Page 115 of Stabby Little

"Really," Grant drawls.

"You don't know this about me, but I like cuddly things." I run my fingers over the fabric. "This is right up my alley."

Grant pats the cushion beside him. "Take it off anytime. I won't tell Miles's aunt."

"You can tell her to make me one," I hit back. "Maybe black instead of pink. I'm more of adark onesiekind of boy."

I sit on the couch and sip hot chocolate as Grant picks up the remote. He plays the video he's watching and drapes his blanket over me.

We go through videos of Miles learning to ride a bike and eating mac and cheese. We watch his first birthday party, where he eats a chocolate cake and smears frosting on his face. We watch his extended family give him treats and gifts.

Thirty minutes later, Grant stumbles across a video of Miles sitting in his bed. He holds a book on his lap that Grant's reading to him. My jaw drops when I realize what it is.

My eyes water as I bring my hands to my cheeks. "Oh my Gosh."

Grant turns to me. "What?"

I point to the screen. "You're readingGoodnight Moonto Miles. I remember when you read that to me as a boy."

Grant turns his eyebrows up. "I'm glad to hear that. I enjoyed those moments."

"It was one of the main things I remembered in captivity.” My voice turns quiet. “When my captors hurt me, I thought about you readingGoodnight Moon. My worries faded to the wings and the pain my abusers inflicted on me vanished. I pictured your soothing voice in my ear, taking my stress away, helping me access the boy I used to be."

A withered expression forms on Grant's face. He moves his hand toward me, then threads his fingers through mine. "Can I give you a hug?"

I rub my tears on his shoulder. "Yes."

Grant holds me tight. He runs his palm over my lower back, massaging me over my pink onesie. His heart pounds against my ear, and I inhale the scent of his Irish Spring body wash, letting it flood my senses, this same wonderful scent I begged my mother to purchase when I was a boy. He holds me tight, squeezing my body, refusing to let me go.

A single tear runs down his chiseled cheek when he pulls away. "I'm so fucking sorry. I should've looked harder for you. It wasn't fair you went through that shit."

I lift my thumb to brush his tear away. "Do you still haveGoodnight Moon?"

I can barely push the words out. It's too difficult to speak.

Grant nods. "It's upstairs with Miles's old things."

"Will you read it to me?"

A smile forms on Grant's features. "It'd be my honor."

Grant leaves the sofa to retrieve the book. When he's gone, I brush the spot where he's sitting, making sure it's clean. I want to have a nice, tidy place when he reads me this story that's held such an important place in my life for so long.

Grant comes back and settles into his spot. "Do you mind if I pull you close to me?"

I stare into his eyes. There's an unmentionable something in his voice, an inner truth he can't bring himself to admit. A spark travels out of his eyes and drifts into mine. I can't help but feel safe and protected.

"Not at all."

I rest my head on Grant's chest, burrowing into his body. He drapes his blanket over me, then tucks his arm under my ribs.

He cracks the book open and touches the first page. I follow his finger as he reads the story to me, taking his time with every scene. I lose myself in Little space, regressing as his firm voice comforts me. The years fly away and I become the boy I used to be, the one who didn't understand the brutal realities of the world, the one who lived to visit Miles and Grant every weekend.

No time has passed from the moment those men took me. I'm the exact same boy I've always been, snuggling with the man who's kinder to me than my own father ever was. The man I've had a crush on since before I knew what crushes were.

I wriggle deeper into his chest. But that's when my hip presses into something hard. I glance down and gasp when I realize what it is.

It's Grant's cock. I don't think he realizes he's hard, because he's so focused on the story. I place my hip directly on top of it and refuse to move for the world.

---