Chapter Twenty-Nine

Aiden

He lay there, head on Daddy's chest, ear over his heart, listening to the rapid yet steady thump of Daddy's heart beating. There was something about being there. Aiden wasn't sure what it was. He'd never felt it before. There'd been a time once when he'd felt something similar. Less—he wasn't sure, intense maybe—than what he was feeling now. No, less didn't seem right. Still, it was different.

It had been when he was a teenager. He'd been placed with a foster mom who, for a while, had been everything Aiden could have hoped for in a mom. She was kind, she didn't get rough with the children she took in or expect them to earn their right to be with her. He was never made to do menial tasks or denied food. He always felt at peace in her home until fate had stolen that from him.

What Aiden was feeling in that moment with his Daddy was so similar to the safety he'd so briefly felt as a teen. And yet, it wasn't. What he felt now was all consuming, like it had taken root in his bones and spread to encompass every cell of his being. It wasn't just a sense of safety, but assurance. His entire being was reacting to a knowledge that his safety and well being were assured, that nothing would stop Rocky from ensuring he was happy and secure. Not just for the moment, but forever.

Aiden had always assumed that one day he'd find a group of people to become his family and wherever they were would become his home. He'd found that family, but now, Aiden was realizing that home would forever be where Rocky was.

He was brought from his thoughts when Daddy's hand brushed over one of Aiden's ass cheeks. "We should probably get cleaned up," he murmured as he lightly kissed the top of Aiden's head.

"Maybe, but I like where I am." Aiden let his hand travel over Daddy's wide, muscled chest, loving the way the hair there tickled his fingers. "And, I'm hoping maybe we aren't done making a mess…" His voice pitched into a higher hopeful tone as he trailed off.

Aiden's hope deflated a bit as Daddy shook his head. "This was your first time. You're likely to be sore. You've never taken anything there and, not to brag or anything, but I'm not small. I'd rather reduce that soreness if possible."

Aiden loved the fact that Daddy was trying to protect him but he couldn't help the pout on his lips. He'd just discovered how amazing sex could be and he was eager to do it again.

"I know a few things we can do that aren't messy though, if you're a good boy and let me get us clean before this mess becomes itchy." That perked Aiden right up and he was scrambling from the bed so fast it had Daddy chuckling as he followed at a much slower pace.

When Daddy entered the bathroom a moment after him, Aiden turned to the other man and with every ounce of sincerity in him said, "Thank you, Daddy."

"For what, baby?"

Aiden walked over to the confused man before him, cupped his cheeks and made sure their gazes were connected, so that Daddy could see how strongly he meant each word he was about to say.

"Thank you for loving me, accepting me, and being everything I ever hoped to find and more."

Before Daddy could reply, Aiden placed a soft kiss to the other man's lips, loving the fact that he had to go up on tiptoe to do so. Then he turned and headed for the shower.

Rocky

Rocky fucking hated this. He wanted to shout out to the entire room that there was no fucking way this was going to happen. If he did that though, he'd be revealing his feelings for Aiden and he'd promised his baby he wouldn't do that before the other man was ready to. Right in that moment however, Rocky really fucking wished he wasn't a man of his word. He also wished he'd put conditions on his promise. If he had, he'd see no problem revealing the fact that Aiden was his, despite Aiden's protests. It was a fucking matter of safety and the club was wanting to put his fucking Little boy in fucking danger!

Rocky was sure if anyone were to snap a picture of him they'd see steam billowing from his ears, and the fact that Aiden kept glancing over at him with a worried expression only helped solidify that belief. He wasn't doing a very good job of masking his feelings but he'd lost one love of his life and now it felt like he was on the brink of possibly losing another.

The traitor had already shown that he had no problem with harm coming to the men of the club or the women they protected. What was to say the little bitch wouldn't go so far as to hurt someone himself if he got caught. So far, he'd used the stupid assholes whose women had been liberated by the club to do his dirty work. That didn't mean he wouldn't come after the club guys directly if the prick lost patience. Or, found out about this fucking stupid ass plan.

Rocky couldn't keep still anymore and he started to pace as the others talked. He couldn't trust himself to offer input or he'd lose his cool and put a stop to the whole scheme. He couldn't do that. Not here. When he got Aiden home though, that was another matter.

"You're sure you didn't let on that you'd found it?" Blade asked Aiden, leaning down to place his elbows on his knees, waiting for the reply.

"No, I was very quiet in my search and when I found it I didn't know what you'd want to do about it so I made sure to act normal and give no hints to what I had found."

"Since it hasn't been removed from your office and the door has been locked with you not being here, it should be easy enough to just leave it there." Stone interjected. "Give them some false information."

Rocky couldn't take it anymore, he had to say something. "And if they discover what Aiden's doing?" The fact that he was practically snarling was not going to help hide how strongly he felt but he had to have this particular question answered. Thankfully, they were in Stone's backyard. Hopefully, that meant the obvious rage in his words was slightly tempered. Doubtful, but one could hope.

"We'll give him a signal word to let us know if he needs help since we'll have our own bugs in there and will be monitoring them." Blade was the one to answer Rocky's question, giving him a knowing look that said he knew exactly where Rocky's thoughts and heart were.

"And if he's not in his office ?" Yeah, okay, he was totally giving shit away, but in his defense, he wasn't coming right out and saying it and most of these men had probably already figured out that the two men were together. They weren't stupid. None of the men around him would bring up any potential feelings unless he or Aiden did first.

"I'd given that thought. I was planning to assign someone to be constantly around him." Stone looked directly at Rocky as he continued, "Figured maybe you'd do it since he's already with you until he's at a hundred percent. Plus, y'all are working the remodel together. Just makes sense."

Rocky was well aware from the merriment in Stone's eyes that the reasons Stone was asking him were much more personal than that, but he appreciated the fact that his brother was being discreet.

"Do I get a say in this? Why do I need protection?"

Every man in the room turned as one to stare incredulously at Aiden before the words even had a chance to settle in the air.

"You kidding?"

"That a joke?"

"Be serious."

Rocky wasn't sure who spoke what since each reply came simultaneously but he was sure Aiden didn't like those responses.

"You think I'm too weak to take care of myself?"

"Why would you assume that?" Blade rose from his seat and moved closer to Aiden as he explained, "I'd assign someone to any member of this club that was in clear and present danger. I'd make sure that they were never left unprotected, especially with recent events. Every single one of you are family to me, and I know you all feel the same. Family sticks together and family never fucking lets family walk into danger alone. So, you'll take a fucking guard because you're fucking family, and we won't chance fucking losing you. Got it?"

Well, Rocky thought, that sure told him, as he watched Aiden stare at the other men in astonishment.