Page 57 of His Boys to Protect

That stopped Skylar in his tracks. “What?”

“When he and I talked that night, Christmas Eve, he basically gave me permission to see you again. But he said it had to be like this. I had to pay you, because he said you need the money for your surgery.”

Skylar took a step back and crossed his arms over his chest, trying to shrink into Charlie's hoodie.

“Here.” Ward pulled out his wallet. “I'll pay you for last time, too–”

“Don't!” Skylar cried.

Ward flinched, then went utterly still.

Skylar's chest heaved as tears began to stream down his cheeks. “Fuckinghell, Ward. Don't do this.”

“Sky? I'm just trying to help. I wanted to see you. And if it means paying so that you can be here instead of being off with someone else, then–”

“I don't want to be your whore!” Skylar screamed. He choked out a sob and sank heavily onto the end of the bed. “Please, Ward,” he whispered. “Please, don't make me feel dirty. Not with you. Not with you!”

“Okay,” Ward murmured. He set his wallet aside and knelt down in front of him. “Sky? Whatever you want. Okay? But Charlie told me how important this surgery is to you, and I don't want to keep you from getting what you need.”

“What ifyou'rewhat I need?” Skylar blurted out. He slapped a hand over his mouth, then hid his face. “Jiminy Christmas,” he muttered. “Fuck. I shouldn't have said that.”

“Sky?” Ward whispered. “Look at me.” He waited quietly. When Skylar lowered his hands, Ward said, “We don't have to do anything. You arenotmy whore, you hear me? We can just sit and talk, if you want. Or go out to dinner. Go see a movie. Something normal. Or we can lie here in silence, and I'll hold you until you fall asleep. Whatever you need, kitten. Whatever makes you happy.”

Skylar felt his mouth twitch, and he breathed a laugh even as more tears fell. “That's growing on me, you know.”

“What is?”

“You calling mekitten.”

Ward smiled, and the gentle beauty of it almost broke Skylar's heart.

“Damn it.” Skylar lurched forward and crushed their mouths together.

Ward moaned, taking control of the kiss and gently pulling Skylar into his arms.

“Daddy,” Skylar whimpered, the word simply ripped out of him. “Need you. Please.”

“Are you sure?”

“Please,” Skylar begged.

“Okay.” Ward helped him to his feet. He reached for the hem of Skylar's hoodie, his fingertips nearly brushing the bare skin at Skylar's waist.

“Wait!” Skylar gasped, pulling back.

Ward let go, holding up his hands.

“I need a shower,” Skylar blurted out, suddenly feeling as though his skin were crawling. “I mean, I had a shower, but I need another one. I don't feel clean enough. I need to be clean for you–”

“Sky,” Ward interrupted him just as Skylar realized he was on the way to hyperventilating. “Easy, kitten. Just breathe, okay? Let Daddy help.”

Ward took control, guiding him into the bathroom. He knelt down and helped Skylar out of his shoes and socks, then stood up and reached for the hoodie again while bending to give Skylar a kiss.

A few dizzying moments later, they were both naked and standing under the hot shower spray, Ward holding him close as they kissed like the world might end. Ward spent what felt like endless hours simply running his soapy hands all over Skylar's body. Skylar kept waiting for the man to comment on his unshaved legs—or to at least shy away from them—but Ward kept up his slow, thorough attention to every inch of Skylar's body, making him feel more clean, treasured, and protected than he'd ever felt in his life.

Skylar was ready to beg again right when Ward finally rubbed two fingers between his legs. Skylar moaned, widening his stance, giving Ward more room.

But the second those fingers teased his hole, Skylar winced.

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