Page 84 of Killing Me Softly

“I don’t know. Maybe. Inadvertently. Or maybe she’s a player in a much bigger game we haven’t worked out yet.”

But he needed to find out.

And that was the problem.

He couldn’t afford to. Not yet. Nottonight. Not until he could protect Aaron from whatever answers were waiting in the dark. So he kissed him, light and sweet and careful. A pause. A distraction. Apromise.

“But right now, it’s late,” he said against his lips. “Try get some sleep. Let the police do their work. And we’ll deal with whatever happens in the morning.” He dragged his nose down Aaron’s. “Together.”

Aaron didn’t argue, just twisted, pulling Kenny’s arms with him, draping them over his body as he tucked himself into Kenny’s side for a few moments of silence.

Then, “Do Jack and Fraser have kids?”

Kenny furrowed his brow. “No.”

“Huh. Do they have regular nieces and nephews over then?”

Kenny cracked his eyes open. “Jack’s an only child. Couldn’t speak for Fraser, but his family are in Scotland. Why?”

“There’s a load of baby toys in the bathroom. Thought it was a bit weird for two grown men.”

Kenny stilled.

Aaron waited a beat, then turned in his arms, peering up at him in the dim glow from the streetlights outside. “Don’t you think that’s weird?”

Kenny had to handle this carefully. “Do you think that’s weird?”

“That two grown arse men have rubber ducks, plastic boats and squeezy, squirting toys in their bath? Er…yeah.”

Kenny closed his eyes. “Go to sleep.”

Aaron didn’t. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Why would I know why they have baby toys?”

“I don’t know. Whywouldyou know? But you fuckingdo.”

Kenny lifted his arm from around Aaron and rubbed his eyes. “Some people like to… relax in the bath,” he said carefully. “Go back to happier times. It helps them shed the stress of the day, especially if they’re in a high-demand, high-stress job.”

“Uh-huh.” Aaron slapped Kenny’s chest.

Kenny grabbed his wrist, fingers tight around his new watch, pressing Aaron’s palm flat against his heart. “Don’t slap me.”

“Then tell me. No secrets, remember? Tell each other everything, no more hiding, all out. What the fuck? Was that bullshit?”

“They aren’t my secrets to tell.”

Aaron’s voice dropped. “Is Jack a—”

Kenny sat up fast, clamping his hand over Aaron’s mouth before he could finish that sentence.

“You are inhishouse. Whatever you’re about to say, keep it fucking respectful.”

Aaron nodded, eyes wide. Slowly, Kenny eased his hand away.

Then, barely above a whisper, “Does Jack like to… belittle?”

Kenny fell back to the pillows. “Sometimes.”

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