Page 26 of His Middle

“Oh, I see.”Shit.

All he wanted to do was tell Sawyer he’d been ready to drop his pants for him since before he was legal and to have Sawyer be his Daddy now and forever, amen. But somehow, he didn’t think Sawyer was ready for that much bomb-dropping honesty.

After a couple beats, Noah decided pseudo-honesty was the best course. “I guess what I meant is that I’m enjoying having someone to talk to—someone I trust—and glad we aren’t only discussing business stuff. Not that I don’t talk to and trust Arlen, I do. But you have a certain perspective he doesn’t.” It was time for the cherry on the cake. Just enough to, if nothing else, plant the seed that Noah would be interested. “You know, the Daddy perspective.”

Sawyer leaned against the counter with his hip. “How long has it been since you’ve been taken care of by a true Daddy? Someone who answered your needs, not only as a middle, but was also there for you as a friend and lover? Someone who made you feel as if you were his whole world and made certain you had everything you need to be a happy, satisfied boy.” He scratched at the morning stubble on his jaw. “From what you already mentioned, I think it’s safe to assume Garth wasn’t a true Daddy? For you, anyway.”

Noah snorted. “A very safe assumption.”

He frowned as he ran through the few relationships he’d had. The hook-ups were irrelevant to the ‘true Daddy’ question, so there was really only Garth and two other guys who had claimed to be his Daddy.

Claimed to be. Ouch.

“Umm…” Noah shifted back and forth on his feet. “The way you described it?” He swallowed hard. “Never.”

A cloud passed over Sawyer’s face, a hint of pain twisting his features. “Noah…” He scrubbed his face with both hands then moved closer. “Noah, come here.”

Sawyer held out an arm and Noah froze. God, he wanted this so badly, wanted to be held and comforted and kept safe in Sawyer’s embrace, to call him Daddy and build a life together. What did Sawyer’s gesture mean? Noah didn’t want to be the one who was teased if Sawyer didn’t mean it.

Sawyer’s arm dropped and he averted his gaze. “I’m sorry. That was too forward. We should really get—”

“No!” Noah launched himself at Sawyer then threw his arms around a startled Sawyer’s neck. “It wasn’t too forward. I’ve been wanting you to…to…” He still had to be careful. “To hold me or…to talk to you about stuff like this. Everything’s really sucked for a while, and I feel like you understand me, understand about my life and what I’ve been going through.” Noah loosened his hold so he could gaze into Sawyer’s eyes. “Ask me anything you want.Anything.”

Sawyer framed Noah’s face with his palms. “I’ve been treading carefully so I wouldn’t cross any forbidden boundaries.”

Noah drew his eyebrows together. “Forbidden?” That sounded ominous.

Sawyer wrapped his arms around Noah, and pulled him so their bodies were flush, the hard planes of their chests pressed together, Sawyer’s strength and warmth a balm Noah had yearned for ever since he’d first noticed his father’s best friend. Ever since he’d realized that he wanted Sawyer to be the one to take care of him the way a good Daddy should.

Sawyer spoke against his ear, the warmth of his breath wafting across Noah’s neck. “I’m just being extra careful with my best friend’s son.”

Noah tensed. Had his father said something to Sawyer? Had he somehow guessed how hot Noah was for him? That could mean Sawyer never allowing anything to happen between them, never even giving them achance.

“Wait.” Noah pulled back. “Did you and my Dad ever…?”

Suddenly a bunch of questions swirled through his mind. So many possibilities, so many reasons why Sawyer was holding back. Was he holding back? Noah still wasn’t sure where Sawyer was going with all his queries.

Sawyer cleared his throat. “Talk about you? Of course. Oliver wanted you to have the best of everything.”

Noah took a step back. And he’d thoughthewas being vague. “Okay, so that wasn’t the question I was asking, but let’s start there. Are you saying my dad didn’t think you were the best for me…or something?”

Sawyer rubbed his mouth as he stared at his shoes. Once again, he seemed lost in one of his intense inner battles. Well, Noah needed all the battles out in the open.

“Come on, Sawyer. I need to know everything.” He put his hands on his hips. “I tell you what. I’ll confess all first, okay? I’m hot for you.” Sawyer’s head jerked up and his eyes rounded.I sure as hell hope I’m not stepping on my dick here. “Really hot. As in, I’ve wanted you back when it was inappropriate. And I don’t just mean in a filthy, mind-blowing sex romp way—although that’s definitely on the table—but in that true Daddy way you were talking about.”

Noah’s cheeks had caught fire, but he was on a roll. “So, if my dad said something to you that makes you think you can’t be with me, then ignore it. Or at least, don’t let it stop you. I’m an adult. You’re an adult. It wasn’t fair for him to do that.” Noah twisted his hands, his leg jiggling as the terror of possibly forever chasing Sawyer away set in. “And if that’s not at all what happened, and you have zero interest in me, then totally forget everything I just said.”

Sawyer yanked Noah to him and crushed their mouths together. Noah’s breath was taken away as Sawyer deepened the kiss, moved his lips over Noah’s while letting his hands roam Noah’s body. Noah clutched Sawyer back, digging his fingers into the fabric of Sawyer’s shirt and wishing he could rip it from Sawyer’s body.

Right as Noah got fully hard and was starting to leak, Sawyer broke the connection. They both took in gulps of air as they caught their breath in the aftermath of the frantic kiss.

Sawyer met Noah’s eyes and brushed the back of his hand down Noah’s cheek. “I didn’t mean to lunge at you like that. Was it okay?”

Noah grabbed Sawyer’s hand and laced their fingers together. “Feel free to lunge at me any time.”

Sawyer gave him a soft smile before his brow wrinkled again. “We still have a lot to talk about, Noah. I need to make sure I’m not taking advantage of your vulnerability right now.”

Noah tugged on their joined hands. “This isn’t about me being vulnerable. I’ve wanted you for years. But with you living down in…”Oh shit. That’s right. “Living in Monterey, I hardly ever saw you, didn’t think it would be a possibility.” He cringed. “I guess it probably isn’t, right? Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

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