Ascension - Book Eight - Man x Man

Chapter 93 (M)

Slipping into the bedroom, I find Xaiver hiding under the covers next to the still-sleeping Darrius. "Honey, it's okay," I whisper, kneeling beside the bed to peer under the covers at the sobbing boy. 

"Scared." He whimpers, "Scary."

"It's okay, baby. There's nothing to be afraid of. Your Daddy wasn't hurting me." Pulling my shirt down, I show him the healed bite mark. "Look, see? All gone. It was pretending." The small fingers reach out from under the blanket, touching my neck before he slowly sits up, still sporting the covers over his head. 

"Pre...tend?" He asks, it was truly the first words he'd spoken since the incident. 

I nod, kissing his palm over and over again. "Just pretend. See? Tata is alright." 

His little fingers brush over my skin, then he looks at them closely, inspecting them. So young yet so intelligent. "Don't like." He shakes his head, sniffling, his lower lip jutting out just a little as he cuddles deeper into the covers. 

Taking his face in my hands, I pepper his face with kisses. "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to scare you." Helping him settle back in, I stroke the thick hair slowly while he sniffles, his little body wracked with the intensity of his sharp inhales. "It's okay. I'm going to be right here until you fall back asleep."

Resting his little hand on top of mine, he clutches the stuffed dog that resembled Badger and I feel my stomach flip just a little. Was it possible Verando had killed Badger? I don't remember anyone claiming the poor animal or bringing him up. I'd have to talk to Ron about that tomorrow. While he didn't want to admit it, the man did need his service dog. The collie had brought more stability to him than anything else. 

Humming lightly, the soft eyes flutter close as Darrius rolls over to cuddle with his brother. I wish I could carry a tune better, I hear Darrius giggle, "Silly." He snickers, snuggling into the smaller boy. My cuddly boys had been through so much cramped space, they weren't used to having so much room. In the full-sized bed, they still clung to each other. 

Once they finally drifted off, I slip out of the room with a sigh as I press the door closed. Somehow we had managed to raise kind children, despite all this mess, and for that I was grateful. I always wondered how I would be as a father, thanks to our village, they made sure to fill in all the gaps that I lacked. If nothing else, our boys were so loved. 

Turning to face the object of my affection, my wolf is front and center as I wet my lips at the thought of partaking in the other side of marital roles. 

Verando stood exactly where I left him, resting his hand on the counter behind him as he smoked a cigarette to calm his nerves. The short lycra shorts left little to the imagination with how they clung to his body, still damp from the rain. The way the white t-shirt laid like a veil over his form brought me right back to where I was before I had to become a parent. 

Irritated, I imagine it was a way to keep me at bay, but lucky for him I was in the mood for a dose of something wicked. Snagging the cigarette, I put it out on his shirt, earning a shocked gasp from him at the small hole it burns into the wet material. "Mmm. These do have a use." I muse, completely catching him off guard. "Too bad for the shirt."

"Did you just burn me?"

I shrug, "Did you like it?" I think back to what the younger version had said, nobody took hold of him in such a way, perhaps that was a method of bringing him back to me. "How did I taste?"

Sighing, he places a hand between us as I rest my palms on the counter on either side of him. "You're out of your damn mind."

Possibly, but I wasn't willing to lose any ground on this. Surpassing his hand, I skirt my lips over one of his erect nipples, still shielded by the shirt. "Am I touching you if it's through a t-shirt?" I exhale, feeling his body tense.