Page 45 of Little Boy Toy

“Well by all means, allow me to give it to you again.”

I had my phone in a purse that crossed my shoulder. I wasn’t about to pull it out.

“I’m not sure you heard him correctly.” Zale spoke in measured tones.

“What’s the harm?” Travis asked, straightening up and locking eyes with Zale.

“He just told you he erased it. There’s no harm at all.” Zale turned to me. “Ready to leave?”

Travis chuckled. “You have a new daddy who speaks for you, now. Very good. I can see he’s possessive as well as controlling, but I thought you didn’t like that?”

Everything Travis said was an instigating phrase meant to manipulate and piss me off. Plus, his assumptions were all wrong. My first impulse was to get defensive.

“I don’t—he’s not—Zale’s not my daddy.” Well, now, that came out all wrong.

“Oh really? Then he won’t mind at all if I give you my number again. This time will be different.” He winked at me. “I promise, little one.” His voice turned seductive when he used the endearment.

I blinked hard, hugging Alexander harder.

“I think the young man told you he wasn’t interested,” Zale said. “Come on, Kendry. I’m ready.”

“Doesn’t he get to speak for himself?” Travis asked Zale.

“Yes,” I started to say. But Travis interrupted again.

“You just told me he’s not even your daddy. So what’s the conflict?”

“I didn’t mean it like that. I’m with him.”

“Well, of course. Who could’ve missed the pretty picture you both made over there in the book corner.”

I glared up at him over Alexander’s fuzzy blue head. “I’m not seeing anyone else right now.”

“You heard the boy,” Zale said. “Are we done?”

I nodded. Travis just smiled and started rattling off his number to me as if I would memorize it on the spot.

While Travis was in mid-recitation, I turned away. To Zale I said, “Yep, we’re done.”

I took Zale’s hand and headed to the door.

Behind us, Travis said, “What a little sweetheart you are. Why were you such a demon with me? Did you simply need a little taming?”

He followed us.

Now Travis put his hand on my shoulder, his fingers slipping over my bare skin where the shirt sleeves stopped.

Under his breath, Zale said, “I guess we’re not done.”

“It’s okay….” I began. Before I could say more, Zale let go of my hand and faced Travis. My whole body began to shake.

“Hands off. Kendry has said we’re done here. We don’t want any trouble.”

Travis kept his hand on me. “I’m not trouble. I’m just warning you. The little imp is unpredictable. Leads you on. Ask Rod over there. The boy toy is a total cock tease. It would have been one thing if he hadn’t gone home with me. I would have left him alone. But he came willingly up to my bedroom, parading his tight, round ass around like he owned the pla— Oof!”

It happened so fast I thought I had missed something. First, Travis was mouthing off to Zale about me and next he wasn’t touching me anymore. He was on the floor.

I moved behind Zale, who stood with his head down, his dark hair hanging forward and covering his cheeks, and his right fist clenched in front of him.

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