Page 44 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

Chris turned to face him, a smile on his face. “Can I truly be your boy?”

Brody cupped Chris’ cheek, need and reality clashing in his mind. “Honestly? It’s been a day.” He cleared his throat, shocked at the connection he already sensed. So strongly, so quickly. “We barely know one another… we have no idea what tomorrow brings. One day at a time, hmm?”

“Okay,” Chris whispered, clearly appearing a bit disappointed.

Brody leaned in to press his lips against Chris’, wishing he could take that disappointment away. But he wouldn’t lie. Only the truth would lead them farther down the right path. “Let’s get you that bathing suit and get back to the club. We have a luau to prepare for.”

Chris smiled up at him. “Sure thing.”

7

Noah was quiet as they drove along. Hearing Brody scream out another man’s name again had gutted him—but that was his own damned fault. He hated lying. He hated not being upfront and honest with his daddy.

I need to tell him the truth.

Before it ruins everything.

Had things been different… had Brody not been the owner of the club he’d illegally entered with a fake ID…Ugh!Brody’s connection to the club made things ten times more difficult. And now the job? He likely couldn’t have it, considering he wasn’t twenty-one. He cast a glance at Brody in the driver’s seat, and his stomach turned.

If he told this amazing man the truth, it was probably over for them.

He had a safe, warm bed. A lover he desired and who desired him just as much. A daddy to show him a whole new world.

Noah didn’t want to let that go.

And if he lost it, where did he go from there?

Noah had no idea if his mother would welcome him into her home… and then where would he be? Out on the streets. He shivered a little.

“Cold? I can turn the heat up.”

“No… I’m okay,” Noah whispered, aware he wasnotokay.

Noah’s eyes widened not long after they hit an on-ramp onto an interstate highway. An exit later, he saw a large shopping mall and several shopping centers ahead. The places he’d seen prior had caused him to assume he was in another podunk town like the one he’d left, but that didn’t seem to be the case, at all. “Wow… I didn’t expect all this.”

“Yeah, we’re moving up in the world. The old town center died off after all this started cropping up. We’re not too far from Los Angeles and the more the suburbs spread, the more rural communities die off.”

“That’s sad.” Noah’s gaze took in all the sights. “I grew up a couple of hours away from a large city, so our main street did okay. We were far enough that people must’ve needed those small businesses. We didn’t go to the city often, and I don’t think most other folks did, either… but it was fun the few times we did. Oh, look! A P.F. Chang’s. I’ve always wanted to go to one. Maybe we can sometime?”

Noah knew there was an expiration date on their little romance, but he was going to pretend there wasn’t. One day at a time? Sure. One day could turn into a million and he’d be fine with that. Too bad that likely wouldn’t happen.

“Maybe not,” Brody replied.

Noah frowned. Had he overstepped? “Not good?”

Brody chuckled. “That guy you had a scuffle with last night? He works there.”

“Oh,” Noah said, wide-eyed and disheartened. “Maybe not, then.”

Brody smiled. “Maybe I can call and find a day heisn’tworking.”

Noah smiled. “Really?”

“Sure.” Brody cast a peek toward Noah, and their eyes locked for a split second before he turned back to the road and smiled widely. “I can pop another cherry.”

Noah stared at Brody’s profile as he drove. He suddenly wanted all firsts, seconds, and thirds to be with his daddy.

What am I doing? Ihaveto tell him the truth.

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