Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 106065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
I just needed to spit and gag. And cough. Holy fuck. My chest heaved, black spots filled my vision, and my skin tingled.
“Fucking Christ,” I rasped.
It felt so good to fill my lungs with air.
“Deep breaths,” he coaxed. “Through your nose too.”
I nodded jerkily and finally felt my heart rate return to normal.
“Gah…” I slumped back again and wiped water from my face. “I feel better.”
“You sure?” He got down on one knee next to me and gently gripped my chin. “Lemme look at’chu.”
I tossed him a drowsy grin and bumped my forehead to his. “I’m fine.”
He chuckled and kissed my cheek. “Good. You did great, sweetheart. I’m proud of you.”
That made me frown. “The scene’s not over, is it? I wanna go again!”
He found that funny. “You inhaled water, didn’t you?”
“Super little,” I swore.
He was undeterred. “I ain’t riskin’ it. We’ll have more opportunities in the future, but if you inhaled water, you’re done for today.”
I stuck out my tongue at him.
He smirked and raised a brow. “That don’t mean we can’t string you up, pet. Let’s go try the new St. Andrew’s cross—”
“No!” I cried out. “I’ll be good, I swear!”
Three Sadists’ laughter echoed against the black rubber walls.
Crap!
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
It was official. I was the luckiest boy in the world.
I had Thanksgiving plans.
I had Christmas party plans.
I had New Year’s plans that thankfully did not involve Floridian swamps. We were going to visit Greer’s family in New York instead!
Also, I had auction plans, and that was for right now. A date with three amazing men decked out in holy-shit sexy clothes. Because I’d never seen them dress up. Not like this. Daddy in a suit, sans jacket, with suspenders? Kill me. Archie in dress pants that made his butt look to die for? Kill me twice. Greer in a three-piece? Kill me three times and sideways.
I didn’t have many fancy clothes, but I’d dug out a pair of nice pants, and Archie had helped me buy a new shirt and a tie.
“Are you also curious about the surprise for tonight?” I asked, jumping out of the truck.
“I’m sure it’s something for the brats,” Archie replied. He grinned and stepped up to me, and he adjusted my tie.
I wasn’t sure it was for the brats, though. It’d started with Noa. The other day when we finished the care packages that we were handing out tonight, he’d said he had something exciting going on for the auction. Cam was involved too. And then River and Reese had become part of it.
Just like that, very last minute, the auction had turned into a formal event, hence our fancy clothes now.
As instructed, we left our jackets in the truck, ’cause the tent was great, but there was definitely not room for a coat check. We had our priorities.
As we left the carport, I turned to Sloan. “Will you dance with me when we get there, Daddy?”
“I’ll insist, little one.” He pressed a kiss to my temple.
I smiled goofily and had to skip a little, ’cause I was so happy.
The path was lit up by torches, and we were far from alone.
“Is it too soon to check in with the babysitters?” Greer asked.
I snickered. Who knew Greer would be such a fretting father? As if Kyla didn’t adore her aunt. She’d spent many nights with Archie’s sister, and tonight Emma-Jo was there too. She was very attached to Kyla.
The boys were with their grandparents, as in Sloan’s ex-wife’s parents, who apparently loved Sloan. So that was good. We were all Team Sloan.
“Maybe give it an hour?” Sloan suggested with a soft smirk.
Greer nodded with a dip of his chin. “Did you pack the USMC T-shirt for Emma-Jo? You know she doesn’t like sleeping without it anymore. The blue one, not the gray.”
“I packed it, Master.” Archie hugged Greer’s arm.
“The blue one? She says the gray one isn’t as soft.”
“Corey! Archie!”
I whipped around and spotted Kit dragging Lucas along.
“Hey!” I grinned.
“Daddy, I have to tell my friends something.”
Colt wouldn’t be dragged anywhere. Same went for Lucas, evidently. They let Kit run ahead, and they all looked amazing too.
“Here, Master.” Archie grabbed Greer’s hand and then Sloan’s hand, and I laughed. He was connecting them like electrical cords. “Hold hands and be cute. Corey and I have gossip to tend to.”
“Say no more. Fuck gossip.” Greer immediately draped an arm around Sloan instead, and they picked up the pace, leaving me alone with Archie. “Will you dance with me too, Daddy?” I heard Greer ask.
I giggled.
“Since you’re such a good boy, baby…” Sloan smacked a kiss to Greer’s cheek.
Once Kit reached us, we started walking again.
“Do you have an update on Franklin?” Archie pressed. He was clearly invested.
No wonder he got along so well with Tate and Ivy.
“I guess so…?” Kit squinted in thought. “Last I heard from Tate, Franklin’s having a nervous breakdown about the nephew who’s flying in tomorrow. Or the ex-wife’s nephew, I guess it was.”