Page 57 of Step Daddy

Epilogue

Kit double-checked to see if he had everything ready to make pizza dough. He wanted to surprise Daddy when he came home. Gareth and Dev had left early that morning to practice at the track because they both had a few competitions coming up. The events were being held all over the Southwest, and it would mean being on the road for over a month.

At first, Kit assumed he’d be left behind and had struggled to put on a brave front. However, Gareth quickly shot down that idea and was almost insulted that Kit had ever considered Gareth wouldn’t bring him along. That had then led to a serious discussion about their future together, and them both stating that they were in this for the long haul.

Kit already had the large mixing bowl, hand-mixer, rolling pin and silicon mat laid out, so all he had to do was gather the actual ingredients. He swiped his arm across his forehead, reminiscing on how incredible his life had become.

Only three months ago, he’d been stuck in Lancaster doing a job he had no interest in, living with family members who either didn’t care about him or barely noticed he was alive. When he’d considered his future before, there hadn’t seemed to be much of one to look forward to.

But now there was Gareth. Kit was in love and that love was returned ten times over by his Daddy. They were building a life together and Kit had embraced being Gareth’s boy. They’d even started meeting up with Dev and Reg once a week at the club now that Kit was sure he wanted to be a part of the kink world.

Kit had been maybe the teensiest bit petty when they’d gone one night and Colby had shown up, glaring at Kit as if he’d like to throttle him. Kit felt as if he’d won the jackpot because Gareth had chosen him to be his boy. A short time after that, Dev told them that Brock was upset because Colby had taken off to Hollywood with a mega-rich producer. Kit figured Colby got what he really wanted. At least, what Colby told himself he did.

As Kit pulled down the bag of flour from the cupboard, he chewed the inside of his cheek. Things were still tense with his mom, but they talked once a week on the phone and emailed back and forth. The pizza dough recipe was actually hers. That small domestic exchange had seemed to open up the door to acceptance and interacting with him as an adult.

Finally, he had everything he needed to get started. Kit sucked in a deep breath as he read over the steps of the recipe he’d printed out from the email his mom had sent him. He hoped it turned out all right. Dev would probably stay over for dinner when they returned, and Kit wanted Gareth to be proud of him.

Kit glanced at the laptop Gareth had gotten for him so he could start working on his fan fic again. He’d also encouraged Kit to sign-up for some online courses until he felt ready to start going in person. If he got the dough started and the topping ready, maybe he could spend some time going over what classes were available before Gareth and Dev appeared.

The key sounded in the lock and Kit tensed. They weren’t due back for at least another hour. He quickly wiped his hands on a dish towel then jogged to the entryway. At the sight of Gareth covered in dirt and a large bandage around his neck, Kit slapped his hands to his mouth, gasping.

“Daddy! Oh my God, what happened?”

Kit rushed forward but halted within inches of Gareth. He didn’t want to grab him if he was hurt anywhere else. Tears blurred his vision and he blinked them away, doing his best to swallow down his emotions.

Gareth regarded him with compassion and held out his arms. “Sweet baby, come here. I’m okay.”

Gareth wrapped him in an embrace, and Kit pressed his forehead against Gareth’s chest. He clutched Gareth’s biceps, hanging on as though he’d never let go.

“I’ve got your leathers and helmet here, Gare.”

Kit jerked up his head as Dev entered the condo. He scowled at Gareth’s buddy, suddenly mad at the guy who had introduced Gareth to motocross in the first place. The man who’d encouraged Kit’s Daddy to participate in such a risky sport.

Gareth kept his hold on Kit but glanced over his shoulder. “Just drop everything there. I’ll deal with it later. Grab a beer from the fridge and chill in the living room a bit. I need to rinse off and fill Kit in on what happened.”

It seemed as if Dev hadn’t noticed the death glare Kit had given him, because he nodded, smiled, then sauntered off.

“Come on, baby. I need to jump in the shower.”

Gareth let his arm fall around Kit’s waist as they made their way to the bedroom. Kit drew his eyebrows together as he regarded the large bandage.

“You’re not supposed to get that wet, though. Right?”

Gareth planted a kiss on Kit’s cheek before letting him go to start tearing off his clothes.

“Right. Which is why I’ll use the spray nozzle to be sure I don’t.” He smiled. “Wanna help me?” His eyes dropped to Kit’s hands. “Baby, relax your fingers. I promise everything’s okay.”

Kit shook out his hands—the nervous wringing much better than it had been—but once in a while it flared up. “Are you going to tell me what happened already? I’m totally freaking out.”

“Sorry, babe.”

Gareth pulled his feet free of his jeans before tossing them in the vague direction of the hamper. All that was left were his briefs, but he dropped to the mattress, yanking on Kit’s hand as he did. Kit landed next to him, wishing he could crawl into his lap. Instead, he was examining Gareth’s body for cuts or bruises. Gareth yelped and Kit jerked his hand away.

“I’m sorry! Where does it hurt?”

Gareth grabbed his side and snorted. “My ribs might be sore tomorrow, but that’s not the issue. Your hands are freezing.”

Kit’s irritation was growing. “Fine. I won’t touch you. Are you going to tell me what happened, or should I go ask Dev?”

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