Page 16 of Learning to Run

“Too well.” Frowning up at Bates again, I sighed. “You haveto save me from being Bradied.”

“Deal.” A few more kisses later and Bates gave us both onebig hug. “That’s definitely a Dom job, and since Cashel doesn’t want to be rudeto Brady, I will.”

Thank goodness.

We definitely needed someone in our family who didn’t mind beingjust a tiny bit rude…being nice all the time was hard work.

Chapter 5

Cashel

If he got any more excited, he was going to pop.

Gareth had a lot of great qualities, but being subtle wasnot one of them, even when he was trying. “I had a lot of fun learning newthings with you earlier, Sir.”

The way he was cuddled up to Bates on the couch was one ofthe most obvious attention whore moments I’d ever seen and even Bates wastrying not to laugh.

“You have so much to teach me…both of us really…it’s veryspecial.” Gareth was playing it so over the top he even kissed Bates’s cheek.

He was such a brat.

“You’re even teaching Cash to be a wonderful Dom too.”Curling up against the Dom he was trying to manipulate, Gareth made a happysound that actually seemed genuine. “I bet you’re going to show him the bestway to spank me. He’s smart and he likes learning too.”

He was so ridiculous, Bates was going to end up spanking himjust to reward the over-the-top manipulation.

Ugh.

He was going to get rewarded for it.

“He’s going to learn to take care of you in a whole new way,isn’t he?” Playing along, Bates looked so sincere it took me a minute torealize what he’d actually said.

I was going to learn how to spank Gareth?

Was that what he’d said?

No.

I was going to hold him and kiss his head and make sure hefelt safe and secure.

That’d been the plan, right?

When they turned to me, both looking entirely too innocentfor the conversation they’d been having, I realized I’d stopped in the middleof the room on the way over to join them on the couch. “I…”

They seemed to think I’d have some response but nothingreasonable was going to come out because the whole thing was ridiculous.

Bates’s expression was bouncing back and forth betweenunderstanding and eager, and I knew he was just as excited as Gareth. For amoment, I was worried that he would ask me what I thought or make me decide itwas time for Gareth’s spanking.

Thankfully, he either realized that would be stupid ordecided to save me from myself because he made a much better choice. “Let’s gocuddle up in the bedroom instead.”

Deciding himself was definitely the best way to handle thesituation.

It saved me from a heart attack and made sure he was thefocus of Gareth’s nearly out-of-control excitement.

“I’m going to be very good for you while we cuddle and youdon’t have to do anything but cuddle if you don’t want to.” Gareth was ramblingand going a thousand miles an hour as he tried to look sweet and innocent forBates.

Somehow, he seemed to think that would help him get hisspanking, but I wasn’t sure what logic had led him there…and I wasn’t going toask because he might actually answer.

“You’ve been very good all afternoon.” Bates gave him aquick peck on the cheek, deliberately keeping everything innocent as he reachedfor my hand to include me in their ridiculousness. “You were wonderful andhelped me clean up the kitchen after Cashel’s delicious meal, and you weregreat about letting me know there was a problem when you were held hostage, andyou were very good when you learned all about how the flogger felt on yournipples and your cock.”

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