesn’t call on me.

“I’ll happily demonstrate,” Madoc stated.

Not what I meant, and you know it.

“Just a moment,” Ettore interrupted as Madoc stood. “How does being your brother-in-law get me a pass?”

His uncle looked from Ettore to Corina and back. “Aren’t you straight?”

Madoc snorted.

Karlos patted his husband’s hand. “Hun, what do you always tell me about making assumptions?”

Neiro’s ears slowly turned forward as the gears in his head moved. “Okay, but even if he’s bi, he’d going to be married.”

“Not everyone’s a possessive as Orinda,” Corina said. “Ettore loves me. I know that. What he puts his dick in when we aren’t together, that’s his business. And when we’re together, then the deal is I get to watch.” She grinned at her brother-in-law.

Thomas massaged his temple, looking at his plate and fighting the urge to ask God to make sure his mother didn’t bring up the fact Uncle Neiro had dibs on his father. Not after how his last request had turned out.

“If I heard right,” Neiro said pensively, “you two have a hotel room instead of spending the night here.” He looked at Karlos. “You know, a bed would be more comfortable than that decade old inflatable mattress.”

The cougar looked at the rat couple. “Assuming you’re willing to have us, of course.”

“They’re your family, Hun,” Ettore said. “I know that part took some getting used to.”

“Just so we’re clear,” she told the rat and cougar. “Once you’re done, and it’s time to sleep, I’m getting into bed next to my fiancée.”

“That’s perfectly reasonable,” Neiro replied.

* * * * *

Thomas watched Pryce and the twins run around the living room.

Somehow he’d survived the most sexual dinner conversation of his life without melting under the table, or anyone ending up on it with sausages going between buns and Dead God why had his mind gone there?

Now, he sat on the couch, squeezed between Niero and Karlow, listening to Ettore, while Roland was on the other one, next to their father, with Madoc on Eric’s other side.

“The Denver chapter of Sigma Theta Gamma wasn’t like the one here, from what Madoc says. There was only five of us, when I went. A Cormoran, of course, a Carboneau, a Song,” he paused and made a face. “And a Rasia.”

“I guess even in such an exclusive frat, not everyone likes each other,” Eric said.

“I liked the guy well enough,” Ettore replied. “Slim, nice cock, really nice ass. But I couldn’t trust him. He and his family were just trouble. But the sex was definitely good.” He looked at Thomas. “As an outsider, Thomas. What’s your opinion of your brothers?”

Thomas startled and stopped himself from immediately answering. Instead, he stated. “I’m part of Sigma Theta Gamma.”

“Apologies. I mean, as someone who isn’t from one of the traditional families that comprised the frat. How do you feel, being part of it? Do they treat you as one of them?”

“Oh, we fuck him senseless,” Madoc said, and Thomas glared at him.

“They treat me like they treat each other.” He didn’t need to add more, not after Madoc’s words. He ignored the next attempt to get him to talk about what the frat was doing to him, and eventually, the conversation moved away from Thomas and onto his uncles. How Neiro and Karlos met, the woodworking they did and, of course, their sex life.

It sounded to Thomas like Ettore was gauging what to expect from them.

Then the conversation moved on to families and Thomas found himself pulled in. He hadn’t known that Neiro and Karlos had talked about having kids, but they were waiting for the right time to adopt. Eric mentioned how, after Roland, they’d taken measure to ensure he was the last one. Ettore confirmed that he and Corina would have children, especially since it was a Lewiston imperative.

Imperative sounded like a harsh word, to Thomas. And hadn’t Madoc said that Pryce hadn’t been planned? Didn’t that contradict Ettore? He looked to his frat brother, only to find he was no longer seated next to his father, or nowhere in the living room. And neither was Roland.

Oh no. No, no. They wouldn’t have.

“Excuse me,” Thomas said as he stood, “I need to go check in on something.”

They weren’t in Roland’s bedroom. He checked his room, hoping they hadn’t resorted to using the one Victor and his family would be sleeping in, and was relieved to not find them there. He heard the voices before opening the bathroom door.

Roland and Madoc stood there, shirtless, but at least still wearing pants. His brother was flexing while his frat brother had his hand over the other rat’s stomach.

Thomas swallowed the spike of jealousy.

That was not why he was angry.

Madoc was in the process of molesting his baby brother.

Thomas opened his mouth just as footsteps sounded coming up the stairs. His parents went into his old room, the one Victor and his family would be sleeping in. Thomas refocused on the important thing, giving Madoc a piece of his mind.

As he opened his mouth, his mother’s moans started, then his father joined in.

Thomas closed his eyes. He had to get Henry to give him the number of whoever had sound proofed the frat.

He looked at his target again, only for Roland to shove him out of the way, ears plastered against his skull as he pulled his shirt back on. For once, his brother wasn’t glaring at him, but at the closed door where the sounds of sex were coming from. 

