Page 61 of Pretty Baby

Caleb gave a tug in acknowledgment.

“Now,” Grant ordered.

Caleb released his hold, moved around Grant and slid into the car. Grant waited until his seatbelt was on before closing Caleb inside. He strode around the car and climbed in behind the wheel.

“Keep your thumb in your mouth and your other hand on your knee.”

Caleb complied.

Grant put his keys into the ignition and started the car. He pulled out of the parking lot and started the drive back to Caleb’s house.

The shaking hadn’t left his boy but Grant knew it was nerves. Caleb didn’t know what was going to happen and as much as Grant wanted to assure his boy that everything would be okay Caleb needed to learn a lesson. He couldn’t act out without there being consequences. Even though he wouldn’t be punished that night didn’t mean he would get a free pass.

He pulled in front of the house and turned off the car.

“You will walk into the house and straight for your room. You will not touch anything. After you greet the babies and reassure them that you’re okay you will go straight to the bathroom.”

Caleb sobbed around his thumb as Grant mentioned the fur babies.

“In the bathroom, you will remove your clothes and wait for me. Your thumb will not leave your mouth.”

Caleb nodded. He’d started to cry.

“I’ll get you out of the car.” Grant exited the vehicle then went around and pulled Caleb’s door open. “Remove your seatbelt and get out.”

Caleb was slow to follow the order but he did.

Normally Grant would have put Caleb in and gotten him back out. He was showing Caleb everything that Grant did for him. To allow Caleb to think about how much Grant enjoyed taking care of him.

“Walk,” Grant ordered. He followed behind Caleb as he went up the steps, unlocked the door, and walked through the house.

Caleb was cringing as he stepped over the mess. As he should have. Grant followed behind until Caleb opened his bedroom door.

“Follow my instructions. I will be right in.”

Caleb nodded as he dropped to his knees. It wasn’t easy for his boy to pat and rub the pets with only one hand. But Grant was proud he managed to keep his thumb in his mouth.

Grant turned around and went back out to his car. He grabbed the bag he’d packed that morning along with the bags that he’d brought from his online orders. He had several new things for Caleb once this mess was behind him.

He returned to the house and locked the door behind him. He set his bags on the couch before going back to the bedroom. The animals were all on the bed so Grant stalked to the bathroom.

Caleb stood in the middle of the bathroom, naked, thumb in his mouth, with his back to the door. The clothes he’d worn to the club were on the floor at his feet.

“Pick up your clothes and thrown them in the trash.”

Caleb’s shoulders tensed but he bent down and picked up the clothes. He held them to his chest as he shuffled to the trash next to the counter. Grant didn’t watch as Caleb threw them away. He walked to the shower and turned on the water. He waited until the temperature heated up and adjusted the knob so it would be hot enough. He knew Caleb enjoyed hot showers and he’d allow that.

He quickly removed his own clothes before tossing them toward the door to the bedroom.

“Climb inside,” Grant said.

Caleb hurried over and stepped inside the shower stall. Grant followed behind him and closed the door. The shower had plenty of room for both of them and they’d showered together in the past but this would be much different.

“That thumb had better not come out of your mouth,” Grant warned when he saw Caleb start to pull his thumb out.

Caleb quickly froze.

Grant grabbed the loofah that Caleb liked and filled it with shower gel. He gripped Caleb’s shoulder carefully before he began to wash him thoroughly. He kept his touch gentle but made sure his boy was clean from head to toe.

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