Chapter 15

Kendry

Iwent straight to the bookshelves. Zale let go of my hand to claim our nook.

I found some interesting books I hadn't seen before and made a small stack. I brought them over to Zale.

He had found a big "daddy" chair, much to my surprise. Now he wouldn't have to stretch out and try to get comfortable in a short one that even some of the bigger littles didn't quite fit in.

Without a second thought, I handed him the books, placed both hands on his knees and tried to lift myself onto his lap. I slipped a little, feeling my shorts ride up. I didn't care if people stared. I had my man.

"We forgot our pillows. I need a soft spot."

I tried again, jumping a little to get support. My elbow bumped Zale in the stomach and he grunted.

"Sorry." I grinned up at him, still only half up his body.

"Hold on now." Zale set the stack of books beside his chair, then put both hands on my waist and lifted me up as if it was zero effort for him. His legs were spread, so he set me on one thigh, which was plenty big enough of a seat for me. Now I could swing my legs, lean against his chest, and read to him all in one.

He grabbed the first book from the stack on the floor. I opened it and began to read.

This had become an intimate thing for us. We did it often after sex and/or before sleep because we both agreed it relaxed us. It was a way to connect when we were tired but not quite ready to turn out the lights. At these moments, aside from sex, I felt closer to him than anyone. He didn't have to be the best daddy in the whole world to be the best one for me. What a lesson I had learned!

This book had two main characters, a big dinosaur and a little bird. I made Zale read the parts of the dinosaur. He didn't disappoint. He made his voice low and grumbly, but also playful. We laughed at practically every page.

Laughter bonded us, too. There was nothing like laughing with your most favorite person. The world was already so grim that if you couldn't share fun and funny moments like these, what was the point?

Every once in a while, he bounced me on his knee. I had to lean tighter against his chest to keep my balance. His arm remained around my waist as well, which also helped. Right now, my little self and my lonely self were getting all the care they had ever needed. Zale fulfilled so many different heart levels at once for me.

We laughed and cuddled, having a great night out.

When we had gotten through the stack of books, Zale ruffled my hair and said, "One more drink before we leave?"

"Yes, but then I'll drive. You're having alcohol."

"Deal."

Zale was far from drunk, but I liked playing it safe where cars and roads and cops were concerned.

Alexander propped in the crook of my arm, I slid off his lap and walked over to the shelves to put away the books. Footsteps came up behind and I thought it was Zale. I turned to face my last almost-daddy who had tossed me from his house because I didn't want to have sex on our first date.

"Looks like you're back and hooking up just fine," Travis said. "When he's done with you, look me up and we can try again, cutie-pie."

His words were forward, a bit rude, but held an eager edge to his voice. Travis was more thoughtless than mean. Selfish. I wondered if he still had Clovis.

I started to shake my head when Zale walked up. I hadn't seen him, but he'd come from the direction of the door. He must've been waiting for me.

"Everything all right?" he asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"It's fine," Travis said, raising an unfriendly eyebrow. "This sweet baby has my number."

"I see," Zale said.

"I blocked and erased it," I said, feeling my fingers curl into fists against Alexander's fur.

"Well by all means, allow me to give it to you again."

I had my phone in a purse that crossed my shoulder. I wasn't about to pull it out.

"I'm not sure you heard him correctly." Zale spoke in measured tones.

"What's the harm?" Travis asked, straightening up and locking eyes with Zale.

"He just told you he erased it. There's no harm at all." Zale turned to me. "Ready to leave?"

Travis chuckled. "You have a new daddy who speaks for you, now. Very good. I can see he's possessive as well as controlling, but I thought you didn't like that?"

Everything Travis said was an instigating phrase meant to manipulate and piss me off. Plus, his assumptions were all wrong. My first impulse was to get defensive.

"I don't—he's not—Zale's not my daddy." Well, now, that came out all wrong.

"Oh really? Then he won't mind at all if I give you my number again. This time will be different." He winked at me. "I promise, little one." His voice turned seductive when he used the endearment.

I blinked hard, hugging Alexander harder.

"I think the young man told you he wasn't interested," Zale said. "Come on, Kendry. I'm ready."

"Doesn't he get to speak for himself?" Travis asked Zale.

"Yes," I started to say. But Travis interrupted again.

"You just told me he's not even your daddy. So what's the conflict?"

"I didn't mean it like that. I'm with him."

"Well, of course. Who could've missed the pretty picture you both made over there in the book corner."

I glared up at him over Alexander's fuzzy blue head. "I'm not seeing anyone else right now."

"You heard the boy," Zale said. "Are we done?"

I nodded. Travis just smiled and started rattling off his number to me as if I would memorize it on the spot.

While Travis was in mid-recitation, I turned away. To Zale I said, "Yep, we're done."

I took Zale's hand and headed to the door.

Behind us, Travis said, "What a little sweetheart you are. Why were you such a demon with me? Did you simply need a little taming?"

He followed us.

Now Travis put his hand on my shoulder, his fingers slipping over my bare skin where the shirt sleeves stopped.

Under his breath, Zale said, "I guess we're not done."

"It's okay…." I began. Before I could say more, Zale let go of my hand and faced Travis. My whole body began to shake.

"Hands off. Kendry has said we're done here. We don't want any trouble."

Travis kept his hand on me. "I'm not trouble. I'm just warning you. The little imp is unpredictable. Leads you on. Ask Rod over there. The boy toy is a total cock tease. It would have been one thing if he hadn't gone home with me. I would have left him alone. But he came willingly up to my bedroom, parading his tight, round ass around like he owned the pla— Oof!"

It happened so fast I thought I had missed something. First, Travis was mouthing off to Zale about me and next he wasn't touching me anymore. He was on the floor.

