Page 98 of Puppy on a Leash

Of course, Sergio would be the one to break the silence, and of course he’d put me in the spotlight.

His forwardness was better than the usual reluctance he regarded me with, but it took me a second to process it.

“You bought him stuffies?” Jaime asked, a million questions I wasn’t looking forward to hinted at in his voice.

Maybe I could find an excuse to distract him so they didn’t come to the surface.

“You got them already, then.”

I knew the stuffies had been a bad idea. I wouldn’t say it had been an impulsive decision in the vein of Jaime’s MO, but Sergio had made it clear I was the one who needed to make an effort if I wanted us to have some kind of relationship. Or civility between us, at least. I was too jaded to believe anything more than civility would be obtainable at this point.

Too much history.

Civility was more realistic.

“You paid extra for express delivery,” Sergio pointed out.

Right.

The package would’ve shown as much.

I watched him for a moment. He wasn’t naked—his go-to attire within the walls of the club—but he was wearing a cartoon T-shirt and pull-up pants.

So much for these nights being more about hanging out than kink.

Then again, I’d probably get bored out of my mind if all we did was sit around and talk about the weather.

“I’m glad you liked them,” I said eventually.

He hadn’t technically said he liked them, but Abel gave me a short nod. I tried to ignore how that small show of approval made my chest the tiniest bit warm.

“I didn’t know you bought him anything,” Jaime said.

I didn’t think his tone was accusing, exactly, but it was searching.

I glanced up at him. I didn’t like that his perching placed him at an upward angle in relation to me, but I paced myself.

“He doesn’t buy you stuffies?” Sergio interjected before I could figure out what to tell the pup. Jaime glanced back at him. His lips parted to say something, but he wasn’t fast enough. Sergio whirled his focus back to me. “How dare you not buy him stuffies, Sir? Respectfully.”

I groaned. Danny and León shared an amused look. I pinched the bridge of my nose while Sergio and Jaime started fighting about the merit of stuffies. Was this how all their boys’ nights went? I wasn’t sure I was a fan.

“Little bird,” Abel warned. From what Jaime had mentioned, it was rare that Abel attended these things. I imagined the warning had double the weight because of it. “I can’t believe you’re making me stand up for Tony, but when have you ever seen Jaime play with a stuffie?”

“Eep.” Sergio squeaked, eyes going back and forth between Jaime and Abel. “Never?”

“Exactly.” Abel sighed. I noted how he kept his touch on the boy, his palms rubbing Sergio’s thighs. “So why would Tony buy Jaime something he’s not interested in? Wouldn’tthatmake him a bad Dom?”

“Huh.” Sergio frowned. “I guess? Maybe. I’ll think about it, Daddy.”

There was a collective sigh there was no way I’d imagined. Not completely.

“I’m sure Tony buys him other things, little bird,” Abel added on.

Was it an effort to cheer him up or an attempt to throw me under the bus? I wasn’t sure, but Sergio whipped his head to stare at Jaime expectantly.

The pup squirmed. I imagined a couple more of those squirms, and he’d be giving up his post on the arm of the couch to come to my lap.

Hell, even if he just scooted closer to me—at my level—I’d take it.

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