Chapter Twelve

Barrett

They wanted me back in the original office for training, and I had no choice but to agree. I didn’t think my boss would be impressed if I refused based on wanting to have lots more sex and cuddling and little evenings with Kent. Not that she was against love or anything, but work did have to take a least the occasional priority. With a vague idea that I could ask Kent to come along for the trip and we could at least have evenings together, I prevailed upon Bridger and Hudson to pet sit for Pearly. They’d met her a couple of times when I invited them over to my old home when they visited the city and Hudson was in love with her.

But before I could invite Kent to come with me, he mentioned several meetings that week related to the goals and such for the new year. I knew he’d never be able to get away on such short notice, so I didn’t say anything. Why make him feel bad? We’d have other opportunities to travel together, ones where he’d have my full focus.

So, there I went, off to my old town, my old office, and a few days of missing my boy. I didn’t realize just how much I would miss him. We’d been seeing each other every day, most for dinner or watching a movie or something, and the best nights were the ones he slept curled in my arms.

As soon as I arrived I texted him to let him know I’d arrived safely, as he requested. We were calling, texting, and video chatting so often, I had to fib once after stepping out into the hall to reply to a DM, claiming it was my pet sitter with a question.

But, I did good work for the company, and I had no reason to feel bad about the occasional stolen few seconds. Probably they would have understood, since I was not the only person in the office in a relationship for heaven’s sake.

After three days of this, I was more than ready to be home. A vague idea of spending one evening catching up with friends at Collared had faded when I spent all my evening video chatting with the one person I really wanted to catch up with.

“I’d have left tonight, but the president wanted to speak with me for a moment and tomorrow was the only time they were available,” I confided in my boy. “Miss me at all?”

“A little,” he teased then his face grew serious. “Okay, a lot, but I understand you have work to do, just as I do. I guess this is going to happen from time to time.”

“Hopefully not too often,” I said.

“Did you get to see your dad at least?”

I told him about meeting Dad for lunch and how nice it was to see him. “I told him about you.”

“What did you say?” he asked.

“That I have someone special in my life. He wants to meet you and is pretty bummed that they will be away for the holidays and not be able to have us over. I told him I wasn’t sure if you were ready to step into our family or might have other plans. Like your Thanksgiving lady.”

“That’s not for Christmas. It’s a once-a-year event that wears her out, but she loves it. No, I don’t have any other plans for Christmas.

“You know, the longer I’m away, the more I realize how much we have to talk about, and how maybe this is a good time to do it while you aren’t here with your sexy pants and winsome smile distracting me.”

“Talk?” He sounded worried, and a little furrow appeared between his brows, not what I was going for at all.

“About anything on our minds. Like the fact I am so grateful to have met you and have you right next door where I can tiptoe over and have my way with you whenever the whim strikes.”

His face cleared, and he giggled. “You’re so bad. Actually, I did want to tell you some things about my past and Thomas, you remember him at the Christmas tree store?”

“Yes, and while I’m ready to listen to anything you have to share, you are under no obligation to tell me about the past. Everyone has one.”

“Since he crossed paths with us once, I wanted to fill you in on what all he was apologizing for.” Kent proceeded to tell me about the bastard—my word not his—dumping him on Christmas day without warning to marry someone else he’d had all along. Lucky I was in another city because every instinct in me wanted to track him down and punch his lights out. Twice. “Anyway, I thought we were exclusive and it turned out only I was.”

Punching was too good for him. But I didn’t want to tear the scab off a wound that had begun to heal. “Kent, would you like to be exclusive with me? Because not only would I like to be with you but I haven’t seen anyone else since we got together. Not big or small.”

“If we are, can I watch Pearly next time you take a trip?”

Oh heck, I’d hurt his feelings. “I had actually hoped to bring you with me until you told me all the work stuff you had this week. I didn’t want to ask you to take time off work to sit in a hotel room alone all day anyway, just to hang out in the evenings and keep me from missing you.”

“It would have been all right.”

“So, Kent, my sweet boy, would you be my exclusive partner in all things big and small including play? Starting immediately?”

His eyes glistened, his head bobbing up and down. “I haven’t seen anyone else either, so maybe we started being exclusive sooner than immediately. Like from day one?”

“You’re exactly right. Now, I understand some couples do a little thing when they’re apart to keep the flame burning so to speak?

“I’m listening.”

“Good. So, take off all your clothes and get ready for some fancy sexting.”

It turned out we weren’t the sexting type and ended up laughing so hard I had tears running down my cheeks at our attempts at naughty talk. But that fine too. Better than fine. It was awesome.

Two hours later we fell asleep with the video chat still open. We couldn’t bring ourselves to say goodbye.