Patrick was in awe of what Jason had done to protect his sister when he was still a child himself.
“It was my eighteenth birthday, and I spent it with my friends instead. Mum wanted to do something with the family, but I wasn’t interested. She was always buying us stuff and then selling it a few days later. If I wanted to get anything for my sisters, I had to shoplift it. But I only did it to get them things.”
“You’ve nothing to feel ashamed about. You did what you could to look after them.”
Jason sighed and cuddled into Patrick more.
“I got a call from Mum on my birthday. She was hysterical.I couldn’t work out what she was saying, but I knew it had something to do with Izzy. I rushed home and there was an ambulance there, and the police. They wouldn’t let me in, and I couldn’t speak to anyone.”
Jason started crying. Patrick kissed his forehead, rocking him gently.
“You can stop if you want.”
“No . . . I want to tell you. When I didn’t turn up for my birthday, Mum was upset, so Ian took it out on Izzy. He went too far, and he . . . threw her down the stairs like he had with me. But she didn’t get back up.”
The dam broke, and Jason sobbed. Patrick was choked up as well, but he needed to stay strong for Jason. It wasn’t only a horrible thing to experience, but knowing Jason, he would feel responsible for what had happened. He was blameless, but the boy carried other people’s burdens. Patrick had realised that as he’d gotten to know him over the last nine months.
“They took the twins away into care, and both of them got arrested. I had to testify in court against my mum or she would have got away with it. I know she wasn’t the one to do it, but she could have reported him or taken us away, couldn’t she? I wasn’t wrong about doing that, was I?”
“Of course not,” said Patrick, holding him close. “You did the right thing. They both ended up where they belonged.”
“The twins got adopted. It’s rare for someone to take two kids who are over five, but at least they got to stay together. I have no idea where they are. I put my name down so when they’re eighteen they can contact me if they want to.”
Patrick wasn’t sure what to say to that. His sisters would have been old enough to remember him, but their adoptive parents would have wanted to protect them from a traumatic past. He hoped one day they would contact him. They couldn’t want for a better big brother than Jason. Patrick heldhim tightly as he cried, being the daddy Jason needed right now.
They still needed to talk about Grant, but that could wait. The boy had shared enough for one day. It made Patrick love him even more. He hadn’t told him yet, unsure if Jason was ready to hear it, and Patrick had a fear about whether Jason felt the same way. Regardless, Patrick knew he wouldn’t be able to keep his feelings to himself for much longer.
CHAPTER 10
JASON
The last week with Patrick had been amazing. Since he’d told him about his childhood, it was like something unlocked. Patrick didn’t look at him like he was broken, or pity him. He’d said he was proud of Jason. He wasn’t sure what to make of that. Jason knew deep down it wasn’t his fault. If he’d been there that night, it might not have happened then, but Ian had it in him, and he’d resented Izzy. It was like he was jealous of her on behalf of his own daughters, which made no sense, because they’d adored Izzy.
It was New Year’s Eve, and he was celebrating with his brothers and their men. He was taking Patrick with him and was looking forward to seeing their reactions. They’d never seen Jason in a relationship with anyone. He’d been in Liverpool when he was with Grant, and had always been single in London, even before his marriage. He’d still not heard anything from Grant, and he’d be avoiding the conversation with Patrick, although he knew his daddy wouldn’t leave it much longer.
“Boy, come over here. We need to talk.”
Jason was instantly hard. He loved Patrick calling himboy, and always knew when he said it nothing bad was going tohappen. They were in Patrick’s flat now. Jason had been home a couple of days earlier to get more clothes and show his brothers he was still alive, but he was happy being here. They were both back at work on the second of January, and Jason had to be in the office all week to support his new boss.
Jason joined Patrick at the kitchen table. He’d made them both a cup of tea, and the biscuit tin was there with all his favourites in it. He was going to look like a hippo if this carried on. Patrick seemed to have an obsession with feeding him, saying he didn’t eat enough.
“We’re meeting your brothers tonight. What are you going to call me?”
“Daddy,” he said, without hesitation.
“Are you sure that’s what you want? It’s different when we’re in private to being in front of other people. They’ll assume things.”
“That you spank me when I’m being a brat.”
“Is that you want, boy?”
He wanted that, but not right now. If Patrick spanked him properly, he wanted him to follow it up with a good dicking, but they needed to leave in an hour, and if there was one thing Patrick had, it was stamina. Jason’s arsehole ached from the number of times Patrick had fucked him in the last week. He couldn’t get enough of it. Ryder might have a bigger cock, but Patrick knew how to use his better than anyone he’d ever been with. Not something he’d say out loud. Men were very tetchy about dick sizes and technique.
“We’ll be with my brothers and they won’t judge me about the daddy thing. They know I like it.”
“We’ve not discussed this, Jason, but it’s important. What sort of daddy do you want me to be for you?”
“Can’t you decide for me?”
