Page 76 of His Boys to Protect

Ward tore his gaze away from Charlie and found Skylar standing beside the dresser, where they'd left their wine glasses.Shit.He'd forgotten all about them! The boys had simply eclipsed everything. And in the heat of their unexpected collision? The rest of the world might as well have ceased to exist.

Ward watched as Skylar took a sip of the grenache. He felt a weird flutter in his chest as the boy swallowed. Ward hadn't made that wine by himself, but he'd had a hand in the process.

There was something oddly thrilling about watching Skylar enjoying something he'd made.

Charlie ran over and came to a sudden stop at Skylar's side, eyeing the glasses. He pointed and let out a little questioningchirp.

“Yeah, that's your prosecco,” Skylar told him.

Charlie squeezed his eyes shut and let out a longsqueakas he bounced in place. He opened his eyes and reached for the glass, then had to pause just before he touched it, stopping his bounces before he picked it up. Charlie brought the glass to his mouth, then paused again. He glanced from Ward to the remaining glass and back. With his free hand, he pointed.

Ward chuckled. “Okay, buddy.” He picked up his glass and saluted them with it. “Cheers.” He took a sip. The sauvignon blanc was better chilled, but nothing could put a damper on this moment.

Charlie tried his own wine and let out a noise that sounded like pure, joyful satisfaction. Then he turned for the door, signing,Hungry time!

Ward and Skylar shared a quiet chuckle before they hurried to follow him.

Charlie got hung up at the door, trying to figure out how to hold onto his glass and put his shoes on at the same time.

Ward stepped back and set his glass aside, then knelt down in front of Charlie. “Here, buddy,” Ward murmured. “Can I help?”

Charlie tipped his head, his gaze roaming, then gave a nod.

Ward grabbed one of Charlie's shoes.

“Hhnn.” Charlie pointed at the other one.

“Oh, yeah,” Skylar said. “It's always right first.”

“Got it.” Ward put the left shoe back and grabbed the right one instead.

“You might have to help him balance,” Skylar added.

“Okay.” Ward tapped on his shoulder. “Here, buddy. Put your hand right here.”

Charlie only considered the order for a second before he did as he was told.

Ward ducked his head to hide a smile as he held out Charlie's shoe for him. Feeling Charlie lean on him—either literally or figuratively—felt way too damned good. Same with Skylar.

He got Charlie's shoe on, then worked at tying it neatly, glancing up at the boy's face to make sure he was doing it right. Once the other shoe was on and tied, Ward stood up to pull on his own boots, but paused when he saw Charlie standing there, staring down at his feet.

“Are they okay?” Ward asked. “Charlie?” He looked down and saw the loops weren't exactly even on the left shoe. “Oh. Here.” Ward knelt down again and tugged the laces until they were perfectly balanced on either side. “How's that?”

Charlie closed his eyes, rolled his head, and gave a long, happysqueak. He started to bounce in place, then stopped himself, eyeing his glass.

“Good boy,” Ward murmured, standing back up.

Charlie's eyes flashed.

“Oh hell,” Skylar gasped. “I think he likes that. I think I'm jealous.”

Ward hooked an arm around Skylar's waist and drew him in close. “You're Daddy's good boy, too, you know.”

“Yeah?” Skylar looked up at him with a smile, but there was something else beneath it. Before Ward could work it out, Skylar stretched up and gave him a kiss.

Ward kissed him back, breathing a curse over Skylar's lips. Then he felt something bump against him. Ward looked down and found Charlie burrowed in close, watching intently.

The boy tipped his mouth up. “Hhng?”

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