Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 84544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
“I’m pretty sure Isidore is older than you by quite a few years,” West drawled.
“Don’t care.” Alexei turned his attention back to Isidore and patted his hand. “You’re mine now. You can just call me Papa from now on.”
“I’m so confused,” Isidore whispered.
Alexei squeezed his wrist and smiled, but it looked brittle. He waved his free hand at his beautiful face. “My childhood was largely spent in Russia, where this wasn’t permitted. My grandfather wanted my uncle dead because he was gay. I knew I was different from an early age. I liked bright, pretty colors and makeup. My voice was always high and too soft. I was willowy and didn’t walk like the other boys unless I fucking concentrated. I tried for years to be someone other than me to make my grandfather love me, but he was never worthy of that love. But my mother loved me just as I am. My uncles love me too. And so does Soren. He doesn’t blink an eye at the makeup, loud colors, or the guns.”
“You and Kairo have known each other for a freaking minute,” West interjected. “You’ve barely given him the chance to get to know you. Don’t you think you owe it to both of you to let him learn who you are before you go changing things?”
Isidore’s shoulders drooped and he slumped lower in his chair. They were right. He knew they were right. But it didn’t make it any easier to hear.
“I don’t want him to realize that I don’t fit in his world,” Isidore said softly past the rough patch spreading across his throat.
West snorted and poked Isidore in the shoulder. “Don’t you think Kairo is going to have the same feeling very soon if he doesn’t already, Mr. Billionaire? Kairo has never been a billionaire. Didn’t grow up one. Probably never gonna be one. There’s no way I could be with someone that rich. I’d constantly be afraid of embarrassing him.”
“But there’s nothing embarrassing about you or him!” Isidore sat up straight again. “He’s perfect. He’s got this brilliant mind that’s so sneaky and crafty that I’m in awe of him. He’s also so sweet, patient, caring, considerate, and funny. And sexy! So sexy—”
“Ah! Ah!” Alexei frantically waved both of his hands in front of him. “You’re my son now. I don’t think I can handle you talking about the sexy stuff.”
“Fuck me, you’re ridiculous,” West groaned loudly.
“Anyway,” Alexei started again with a weird look at West. “Don’t change for him. If you don’t like guns in the first place, don’t force yourself to use one. You’re just making yourself miserable, and Kairo will feel horrible when he finds out.”
Isidore nodded. He didn’t want to make Kairo feel bad. “It’s not that I don’t like guns. I certainly don’t mind you using them. I’m just more afraid of hurting someone with a gun that I don’t want to hurt. Even after all your safety training, accidents happen.”
“Then don’t pick up a gun until you’re ready,” Alexei said.
“Besides, we can always teach you some self-defense and more hand-to-hand combat. That way you’re safe and you can better watch Kairo’s back,” West added.
“Excuse me? What the fuck are you talking about?”
They all twisted around at the angry explosion to see Kairo standing in the open doorway as if the conversation had stopped him cold in the middle of leaving the house. Isidore winced. He did not look happy at all.
Alexei patted him on the shoulder again. “Don’t worry, son. You’ve got this.”
“Thanks, Papa.”
15
KAIRO JONES
What. The. Fuck.
He’d only caught part of that conversation, but he didn’t care for any of it.
That last bit of Isidore calling Alexei “Papa” was just wrong and confusing.
Why was Isidore trying to learn how to use a gun? And him protecting Kairo’s back? There was going to be none of that. Isidore wasn’t allowed anywhere near danger, let alone him putting his body in harm’s way so that he could protect Kairo. That was just insane.
Isidore’s spine had been stiff and his tone polite when he’d asked for Kairo to accompany him to their bedroom to talk. Yeah, it was probably best they went somewhere slightly private so they could have this talk.
Were they going to have their first fight?
That couldn’t happen already. They were still getting to know each other. Was this a bad sign for their future if they were arguing this early?
But even as that fear shivered through his frame, it did nothing to douse the fire licking its way through his belly.
“What are you doing? You asked those two lunatics to show you how to use a gun?” Kairo snapped the second Isidore closed the door behind them, sealing them away from the rest of the world.
“From my understanding, Alexei and West are extremely experienced and accomplished in the use of firearms. I thought they would be able to show me how to safely use a gun,” Isidore replied. His tone had become strangely stiff and formal while he crossed his arms over his chest. It only made Kairo want to shake him. Was he not taking this seriously? Why was he getting insulted?