“Not so fast,” he told Madoc and pushed him back into the bathroom, closing the door once he stepped in, too. Right, no locks on that door either. “Just what the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“I was giving Roland some pointers about his workout routine.” Madoc sounded mildly amused.

“Right.” Thomas stretched the word. “I’m one of your projects, remember? I’ve met some of the others. You are not doing that to my brother, am I clear?”

“Thomas,” Madoc said, losing all levity. “Roland is—”

“Sixteen!” Thomas shouted, “and straight!”

Madoc gave him an incredulous look.

“And even if he isn’t,” Thomas continued as the rat opened his mouth, because he wasn’t letting him try to justify what he’d done. “Do you have any idea what his first exposure to homosexuality was? It was me coming home from the prom with a black eye because I kissed the star quarterback and he didn’t appreciate it. That was last June, so he’s had to live wit the stigma of being the brother to the slut who can’t keep his hands to himself.”

“Thomas,” Madoc said as he caught his breath, “I think you’re—”

“No, you don’t think, Madoc,” Thomas cut him odd, exasperated. “There are times when every single one of you is as bas as Limbani, only thinking with your cock. That’s fine at the frat and even on the campus, but this is my home. What you were planning on doing to Roland…” Thomas swallowed. “Madoc, you do not want to put me in a position to choose between the frat and my brother, because family is going to win every time.” Madoc waited, and Thomas panted, then closed his mouth.

“I understand,” the rat said. “And I’m sorry for overreaching. Roland’s lucky to have brother who sticks up for him like you. I don’t know if mine would have.”

The statement took a full second to get through Thomas’s anger, then it left him confused as he watched Madoc’s distance gaze refocus on the present and the rat force his expression into a jovial one.

“What was that about?” Thomas asked.

Madoc shook his head. “Nothing important. The past, mainly.”

Thomas hesitated, and Madoc almost made it past him. He acted before he thought better of it and hugged his frat brother tightly.

“I just told you family’s always going to win, and it turns out we’re cousins. If you need to talk…”

Madoc stood without moving for a second, then hugged him back before pulling away. “Thanks, but right now, I just want to go downstairs and play with Pryce.”

Then Thomas was the only one left in the bathroom.

Most awkward Thanksgiving of the millenia.

* * * * *

“Are you sure you won’t spend the night here?” Nadia asked her brother as she hugged him.

“Even if you’ve finally talked Eric into it…” Neiro nodded toward Ettore. “Look at him Sis. I’m not telling Karlos we’re passing that up.”

“Make sure to pester Thomas to bring you to the house,” Madoc told the rat once the sibling let go of each other. “If you enjoy Ettore, I guarantee you’re going to love our frat brothers.”

“No worries there,” Karlos said. “Even if we have to show up unannounced, I fully intend on meeting that Chima Thomas speaks so highly of.”

“I didn’t say—” Thomas clamped his mouth shut. He hugged Madoc, then looked at Pryce. “It was good meeting you, even if your father’s a pain in the ass.”

Madoc blew him a raspberry. “Enjoy the rest of the holiday.” He waved to the others as he headed for the car. “It was nice meeting you all.” 

It was a rather large sedan all those people were getting in, Thomas thought, almost as if Ettore and Corina had known they would be leaving with more people than they’d arrived.

“Since Neiro and Karlos aren’t going to sleep here,” Thomas said as they went back inside. “How about I sleep in the living room for the weekend?” His mother smirked and, shoulders sagging, he looked at his brother. “I tried.”

“I can’t wait for next year,” Victor said, one of the sleeping twins in his arms. “We’ll get to hear stories of their honeymoon. Can you imagine how wild those are going to be?”

Orinda, holding the other sleeping twin, looked at her husband. “I’ve got to say I would never have thought there was another family out there with the same love of sex as yours.”

“Can we please talk about anything other than sex?” Thomas said with a sigh. “I’ll even talk about my nonexistent major over that, at this point.”

There was a pause, then Thomas, along with the others, looked around for Eric. He and Naida were no longer there.

“Huh,” Judith said, ears perking. “Sounds like they made it to the third floor this time. And perk up, bro. This time next year, you’ll have plenty of stories to share with us.”

Thomas fixed her with a humorless look. “I have plenty of stories I could share now. The fact I don’t, is a personal one.”

She shrugged and took out her phone. “Until you know better, I have Yating, and once I tell him to film you and post those videos, I’ll also have Frats Gone Wild to tattle tale on you. Who wants to see a replay of Thomas at the freshman party? And who knows, maybe there’ll be something new from the mid-term one up there now.”

“We’ll put the kids to bed,” Orinda said, “And we’ll be right there.”

Roland was right behind them up the stairs while Grandma Royer settled in her chair with a fresh cut up tea.

“Are you coming, Thomas?” she asked. “Maybe you can give us context for what we’ll be looking at.”

Thomas wanted to run as far as he could. Instead, he dropped face first on the couch and screamed into the cushion. The level of awkwardness had gone beyond measurable scales, and next year was only going to be worse