Chapter Six

Ezra

Ezra opened his bedroom door, listening for any sound. He'd thought he'd heard Annabelle, but the house was quiet. He couldn't not check on his baby girl though. She was in a new place and even though it had been a few days, she might be scared.

He strolled over to the door next to his. The door was cracked. Ezra had made sure it had been closed when he'd checked on her last. The baby monitor that Eric had brought home the day before had been working just fine.

Fear spiked through him. Ezra pushed the door open. Annabelle's nightlight glowed in the dark room, illuminating the empty bed.

No! Where was his baby girl? He turned and sprinted toward the front of the house. Ezra skidded on the tile as he rounded the corner of the living room. He slid to a stop in shock.

All he could see was Eric's broad back and the blonde curls against his shoulder. Eric and Annabelle. Ezra held his hand over his heart as the adrenaline inside buzzed.

Swaying side to side, Eric spoke softly to Annabelle. Ezra couldn't hear the words, but they didn't matter. He could tell by Eric's demeaner that nothing was more important in that moment than Ezra's daughter. She was safe with the big guy. They both were.

Again, Ezra couldn't remember anyone ever holding his daughter that gently. Well, no one other than him. And now Eric and Brandon. The decision to keep Annabelle had his old friends either bailing quickly or gradually disappearing. Ezra wanted to understand but he really couldn't. He loved that little girl with every fiber of his being.

She was his entire world.

Some days and often late at night, Ezra feared that he had made the wrong decision. That he wouldn't be able to take care of Annabelle the way that she needed. Maybe she would be better off with a real family. A mom and dad. Then Ezra looked at his little girl and knew that no one would ever love her more.

Wasn't it worth everything that he had to give up? The struggle. To hear his angel laugh. Yes, it was.

Life was hard though. Being a single dad, that was no joke. Too many late nights, too many worries, and Ezra just wanted a break. For three years it had just been him and Annabelle. Even when she was sick like she had been, Ezra hadn't allowed himself to rely on someone who would just let him down later.

Ezra had left California and the family that wanted to take Annabelle from him in the dust. If he had to raise that sweet baby on his own, then Ezra would do what was needed. There was no way he'd allow Annabelle to be raised like he had been.

Getting the job at the coffee shop had been a godsend. Ezra had gone from working multiple jobs and struggling to find reliable babysitters he could trust to most of his problems being solved. The program, what the staff affectionally called the day care program offered to employees of Jesse Lambert, was one of a kind. His little girl was settled and happy.

The job had also brought true friends into his life as well. Dom, Tony, Eric, and Brandon were people that didn't see him or Annabelle as a liability.

Ezra could admit that he was also settled and happy. Was that why Ezra was so tempted to wish for more? Ezra shouldn't want Eric. Okay, that wasn't right. Eric was hot, nice, and a truly good man. Ezra would be stupid not to be attracted to Eric. He just needed to stop his wishful thinking. That these couple of days meant more to him than they did to Eric.

Eric barely touched Ezra and not in a sexual way. Soft touches, a brush of his lips over Ezra's forehead, a hand on his knee. Eric treated Brandon much the same way. Ezra was having hot sexual dreams about Eric while Eric treated him like glass.

There was no way that Eric would be okay with the scorching-hot fantasies Ezra had about him. And calling Eric Daddy? Eric would probably run far and fast.

He didn't want to move and draw Eric's attention, so he watched from the hall. Ezra yawned but he didn't even consider going back to bed. He would watch for as long as he was granted this picture-perfect view.

Eventually it had to come to an end. Eric turned, jerking, when he spotted Ezra watching him.

" Hi. " Ezra mouthed the word.

Eric's quick grin was sexy as hell. He strode forward with all the confidence in the world. He was once again dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt. His comfy clothes, Brandon called them. Eric looked good in his suits, but Ezra much preferred him like this. He was more approachable. More real. Dressed-down Eric was fuckable. Lickable.

"Is she okay?" Ezra whispered as he peered down at Annabelle.

"I think she heard my phone ring. Or maybe me talking. I'm not sure. She was fine, just curious, I think. I picked her up and she went back to sleep quickly."

"I can take her." Ezra reached for his baby girl.

"I can lay her back in bed. Follow me."

Ezra nodded.

Eric passed him and Ezra followed until Eric was laying Annabelle in the middle of the bed. Pillows surrounded her, keeping her safely tucked in. Ezra pulled the blanket over his girl as Eric ran his hand over Annabelle's forehead then abruptly left the room.

Bending down, Ezra kissed his daughter, breathing in her sweet scent. She smacked her lips but didn't wake up. He backed away and left her sleeping. He closed the door and considered going back to bed himself. If Eric was awake, maybe Ezra should check in with him.

He walked back down the hall to return to the living room.

Eric looked up while lounging on the couch in his slacks and white undershirt. He grinned as Ezra reentered the living room. "Everything okay?"

