Page 95 of A Reluctant Boy Toy
“The tradeoff. Where?”
He kissed my forehead. “Exactly. Why don’t you go back to sleep? I’ll be here.”
I sighed with relief and closed my eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.”
His lips pressed against mine.
Then his freshly shaved cheek rubbed my neck.
I got the strongest, most vivid memory of a scene from my childhood. I don’t know how old I was, only that I’d spent the day wearing a stiff little suit and bow tie, and people kept picking me up and putting me down and telling me not to move.
Mother stood by, laughing with a man holding a camera. Bright lights and shiny silver umbrellas stood like trees with skinny roots above ground.
Then we left and I fell asleep in the car. When I woke up, I was alone, sitting in my car seat in the dark garage and my parents were arguing.
“…completely callous disregard—”
“See?” The overhead light went on. “I told you, he’s absolutely fine. If you wake him now, he’ll only end up crying all night.”
“Unbelievable.” The car door opened, and Dad leaned in to unbuckle me. Large hands scooped me up and held me to a chest covered in a dozen different textures, scratchy, silky, smooth, and rough. The aftershave he wore had faded, and he smelled like smoke and alcohol.
He lifted me until my forehead fell against his neck and the deep rumble of his voice was like an engine, purring through me.
“Hey, Sebby. Bet you’re ready for bedtime, huh? Shall I read you a story?”
“Drummer Hoff,” I muttered against the stubble on his neck.
“You got it.”
People might be tempted to use my best memories to explain my taste in men, but correlation is not causation.
I had no Daddy issues.
I was raised by a wonderful, loving, and kind father.
Naturally, I wanted a partner like Stone, who reminded me of all my father’s best qualities but didn’t feel the need toparentme. Someone who cared about me enough to let me make mistakes. Someone who listened to me, who let me nurture him as much as he nurtured me.
I wanted a man who wouldn’t leave a child alone in a car, ever. Not because it might be dangerous but because being alone in a car sucked.
I wanted a man who understood that people need one another, even if they don’t necessarily acknowledge that fact.
I wanted a partner like Stone. I wanted Stone, just Stone.
“Take me home?” I asked.
“As soon as they let me,” he replied.
Chapter Twenty-One
Stone
Artemis’s namingday began with a lazy, sensual shower for two and a walk to feed and greetour canine guests, as Sebastian called them.
One of the volunteer trainers Ariel worked with came by to give each one individual exercise time, freeing me to read while Sebastian napped the morning away with his head pillowed on my lap.
Sebastian’s bruises were fading, but the misery I felt from hurting him hadn’t. I don’t know what I’d have done if I’d reinjured him seriously.
