Page 115 of Wicked Games

“We were at the park, and she was stung by a wasp or bee or some other flying stinging thing. Apparently she knew she was allergic to wasps and bees and whatever, but her first reactionwas so mild that everyone figured it was no big deal, so they never gave her an EpiPen.” He pulls in a shaky breath. “Someone called for help, but it took the ambulance almost half an hour to get to us, and she was already gone by the time they did.”

He pauses. I can tell he has more to say, so I keep quiet. “They started again after my dad and his family died,” he whispers. “But they didn’t get bad until I was attacked.”

He smushes his face into my chest, flattening his nose and pushing so hard it feels like he’s trying to merge with me. He stays like that for a few beats, then pulls his face from my pec and lets out a weary sigh.

“I didn’t cry when I found out about my dad and his family. Still haven’t,” he whispers. “What does that say about me that I don’t really feel that sad about losing them, and I’m more upset about losing what they represented?”

I roll onto my side and pull him right up against my chest. “I think it says that you’re human, and it’s hard to care about someone who didn’t really put any effort into giving a crap about you or try to be a part of your life.”

He tucks his head under my chin and threads one leg through mine, like he can’t get close enough. “You don’t think I’m awful?”

“No.” I bite back a smile as he rubs his cheek against my skin and makes soft, contented noises that sound a bit like he’s purring. He really is a needy little kitten. “Do you want my honest opinion?”

“Always.” He brushes his lips over my chest in a barely there kiss.

“I think your father is a piece of shit who doesn’t deserve your grief.”

He goes still in my arms, but I can tell it’s because he’s listening and not because he disagrees with me.

“Family is more than just sharing DNA with someone. It’s about showing up and being there for them no matter what. Ifyour dad couldn’t do that for you while he was here, then he doesn’t deserve your grief just because he’s gone.” Absently, I press a kiss into his soft hair. “And there’s a difference between being a father and being a dad.”

He snort-laughs, his chest shaking against mine. “Isn’t that the damn truth. He might have been my father, but he was never my dad. Hell, your dad’s been more of a dad to me, and I’m just his wife’s kid, not his.”

“That’s because you’re family,” I tell him. “And we always show up for family.”

He falls silent, but I can feel him growing heavy in my arms, like sleep is finally overtaking him.

“I like being your family,” he whispers drowsily.

“I like being your family too,” I whisper back, my chest squeezing with something I can’t place. It’s a sort of longing that has nothing to do with wanting his body and everything to do with wanting all of him.

His breathing grows heavy, and I’m about to wiggle out from under him so I can flip off the light when he presses his half-hard dick against my thigh.

The soft moan he lets out goes straight to my own dick, and we’re both hard in only seconds.

“Later, kitten,” I promise when he starts bumping his cock against my leg.

“Want it now,” he mumbles. “Want to feel you in me again.”

“Soon,” I say softly and slide one hand down his back so I can cup his firm ass cheek.

He makes a disgruntled sound and mouths my pec. “Want you.”

“I know, kitten. And I want you too. But later. Right now you need to sleep, and more importantly, you need to heal.”

He grumbles something unintelligible and sucks on my chest, and I can feel the start of a bruise blooming on my skin.

I want nothing more than to roll him over and fuck him until he’s screaming my name and begging me to make him come, but I hold back. I wasn’t gentle either time tonight, and I know he has to be sore. And considering he’s still high on the molly, he won’t feel the full effects of what we shared until after it wears off.

I like causing him pain, but I don’t want to hurt him.

“Let me get the light,” I say softly.

He grumbles something I can’t make out again, but he releases me so I can reach over and snap off the bedside light. As soon as I lay down again, he rolls right back into me and starts rubbing his cock against my thigh as he wraps his body around me.

I nudge my finger between his firm cheeks and slowly push into him. He’s still wet with my release, and I’m able to sink almost all the way inside him with minimal resistance.

His groan is laced with need and relief as he clenches around me, and I once again have to fight the urge to just give him exactly what he wants.

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