Page 34 of Daddy's Pride

Harris blinks. “Know what?”

“How Nigel treats you at work.”

“No. Why would they?”

“Maybe they could intervene.”

“I’m not going to rat my brother out and cause friction in the family. Besides, I’m an adult. I can fight my own battles.”

“True, but are you?”

He slumps his shoulders.

I hold my hand out and wriggle my fingers. He takes my hand, allowing me to tug him out of his chair and onto my lap. I stroke his cheek and kiss him.

“I’m sorry, boy. It’s not my place to question how you live your life.”

He rests his forehead against mine. “It’s okay, Daddy. You haven’t said anything I don’t already know. But can we change the subject now?”

“Of course. Do you want to move somewhere more comfortable?”

“I’d like that.”

We take the wine and glasses to the lounge. We sit at opposite ends of the sofa, facing each other, our legs tangled, as we nurse our wine glasses.

“What’s the nightlife like around here?” Harris asks.

“Non-existent beyond a few pints at the local pub. Given that it isn’t all that local, I need to make them non-alcoholic pints.”

“Okay, I have to ask. How did an ex-soldier who lives out in the sticks get into kink?”

I look him in the eyes and wait until he’s sipping his wine to reply. “Porn.”

He swallows the fruity red liquid despite coughing. “You got to watch a lot of porn in the army?”

“Yes. And of course I went to kink clubs when I was on leave.”

“Oh. Of course.”

“It was a lot easier when my parents lived in York. I’d stay with them and get a train to Leeds or Sheffield to go to clubs.”

He strokes my shin with his foot. “You should go to the kink club in Manchester.”

“Will I find you there?”

He smiles and rakes his teeth over his bottom lip. “Maybe. What are your hobbies, other than working out?” He finishes his wine.

I drain my glass and refill our glasses, emptying the bottle. I gesture to the room. “Decorating.”

Harris snort-laughs. “Really?”

“No, but right now, decorating takes up most of my time.”

“The house is going to look amazing when you’ve finished.”

I arch an eyebrow. “And you’re basing that on?—?”

“The hall, kitchen, and your bedroom.”

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