“I was here last night with your friend, Charlie,” said Sebastian.
“Charlie isn’t my friend.”
“Oh.”
“He’s my brother.”
Patrick could tell immediately that he was referring to a found family. The way he spoke of Charlie was not sibling love; it was much deeper.
“He came back to my hotel last night, but he left this morning before we could exchange numbers.”
“And?” said Jason.
Patrick was trying hard not to laugh at the mouth on this brat who was wriggling on his lap. It was taking all of Patrick’s willpower to not grind up against him.
“And I was wondering if I could get his number off you?”
“Let me get this straight. You want me to give you, a stranger, my brother’s number? Maybe he didn’t give you his number because you were lousy in bed.”
“No, definitely not.”
“I do like a confident man. Are you confident, Daddy?” he asked, wiggling his hips on Patrick’s lap.
Patrick knew instinctively that Jason might be the perfect boy, but he’d never been one. He was being playful, and it was all fantasy to him. Oh, how he’d love to take Jason over his lap and redden his arse. He might stop being so cheeky then.
“Do you even know what you’re saying by using that word?”
“Confident?”
Patrick growled. “Don’t be a brat.”
Jason took hold of Patrick’s hand and went to link their fingers, then spotted his wedding ring.
“Are you already married, Daddy? Aren’t you naughty!”
“No, my er . . . my husband died.”
He wasn’t sure why he was stumbling over his words.This boy was getting under his skin, and he needed to put a stop to it. Jason looked him in the eyes. His own were brimming with empathy, and it pulled at Patrick’s heart. For a moment, Jason’s mask slipped, and he saw the raw vulnerability. This boy had suffered a lot of pain, and Patrick immediately wanted to pull him into his arms and protect him from the world. Then the mask was back, as well as that killer smile.
“Well, how about we go back to yours and I can just be a body you can use to pound away your trauma?”
He heard Sebastian splutter his drink, and was stunned himself for a second. Patrick could usually handle anything a brat dished out, but after seeing that moment of vulnerability, he was drawn to Jason, and he wanted him. That terrified him. George had only been gone for six months. How could he feel drawn to someone else so soon? It felt so wrong, and yet right at the same time.
“I’m flattered, really, but er... I’m not there yet.” That was a good holding response.
“Oh, honey. Give me your phone.”
Patrick handed it over. He’d do anything this boy asked. The little fucker already had him under his spell. But Patrick didn’t want to take him to bed and fuck him for hours – although that wouldn’t be a bad thing – he wanted to know who had hurt him, so he could do the same to them. He looked at his phone and had to do a double take.
“Did you really write your name asbody for pounding?”
“I like to keep it real, Daddy. Now, if neither one of you is gonna defile me tonight, I better get back out with the masses.”
He kissed Patrick on the cheek and jumped off his lap with a smile.
“Wait,” said Patrick.
“Ooh, changed your mind?”
