Page 27 of His Middle

Things were about to get brutal. Dreams crushed. Hopes dashed.

“Not only that, there are lots of other considerations.” Sawyer gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Don’t look so down. Anything’s possible. I wouldn’t have manhandled you if I wasn’t ready to take a chance.”

Noah let out a sigh of relief. “Really? Okay, wow.” He grinned. “You know, we could always hang out here at the house today, just the two of us…”

Sawyer tsked. “Poor, lonely Bob. No one to pet or talk to him.”

Noah stuck out his bottom lip. “They pet him there. But way to go straight for the gut punch.”

Sawyer chuckled while wiping the corner of Noah’s mouth with his thumb. “Little bit of leftover cream cheese.” He smiled. “I think we should take the day to get out, have some fun and talk in a relaxing environment.”

Noah rocked on his heels. “I’mveryrelaxed here.”

Sawyer rolled his eyes. “I should’ve added, someplace we both won’t be tempted to let our dicks do all the communicating.”

Noah’s shoulders slumped. “I guess you’re right.” He peered up with a grin. “Daddy.”

Sawyer groaned. “I love the sound of that, but take a breath, Noah. Let’s use today to share what it is we both want from this, make sure we’re on the same page.”

Noah didn’t have a doubt that Sawyer was spot on about how they should proceed. But that didn’t mean he had to like it.

“Okay. I’ll show you how good I can behave.”

Sawyer patted his butt, which was super unfair after all that slowing-down talk. Sawyer tilted his head. “What was it you were saying earlier? Something about it wasn’t the question you were asking?”

Noah reran the past few minutes through his head. “Oh!” His face heated. “Oh.” Noah bit his lip. This would be rather awkward after their confessions about each other—not to mention the scorching hot kiss.

“Noah?” Worry had returned to Sawyer’s brow.

“Uh…did you and my dad ever…you know, do the deed?”

Sawyer blinked a few times then his eyebrows shot up. “No, never. I swear.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Not that your dad wasn’t attractive, it wasn’t that. There simply wasn’t any chemistry—on either part—so we always stayed in the friend zone.”

Noah let out a long exhale. “That’s good to hear. Honestly, it wouldn’t have changed anything for me, but…still good to hear.” He swung their still-joined hands. “But you have chemistry with me, right?”

Sawyer pulled him in by the nape of his neck. “What doyouthink?”

As Sawyer pushed his tongue into Noah’s mouth and kissed him silly, Noah thought their chemistry was fucking amazing.

Chapter Nine

Sawyer slammed the trunk of the SUV then picked up the mostly empty cooler. Only a couple leftover sodas and the used packaging of their picnic lunch remained. As he brought the container inside, he ran some of the highlights of the day through his mind.

Noah uttering sweet nothings to his precious llama, the baby talk catching Sawyer off-guard. Sitting on the beach, sharing some of their happiest memories of Oliver. And finally, acknowledging that they saw the possibility of a future together.

He didn’t want Noah to make too many big decisions right away, not when the loss of his father was still so fresh, and the club had so many issues. But Sawyer had vowed that he’d be by his side while Noah worked through everything.

When Sawyer reached the kitchen, he spotted Noah in his peripheral vision stripping down in the laundry room and tossing his clothes into the washer. The little rascal had been doing all he could throughout the day to tempt Sawyer. From bending over in front of him to drag the cooler close to their towels, to reaching across Sawyer to retrieve the sunscreen and making sure to press his body against him while doing so.

Perhaps stealing the occasional quick kiss—or brushing Noah’s hair back from his face when the ocean breeze would capture the sandy blond strands—wasn’t playing fair either, but damn. How could he keep his hands off completely now that they’d confessed all?

Wanting Noah wasn’t the issue. Stopping himself from moving too fast was what ate at him. Sawyer pressed his lips together and stared down at the empty soda cans while he rinsed them out. The specter of his promise to Oliver still hadn’t been banished.

They’d discussed that issue a bit more as well. Noah had made his case over and over that if his father were still here, he’d see for himself how good they were together. He’d also reminded him of Oliver’s comment that Noah should try to find a Daddy who was more like Sawyer.

Sawyer tipped back his head and sighed. He knew in his heart he couldn’t let Noah go, that he and Noah belonged together, were a perfect fit. What he was holding onto was not only Noah’s fevered insistence, but Noah’s age.

Yes, there was a sixteen-year age gap. Noah was still young. But he was also twenty-six, not eighteen. Not that being eighteen meant that someone wasn’t ready for a forever-after, but combined with Oliver’s warning, Sawyer would’ve fought harder to repress his emotions had that been the case.

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