“Let’s get you home,” Kylo said quietly. “I think we both need a shower and a dozen whiskeys after what we’ve seen today.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Conrad
He didn’t want to think, or to feel, when Kylo came around the front of the jeep and opened the door for him. The drive back was silent, except for the sound of the radio, which Conrad was grateful for. He sat for a minute, his mind racing back to the gravesite where the hybrid child’s remains were.
That could have been him, Marvin, Ajani, Ekon, Duron, or Wyatt. It was that notion that made the fury he’d learned to control want to spiral out, to crush anything and everything that was connected to the mind fuck that was the sick experiments on children.On me.
The throwback to the past, to where it all started, was just too fresh for him to combat the reality of what those children had suffered.
Selina’s scent was there in the ground with the bones. Weak but there. He’d felt her disquiet toward them, digging into her past and discovering her dirty secrets. His rage had surfaced, and for the first time in decades, he’d let it out.
Then she was gone, and there was no target but the tree.
He blinked slowly as a hand waved in front of his face. “Conrad, hey, look at me. Let’s get you inside. We both need a shower and a drink.”
He was thankful that Kylo didn’t suggest they grab something to eat as he let him tug him out of the jeep, feeling old and weary as his feet dragged up the steps. Inside, there was no one in the hallway. Voices came from the direction of the kitchen, and Kylo headed them away towards his bedroom.
Whatever energy he had was gone. He stood swaying on his feet and watched Kylo get down on his knees in front of him. “Lean on me. I’ll take your boots off.”
Following his instructions was easy if it meant Conrad didn’t have to think about anything else. Think about the past.
A pile of grubby clothes lay scattered on the floor by the time Kylo guided him into the bathroom. Water hit the tiles as Kylo turned the shower on, and seconds later, he came back and nudged Conrad under the spray, facing the wall.
Hot water pelted the top of his head and ran down his face, and he shut his eyes, his hands bracing against the wall. Kylo’s body pressed against his back, his strong arms came around his waist, and he held him tight. “Let me take care of you,” Kylo whispered into his ear. “Let me take control.”
In his whole adult life, fuck since he was five, no one had taken care of him. When they’d released him out into the world, that was the day Conrad had decided he’d never again give up control to another. A lump formed in his throat at how, for once, he needed not to be in control. His nod was miniscule.
Kylo’s lips brushed the side of his jaw.Thank you for trusting me.
Conrad breathed deeply as Kylo pressed his hands over Conrad’s. “Leave them here.”
At the next nod, Kylo moved back, and losing the heat was almost too much to bear, and so was the wave of loneliness that came with it.
Soapy hands stroked over his shoulders, over his biceps, and down his forearms to his hands. The feelings changed to something akin to sunlight pouring over his body. Conrad melted under each tender ministration, removing the grime of the day, and some of the past hurts.
The scent of pine body wash rose with the steam and splashing water with each stroke. Up and down, calloused palms ran over his arms, tenderly cleaning him. Caring for him.
When they moved back to his shoulders, the smell of pine increased once more. He inhaled the fresh smell, needing to rid himself of the lingering scent of death.
Hands roamed over his chest, stroking, teasing, soap spuds sliding over his abdomen and down his thighs.
He groaned as Kylo tugged and pulled at his furrowed nipples. His cock thickened, and he rested his head back onto the broad shoulder, his eyes remaining closed.
“So beautiful,” Kylo murmured, his mouth pressing soft kisses to his jawline.
By the time Kylo kneeled behind him, Conrad’s legs were shaking, and the temptation to remove his hands from the wet tiles was getting harder to ignore.
No, stay as you are.
Kylo was firm and before Conrad could complain, he moaned as Kylo’s soapy fingers traced down the crease of his ass. They reached his pucker and circled the muscle.
Conrad felt his cock respond, and he dropped his ass enough to encourage the finger into his body. It was gone before he could squeeze the fingertip.
The chuckle inside his mind was dirty.I’m in charge. Now behave, or I’ll have to punish you.
Another groan, and Conrad nearly embarrassed himself as he forcibly held back the need to spurt cum over the wall without so much as a hand on his cock.