I moved behind Zale, who stood with his head down, his dark hair hanging forward and covering his cheeks, and his right fist clenched in front of him.

"Did you just—" I clutched him around the waist.

Travis sat up. "You fucking well bet he just. He hit me! Fucking asshole!"

It had happened so fast, I hadn't even seen Zale's hand lift up, let alone the actual punch.

It wasn't as if Travis didn't deserve it. But fighting was not allowed in the club. Not real fighting, anyway. Playing a scene was a different thing. This was serious. Super serious. But apparently not to me. I put a hand to my mouth and pressed down hard. I was about to break out in the giggles. Alexander shook in my arms as if he was laughing, too.

Zale looked completely dumbstruck.

Travis sat up, rubbing his jaw. "You want to take this outside, big guy?"

"I'd rather I didn't see you ever again." At that, Zale turned, took my hand and pulled me from the room.

Crowds of men had formed everywhere. Some in the private hallways we passed were stark naked, their skin shining from exertion. The club was on fire tonight, busier than I'd ever seen it.

Zale held on a little tighter than normal as he led us quickly upstairs and toward the main dance floor and bar.

I kept tugging against Zale's hands, looking over my shoulder to see if Travis was following us. I didn't see him, but that didn't mean he might not show up at any moment and jump us. He'd been super pissed. For that matter, security might show up as well and detain us, because technically what Zale had done was assault. Zale was right to walk fast. We needed to get out of here.

I hurried to catch up. In the process, I stumbled and dropped Alexander. I let out a little cry, trying to stop and so I could pick him up.

"Hey," a stranger said from the sidelines. "Are you hurting that boy?"

Zale stopped and turned.

"I'm fine," I started to say.

Zale looked at me, then down at the floor. Another guy walking by picked up Alexander and handed him back to me. "This yours, sweetheart?"

I snatched the bear from his hands. "Thanks."

Zale went to his knees before me. "Kendry, I'm so sorry. I was only trying to get out." He reached up and petted the side of my head. "I didn't realize I was dragging you too fast."

Holding on to Alexander's fluffy ear, I put my arms around his neck. "Pick me up," I whispered into his ear. "We can go faster."

"Good thinking, honey."

Hands down, Zale's endearments were way better than anyone else's. When he called me "honey" my insides went all liquid and hot.

Up I went, Zale's palms cupping my ass. I curled my legs around his waist and hung on, Alexander bouncing against Zale's back as we headed at lightning speed for the exit.

Guys moved quickly out of the way to let us pass. Zale ran across the bar area, and I clung tighter to him.

Suddenly, whistles and catcalls surrounded us. Guys were yelling, pumping their fists in the air amidst loud dance music. "Go! Go! Go!"

My heart thundered. It was all so hilarious and scary at the same time. As if some monster was after us. In reality, Travis wasn't a true monster, just an asshole. In the short time I knew him, pride was a big deal to him. He would never press any charges. He'd turn this story of tonight into something bigger, something that favored him in the end.

When we reached the entry hall, I saw security hanging out. They were in a group of four, talking, not paying any attention at all. The doorman saw us and his eyes widened. He reached for the lock, turned it and opened the door just as we arrived, and Zale flew through. It was all as if some magic wand had been waved before us.

Outside, fresh air surrounded my senses. The street was quiet, and Zale rushed across to the parking garage, never putting me down. Once we were inside the car, everything started to calm down: my breathing, my pulse rate, my thoughts. I kept squeezing Alexander's body where he sat in my lap.

I turned to Zale. He was focused on getting out of the garage.

I said, "We didn't get to have our last drink of the night."

Zale stared straight ahead, a grim look on his face. I was afraid when he got on the road, he might speed, but he kept the car at the speed limit. Several times, he put his hand to his head. "Damn." He said the word at least three times.

"Your hand is okay, right?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Wow, you're kind of my hero right now."

"Don't say that."

"Why not?'

"I've never hit anybody in my life."

I stared down at my bear, thinking. "It was so fast I didn't even see it. Next thing I knew, Travis was on the floor."

"I did some boxing in college. My hand just came up and moved forward as if on some automatic spring. I know better. I don't do things like that."

"You didn't really hurt him. There was no blood."

"I didn't pull back, though. He'll have a bruise to show for it all."

"It just happened?" I kept my voice low, careful. "Without thought?"

"Yeah. Yeah, like that."

"He provoked you. Saying things about me."

Zale didn't answer.

"You wanted to protect me."

"He didn't actually threaten you."

"Yeah, but he hurt my feelings. Words hurt just as much as physical threats."

No reply.

"Seriously, Zale, you automatically reacted to protect me. Wow."

A heavy sigh was my only response from him.

He was all too quiet on the way home. I hugged Alexander to my chest and tried not to be sad. This night had been perfect until the very last minute.

When we got to his house, Zale got out as he usually did, came around the car and opened the door for me. I got out slowly, looking down. His hand came up and touched the top of my head, then slid down the back.

I bent my head back and lifted my gaze to his. He had parked right next to my car. If I reached out, I could touch it.

"I guess maybe I should go home for the night?"

His eyelids lowered. "Only if you want."

We had been spending every night with each other for over a week now. Of course I didn't want to. But did he want me to?

"Do you?" I shivered. The day had been quite warm, but the night air had gotten cooler since we left.

In answer, he pulled me to him. My head only reached between the undersides of his pecs. I pressed my face to his chest. Below, he was hard all over, including where it counted. His erection nudged my stomach.

"I had something I was going to give you tonight," he said.

"Other than Alexander?" Right now, the bear was squashed under my arm.

"Better. I hoped."

"What is it?"

"Are you sure after what happened you want to stay?" The shaky tone of his voice nearly broke my heart.

"More than anything. You should know that."

He nodded slowly, then arm in arm we went into his house.