Page 45 of Reaching Roland

“Aren’t you worried what people might say?”

“Nope. I’m proud of anyone and everyone knowing that you chose me.” He flushed. “Besides, the older I get, the less I care about the worthless buzz of opinions swarming around. People need a healthy dose of mind-your-own-business.”

He grinned. “Wouldn’t that be nice?”

“Does this all set your mind at ease at all?” I asked, wanting to address anything at all that might sneak into his brain and lie to him about my intentions when he least expected it.

“It does, Daddy. Thank you.”

“Good.” I blew out a breath. “I have to admit, I’m a little worried myself, though, about what you see in an old man like me.”

Kenny’s eyes practically bugged out of his head. “Are you kidding me?” He leaned in closer and said in a harsh whisper, “Daddy, you’re like the sexiest silver fox alive. Who wouldn’t want you?”

I blinked. He looked and sounded pretty damn passionate, but… “I’m, like, sixteen years older than you.”

He waved that off dismissively. “Who cares. Isn’t Cameron ten years older than Indie?”

“Yeah, but they’re still both young enough that they could have a family if they wanted. Like, people my age are grandparents. What if you want?—”

The quick shake of his head cut me off. “Not interested. At all. I love being an uncle, but I’ve never had even a slight desire to have children of my own.”

I studied him, trying to decide whether he was saying that for my benefit or if he truly felt that way. Maybe I should’ve waited to say how I felt about the subject before asking him. He clucked his tongue, pulled his phone out again, and sent a text. Instantly, he looked down and smiled, and it grew wider as he watched. “Here. See.” He shoved the device at me with the screen facing me. At the top of the scroll, he’d asked,Let’s see how well you know me. Do I or do I not want kids?

Knight:That’s a big fat no. Why?

Ace:lmfao. For real? Unless you’re talking about a fur baby, you’ve always said you’d rather poke yourself in the eye with your shears than be a parent.

Joshua:Why would anyone subject themselves to that?

I chuckled. “Poking yourself in the eye with a sharp instrument feels a little extreme, shortcake.”

He took his phone back, and while he typed out a response, he said, “But so very accurate.” He set his phone to the side and focused all of his attention back on me, which I definitely didn’t hate. “Listen, you’ve become like, my favorite person, but I was attracted to older men even before I met you. Even before mydating history became the most painfully embarrassing thing ever, I appreciated the confidence of someone older and wiser who had their shit together.” He bit his bottom lip, then asked, “Am I too young or too immature for you?”

“Nope.” I popped the P like he often did when making a point. “I think you’re pretty fantastic just the way you are.”

The waiter came back with the check, interrupting our conversation, but I thought we’d resolved enough for now. Other things would come up, and we’d have to talk them out, but hopefully, this gave us a solid foundation. I didn’t know if what was between us could become a forever kind of thing—no one could predict the future—but I wanted to give it my best shot and see where it would go. I tried to be rational about it, but deep down, I felt pretty damn hopeful.

The ride back to Kenny’s was more of what I was used to. He complained about the playlists on my phone again and connected his own device so that one of his songs came on. He danced in his seat while rattling on about a customer he’d had the day before who kept changing her mind about what kind of cut she wanted. As usual, his storytelling was colorful and full of his own inner monologue from during the incident.

When I pulled up to his house, he grew shy again but turned in his seat and faced me. “Would you like to come up for a drink or something? It’s not that late.”

Reaching over, I cupped his cheek in my hand. “I would love to, but I’m not going to.” I saw the disappointment cross his face, so I hurried to say, “You’ve been hurt a lot in the past, so I want to take this slow. If I come upstairs with you, who knows what we’ll end up getting up to.”

He searched my face, looking for something, then asked, “Are you nervous about being with me? Not because of me, but because I’m a man? Are you worried you’ll think it’s too different from being with a woman or gross?”

My mind flashed back to that one single press of lips on the beach. I’d wanted to haul him into my lap and make out all night. Yeah, my body, especially my dick, would’ve been totally onboard with that. “The only thing I’m nervous about is moving too fast. I don’t ever want you to compare me to any of those assholes who treated you so poorly.”

He covered my hand with his own, pressing my palm into his skin. “I would never. And I’m pretty sure that I’ll want to go further than you. The minute you get uncomfortable, we’ll stop.”

While I planned to stick to my guns and not move too fast sexually, I couldn’t let him go upstairs thinking that I didn’t want him or that I was wary of us getting physical. Leaning in, I touched my lips to his gently, then firmer as he sighed into it. Sweeping my tongue across the seam of his lips, I sought entrance, which he gave without hesitation. My first real taste of Kenny exploded inside my mouth, and I moaned. I knew he’d taste like this, like sugar and happiness.

I moved the hand cupping his cheek around to the back of his head, through the soft strands of his hair, and I felt him grip my shirt in his hands. Lifting, I changed the angle and went back for another kiss. Kenny moved closer, over the center console, whimpering so sweetly I almost changed my mind about how this night should end. But I wasn’t a little boy having his first kiss, but a man who wanted his partner to know how special and precious he was. Instead of throwing him over my shoulder like a caveman, I continued lapping at his mouth, tangling with his tongue, and memorizing the texture and taste of him.

Our heavy breathing filled the interior of the vehicle as we both went back for more, alternating between hungrily feeding from each other and gentle sips. Kenny’s arms moved up and around my shoulders as I cradled his head between my hands, stroking my thumbs over the silky-smooth skin of his neck. Damn, this was better than I’d imagined. More than I’d dreamed of ever having again, and I’d do everything in my power to be worthy of the trust Kenny was giving me.

Finally, I broke from his lips and placed gentle pecks over his closed eyes and on the tip of his nose. Kenny huffed out a laugh. “Daddy,” he whispered.

“I know, shortcake. But we have time.”

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