Page 53 of Caged Hunger

Cameron’s mouth fell open as he stared at the bag full of candy in Basher’s hand. “You brought me… what?”

Smooth. Could you be any more of a caveman?

“Sugar. Treats. Candy things that pop in your mouth and make your teeth rot. They are better than flowers… or so I’m told.”

Pulling open the bag, Cameron peeked inside.

“Umm… thanks?”

“You're welcome,” Basher said, walking past him and entering his apartment. “So, do you have any plans for today?”

Cameron shrugged his shoulders.

“Not really. Was just going to clean the apartment and do the leftover dishes,” Cameron said as he followed him into the living room.

“That sounds boring. Go shower and change. I’m taking you out… on a date.” He decided to add that last part so there was no doubt as to his intentions. Even if the boy rejected him, he wanted to make it very clear that he was asking.

“A date?” Cameron repeated, no doubt checking whether he had heard him correctly. His voice was shaky, and his face looked a little unsure.

Perhaps this was a bad idea.

“Yes, a date. I’m told that’s what people do when they want to get to know people better.”

The hesitant expression on Cameron’s face quickly dissolved.

“I know what a date is,” he teased, fixing Basher with a sassy look.

“So do you want to go out or not?”

A smug grin tugged at Cameron’s lips as he leaned casually against the wall.

“So, you want to get to know me better?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “I thought we did a pretty good job of that the other night.”

Basher’s lips turned up in a cocky smirk. “Yeah, but now I want to see if you are interested in more than just my dick.”

Cameron laughed. “Well, when a man brings me a bouquet of candy, how can I say no to going out with him?”

“Good. Glad we agree. Now move that sexy ass of yours and go get ready.”

The excitement on Cameron’s face was impossible to miss. “Give me a few minutes to get ready,” he said before bolting down the hall.

Forty minutes later, Cameron was all washed and dressed and smiling like his face had been permanently set to Christmas joy.

Basher swung a leg over his bike and held out a hand to help Cameron climb onto the back of his Kawasaki Ninja. The bright-green sports bike was sleek and lightweight, built for speed and handling. It sliced through the air like a knife through butter, and Basher loved every second he spent riding it.

Using the pegs for support, Cameron lowered himself into the tiny seat behind Basher.

Good thing they weren’t going for a long ride; otherwise, the poor guy’s ass would be sore as shit. And this time it wouldn’t have been because of Basher.

Basher handed Cameron a helmet. After slipping it on, the boy immediately pressed himself snugly against Basher's back. Feeling Cameron's arms wrap around him, Basher couldn't help but think that bringing the bike had been a damn good idea after all.

“Hold on tight,” Basher said, revving the engine before easing the bike onto the road.

Cameron immediately tightened his grip, clinging to him as they accelerated. Basher could feel the boy's thighs hugging his sides and the warmth of his body pressed firmly against his back.

A smile tugged at Basher's lips. The closeness, the trust, the simple feeling of having Cameron wrapped around him—it was enough to make him think this ride might end up being his favorite one yet.

Shuffling from one foster home to the next, Basher never felt that sense of connection—that trust, that bond that connected two people together. It was always just him, alone and disconnected.