Page 8 of Mouth to Mouth

“Boy,” Jacob growled.

“Daddy! Play?” James asked sweetly.

Jacob attempted to brush the sticky mess from his shirt. “No.”

“No?” James repeated sadly. “Please.”

“What is this?” Jacob tried to flick the purple silly string from his fingers but that shit was not coming off.

Luca rolled his lips. He didn’t want to give away his position from between Josh’s legs. But Jacob’s reaction was hilarious.

Josh shifted while dropping his arm down before he was passing Luca a second can.

Luca looked at the cans in his hands. One pink and one green. Ha! He glanced up and Josh smiled and winked. Best uncle ever! Luca was totally going to repay Josh back somehow. Maybe a trip to the club to find Josh a little of his own was in order. There was no reason that Josh remained a Daddy without a little. He’d make a great Daddy for a boy who needed his world lightened. Although, Luca was aware that Josh already had his eye on a person. That was complicated as shit.

“Why is it cold?” Jacob questioned as he started toward the sink.

This was Luca’s chance. As soon as Jacob was out of firing range, Luca crawled forward, aiming both cans at James. He hit the button on the top, spraying James down.

James wailed and his own can went flying.

Jacob whirled around but it was too late to save James.

Jumping to his feet, Luca advanced on James until he was on his back, holding his hands up in front of his face. Luca did avoid James’s eyes, not wanting to hurt his friend. He was a good friend like that.

Josh whooped and clapped until the cans in Luca’s hands ran empty.

As soon as Luca was done tormenting James, he backed away closer to Josh. James slipped onto his stomach, piercing Luca with narrowed eyes. “You should run,” James advised.

Oh? Oh! Right. James might actually be faster than Luca. Pushing off with his right foot, Luca raced from the room. His socked feet slipped on the tile but he managed to stay upright as he hit the carpet in the hallway.

“No running!” Jacob hollered. “Boys! You know better!”

Luca nearly slowed down. Jacob wasn’t wrong. Neither of them could afford to be injured. Except at that moment James ran around the corner.

“We’re not!” James lied.

Luca grabbed hold of the doorjamb to the playroom, helping him launch himself across the room. He jumped into the beanbag chair and held up his arms. “Safe!”

“No fair!” James said, coming to a stop beside him. “I almost had you.”

“You too slow!” Luca taunted, letting some of the baby come through. He noticed that James’s shirt was still covered in the silly string that Josh had bought them. He snickered and pointed.

James looked down before giggling too. “Messy!”

“Yes, you are,” Jacob said, entering the room with Josh following behind him.

“Play clothes, Daddy!” James replied.

“Yes, boy, I know.” He strolled to the dresser in the corner.

Still sunk down in the beanbag chair, James kicked his feet as Josh walked over to crouch beside him.

“Good job, tiger. You really got him,” Josh praised.

Luca clapped happily. He liked being the winner. Winning was the best. “Yay!”

“I really didn’t think that was going to be the first thing they found,” Josh commented.