Page 42 of Collision of Winters
“Can you come back here, blue?” I called.
Kayden nodded and dug into a pocket, before he threw a handful of treats all over the place and hollered, “Seek!”
Atlas and Cat knew what that meant. Prince and Tundra acted on the scent of liver snaps.
Kayden jogged back to me, out of breath. “What’s up?”
I dismounted the four-wheeler and leaned against it. “I forgot to ask earlier. How did the conversation go with Quinlan?”
He sniffled and adjusted the straps on his gloves. “I think it couldn’t have gone better. He misses me, and he’s mad at you, which feels really good.”
I lifted my eyebrows.
He smirked. “I totally let him know that you told me everything about Hillcroft and, at your suggestion, I’m going to be a logistics officer.”
That bratty little shit.
I’d be annoyed if I weren’t so amused by his need to, what, execute a revenge scheme? All this was so damn avoidable. Granted, knowing him, he didn’t take rejection well because he’d grown up in an environment of neglect. He was also used to Chris and me working a lot and being away for longer periods of time. But he hadn’t even listened to me this morning. I’d told him the last thing I wanted was to stop—but I had to sort through my thoughts.
“If you’d been anybody else, I would’ve punished you for this,” I said, letting some of my mirth show. “But seeing as you have a history of thinking you’re in the way and family running off on you, I’ll go easy on your sweet ass.”
He immediately stood taller, having probably reacted to the sweet-ass part.
I wasn’t done just yet, though.
“At least you didn’t tell him we kissed,” I continued. “I’d rather do that in person when I’m ready.”
He couldn’t look more confused. “Wh-what? Tell him? You’re gonna tell him we made out?”
I furrowed my brow. “Would you prefer we saw each other in secret? That doesn’t seem like you.”
His gaze flickered with uncertainty, and he licked his lips nervously. “Of course I wouldn’t. But what are you saying? You backed off earlier. You stopped things.”
Darling boy—he needed a new perspective. He neededmyperspective.
“To take a breather, sweetheart,” I reasoned. “A lot more is at stake when it’s you. I don’t want to do anything until I’ve thought things through in order to prevent hurt feelings and any other harm. But I’ll be honest—my feelings changing for you has blindsided me, and the attraction all but knocked me on my ass.” I smiled when he failed to hide his relief. “Moreover—please keep in mind that Quin has been a father figure of sorts for me as well, and you’re his son. People around work actually refer to Quin as my old man. Chris’s as well, of course. So a lot has been running through my mind.”
He nodded slowly and chewed on the inside of his cheek.
“You gave a good speech earlier, though,” I admitted. “I needed to be reminded of the fact that you’re more than a vulnerable sub in his Middle mind-set.”
Triumph broke through the timidness in his eyes. “Knew it,” he whispered to himself.
I smiled.
“So, um…” He shifted where he stood. “What does this mean?”
Good question.
“What’s your safeword?” I asked.
He cocked his head. “Um, red, yellow, and green.”
Excellent. I nodded once. “Then I’d say, all this means… Safewords apply.” I saw the mischief joining the relief in his expression, and I had to push forward before he got ahead of himself. “It also means you have to be patient with me,” I told him. “Best thing would be if you made yourself less appealing so I don’t attack you at every turn before we get the chance to sit down and discuss limits, boundaries, and expectations.”
Pushing that button worked swimmingly. Tell a brat not to do something, and he’d do it.
He smirked like the little devil he could be. “In other words, if I tease you, you might put me in my place?”
