Page 68 of Imperfect Skin

“I’m so sorry, baby. I should have been there.”

“If you had been, he would have hurt you. That was his twisted little plan. He wanted to hurt you and burn the shop.”

I froze. “What the hell?”

“He blames you and Simon for me leaving him.” Mouse sighed. “It wasn’t like that. I tried with Ziggy, even made myself believe I loved him. But the cheating, the beatings, it all got too much. I didn’t leave him because I thought I had a chance with you. All I knew was that I had to get away. He was killing me, in here.” Mouse tapped his chest.

“The smartest thing I ever did was invite you to live with Alice and me. If you asked me back then I would have said it was because you were my friend and Simon’s brother, but honestly, I had feelings for you back then. But—” I stopped, and Mouse smiled knowingly.

“I was Simon’s kid brother, and there’s a twenty year age gap between us. Yeah, all the same reasons I didn’t believe we’d ever be more than friends.”

“And yet look at us now,” I said, brushing a soft kiss across Mouse’s bruised cheek.

“Yeah, Mum would sure get a kick out of it. She was the only one I told back then. She never teased me about crushing on you, just smiled and said that thing about the heart wanting what it wants.” Mouse moved over to sit on one of the stools, and I set about getting supper started.

I loved looking over and seeing Mouse smiling at me from the counter. I loved that it was becoming as normal as breathing to walk past and kiss him for no other reason than I could.

“Hey, lamb?”

Mouse looked up from where he was doodling and smiled. “Hmm?”

“Love you,” I said, grinning like a goblin. It felt so damn good each time I got to say it.

“Aww. Love you too, Daddy. Now get with the toasted sandwiches. I plan to burn off some calories tonight.”

I laughed hard enough that I nearly sliced my damn finger off with the knife I was holding. “Am I going to need a gag?”

Mouse winked slowly. “A boy can hope.”

Isuspected I’d discovered the best feeling in the world. Sprawled out on the sofa, Mouse curled up against one side, and Alice sprawled over the rest of the sectional, snoring her sweet little head off.

“Should we be worried about that?” Mouse’s brows had risen the louder Alice’s snores had gotten.

“Ear, nose and throat doc said she’s fine. We should let her sleep here tonight. She’s got her blanket and stuffie. If I wake her, she’s likely to give me a right royal bollocking.”

“Gee, I wonder where she gets that from?” Mouse stretched his arms up, reminding me of a smug house cat, before he wrapped his arms back around me. “Want to head upstairs?”

“You feeling needy, lamb?” I slipped my hand under his hooded sweatshirt, caressing the naked skin underneath.

“For you, always.” Mouse’s smile was like sunshine, even with the kaleidoscope of bruises that covered his face.

“Get the shower running. I’ll get little miss settled down here.”

Mouse sat up, leaning in to brush his lips against mine. I could taste the Fry’s chocolate bar he’d snuck and thought I hadn’t noticed.

“Don’t keep me waiting, or I’ll start without you.” Mouse’s smirk was devilish, and I knew he damn well would.

He shivered as I gripped his thigh tighter, my lips brushing his ear. “You do, little lamb, and I might have to punish you.”

“Promise, Daddy?” Mouse hopped up from the sofa but didn’t dash upstairs like I thought he would. Instead, he grabbed the thick throw rug he knew Alice loved and tucked it around her. Smoothing her hair back, he kissed her forehead and told her he loved her before moving past me and up the stairs.

I didn’t fail to notice the strut in his step or the flick of his hair when he glanced at me, his dark eyes dancing with mischief.

Challenge fucking accepted.

To say the sounds that greeted me when I stepped into the bathroom were pornographic would be seriously understating it. Stripping down quietly, I pushed aside the shower curtain. Mouse was the picture of debauchery as he rocked his arse against the dildo stuck to the shower wall. I’d been less than ten minutes, but my boy was already in the throes of bliss.

“Boy, what did I tell you?” My eyes locked onto his hard cock, already wet with precome. My hand went out instinctively to wrap around his slender throat, my thumb pressing against his carotid. Mouse moaned in answer, rocking his hips slowly.

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