Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 110671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
He shook the thoughts for the time being, although he acknowledged, with some relief, that the idea of rebuilding his life in Camassia didn’t seem as foreign anymore. Shit would look a lot different; his path had changed, but Camassia was still his home.
“Time to get ready for bed, buddy.” He smoothed down Jayden’s hair as he walked past to grab the last of their stuff. “You can leave your clothes in the plastic bag over there. It goes in the duffel with laundry.”
“Wilco!”
Gray snorted softly. The boy was picking up military slang from Darius.
“Do you know what that means?” Gray asked curiously.
Jayden shrugged and placed his action figure on his pillow before he grabbed his pajamas. “Darius says it a lot when you ask him to do something.”
Gray chuckled and winced. Had he turned into the mother hen of their little dynamic?
“It means will comply,” he muttered. “Go brush your teeth.”
“Wilco,” Jayden sang.
At four, Gray gave up on sleep. He’d been tossing and turning most of the night, worried about Darius up in the loft. He could hear his soft sleeping sounds, a snore here, a grunt there, all of which beat a night of bad dreams, but now Gray would be useless all day.
To kill time, he got up and prepared some food for the road. Darius’s two loaves of bread were still fresh, and there were plenty of leftovers for sandwich toppings.
Gray dug this, he couldn’t lie. Taking care of people, making things they enjoyed, anticipating their needs. And Darius and Jayden both deserved to be doted on. No one else did it, least of all for Jayden.
The boy needed a family. He needed people who were there for him, who could encourage him and watch him grow. He was so fucking smart. And deprived of love, structure, and affection.
Gray stowed away the sandwiches in a container and packed the rest of the food in two plastic bags.
He could start bringing shit to the car, or…he could sneak upstairs and steal cuddles from Darius.
It was a no-brainer.
He climbed up the steps and frowned when his gaze landed on Darius. He’d fallen asleep on the mattress, wearing only a towel around his hips. Legs crossed at the ankles, one hand resting on his stomach, one arm thrown over his face.
The dim Edison lights above the small window gave Darius’s form a warm glow, but the temperature was by no means warm enough to sleep without covers.
Gray ducked his head and bent at the waist as he made his way over to the bed. Then he folded the duvet closer to Darius and shook his shoulder gently.
His skin was cold to the touch.
“Dare. Wake up.”
Darius grunted and scowled in his sleep.
“Honey, wake up. Get under the covers.” Gray shook him a little firmer.
It worked after a while, and Darius blinked blearily before he squinted up at Gray. Then he complied on autopilot and got under the duvet, and he was quick to pull Gray with him.
“What time is it?” he muttered drowsily.
“Four thirty.” Gray drew his fingers through Darius’s hair and earned himself a low hum. “I packed everything and made some food to take with us.”
Darius drew a deep breath and fumbled a bit under the covers, before Gray realized he was getting rid of the towel. Mildly distracting.
“You’re too good to me.” Darius leaned in and gave Gray a long, sleepy kiss. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“You’ve been at it nonstop for months.” Gray pressed himself closer and kissed his way down Darius’s neck. “It’s my turn to take care of you.” Fuck, he could spend hours kissing Darius’s chest. Tracing the tattoos, the scars, feeling the chest hair against his skin, teasing his nipples…
Gray needed more tonight.
They’d had a silent agreement not to take things too far, mainly because of Jayden and the fact that going slow was the only thing that worked. So, they hadn’t bought anything. No oil, no lube. And Gray was beginning to regret the decision, no matter how good it’d been for them to sleep—and only sleep—in each other’s arms.
“You take care of me all the time,” Darius murmured. He let out a long breath when Gray got comfortable farther down and wrapped his fingers around Darius’s long, soft cock. “I won’t stop you, though.”
Gray sent him a quick smirk before he leaned in and closed his lips around the head.
A low rumble emanated from Darius’s chest, his fingers disappearing into Gray’s hair.
“Fuck,” Darius whispered.
Gray closed his eyes and pushed everything else out of his mind. He sucked Darius’s cock in long, unhurried swallows and felt him grow thicker and harder in his mouth. It was the best fucking feeling. Swirling his tongue around the head before taking the cock to the back of his throat, he heard Darius’s breathing change.