Page 2 of Pretty Baby

“No, no,” Another voice chimed in. “He needs to crawl around on the floor and lick our boots first. Mine need a good shining.”

Grant glanced over to look at the boy in the middle of a humiliation scene. It wasn’t Grant’s kink but he didn’t judge. To each his own, Grant thought. He jerked back when he spotted Caleb Levell. Grant knew for a fact that Caleb was not into humiliation and by the boy’s red face and the way he darted a look around as if searching for a way to escape proved his theory.

“Let me go,” Caleb demanded. His voice strong and he spoke clearly. Making sure that his wishes were known.

The Dom holding Caleb’s neck should have released him. He didn’t.

Grant growled and cleared his throat. “The boy asked for you to release him.”

The big bald Dom turned dark eyes toward Grant. “Mind your own business, this slut knows exactly what he’s been asking for. Been begging all night for it if you ask me.”

“I didn’t ask you for anything,” Caleb spoke up. He tugged against the man’s hold until he was released.

Before Caleb could escape and find more trouble Grant recaptured his wrist but in a gentle hold this time. He glared once more at the Dom before he pulled Caleb further down the bar. This was why he didn’t like event nights. More people were allowed in, and even though the private rooms were closed, security wasn’t as tight. On normal nights when they weren’t open to the public Grant liked the exclusivity of the private club.

“Are you okay?” Grant asked the little brat. He’d been watching Caleb for almost a year now and while the boy did seem to get himself into trouble; he usually managed to get himself out as well. There was something different about Caleb that night. Something that called to Grant.

“Fine,” Caleb snapped. “I could have handled him myself.”

Grant would have agreed but he saw something in Caleb’s gaze that surprised him. Real need. A desperation that Grant knew the boy had to normally hide. He leaned down not giving Caleb any personal space.

“The proper response is Thank you,” he told Caleb. He grasped the brat’s chin keeping his hold firm but gentle.

Caleb blinked those pretty green eyes at him. Grant could see the vulnerability before Caleb cleared his throat. “Thank you.”

“Good boy,” Grant praised.

The way Caleb straightened and blushed made Grant realize that he had missed something important about this brat. He might not be as big of a brat as they all thought.

Grant was good at reading people; he had to be with all the years he’d put in as a detective. Caleb Levell was not what he or anyone else thought he was. There was a side of the boy that no one was seeing. Grant felt a pull toward Caleb. A connection that sparked to life. He wanted to, had to be the one, that got Caleb to open up.

“We’re going to grab drinks for my friends. You will help carry them,” he ordered. “Then you will sit on my lap at the table while we enjoy our evening.”

Caleb frowned before glancing over his shoulder to where Jace, Mitch, and Avery sat. Grant didn’t look himself, he kept his eyes on Caleb, and saw the longing Caleb wasn’t aware of showing. “Your friends don’t like me.”

“They don’t know you,” Grant corrected. He wasn’t going to let Caleb go unless that was what the boy really wanted. He placed his order with the bartender as he ran his hand behind the boy’s neck. Hoping the impression of his palm somehow covered the invisible mark of the other Dom. Caleb leaned into his hold. Yeah, the boy didn’t want to get away from him.

Once the drinks were placed in front of them Grant passed over two to Caleb before picking up the two remaining. He led the way back to the table noticing that the boy stayed right on his heels.

At the table, Jace lifted a brow in Grant’s direction. Grant ignored the unspoken question from his friend. Caleb might not be his normal type but since he suspected the boy did more hiding than being honest in what he needed; Grant was intrigued.

They’d also garnered the attention of the two boys at the table. While Mitch frowned at Caleb as he set the drinks on the table Avery peeked up at Caleb shyly. Avery hadn’t had any prior interactions with Caleb so that would probably be the easiest step in Caleb making friends. Avery was a sweet boy so new to the scene that he didn’t have any preconceived notions.

Grant passed Jace his drink before setting Mitch’s apple juice by the crayon box. The plastic cup with a lid just right for the boy. He took his seat before pulling Caleb onto his lap. Then he handed Caleb the other plastic cup. He’d known that Jace would have his own boy covered and wasn’t disappointed to see a sippy cup and container of cookies. The zoo-themed diaper bag had been easy to spot as Jace led his boy to the table earlier.

He’d ordered the same for Caleb as he had Mitch since he didn’t want the boy drinking. Having Caleb thinking clearly was important if they were going to discuss the connection between them. Where they would go from there.

“Thank you,” Caleb murmured as he wiggled on Grant’s lap.

Grant clamped down a hand on Caleb’s knee stilling the boy. His cock was already hard and he didn’t want to ruin the night by throwing Caleb over the table and tearing up his ass.

Caleb stiffened when Grant touched him before looking up at Grant. The boy bit his bottom lip and Grant clucked his tongue.

“Everything is okay,” Grant whispered in his ear. “Just relax against me.”

“Oh. Uh. Okay.”

Grant urged Caleb’s head against his chest. He hadn’t brought anything along for a boy and regretted that. It had been years since he’d had someone to call his own. But holding Caleb as Jace asked him about work a sense of peace filled him.

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