Page 41 of Make Believe
They’ve always been one hundred percent behind my long-term goal of gentrifying the area. I’ve told them I’m basically giving up and going to sell what we’ve got for a profit. If I do this, I’ll be lucky if they don’t riot.
Tough. I’m the boss. I’m the Daddy. And I’ve got a hot young thing asleep in my house who’s talking the most sense I’ve heard in years.
We don’t need more of the same. We need to celebrate being different. BecauseI’mdifferent, and there’s no point in denying it any further.
This pretty doll, this kinky little brat, has rocked my world in more ways than I can count. So if this is some sort of mental breakdown…so be it. I’m done with the bullshit. I’ve been saying so for a long time now. Perhaps this is the catalyst I needed to start living that authentic life I’ve been yearning for.
But I don’t have to make any big decisions right now. Tonight, I can just sip my whiskey and watch the stars. In the morning, Kadence and I will try again.
We’ve still got time.
By the third time I knock on the door, I start to get worried. “Kadence?” I call through the wood. Still nothing.
I promised myself that I would respect his boundaries, and despite saying on the first day that he better be prepared for me to barge in here and fuck him whenever I feel like it, that’s not how our arrangement has worked out at all.
His lack of response is sending a chill down my spine. I thought we were okay after our blow-up last night. But could hehave slipped out in the night without me noticing? I feel like I would have noticed. However, I’m not omnipotent.
“Kadence, please let me in,” I try one last time. When he doesn’t respond, I decide that it’s my duty to check on him.
Pushing my way through the opened door into his room…I pause. My heart flips in my chest.
My boy is adorable.
He’s asleep in a tangle of bedsheets, his curls sticking in all directions, his nightie slipping down his shoulder. I lick my lips and take in the peaceful tableau, feeling incredibly lucky that I’m privileged enough to get to see such an intimate sight.
He stirs, and I inhale sharply. I didn’t mean to be a creep and spy on him while he was sleeping. “You didn’t answer,” I say as he blinks sleepily at me. “I’m so sorry. I was concerned.”
More blinking, then a frown. “Oh, no,” he says, his voice rough. “I didn’t set my alarm. I’m so sorry, Rafferty. I’ll get ready right now. You weren’t mean to see this. I?—”
“Hey, hey,” I interrupt, going to sit by his side. I rest my hand on his bare shoulder, his skin warm against mine. “You don’t have to go anywhere, sleepy head. My only concern was your well-being. I didn’t mean to intrude.”
He’s still frowning. “But…that’s not the deal. I’m always supposed to be perfect for you.”
There goes my heart again, doing somersaults. “You’re perfect right now,” I assure him. “I think we might have to change the rules a little if you’re going to stay here longer. When it was just a couple of days, it seemed fun to have you be a doll all the time. But I don’t want Kiki every waking moment. I want Kadence as well.”
While he’s staring at me, I take the opportunity to cup my hand against the side of his face and rub my thumb against his cheekbone.
“What’s the new rule, then?” he asks uncertainly.
I chuckle softly. “Be Kiki whenever you want. But you’re allowed to be comfortable as Kadence, too. We can talk about it, or you can decide. I just want you to be happy.”
He bites his lip. “So you really don’t want me to leave?” he asks quietly.
As I hug him to me, he tucks his face against my neck, and I rub his back. “I want you to stay as long as we’re both having fun. For as long as this is working for us.”
I know that’s a pretty terrible answer, but I can’t admit to him that I don’t have all the answers. I just know that right now, everything in me is screaming that he has to stay. I need him by my side.
He doesn’t answer me for a few moments, but then he nods against me. I sigh and hold him a little tighter.
“Can we just stay here for a while?” he asks.
Even though he can’t see it, I grin and stroke his hair. “I’d love that,” I admit truthfully. “Let’s just take it easy, then I’ll make us breakfast whenever you’re ready.”
“Don’t you have meetings?” he asks.
I shrug. “Nothing important.”
That’s not entirely accurate, but after three decades of always putting the company first, they can deal with me taking a bit of a back seat for a few days. Especially while I work on dropping the bombshell on them regarding Paddle Creek.
