Ronan stepped forward and gently tied the blindfold around Oliver’s eyes, careful not to tangle it in his curls.
“There we go,” he said warmly, retreating to give the trio enough space. “Just like Josh. You pick the spot.”
Oliver nodded under the blindfold.
Hayes took the knife-tail from Ronan and placed the handle carefully into Oliver’s palm, angling the blade safely away from him.
Oliver’s fingers curled around it hesitantly. It looked a little oversized in his delicate hand. His grip soon tightened around it as his husbands took it upon themselves to spin him.
After three spins, they released him.
Oliver swayed slightly, his free hand lifting to steady himself in the air.
Hudson caught his elbow immediately. “Careful, pet.”
Oliver smiled faintly beneath the blindfold. “Thanks.”
The room was hushed as a strange tension filled the air. Oliver bit his lip, then took one slow step forward.
The knife in his hand wavered uncertainly as he reached the space in front of the two men.
Hayes and Hudson hovered on either side of him, their eyes tracking his every move. It was probably because Ronan and I had just rewatched Jurassic Park the other day, but the twins looked strikingly like Velociraptors.
They certainly hunted as a pack.
When Oliver’s hand brushed against Mills’s shoulder, he startled a little. “Oh.” He paused, thinking. “Okay… um…” He shifted half a step to the right, then forward just a little. His knife hovered in the air for a long moment. “I think…” he murmureduncertainly, resting the tip of the blade against Mills’s skin, “here, maybe? Yeah, here.”
Hayes stepped up behind Oliver and wrapped a hand around his wrist, while Hudson moved in on the other side, his hand closing over both of theirs.
Oliver inhaled softly, realizing what was about to happen. “Okay,” he whispered.
Hayes leaned down near Oliver’s ear. “You’re doing great, baby.”
Then together, they pushed.
The blade slid forward into Mills’s flesh.
Oliver made a tiny distressed noise but didn’t pull his hand away until his husbands released him.
“Alright,” Hayes said calmly. “Nice. That was pretty good, little one.”
Oliver stood still as Hudson lifted the blindfold. When his eyes fluttered open, he swallowed thickly, then turned toward the group. “Okay, that happened.”
Lane smiled warmly at him. “That was great, Ollie. Good job!”
Josh nodded quickly. “Super good.”
Oliver huffed out a laugh, tension sliding off of him.
Ro pulled Oliver into a hug, smiling down at him like a proud mother. “I’m so proud of you,” he gushed. His gaze flicked over to Josh. “Both of you.”
Well, Ro was right. Torture was apparently the best way to bond this family.
“Who’s ready for Hide and Seek?”
8
Josh
