Chapter 28

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WARD

WARD HAD to be dreaming. There was no way he'd just experienced a thing that he'd been fantasizing about for months.

He tightened his grip on Skylar and Charlie as he glanced from one boy to the other. They were so beautiful, they simply took his breath away. And it wasn't just about how they looked. It was everything else about them that sharpened those features, making them even more radiant.

Charlie with his precious innocence, his fierce protectiveness of Skylar, his self-esteem. The boy always knew exactly what he wanted and he wasn't afraid to go after it. But his shyness when it came to new sexual experiences? Fuck . Ward couldn't get enough of that. He wanted to witness that again. To see Charlie wrestle with temptation and ultimately give in, exploring new feelings. New possibilities.

Then there was Skylar. Sweet, sensual, broken Skylar, who had endured so much yet kept surviving. Kept fighting. The boy was so strong, yet also fragile. Ward wanted to wrap him up and keep him safe, like the precious treasure he was.

And they'd both let him in. Let down their walls and allowed him into their lives. Into their relationship. Their most intimate moments.

Skylar arched his back and extended his legs in a big stretch. He let out a heavy sigh as he relaxed, snuggling against Ward's body. Skylar hooked a leg over one of Ward's own, bringing them even closer together.

Ward couldn't help smiling. “Hey, kitten.”

Skylar grinned, rubbing his cheek on Ward's shoulder before nuzzling just under Ward's jaw. “Hi, Daddy.”

On the other side, Charlie lifted his head. The boy eyed Skylar, then adjusted his position so they were perfectly mirrored. The move brought Charlie's groin hard up against Ward's leg.

Ward felt Charlie's dick and balls against his bare skin. Fuck . Even now, a part of him thought that should have turned him off, but it didn't. Not even close. Feeling Charlie frot against him—even through his jeans—had gotten his dick aching for freedom. Ward was sorely tempted to reach down and cup the boy's ass. Encourage him to do it again, but naked this time.

And feeling his balls brush against Charlie's as they fucked Skylar together? Holy hell . That sensation had set off a heat inside him that he'd never thought possible. What if he and Charlie frotted together for real? Not with any barriers between them, but naked dick against naked dick? Except Skylar would have to be involved in some way, too.

Oh hell . He pictured himself lying on his back just like he was now, except Charlie would be straddling him, rubbing their dicks together. Meanwhile, Skylar would be sitting on Ward's face, letting Ward pleasure him with his tongue.

Despite the epic orgasm he'd just had, his dick twitched with arousal.

But, truthfully, he didn't want to move from that spot. Holding those two boys in his arms? There was simply nothing better.

Geez . He'd never felt this close to anyone in his life. Not even Kelly.

Charlie made another slight adjustment, then put his head back down.

“Comfortable?” Ward asked, rubbing the boy's arm.

Charlie nodded and gave a little squeak .

“Yeah? Good.” Ward pressed a kiss to Charlie's forehead, then did the same to Skylar.

Skylar grinned and snuggled in closer without opening his eyes.

Charlie tapped on Ward's chest.

Ward turned to look at him. “What's up, buddy? You okay?”

Charlie's gaze roamed as he signed, Why kitten?

Ward frowned. “You mean why do I call Skylar that?”

“Call me what?” Skylar asked, opening his eyes just as Charlie nodded.

“He wants to know why I call you kitten .”

“Oh.” Skylar laughed. “It's just a term of endearment,” he said, looking at Charlie. “It's like your parents calling each other honey .”

Charlie scowled. Honey is food , he signed.

“You're right,” Skylar said with a chuckle. “But it doesn't have to make sense. It's just a way of addressing someone in a less formal way than using their name, that's all. A special way. Or something that means something only to you. Like your brothers calling you squirmy worm .”

“Squirmy worm?” Ward asked with a laugh.

“Yeah.” Skylar chuckled again. “Charlie can be a fidgety sleeper. Not so much anymore, but it was really bad as a kid. Sometimes, his brothers would sleep with him if he'd had a particularly overwhelming day, but he'd toss and turn and kick until they got him tucked in real tight so he couldn't move.”

My song! Charlie signed with a grin.

“Song?” Ward asked.

Skylar laughed. “Yeah. His tucking-in song. His brothers made it up. They were, like, eight or nine at the time, mind you, so it's ridiculously silly.”

Ward chuckled. “I might have to hear that someday.”

“Dakota might die of embarrassment,” Skylar said, still laughing. “His dad still teases him about it.”

