Page 62 of His Boys to Protect

Ward held his breath, giving himself a moment as he fought the urge to lash out.Holy shit. How could he even respond to that?

“And I've been doing this ever since,” Skylar said with a shrug. “It's all I've known for the past ten years or so.” He breathed a humorless laugh. “Every time I've tried to step back from the job and try to get something normal, I'm stuck. It's not like I can exactly putEscorton my résumé. Who would hire me for anything with my work history? But the truth is, this payswaybetter than any normal job that I could get. So I'm just biding my time, saving up money for my surgery. And don't youdaresay a word about paying me,” Skylar rushed to add.

Ward held up his hands. “I promise.”

“I mean it, Ward–”

“Sky,” Ward insisted. He shifted closer, looking Skylar in the eyes. “I promise. If that's what you need, then I swear. Not a word. No tricks. End of discussion.” Ward paused. “Unless you change your mind–”

“I won't,” Skylar swore. “Not from you. Never from you. You're…different. I need that. I need you.”

Despite the deep, desperate ache in his heart from hearing Skylar's story, Ward found himself smiling. “I'm right here, kitten.”

He pulled Skylar into his arms, and they lay back down. Ward ran his fingers through Skylar's hair. Rubbed the boy's back. Traced his tattoos. Held him close. Kissed him on the forehead. Slowly but surely, Skylar relaxed.

“Ward…”

“Go to sleep,” Ward murmured. “Don't you worry about a thing.”

Skylar snuggled closer, and Ward couldn't stop smiling.

“Daddy's right here…”

Chapter 24

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CHARLIE

CHARLIE SAT at the front window, looking out at the street. It was late April, and the trees had already gone from bloom to leaf. He watched as the branches swayed in the breeze, the leaves fluttering and dancing in their varied shades of green.

It wasn't enough of a distraction.

Ward was coming. The man should be arriving at any moment. Charlie's heart began to beat faster, wondering how Ward would be when he arrived.

After Ward saw Skylar in February, Charlie had insisted that Ward come by the house to tell him everything. He hadn't wanted to find out through a slow, delayed text exchange. He'd wanted to hear it all, straight from Ward's mouth, and then have Ward hold him afterwards.

Ward had told him all about what happened. Every detail. Helping Skylar take a shower. Pleasuring Skylar, making it all about him. Even through the feelings of jealousy, that part had made Charlie smile. Ward had kept his promise, making Skylar feel good.

The only promise Wardhadn'tkept was to pay Skylar for the extra time they spent together. Ward swore that Skylar had refused the money. For whatever reason, Charlie believed him.

Then Ward told him about the conversation they'd had. About how he learned that Skylar's parents had kicked him out. How Skylar had survived on the streets. How Uncle Zeke—someone Charlie had never met, nor did he want to—had ultimately found him and taken him in.

And about thoseawfuldays when Charlie had thought his Sky was dead.

Charlie held his breath, his chest aching at terrible the memory. He'd wanted to die himself back then. Thinking his Sky was gone had left a huge, gaping void in his life. Way worse than Mouse Mouse. Worse even than his sister. As hard as it had been to face Sabrina's death, that had nothing on the loss of his Sky.

But his Sky had never been dead. Just Skylar's stupid, cruel parents lying to him.

And Ward had looked so incredibly sad as he'd relayed that conversation. Charlie hadn't been able to resist crawling into the man's lap. That made Ward smile.

For some reason, that made Charlie really happy.

Charlie hadn't wanted Ward to leave after that, but the man had to get back to Paso Robles so he could get ready for work the next day.

But when Ward came up to spend the night with Skylar again in March, he came over the next morning to see Charlie again, too.

That time, Ward looked much happier. He'd gotten to be inside Skylar again—which made Charlie feel both incredibly jealous and desperately turned-on—and they'd talked about happier things. Things like favorite movies and foods.

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