"I'm fine." Ezra waved his hand back toward the bedrooms. "Sorry about that."

Eric scoffed. "You don't ever have to apologize for that sweet baby girl. She was adorable stumbling down the hall with her messy curls and little pj set."

"She has you wrapped around her little finger," Ezra accused.

"I'm not even going to pretend that isn't true. I love having her here. Having both of you here."

The words confused him. He didn't want to leave but now that he was fully over the sick bug, it was probably time to get back to their real life.

"We appreciate all you've done for us," Ezra said sincerely.

Eric waved his hand. "It was nothing."

"It meant something to us," Ezra argued. Eric stepped up when he didn't have to. Ezra could had called Dom but that was the only person he would have felt comfortable enough reaching out to.

In fact, Dom had been angry when Ezra had told him what all had happened. Of course he hadn't been able to tell Dom everything. Not about Eric being a cop or how Eric had come across a sick Annabelle and Ezra. He'd explained that he was staying with Eric and his brother while they recovered.

Dom had wanted to come get him, but Ezra had insisted that he was fine.

He was more than fine.

With Eric, he was home, but he also didn't want to wear out his welcome. Ezra shook his head. "You didn't have to take us in. Thank you, Eric."

Eric met his gaze and Ezra was surprised by the emotion in them. "You never have to thank me, Ezra. I did what anyone would have in the same situation."

"I think we both know that's not true." Ezra had learned quite the opposite. He didn't rely on people.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. And I'm sorry for that."

Ezra shrugged. "I haven't done too bad for myself."

"You've done a wonderful job raising an incredible daughter. You should be proud."

The words warmed his soul. He tried his best but there were times when Ezra felt like he was failing his most precious angel. Ezra hurried across the room, unable to hold back his feelings any longer.

Eric went to sit up, but Ezra pushed him back against the couch. He crawled into Eric's lap, feeling bold and safe. Slowly leaning forward, Ezra kissed Eric.

Hands squeezed his waist, but Eric wasn't pushing him away. No, Eric was letting Ezra lead the kiss. Empowerment, want, and desperation filled him.

Ezra cupped Eric's face, tilting Eric's head back farther as he deepened the kiss. Eric's hands tightened for a mere second before flexing and loosening.

Teasing their tongues together, Ezra tried to show Eric how much he wanted him. Needed him. Craved more of him.

Easing back from the kiss, Ezra was surprised to see Eric's glassy wide eyes. The raw need on his face. For him. Eric wanted Ezra. Then he smiled. Eric's smile was missing the usual cockiness. This was the real Eric. The Eric that few people saw.

"Fuck, baby," Eric breathed out.

Ezra grinned even as his face heated. He wasn't the one that usually took the lead. "It was an okay kiss?"

"It was a fantastic kiss," Eric told him. "The best kiss I've ever had."

Ezra barely let Eric get the words out before he was kissing Eric again. This time Eric was the one that took control. He licked at the seam of Ezra's lips until Ezra opened for him. Eric's dominance allowed Ezra to relax and sink into the kiss.

Well, all but one part of him was relaxed.

Pressing his hard cock against Eric's stomach, Ezra moaned into the kiss as it heated and passion flared between him and Eric. Eric slipped his tongue inside Ezra's mouth and tongue fucked him.

Eric's hand slid down Ezra's back to cup his ass, encouraging Ezra to rub against him. Only Ezra's lounge pants and thin underwear covered his aching cock. He fought to get more friction.

Eric ripped his mouth away. "What do you need, baby?"

"More," Ezra panted. "I want to feel you."

"Are you sure?"

"Please!" Ezra would beg if he had to.

Leaning forward, Eric grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked it quickly over his head.

Was he drooling? He might be.

Eric's wide, muscular chest was a thing of beauty. He even had six-pack abs. Ezra wanted to come all over those muscles.

"I want to paint you with my come," Ezra blurted out.

Eric's eyes widened before he nodded frantically.

Wait. Really? Eric would really let Ezra do that?

The fingers on his ass bit into his flesh. "Can I…can I touch you? Without your clothes?"

"Yes," Ezra hissed. He pushed back into Eric's hands.

"Hold on." Eric pulled at the fabric as Ezra lifted onto his knees. They got his cotton pajama pants and underwear down his legs to his knees. Ezra's cock was so hard and he was already releasing precome over his own and Eric's stomachs.

Eric wrapped his fingers around the base of Ezra's shaft.

Ezra settled back onto Eric's lap. His crack catching Eric's trapped dick. He pushed back harder, causing Eric to groan as his free hand grasped at Ezra's ass cheek.

"Please," Ezra tried to pump his hips.

Eric stroked Ezra from base to tip. He shuddered. Having Eric's hand on him was even better than Ezra had imagined.

