“You already yelled at me today, and I’m tired. I don’t have the energy to think you’re anything,” I mumbled and turned my head to the side to look up at him. His harsh expression softened.
“I like someone who knows how to listen to me, do as I say. Let me be in the lead. I like someone who… maybe wants to be told what to do.” He swallowed hard and plucked at my Spidey pillow. “I like that you enjoy things like this. Things that some people might think of as not quite grown-up. I like that you’re….” He wiggled the pillow from my grasp and dropped it on the bed. “I like that you’re not the way I am. I like that you don’t seem like you’d yell and scream. You’re… the opposite of all that.”
I snorted. “I can lose my shit like anyone.”
“Yes, but it doesn’t seem like that’s the way you are most of the time.”
I took a long while to put together what I wanted to say because I was a tad confused, and it was plain to see he was still not telling me everything, but what he’d said was enough to get me thinking. It sounded like he might be into some BDSM stuff, and that wasn’t anything I’d ever thought about realistically. Did people really do kinky things outside of porno? “I’m not sure I understand what you’re getting at. You like me because we’re opposites?”
Between his dark brows, a small wrinkle formed. “The way you were on the boat tonight… I liked seeing you happy and enjoying yourself in a way most men your age have forgotten. You were so excited about the horn, and for a few minutes you were yourself. You weren’t embarrassed once you let go. Very few people retain that.”
“I’m messed up and shy all the time,” I grumbled and turned my face until my nose was squished against his shoulder. “I think you’re confused.”
He cupped the back of my neck. “I don’t think so.”
“What if I’m not what you think you’re looking for?”
“What if I’m not whatyouwant?” he fired back.
I sat up and stared at him, maybe too long. He was handsome as fuck, and now that I’d gotten to know him better, rather than his size scaring me… it was comforting. Anyone could march in here right now, and Casey could toss them right back outside. That was priceless, and maybe not something love could be built on, but it made me warm inside, just like pressing that button for the horn had. I wanted more of those good feelings.
“I’d like to see if we work,” I whispered, and the smile he gave me made my stomach flip in a good way.
“I’d like that, too.” His smile slipped to a snarl, and nervousness had me blindly groping for my pillow again to drag it into my lap and give it a squeeze. “Now, your father.”
“Can we not? He’s a nightmare. I don’t want to talk about him. I just don’t.”
He winced. “I should probably—”
“Please, I know there’s a lot you could say, and you mean well, and I get that you want to….” I flushed and hugged my pillow hard. “I never wanted to introduce anyone to him.”
He held out his arms, and I hesitated before I slipped off the bed and settled onto his lap. I was shocked at how warm he was, and how nice and secure I felt as he wrapped his arms around me. He was big enough that if I crossed my legs I didn’t have to rest any part of me anywhere except on him. I let out a shaky sigh and leaned back against him. He helped me arrange my Spidey pillow so I could rest my wrist on it, and then I was startled, in a good way, by a soft kiss he pressed to the side of my head. The touch sent a tremble of heat streaking to my dick and I held in a moan.
“He was the errand you mentioned earlier today. The reason our date had to wait.”
Not a question. Casey was simply stating the timeline of events. I struggled to figure out his angle, but couldn’t. “Yeah.”
“What’s… what’s wrong with him?” he asked, and it was probably the nicest of all the questions he could have led with.
“Lots of stuff. I don’t really want to talk about him. I’m not like him.”
“I can see that.”
I hung my head, and he rocked me from side to side for a few seconds. The movement lulled me and I sank back against the support of his body.
“I’m sorry you had to grow up with him,” he whispered in my ear. The warmth from his breath had my groin tingling.
“Don’t be. It’s not like it’s your fault.”
He held me tighter, and I liked that, too.
“Anyway, I know I should be apologizing for whatever awful things he said.”
His scruff scraped my temple pleasantly as he dropped a kiss on my cheek. I sucked in a deep breath. “Glad I got to know you more tonight.”
“You got italltonight. Good, bad, ugly.” My laugh struggled its way out of me.
His arms tightened around me. “I like you.”
