Page 40 of The Story of Danny Rose

“It’s too soon,” he croaked. “That’s my problem. I’m scared you won’t come back.”

Aw, bloody fuck.

I tightened my hold on him and kissed the side of his head. “For you, I will always come back.” The truth of those words hit me squarely in the chest, and I knew I was screwed. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

He sniffled. “Promise.”

“Hey.” Time to let him know a thing or two about where I stood. I sensed he needed a reminder. I eased back and cupped his cheek, and I waited till he locked eyes with me. “I’ve never been so serious about anything as I am about us, Danny.” I brushed my thumb over a few faint freckles on his cheek. “You were different from the moment I saw your punk ass at Fort Campbell. You always stood out. I couldn’t showyou, but damn if I didn’t show others.”

He knitted his brows. “What do you mean?”

I smiled a little. “You don’t know how many times I’ve told other soldiers a story or two about a certain Danny Rose. I even recruited someone to Hillcroft after I told him about you.”

That one earned me a rueful little grin. “Because of my temper?”

“No, you brat,” I chuckled. “I told you. You’re one of the best soldiers I’ve ever met.”

He was thawing.

“The difference now is,” I murmured, “I wanna be part of that story. Decades from now, when they talk about your accomplishments, I want someone to at least say something like, oh yeah, and he was with that Payne bloke, wasn’t he? And someone else will confirm we were inseparable.”

His eyes welled up a bit, and he threw his arms around me, so I took that as a good sign.

“You idiot,” he whimpered. “It’ll beouraccomplishments—and they won’t talk about them, because PMCs never get credit.”

I choked out a laugh and squeezed him to me.

“Inseparable,” he said, sniffling. “I like that, Daddy. I want us to be inseparable.”

Fuck, me too.

I kissed his temple and rubbed his back. “Let’s shoot for that then, huh?”

He nodded. “I’m still gonna miss you, though. If you get hurt, I will kill you.”

I smiled against his skin. “I’ll do my best not to get a single scratch.”

He shuddered. “Good. So…now what? You just pack, and then you’re off to wherever? When do you leave tomorrow?”

“My flight’s at eight.” I got one more kiss in before he pulled back to face me. “This is what we’re gonna do,” I said. “Tomorrow morning, we’ll get up together as usual. You take care of Daddy in the shower?—”

“As usual.” He grinned. “I love taking care of you.”

He was too good at it too. It’d sort of become our thing. He worshipped me in the mornings, and then the nights were mine. That was when I had my way with him however I pleased.

I leaned in and kissed him quickly. “I’ll thank you afterward with my world-famous oatmeal?—”

He laughed at that one.

I chuckled. “And instead of us going in to work together, I’ll see you and the twins off, and I’ll head to the airport. And then I’ll be back in two weeks for more shower blow jobs, oatmeal, dates, and long nights of having you under me where you belong.”

He bit his lip and nodded. “Okay.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes, Sir.” He took a deep breath and sank into my embrace again, this time more at ease. “I’ll be a good boy and study hard.”

He knew just what to say.

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