Page 19 of Kylan

“Me?” I asked.

He baulked and blinked in surprise. “No. Both of you. Always both of you.”

I slid my hand over his and squeezed, my heart full.

Marek gave me a smile. “Go on, Kylan. You imagined you were with us?”

He nodded. “And then I relaxed, and it felt so real. I imagined you both holding me; Marek’s arms and hands,and Leon’s...” His eyes met mine. “I imagined the dildo was you, daddy. And I got so into it. It was so easy then, but then it was over and I opened my eyes and I was alone and—” He put his palm to his sternum. “I felt hollowed out and empty and alone, and I needed you both so bad. And I realised then—” He sniffled and wiped away another tear. “That I always will be.”

“Always will be what, sweet boy?” Marek murmured.

“Alone.”

What?

“No,” I whispered. “You’re not alone. You have us, and you have great friends who love you very much.”

“They’ll leave me,” he whispered. “Benji’s living with Nolan now, and it’ll only be a matter of time before Fitch goes. They’re all I have. I don’t know what I’ll do without them. I’m trying to be more open with them so they know I care, but it will only make it hurt worse in the end.”

The resignation in his quiet voice, the sadness on his beautiful face, his silent tears...

It caused me physical pain.

I pulled him and Marek into my arms, almost crushing Kylan between us. “You’re okay,” I murmured. “Sweet, sweet boy.”

“You’re safe here,” Marek told him.

And that was just it though. He was safe here, while he was here, he had the both of us to meet every need he had.

But when he wasn’t here?

“You were worried about where you fit in,” I said gently. “Worried about how things are changing andwondering where that leaves you. Feeling unsettled and adrift and unsafe.”

He nodded and sniffled. “Yes. Yes, daddy. That’s exactly it. I’ve been alone so long, and then I’m finally not, and now I feel like I’m losing it all again. I hate it.”

Marek frowned at me over the top of Ky’s head. “What can we do, baby? What can we do to make you feel better?”

“You already have,” he replied. “Being here with you, like this. I feel better already. I’m sorry to be a burden...”

A burden . . .

That word rankled something in me, igniting an anger I hadn’t felt in a long time. I pulled back, and with my hand under his chin, I made him look at me. “Listen to me, Kylan. You are not a burden. Don’t ever think you are, and don’t ever call yourself that again.”

Kylan’s lip trembled, his eyes wide. “I’m sorry.”

Now he thought I was mad at him.

I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “You’re not in trouble,” I reassured him. “I just don’t want to hear you calling someone we care about a burden, okay?”

It took him a second to realise I was talking about him. “Me?”

Marek chuckled. “Yes, princess. Of course we care about you.”

And we did.

Very much. He had become an important part of our lives. We both adored him.

Kylan wiggled back so he could see both our faces. Fresh tears welled in his eyes. “You care about me?”

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