22. Rafferty

I can't lie.Discovering Kadence's room looking like a crime scene almost stopped my heart. I tore through the house looking for him, but it didn't take long for me to realize that he was really gone.

That had been unacceptable, to say the least.

I didn't hesitate to call Audrey on a Saturday morning in order to get Kadence's address. She knew better than to tease me or ask any questions. She was fully aware of what the deal was when I ‘hired' him. She understood the significance of me needing to find him.

And find him I did.

Our declarations weren't what I'd been expecting when I woke up this morning, but damn it all to hell if they didn't mean everything to me anyway.

As it had been such short notice, I'd simply driven myself to ensure I got to Kadence as soon as possible. The downside of that is I can't hold him as I drive us back to the outskirts of Albertson. I settle for resting my hand on his thigh, his own hand covering mine as we make the short, quiet journey.

Home.

Obviously, it's not going to be a simple case of moving him in. I need to speak with Charleen as a matter of urgency. This is still technically her home, too. But I need Kadence with me now. We can work out the logistics later.

All that matters is that he's mine, really mine. There will be no more talk of ‘when this ends,' because I'm in it for the long haul now, and so is he. As soon as I've briefed Charleen, I want to make our relationship public. There's no reason to sneak around anymore.

This is who I am. He is who I want.

After I park in the garage and help him inside with his case, he stands in the foyer, looking lost. He glances around, perhaps expecting Logan to pop out of the woodwork. I place my hand on the small of his back, and he immediately relaxes against my touch.

"We're alone," I assure him.

He nods. "Good. Thank you."

I don't tell him that I plan to have the locks changed as soon as possible, as I don't want to cause any more stress or drama right now. I'll tell Charleen of course and get her a new set of keys cut. But Logan is going to have to earn his right to come back in here unannounced.

Kadence asked earlier if I was disappointed. I am in my son, certainly. But I'm not giving up on him. He's still young. He's got time to sort his act out and turn his life around. But I meant what I said to him when we last spoke. If it's a choice between him and Kadence, at least for the time being, I'm choosing my sweet boy.

"Do you want to rest?" I ask him. The urge to feed him is strong. He's been through an awful shock. But he's also dead on his feet, and my overwhelming instinct is that he needs sleep. We can spend the rest of the day cozying up, and I can care for him all I want.

He nods as he looks up at me. It's amazing how well his make-up has survived all that crying, but his eyes are still red-rimmed.

I lead him back up to his bedroom where I open up his case and find the bag with his skin care products. "Go wash your face, gorgeous. I want you to be relaxed and comfortable."

He offers me a tiny smile as he takes the bag and goes to do just that. In the meantime, I straighten up his dress and hang it back in the closet. Any drawers that had been left open, I close, and I zip up his case again so I can tuck it away in the corner for now.

When he returns, his face is plump and glowing, shining from all the moisturizers. He's left the products in the bathroom. Good. He's not going anywhere anytime soon.

"Come here," I murmur, slipping my hands against his and leading him toward the bed. It doesn't matter that it's early afternoon. I've already pulled the curtains to make it nice and dark, and this brave boy is having a nap.

Gently, I lift his T-shirt over his head, then slide his jeans down. The poor thing was in such a hurry that he didn't even put socks on before he left. He is, however, wearing a very pretty purple lacy jock-strap. He watches me as I hum and run my hands over the globes of his ass.

"Did you wear that for me today?" I ask, already knowing the answer. I just want to hear it for myself from his sweet lips.

"Yes, Daddy," he whispers.

I move my hands so one is curled around his wrist and the other rests at his throat. "I'm glad you kept these on," I tell him, referring to the jewels I gifted him. But he bites his lip and closes his eyes.

"It was an accident. I realized just before you arrived. I was going to mail them back."

It's my turn to shake my head and frown. "They're yours. You never have to give them back, no matter what. But I would like to take them off now, if that's okay? They won't be very comfortable to sleep in."

He nods. "Yes, Daddy."

Thankful, I unclasp the necklace and the bracelet, then slip the earring out of the hole in his lobe, setting them all carefully on the dresser. When I come back beside the bed, I place my hands on my boy's hips. "Do you want something to sleep in?" I ask.

He shakes his head, and I go to push his underwear down, but his hands come up to rest on my chest, and that stops me.

"Will you stay with me?" he asks in a small voice. His words sound loud in the hush of the room, though.

"Of course," I say without hesitation.

He gives another little nod, then he slowly starts unbuttoning my shirt.

I watch as he methodically strips me down, something we've never done before. In fact, I can't think of a single instance where we had sex and I wasn't either fully or partially clothed.

Today, I let him take everything off. We don't speak as my shirt and pants drop to the floor, not even when he crouches down to divest me of my briefs. When he's done, he takes it upon himself to shirk off his jockstrap, and then there is absolutely nothing between us as we stand in front of one another.

As equals.

Silently, I pull back the duvet and lower myself onto the mattress, pulling my boy down alongside me. We naturally spoon with his back to my chest, our bodies too hot to pull the duvet back over us just now. He smells divine, and I inhale deeply as I wrap my limbs around his beautiful body.

My cock is pressed up against his thigh, and I can't help but react to his proximity. It's impossible. I'm addicted to him. I don't want to pressure him into anything after the day he's had—not to mention how sore he must be from the night before. But he moans and places his hands over mine, guiding one of them down to wrap around his length.

"Daddy," he murmurs as he looks over his shoulder, leaning to capture my mouth in a searing kiss.

"Kadence," I say against his lips. It's important to me that he knows this isn't a scene. I'm not playing with Kiki right now.

I'm making love to my boy.

With my free hand, I angle my cock and push it between his clasped thighs. A mixture of precum and sweat gives me just enough lubrication so I can slide it back and forth between his legs, leisurely using his perfect body to pleasure myself. We jerk him slowly off together as I kiss his mouth, along his jaw, and against the pulse point on his neck.

"Daddy," he pleads quietly over and over again, that one word conveying so much want and need.

"I'm here, baby boy," I tell him. "I've got you. You're safe. Just let go."

He spills over our linked hands with a little squeak and a gasp, his body shuddering against mine. I take my time as I rut between his thighs, letting my climax build naturally as he rests heavily in my arms. His eyes are closed, and he lets out a tiny moan of pleasure. It's enough to send me over the edge, and I finally empty my load over his legs.

Some of both our mess has dripped down onto the sheet. I reach for some tissue to mop us up as best I can, then simply move us away from the wet patch. I'll deal with that later. For now, it's time to fall asleep together in the same bed for the very first time.

All I care about in that moment is being with my boy. The man I love. It's terrifying to think what power he holds over my heart, but I know I'm not going to shy away from it or him. I'm going to embrace everything he has to offer. This is only the beginning of our relationship, and I hope with everything I have that it's going to be a long and beautiful one.

Kadence Hughes is mine. I protect what's mine.

Forever.