Charlie interrupted them, signing, And dad?

Skylar blinked. “What about him?”

Charlie pointed at Ward.

“Oh! Daddy , you mean? Not Dad . That's different.”

How? Charlie asked.

“It's…” Skylar began. He looked at Ward, and a soft smile took over his face. “Daddy is someone who takes care of you. Someone who makes you feel safe. He sets rules and boundaries but also gives encouragement and praise. He's someone you can always rely on. Someone with whom you can completely let go or fall apart, and know that he'll catch you and put you back together.”

Ward's heart clenched.

Charlie's eyes widened slightly, and he rolled his head, looking like he was processing that. Loud go away? he signed.

“Yeah,” Skylar replied. “Daddy makes all the big, loud, scary things go away.”

Charlie's gaze darted about as his brow drew down in thought. I call you Daddy?

“You don't have to,” Ward assured him in a murmur even as he felt his heartbeat pick up speed. “It's whatever you're comfortable with.”

Charlie lay still for a long moment. Finally, he signed, I think .

“That's fine, sweet boy,” Ward told him. “Take your time.”

Charlie settled his head back down on Ward's shoulder. After a moment of silence, he lifted his hand like he was going to sign something, but got interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching the door, followed by a knock.

“ Hope I'm not interrupting anything ,” Dakota called through the door, “ but dinner's been ready for a while now! ”

Ward felt his entire face go hot. Oh fuck. Would everyone know what they'd just done? How the hell was he going to face Charlie's parents?

“Be right there!” Skylar called out.

Ward thought he heard a soft chuckle as the footsteps retreated, leaving silence in their wake.

“Ugh, I don't wanna get up, though,” Skylar groaned. “Can we just stay here all night? Maybe even forever?” the boy added in a mumble.

Ward's heartbeat kicked up a notch. Had Skylar really just said that? Or had Ward only heard what he wanted to hear?

Even Charlie hesitated, clinging to Ward as he looked around. Then the boy sat up with a huff and signed, Hungry .

“Oh boy,” Skylar whispered. “We'd better go get him fed.”

Ward chuckled. “Okay,” he agreed, though he hated letting them go. A chill ran through him when they all separated and got up to start gathering their clothes. He itched to hold them again. To have them fall asleep in his arms. It was amazing to experience that with Skylar. And to hold Charlie in his lap. But to have both of them together?

Would he ever get to know how that felt?

He couldn't help watching the boys as they got dressed. Skylar had a carelessness about him, probably a result of so many years of taking his clothes off in front of complete strangers. The boy snuck glances at both him and Charlie, a tiny smile on his face the whole time, but there was a bittersweet quality to it, like he didn't want this moment to end.

Ward couldn't blame him. He felt the same way.

And then there was Charlie. The boy had a rigid precision to the way he dressed, like it had to be done a certain way. Knowing Charlie, that was probably the case. The boy fussed with his briefs, making sure they sat just right, then pulled on his shorts next. Like Skylar, Charlie seemed to have no self-consciousness about his body. Yet, it wasn't the same. While Skylar's seemed born of use, Charlie's seemed more natural. Like the boy saw no reason to be self-conscious. Like there was no shame in his nudity. It simply was .

The whole thing was beautiful to witness.

Then Ward noticed something else. All through the process of getting dressed, Charlie let out quiet squeaks in time with every movement he made: step into the shorts with his right leg, step in with his left leg, pull the shorts up. Squeak, squeak, squeak.

Skylar chuckled and caught Ward's eye. “He's narrating,” he whispered.

“Narrating?”

Skylar nodded. “He'll do that a lot. Mostly when he thinks he's alone, but sometimes when he's around people he trusts. Just little sounds to go along with everything he does.” Skylar fell silent, watching Charlie for a moment.

Ward followed his gaze. Charlie stood there with his shorts unfastened while he straightened out his shirt, getting ready to pull it on. He let out a couple little squeaks as he stuck his hands through the shirt's armholes, then a longer, more drawn-out one as he pulled the shirt over his head. Several rapid noises followed as Charlie dragged the shirt down his body, tugging it this way and that until it sat straight. Then came more sounds as Charlie made a fuss of tucking in the shirt before fastening his shorts and buckling his belt.

There was such an unconscious innocence about it that Ward couldn't help smiling. And if Skylar was right about Charlie doing things like that around people he trusted? Ward's smile became a full-on grin.

