Page 26 of Sweetheart

“Yes, Daddy.” Nate smirked.

Levi shook his head. “You all promised to behave.”

“We’re sorry.”

That sweet voice came from the older gentleman dressed as a little. Not only was he older than the others in the room but he wouldn’t be what anyone called small. He also had the kindest look on his face as he smiled shyly at Mason.

“Aren’t you a cutie?” Mason told him. He meant the words with his whole heart. Mason could read people and this guy had a huge heart. Mason instantly wanted to be friends with him.

The little blushed adorably.

“That’s Bryce. Our…Axel’s partner,” Levi said.

Mason didn’t miss the slipup but did his best to ignore it. He greeted everyone as Levi finished introducing him to the group.

“Can I get you something to drink? Juice, water, soda?” Levi offered.

“Water, please,” Mason replied.

“Okay.” Levi looked around the room as if searching for something.

“If it’s okay, I’ll hang out with Bryce and Nate. I see dragons. Dragons are awesome.”

“Yay!” Bryce clapped.

Nate winked at him.

“Cool.” Levi brushed his lips against Mason’s temple before strolling toward the door.

Drake gave a low groan but Mason kept his eyes on his new little friends. He didn’t care about the sex happening, but he knew it made Levi uncomfortable. Mason was certain at this point that Levi had no experience. He might be asexual or demisexual, so they were going to need to talk soon. Not that it would change how Mason felt.

He dropped down on his butt between Bryce and Nate.

“Hi.” Nate beamed at him.

“Hi,” Mason repeated.

Bryce shoved a pacifier in his mouth before handing Mason two dragons. Nate had a handful of green army men in his hand.

“We’re having a battle,” Nate told him.

Bryce nodded.

Okay, so the two littles approached their regression differently. Nate was a little spicy just like Mason and Bryce was a sweetie pie. Mason could totally work with this group. Who knew, Mason might make friends for the first time in his life. He’d always had his twin and cousin, the other children raised in the group his father ran, but Mason hadn’t just met and played with friends of his own.

The pup, Lawson, came and joined them while gulping down a bottle of water.

“Are you finally ready to play?” Nate teased him.

Lawson glared. “You’re just mad I got a reward for being good while you almost got a spanking,” he responded.

“Maybe the spanking would have been my reward,” Nate said.

Mason laughed. These boys, they were going to be fun. He might not fit in right away—they were a close group—but Mason had hope for the future.

He’d taken a big chance to escape from his father and the group. For a while he and Jason had just hidden out but when they finally started to feel safe, they’d taken the chance to start their new lives.

It hurt more than he’d admit that Jason had chosen to stay with him. Mason wasn’t a leader. He didn’t like being in charge. Having Jason escape with him had been how Mason had survived being cold, in the dark, and hungry.

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