Page 18 of Devoted Sinner

King nodded, and they headed for the garage.

Kylian motioned toward his red Jeep Wrangler. “I’ll drive. My baby probably hasn’t even been started since I’ve been gone.”

King waited until they climbed inside to respond. “I’ve been moving her a few inches every couple of days for you. I didn’t want your tires to get flat spots or your battery to die.”

“Awww.” Kylian tossed a sweet smile his way. “It’s like you’re a second dad to me.”

The lump that lived in King’s throat doubled. That was what he wanted. He loved Kylian like a son. King had honestly believed they were headed toward being a real family. No one understood. He needed them to be his family. That dream was dead now.

Kylian didn’t pull from the garage. “Can I ask you something?”

King pulled himself from his growing pain. “Sure.”

“Do you remember when you taught me how to defend myself?”

Okay. King didn’t know where this was headed. “Yes.”

“Do you think you could also teach me to fight?”

Everything inside King went on high alert. He forgot about his problems. “Is everything okay? Did something happen at school? Just give me a name.” Even King heard the violent edge to his tone.

Kylian chuckled and patted his arm. “Everything is fine. I’m just on my own now and people aren’t as nice as I hoped at Princeton.”

“Is someone bullying you? Give me a name,” King repeated.

Kylian snorted and shook his head. “It’s not like that. I’m just realizing I maybe spent too many years being softer than I should’ve been.” Kylian stared at nothing. “Being different isn’t always easy.”

A pain hit King square in the chest. That was a sentiment he understood more than most. “No. It isn’t.”

Kylian looked his way. He was more serious than King had ever seen him. “I want to be someone else. Someone people don’t see as weak.”

King thought his chest would cave. It was like Kylian looked into his soul. King felt like he stared in a mirror while looking at Kylian. “I love you. If I had a son, I’d want him to be exactly like you. If anyone sees you as weak, then they’re a fool. You’re the bravest person I know. But if you need to learn to fight just to know that you can, then of course I’ll teach you. I want you to feel as strong as you already are.”

A sweet smile touched Kylian’s lips. “Thank you and I love you too. I’m sorry Dad was being an ass this morning. I don’t know what’s up with him today.” Kylian eased forward and the garage door opened. He kept his gaze locked straight ahead as he maneuvered from the driveway. “Do you want to tell me?”

King lost the battle against massaging his chest. “There’s nothing to tell on my end. As he said, I’m just a guard. I do as I’m told.” Like that, all the warmth his soul had regained from talking to Kylian disappeared. His problems returned. King went back to feeling used and unloved. He forced himself to focus on Kylian. At least one of the Long men loved him. He would fixate on that for now. In a few hours, who knew? Maybe his heart would finally give out.

Because he hated himself and everything, Bryson cleaned. There wasn’t much to do since housekeepers stayed on top of everything. Bryson rearranged his stuff instead. He kept one eye on the security monitors, expecting King would leave again at any minute. King hadn’t come back with Kylian until two hours ago. They had stayed gone all day and half the night. Now Bryson waited for the inevitable. He knew King would go back to his club tonight. Bryson wanted to torture himself with the sight of King walking away from their love. He wondered if King would come back this time. Probably not. Likely, he would rather Archer killed him at this point than have to stay with someone who treated him the way Bryson did. Bryson felt sick. He didn’t deserve him.

A quiet knock came from the other side of the door. Despite everything, a smile tugged at Bryson’s lips. He knew that timid knock. Kylian had always knocked on his door exactly the same every time he had wanted to sleep with Daddy because there were monsters in his closet. Being with Kylian was exactly what he needed.

“Come in.”

Kylian slipped into the room and closed the door behind him. He looked nervous. Bryson hadn’t seen him this apprehensive in ages. Kylian had grown into more confidence than was possibly healthy.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

Kylian twisted his fingers. “Please tell me what’s going on between you and King. And don’t say nothing. I’m not blind. He’s part of the family and you were really mean to him this morning. He’s been beyond upset all day. I don’t like being in the dark, and all the tension is aggravating my ulcer.”

Bryson bit back a sigh and sat on the edge of the loveseat. With his elbows on his knees, Bryson tried to think of how to respond. Kylian was right. He wanted to say it was nothing, but it wasn’t, and he didn’t have anyone to talk to about it. Not to mention, Kylian suffered from a lot of anxiety. Bryson couldn’t make it worse by continuing to stay silent. “I fucked up.”

In a flash, Kylian was on the loveseat next to him, turned sideways, and with his knees drawn up to his chest. He looked ready to listen. “Go on.”

Bryson leaned back and blew out a sigh. “There’s not much to tell, really. Last night, when you walked into the kitchen and asked what was going on, and I said nothing, that was the wrong choice. Something was going on.”

Kylian nodded. “You two are dating. I know. I’m not blind. So, why are you ashamed of him?”

Pain slammed into his chest. Bryson covered his face for a second before dropping his hands. Apparently, King was right. He had come off as being ashamed. “I’m not, but I panicked and said the first thing that came to mind. King also accused me of being embarrassed by him and lashed out at me, saying some shit that hurt my feelings, and I don’t know.”

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