“ Mmmm ,” Skylar said. “Oh, that's good.”

Ward tore his gaze away from Charlie and found Skylar standing beside the dresser, where they'd left their wine glasses. Shit. He'd forgotten all about them! The boys had simply eclipsed everything. And in the heat of their unexpected collision? The rest of the world might as well have ceased to exist.

Ward watched as Skylar took a sip of the grenache. He felt a weird flutter in his chest as the boy swallowed. Ward hadn't made that wine by himself, but he'd had a hand in the process.

There was something oddly thrilling about watching Skylar enjoying something he'd made.

Charlie ran over and came to a sudden stop at Skylar's side, eyeing the glasses. He pointed and let out a little questioning chirp .

“Yeah, that's your prosecco,” Skylar told him.

Charlie squeezed his eyes shut and let out a long squeak as he bounced in place. He opened his eyes and reached for the glass, then had to pause just before he touched it, stopping his bounces before he picked it up. Charlie brought the glass to his mouth, then paused again. He glanced from Ward to the remaining glass and back. With his free hand, he pointed.

Ward chuckled. “Okay, buddy.” He picked up his glass and saluted them with it. “Cheers.” He took a sip. The sauvignon blanc was better chilled, but nothing could put a damper on this moment.

Charlie tried his own wine and let out a noise that sounded like pure, joyful satisfaction. Then he turned for the door, signing, Hungry time!

Ward and Skylar shared a quiet chuckle before they hurried to follow him.

Charlie got hung up at the door, trying to figure out how to hold onto his glass and put his shoes on at the same time.

Ward stepped back and set his glass aside, then knelt down in front of Charlie. “Here, buddy,” Ward murmured. “Can I help?”

Charlie tipped his head, his gaze roaming, then gave a nod.

Ward grabbed one of Charlie's shoes.

“ Hhnn .” Charlie pointed at the other one.

“Oh, yeah,” Skylar said. “It's always right first.”

“Got it.” Ward put the left shoe back and grabbed the right one instead.

“You might have to help him balance,” Skylar added.

“Okay.” Ward tapped on his shoulder. “Here, buddy. Put your hand right here.”

Charlie only considered the order for a second before he did as he was told.

Ward ducked his head to hide a smile as he held out Charlie's shoe for him. Feeling Charlie lean on him—either literally or figuratively—felt way too damned good. Same with Skylar.

He got Charlie's shoe on, then worked at tying it neatly, glancing up at the boy's face to make sure he was doing it right. Once the other shoe was on and tied, Ward stood up to pull on his own boots, but paused when he saw Charlie standing there, staring down at his feet.

“Are they okay?” Ward asked. “Charlie?” He looked down and saw the loops weren't exactly even on the left shoe. “Oh. Here.” Ward knelt down again and tugged the laces until they were perfectly balanced on either side. “How's that?”

Charlie closed his eyes, rolled his head, and gave a long, happy squeak . He started to bounce in place, then stopped himself, eyeing his glass.

“Good boy,” Ward murmured, standing back up.

Charlie's eyes flashed.

“Oh hell,” Skylar gasped. “I think he likes that. I think I'm jealous.”

Ward hooked an arm around Skylar's waist and drew him in close. “You're Daddy's good boy, too, you know.”

“Yeah?” Skylar looked up at him with a smile, but there was something else beneath it. Before Ward could work it out, Skylar stretched up and gave him a kiss.

Ward kissed him back, breathing a curse over Skylar's lips. Then he felt something bump against him. Ward looked down and found Charlie burrowed in close, watching intently.

The boy tipped his mouth up. “ Hhng? ”

Ward couldn't help smiling as he claimed Charlie's mouth next.

“Fuck, I'll never get tired of seeing that,” Skylar whispered.

Ward turned and crushed his mouth against Skylar's, then went back to Charlie. They wound up standing there, making out for so long that Dakota had to come back up to tell them they'd better hurry or dinner would start without them.

They finally pulled themselves apart from one another, but it wasn't easy. Not for any of them. Not even Charlie. Despite all his protests about being hungry, the boy looked like he wanted nothing more than to stay right where they were.

And Ward felt the same. The boys were beyond addictive.

As they headed downstairs, Ward realized he didn't even mind much, having to face Charlie's parents after what they'd just done. He'd take whatever time he could get, just being near the boys. After the barbecue tomorrow, it would be two full weeks before he'd get to see them again.

Those weeks couldn't pass quickly enough.