Taggart
He was amazed at how late it was and how long he’d slept. He never went back to bed once he got up. But then, normally, there was no one to see him have a meltdown and look after him the way his mates had.
It struck as he ate his lunch—dinner, just how much his life had changed in such a short time. He understood it had—how could he not with two people living in his house—this morninghad given him a dose of reality. He wasn’t alone.I’m not alone anymore.
It calmed his thoughts, allowing that to really sink in. Arlo and Soren were there to help carry the burdens with him, as well as being there for the good times. Yes, they both would carry the burden with him, just in different ways. Taggart would never expect Soren to deal with the things he looked at, no. Soren was more sensitive.
“You are too,” Arlo murmured, kissing the top of his head before he took the empty plates to the sink.
Realizing he’d projected his thoughts, he glanced at Soren. “I didn’t me—”
“You can stop right there,” Soren interjected, getting up and squeezing in between the table and Taggart to wiggle onto his lap. “I know you don’t think I’m weak. And you’re right, I am sensitive.” He kissed the tip of Taggart’s nose, holding his gaze, his hands cupping his unshaven cheeks. “But so are you.” The earnest expression gave Taggart a warm glow. “Something upset you, do you want to talk ‘bout it?”
Taggart shook his head as much as the hands would allow, but the uncertainty crept in because it wasn’t good to have secrets between mates. Was this a secret he should share? His gaze shifted to Arlo.Daddy…
It’s alright. If you feel you need to talk about what you’ve seen with Soren, then that’s the right thing to do. But if you feel it will be too much and hurt him, then it’s not wrong to keep it from him.
Having blocked Soren, he frowned, shifting on Taggart’s lap. “Why are you blocking me?” he asked with uncertainty.
Taggart sagged into the seat, sighing with indecision as soft fingers ran over his bearded cheeks. “The stuff I was looking at — it had your flock on it,” he said in a rush, like pulling off a band-aid fast so the pain didn’t become prolonged.
Soren nodded slowly, and it took but a second for him to register what Taggart meant. “I don’t want to know what bad stuff you found…” he searched Taggart’s expression in a way that suggested he was looking for something. “Unless there was something that wasn’t bad… then I’d like to see that.”
Yeah, Taggart didn’t shield his thoughts all that well. The image of Soren smiling before the attack with the woman, he could print it off. Maybe some of the other footage before the carnage? “I’ll see what I can mine from what I have.” He made no promises until Arlo had seen the images… all of them.
Soren gave him a small smile.
“I think it’s bath time.”
“With lots of bubbles?” Taggart asked excitedly.
“Of course, we can’t have a bath without bubbles, now, can we?” Arlo winked at them both. “Then Daddy’s got a surprise for you both.”
Back was Soren’s bright smile as he wiggled on Taggart, waking up another part of him that made him giggle at getting naked in the big tub with Soren and with lots of bubbles.
“A surprise? What kind, Daddy?”
Soren was bouncing on Taggart at his question, making it impossible to keep his focus when the pert bottom was rubbing over the cotton bottoms he’d thrown on before coming to eat. They were no defence against Soren’s eagerness.
Arlo ran a finger down Soren’s nose. “The good kind.” His grin was mischievous as he lifted Soren off Taggart. “Taggart, you wait here for Daddy to carry you to the bathroom.”
Half up off the seat, Taggart sat back down quickly, wanting to be carried like Soren. He was a little sad Daddy couldn’t carry them both at the same time. Daddy was strong, but Taggart was too big. He sighed half-heartedly at his size.
Less of that. Daddy just needs bigger arms, is all. But when I shift into my rhino, I’ll be able to carry you both then.
Intrigued and giddy at the thought, Taggart’s arousal was more than obvious when Arlo returned, wearing just a wife-beater. His enormous arms making Taggart squirm even more. “Someone is excited to be carried by Daddy.”
“I am.” He clapped his hands. “When will you shift so my meerkat can lie on you with Soren?” His mind skipped about, images derailing him, being unhelpful when Daddy had to clasp him under the arms and hike him up onto his hip.
“Wrap your arms around Daddy’s neck, darlin’.”
Quick to do as he requested, Taggart giggled the entire way to the bathroom.
Soren sat on the toilet seat watching the bubbly water fill the bath. “It’s gonna be deep.”
“Is it big enough for the three of us?” Taggart directed his begging eyes at Arlo. “Pleasssssseeeeee say yes, Daddy.”
Daddy eyed the bath and then shook his head, Taggart pouted. “Are you sure, Daddy?” he pleaded, not giving up.