"Are you going to be a good boy for me?" Eric asked while stroking Ezra again. "Are you going to give me your come? Paint me like a pretty picture?"

It was getting hard to breathe. Damn, this was hot! Ezra nodded. "Yes, please. I'm a good boy!"

"You are." Eric stroked him with one hand as he trailed the fingers of his second down his crack, brushing against his hole.

Ezra gasped. Too good.

"I like that sound," Eric praised. "What other noises will you make for me?"

Ezra would make whatever sound Eric wanted as long as he kept touching Ezra just the same.

"Would you scream my name if that's what I wanted?" Eric questioned while nibbling on Ezra's neck. He nipped hard while the tip of his finger pushed against Ezra's entrance.

"I like a vocal boy," Eric told him. "But no one has ever sounded as hot as you."

Ezra didn't want to hear about anyone else Eric might have been with. Not with his balls so heavy and that familiar tingle signaling that he was close to coming. He shoved his cock into Eric's hold before pushing back against his finger. Eric kept kissing and nipping his way across Ezra's neck.

There would be marks there, no doubt, but Ezra couldn't find it in himself to care. He wanted the entire world to know that he belonged to Eric.

Ezra rode Eric's hand fast while digging his fingers dug into Eric's shoulders. He chased his orgasm as his mind went numb. His precome smeared Eric's fingers and chest. The heat radiating off Eric was nearly enough to burn him. Ezra's cock jerked.

"That's my boy. You are so beautiful like this. Give it to me, baby. Give me everything you have. Such a good boy."

"More," he whimpered. "I need more."

"I'll give you more. I'll give you as much as you can take."

"I want you!" Ezra whined.

"Soon. I promise. You need to be a good boy first and come for me." His fingers tightened. Eric picked up the pace, jerking him off faster.

Ezra let his head fall back as his balls drew up and then he was coming.

"That's my good boy," Eric said, jacking every ounce of seed from him.

"Daddy," Ezra whimpered as his cock grew sensitive.

"Fuck yeah." Eric grabbed the back of his hair and yanked Ezra's head down. He kissed Ezra like it was the last thing they would ever do.

Ezra clung weakly as Eric eased the kiss and sat back. Eric pressed Ezra's cheek against his naked chest and Ezra gently kissed what flesh he could reach.

His mind whirled with what had taken place. Ezra could still hear Eric's praise and the hot words he'd spoken. Had it been just in the heat of the moment or had Eric meant them?

"Rest. You need more sleep," Eric ordered as he cupped the back of Ezra's head.

Ezra wiggled. "I'm sitting in a wet spot."

Eric chuckled. "That would be my come."

"Hmm." Nuzzling, Ezra breathed in Eric's spicy muscular scent. He really should go back to bed, get some real sleep, but he didn't want to move. Eric held him in place as he slouched lower on the couch.

Ezra yawned.

"That's it. Sleep. I'll carry you to bed in a little while. I just want to hold you for a few minutes."

Ezra wouldn't complain about that. "I have to go back to work tomorrow, but I don't want to move yet."

Eric sighed as he began to rub one hand down Ezra's back. "Is it possible you can give it one more day?"

As much as he didn't want to, Ezra lifted his head.

"Please. Just stay home one more day."

"Is it your case? Did something happen tonight? That's why you were awake?"

Eric nodded.

"You still can't tell me anything?"

"I wish I could," Eric said. "If it's not wrapped up tomorrow or should I say later today, then I'll tell you what I can."

Fine. Ezra cuddled in closer. He could give it one more day. Dom had told him that he should anyway, so Dom was unlikely to be mad. "Okay."

"Thank you." Eric kissed the side of his face. "I'll explain what I can soon."

Ezra yawned again. That orgasm wiped him out. The house was quiet with the television volume low. Wait, was that—- "Are you watching the Housewives ?" he asked.

"Don't you dare tell Brandon. I promised to wait for him."

Holy shit! How was this man so freaking adorable. "You secret is safe with me."

He received a grunt in response. "Lay your head back down. Let me hold you."

"Bossy," Ezra complained. Well, not really complained. Just sort of mentioned.

"And you like it," Eric replied with a soft laugh.

Ezra turned his head, brushing his mouth over Eric's nipple. Eric stiffened, which gave Ezra an idea. Something that he had read about once. He licked Eric's nipple before latching on to the little bud.

Eric groaned. "Baby."

He suckled hard. It was as soothing as Ezra had read. Closing his eyes, Ezra allowed the tiredness he felt lull him.

"Keep sucking, baby. That feels good. I like being connected to you."

Yes, Daddy. Ezra didn't speak the words out loud, but he hoped that there was some way that Eric would know what he was thinking.

"My boy," Eric said as he ran his hand down Ezra's naked back.

He did belong to Eric. As long as Eric understood that meant that he belonged to Ezra as well.