Page 18 of Mouth to Mouth

“I know that. It isn’t your fault,” Brad told him. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You don’t believe that.”

“Yes I do,” Brad insisted. He seemed to think for a moment before coming to some kind of decision and nodding. “It wasn’t the first time that I heard it.”

Wait. What?

“It wasn’t the first time that I was called that.” Brad’s breathing picked up.

With Luca’s hands still pressed against Brad’s chest, he could feel the quickness of Brad’s heart. The unsteady breathing ghosted against Luca’s neck.

“I had a boy once,” Brad whispered.

“What the fuck?” Luca breathed out.

“He was beautiful. Like you. I was his Daddy and he was my boy. My whole world. I thought we were going to be together forever. That we were building something strong. I gave up everything for him,” Brad confessed.

That… Luca hadn’t expected that. “I’m sorry.”

“He betrayed me,” Brad shared. “Used me. Took everything from me.”

Luca shook his head. “What do you mean?”

“He didn’t like me being away from him so I spent less time at work. Less time getting my hours in for my certifications. I was put on probation all because he was afraid I’d meet someone else if I wasn’t with him.”

“You didn’t know,” Luca said.

“I didn’t know that he was using me for my money. Even going as far as spending it on other guys.”

Luca hissed. He could never understand cheating. If you wanted to be with someone else then break up. Cheating…there was never a good reason to cheat.

“And I let him because he called me Daddy.” Brad’s voice broke.

“He didn’t deserve you,” Luca said softly.

“He…he admitted to just be pretending to be little just to get me interested in him.”

Fuck! That was so unfair to Brad. To any Daddy. “Fuck him! What an asshole!”

“I was so humiliated. When I broke up with him he said such horrid things about me and the dynamic. I just stood there as he called me every name in the book. I couldn’t even defend myself. I couldn’t hurt him like he hurt me because I still show him as my boy.”

“That’s not why.” Cupping Brad’s face, Luca thumbed away the tears that had started to fall. “You did it because you loved him.”

“Maybe,” Brad said. “Doesn’t make it hurt any less.”

“No, I don’t imagine it does. I’m sorry that I brought back a bad memory.”

“It’s okay.” Brad lifted his head. “But now you know that I don’t find you disgusting. I think you’re beautiful.”

It was nice to hear. Too nice.

“I can give you a better apology,” Brad said.

“It was fine.” He sort of felt guilty for how he’d been treating Brad but it wasn’t like he could have known. How would Luca have known?

Sinking slowly to his knees, Brad peered up at him. “Are you sure?”

Oh! Oh wow. Brad was a sight kneeling in front of him.