Page 28 of The Sweetheart
“Yes, Daddy,” he whispered.
“Then it’s good that you came.”
“It is?” Kai asked hopefully, looking for that reassurance that he hadn’t fucked everything up by turning up announced.
Nolan stroked a thumb over his cheekbone and kissed him again. “Of course. Whatever you need, baby. I’m here for you.”
Relief poured through him, warming him from the inside out, and he burrowed into Nolan’s chest, closing his eyes so he could just feel everything. Relief, comfort, warmth, care. Nolan cradled against his body like he was a baby, his rough cheek rubbing against Kai’s head and face.
The weight of the last two days melted away from him, and, for the first time, Kai really appreciated how heavy it had been. Man, he’d been so stressed. Not knowing how he was going to pay rent, dealing with Liam and even just being back at the trailer. He felt guilty for thinking it, but all of it had made him sick with worry. And then today, the threat of losing Nolan, of losingthis.God, he couldn’t bear it. They’d known each other less than five days, but Kai needed Nolan’s touch and his care like he needed air to breathe. He clung to him like he was about to be ripped away and was grateful when Nolan tightened his hold.
“Have you eaten yet?”
Kai shook his head.
“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get some food in you.”
13
Nolan had a clingy boy attached to his hip. Literally. It hadn’t even been two minutes since he had peeled Kai off of him and deposited him at the kitchen island while Nolan grabbed what he needed out of the fridge for their dinner, but he felt the light touch of Kai’s finger curling through his belt loop and the gentle press of his forehead against the back of his shoulder. Nolan’s heart squeezed in his chest, and he’d done the only thing he could think to do, wrapping his arm around Kai and pulling him against his side where he curled wordlessly, sweet and vulnerable and seeming to crave reassurance.
It was clear that Kai had thought Nolan had broken his word regarding their exclusivity. Had Kai’s other partners been unfaithful? Jealousy licked at his blood, thinking of Kai with other men before he remembered that comment Kai had made about his karma being bad. Maybe he was the one who had been unfaithful? No, he thought resolutely. Nolan wasn’t going to speculate about what Kai had done in the past. He’d said that he was going to trust Kai until he proved he didn’t deserve it, and he wanted to stand by that. But whatever they were buildinghere, if it was going to last, then Kai would have to trust him as well.
“Hey,” he said, pausing at stirring the ground beef in the pan to look down at Kai, drawing his attention away from whatever he was silently dwelling on. Kai looked up at him, brow furrowed and dark eyes unhappy. “Do you believe me when I say you’re the only one for me?” Kai looked down.
“Why didn’t you tell Myles who I was?” His voice was quiet and tinged with sadness, like he already expected the answer to hurt. Nolan tugged his hair so he was forced to look up at him again.
“Oh, I promise he knows exactly who you are.” Nolan grinned at him. “I think I’ve spent the last two days on Myles’ last nerve while I worried if I was ever going to see you again. He’s probably almost as grateful that you showed up as I am. Maybe now I will get some of my focus back.” Some tension seemed to ease out of Kai, but he sank back into thoughtful silence.
“I still think you should have kissed me,” he said after a while.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t know how comfortable you were with other people knowing about our relationship, and I hesitated. I won’t make that mistake again. I promise.”
Kai searched his face, and Nolan held his gaze steady, waiting for him to form his own conclusion. Finally, Kai nodded and settled deeper into Nolan’s hold again.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I yelled at you again.” This time, Kai’s voice was morose.
“Mmm.” Nolan acknowledged. “It does seem like that lesson did not stick.”
“Am I in trouble?”
When Nolan looked down, Kai was the picture of mournfulregret. Nolan almost snorted at the obvious attempt to manipulate him. The idea that this guy could manipulate anyone was almost laughable.
“Do you think you should be in trouble?”
“Maybe a little bit,” he muttered reluctantly.
“Don’t you worry, we will revisit that lesson in just a little while.”
Kai sighed resignedly but snuggled deeper.
“You staying with me tonight?”
“Yes, please,” Kai answered. Good. It was clear Kai still needed comfort, but tonight, when he got ahold of his bare ass, he was going to turn it fifty shades of pink, and he was going to prove to Kai that he was the only one he wanted.
