Hello all! For this month’s post I thought I’d give you all a sneak peek at Against the Grain, the fifth THIRDS book with a fun excerpt. The time is drawing nearer, with a cover reveal being planned for early July and release events for early Aug. There is so much going on in this book from heartbreaking moments to action, comedy, and romance. For those of you familiar with the series, you know Ash and Cael have been through so much in the last four books. What’s going to happen with our grumpy lion Therian and sweet cheetah Therian? It was tough to pick an excerpt that didn’t have any major spoilers.  Here’s a family moment of the guys spending Christmas together over at the Maddock household. Enjoy!

Cael glared at [Ash]. “You have no shame.”

Ash let out a husky laugh. “And you’re just figuring that out?”

Cael sat up, falling into the gap between Ash’s legs when he spread them. He might as well take it like an agent. Ash opened the album and “aw”d. The first page had a sixth-month-old Cael looking up at the camera with huge gray eyes and a confused expression. Not exactly unusual for babies that age. He was also naked, with his bottom in the air and part of him covered by a fluffy cheetah-print blanket.

“I think I might die of how adorable this is,” Ash said. “This sort of cute should be illegal.” He grinned at Cael. “You should be illegal.”

“Shut it,” Cael griped.

He had no choice but to sit there—on Ash’s lap—while Ash looked at his baby pictures. At least he was enjoying one of those things. He ignored the chuckles from his family. Ash continued to look through Cael’s album, making silly cute noises and pointing out pictures. There were hundreds of photos of Cael in his Human baby form and then later when he was a little older and his first shift happened, in his cheetah Therian form with his cheetah fuzz sticking up all over. There were pictures of him chirping, of him with bows in his fur thanks to his jerkface big brother, and of him hiding in a bucket while he played hide-and-seek with Dex.

Usually a Therian’s first shift happened during puberty, but there were always exceptions, and some shifted sooner. Cael had been an early shifter, so he’d still had his cheetah fuzz. Luckily he didn’t have it for too long.

Cael perked up, and a sly smile came onto his face. Why should he suffer alone in this baby picture hell? “Sloane,” Cael called out sweetly.

Sloane looked up. “Hm?”

“That yellow and baby blue album with the little lion on it is Dex’s baby album.”

Dex gasped. He made a dive for it, but in true Dex fashion, he lost his balance and hit the carpet instead. With a smile, Sloane plucked the album from the table. “Thanks, Cael.”

With a groan, Dex sat up. He kicked at Sloane’s foot.

“Ow. Why are you assaulting me?”

“You could have saved me, you big dork. Instead you went for the album?”

Sloane blinked at him. “But if I grabbed you, then I wouldn’t have the album.”

Dex prodded their dad’s leg. “And what’s your excuse?”

Their dad didn’t even bother looking up from the album in his hand. “It’s not my job to kiss your ouchies anymore.” He jabbed a thumb in Sloane’s direction. “That’s his job now.”

“So you let me fall?” Dex whined.

“If I caught you every single time you fell, you’d never learn how to get yourself up.”

Dex gaped at their dad while Cael snickered.

“Ha! You just got schooled by Dad.”

“Be quiet, Chirpy.”

“Stop calling me that!”

Cael jumped to his feet, grabbed one of the couch’s throw pillows, and launched it at Dex, who was getting to his feet. His brother swatted it away, and it smacked Ash in the face. There was a collective gasp from everyone.

Ash looked down at the pillow in his lap, then up at Dex.

“Hit the deck!” Dex leaped over the coffee table, rolled, and disappeared behind the armchair. Cael slowly backed away as Ash stood, gently put the album on the table, and took hold of the pillow he’d been smacked with. Cael dove behind the love seat. His brother was a dead man.

“Don’t break my pillow,” Tony muttered, unfazed by whatever was about to transpire. Cael crawled to the edge of the love seat and peeked out. His dad continued flipping through the pages of the photo album in his lap.

“Sloane, save me!” Dex used the furniture for cover as Ash stalked him. At least Dex had one advantage over Ash. Having grown up in this house, Dex was familiar with every nook and cranny.

“Sloane? There’s no Sloane here,” Sloane replied. “Apparently just a big dork.”

Dex popped his head up from behind an armchair. “Have you no sympathy for my impending demise?”

Sloane opened Dex’s baby album and chuckled. “Aw, look at you! You look like a little burrito.”

Dex looked uninspired. “It’s called swaddling.”

Cael watched as Ash got ready to pounce. His brother had to know he was there.

“Whatever it’s called,” Sloane said, “it makes you look like a burrito. An adorable baby burrito.” He turned the page. “Oh, now this is precious. Dexter Justice Daley in sheriff footie pajamas.”

Ash froze, pillow raised high above his head. “Hold the phone.” He arched an eyebrow at Sloane. “What did you say?”

Tony closed the album in his lap. “Look at the time. I think I’ll head up to bed.” He placed the album on the table and stood. “You break it, you buy it.”

With that Tony headed upstairs. Cael slowly crawled over the armrest of the love seat, grabbed a throw pillow, and sat with knees drawn up to watch the chaos. Man, he wished he had some popcorn.

“What?” Sloane asked. He looked down at the album when it seemed to dawn on him. “Oh shit.”

Ash turned to Dex, a wide grin spreading at the horrified expression on his face. “Your middle name is Justice?”

Dex shook his head at Sloane. “Why would you do this to me? I thought you loved me.”

“I’m sorry,” Sloane squawked. “It slipped out!”

Ash erupted into full-blown laughter. “That’s the funniest shit I’ve ever heard!” He doubled over, laughing so hard he was soon in tears.

“It’s not that funny,” Dex grumbled, dropping down onto the couch beside Sloane, who drew him into his embrace and attempted to the soothe Dex’s epic pouting.

Cael shook his head. He was related to crazy people. Ash was on his knees and holding onto his side as he laughed. Apparently he was also in love with a crazy person. Sloane kissed Dex’s cheek, then his jaw, and whispered something in his ear. Dex appeared to consider whatever it was Sloane had said to him. The lewd smile he gave Sloane had Cael cringing. Ugh, they were going to have sex.

“Good night,” Dex declared. He stood and pulled Sloane with him. “Ash, you’re a douchebag.” With that he marched off, Sloane in tow. Cael waited as Ash continued to laugh. He couldn’t even reply to Dex’s insult.

Maybe Cael should change into his pajamas while the fiercest Therian Defense agent he knew rolled around on the floor laughing like a five-year-old.

“Is this going to take long, because I might go upstairs and change.”

Ash wiped his eyes, his laughter easing up. “Man, I have enough material for at least a year. This is fucking brilliant. Best. Christmas. Ever.”

Against the Grain, THIRDS Book 5 is due for release early August. Check out Charlie’s blog for updates on upcoming cover reveals, giveaways, bog tours, and other fun events planned for the release of Ash and Cael’s book!

Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!

Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

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