“Don’t stop,” he pleaded. “Feels so good.”
“Not a chance in hell, pal.” Nope. No way. If he was awake he never would have asked me to get him off. “Just going to get you out of these pants and tucked in. You’ll feel better after a good night of sleep.”
“Feel better after a good night of orgasms,” he muttered.
“We’ll have to see what we can do about that,” I promised. Maybe I’d see if Mom could babysit so we could head out to the club in Pineville. Definitely not the one in Madison because that was where Danny and Blake played. I wasn’t sure who’d be more uncomfortable there-me watching my brother play with his Dom, or Michael watching the man who took his place. Either way, Pineville’s club would do just fine.
Once he was down to his briefs and undershirt, I pulled the sheet up over him. I don’t know what in the hell possessed me to bend down and press my lips to his forehead. “Sleep well, Mikey. I’ll call you in the morning.”
As I left his room, I couldn’t help but think that if he didn’t slow down, he might not make it to his next birthday, let alone live long enough to see his son graduate.
The following day, he texted me after getting to work, thanking me for helping him out. If it struck him as odd that I’d stormed into the house and demanded he quit working before walking him to his bed, he didn’t say anything. Since he didn’t mention what had happened in his bedroom, neither did I. We could totally pretend it never happened. That was for the best.
Too damn bad Michael was on my mind all morning. Whatever the hell that was that almost happened played on a constant loop. It was like a fucking choose your own adventure story, every time ending a different way.
Michael waking up horrified over his actions.
Him waking up pissed off at me.
Me taking him in hand, giving him the release he needed.
Me flipping him over, burying my dick so deep in his ass he begged for relief.
It was maddening, especially sincenoneof the scenarios ended with me telling him it was a bad idea or me being the one to refuse the opportunity to touch my best friend’s dick and see what he looked like when he came.
Anson noticed my struggle and suggested I take a long lunch. I doubted my destination was what he had in mind, but I found myself sitting in the parking lot at the daycare. Before getting out of my Jeep, I grabbed my phone and tapped out a quick text.
I’m stealing your son. We’ll meet you at home with dinner at 5:30.
I walked into the daycare, my boots echoing through the hallways. I’d picked up Henry a few times before, but typically that was when he was sick. If I had my way, today would be the start of a new routine. I knew work was tearing Michael in a dozen different directions, and then he had Henry to care for.
He didn’t need to say anything; I could see it in his eyes. My shoulders tensed as I thought about the number of nights I’d seen the same scene through his window on my way home from pool league.
“Uncle Billy!” Henry’s voice broke through my thoughts as I walked into the room. His arms were wide open, waiting for the hug he knew was coming. His laughter was infectious, and the mental exhaustion from my own day started to evaporate.
As I signed him out, Ms. Lara, the daycare teacher, smiled warmly at me. “You know, Henry talks about you all the time,” she mentioned casually. There was a slightly too-friendly lilt to her tone.
I offered her what I hoped was a friendly enough smile without coming across like I was flirting. I ruffled Henry’s hair. “Yeah, we’re best buds. That’s why I’m springing him from here early today.”
“And Michael let Mrs. Wheeler know?” I was on the approved pick-up list so it was never an issue for me, but they still needed to be sure. Crap. I hadn’t even thought about that.
“Um, I’m honestly not sure.” In a case like this, honesty seemed to be the best policy. “I texted him to let him know but I haven’t heard back. He’s running himself ragged, and I was just hoping to do something nice.”
“Oh, well we can just give him a quick call.”
While Lara called Michael at work, Henry dragged me over to the drying rack where finger painting projects were hung with clothes pins. “This one’s mine, Uncle Billy. I painted you and me and Daddy at the park.”
My heart swelled as I looked at Henry’s painting. The strokes were messy, and the figures barely recognizable, but it was the best art I had ever seen. My throat felt tight, and I gave him a thumbs-up. The figure I could only assume was Michael stood slightly off to the side while I was behind the swing set. And Henry was almost upside down, his little foot touching the sun. He really was my little daredevil.
“That’s awesome, buddy. I’ll have to have you paint something to put in my office at work.” I’d never felt the need to put up anything on the walls, but seeing the way Henry beamed over his art, I suddenly wanted to find a way to have my walls absolutely covered with his masterpieces.
“You’re all set, Billy. Michael said to be sure you get Henry’s lunch box and his sweatshirt.” Lara giggled when I rolled my eyes. It seemed even she was aware of Michael’s need to micromanage at times.
“Thanks, Lara.” I turned to Henry, crouching down so I was on his level. “You heard her, buddy. Go get your things and we’ll go hang out at the youth center for a while.”
“Okay!" Henry sprinted across the room, nearly tripping when Lara reminded him to use his walking feet.
On the drive to Harmony House, Henry was a whirlwind in the back seat. His little feet kicked in excitement, and he bombarded me with questions about everything from why the sky is blue to if we could get ice cream later.
