Page 14 of Just A Little Magic

“Owen, is this okay?”

My question was met with silence.

“Owen…baby…I need you to answer me.”

Again, nothing. I angled us both so I could look him in the eyes. What I saw reflected back at me was terror and fear, but something more. It almost looked like relief.

Well, hell.

“All right, baby, we can sit here until you feel better. Daddy’s not gonna let that big ol’ bear get you. Me and the kitty are going to protect you.”

I kept Owen tucked in close while I murmured soothing words to him. I rocked him back and forth until I felt his body relax in infinitesimal increments. His free hand inched closer to his mouth, retreated, and then returned again. On the next round, I realized he’d fisted it with this thumb barely sticking up.

“Baby, it’s okay. Here, let Daddy help you.”

“S’kay?” Owen asked with worry in his voice.

“Of course it’s okay. If you like it, it’s okay.”

I guided his elbow to push his thumb closer to his mouth. Owen’s lips closed around his thumb and every nerve ending in my body took notice. Now was not the time to pop wood, but thinking about the Queen was the only thing that helped, though it didn’t come close to resolving the problem when he began rhythmically sucking. I swallowed the groan that threatened to spill out of me. When Owen’s cheeks hollowed, I truly thought I’d lose my fucking mind.

With more self-control than I knew I possessed, I broke eye contact with him and focused on a surprisingly sweet cross-stitch across the room instead. It was mountain wildflowers in a wreath pattern with the wordsFind the Magicin the center.

My lips curved into a wry smile. It had been so long since I held a boy in my lap, and having Owen there now felt a little like magic.

Since I stopped dating, I’d been trying to ease my way under his skin little by little. Some days, it felt like he noticedmy flirting. But he was oblivious to it even back in college, so probably not.

Between my Fleshlight and porn, I’d gotten through the last few months. How I’d manage to keep my hands to myself the next few minutes with Owen actually touching me was very much a toss-up.

I didn’t want to keep them to myself. I wanted to explore every inch of him. His mouth looked sinful, and I wanted to taste him. I wanted to see more of the cock I’d only gotten glimpses of at the gym or hanging near each other.

Was he top or bottom or vers? I preferred topping, but I wouldn’t be picky if it meant I would finally know what it was like to be with Owen.

“Da, go home?” Owen’s quiet voice broke the silence between us.

“Yeah, baby, we should head back before it gets too late.”

I ran my finger over the kitten’s head.

“Where do you think his mama went?”

I took a closer look at the little guy and noticed dust clinging to his fur and his bones poking under his skin. I’d bet money his mama was gone, but he hadn’t been alone for too long. Owen’s frown returned, and he shrugged.

“My baby,” Owen said around his thumb. His mutinous expression was too cute for words. “Da, my baby.”

“I’m not gonna try and take him from you. He’s your baby.” I patted Owen’s hip. “I need you to get up for me though. We’ve had enough excitement for one day.”

Owen shuddered a little at my words, and I instantly regretted them. The last thing I wanted to do was worry him again. As it was, the bear had frightened him enough to send him into a little headspace.

Owen had never, in the entire time I’d known him to be a little, played with other people in public. He’d come to the clubbut never joined in the activities, even when he’d been the one to create the magical spaces they all enjoyed.

Jakob, and now Rory, made a point to invite him every time they had a playdate at the club or their house, but he always said no. Years ago, I’d hinted that I’d be interested if he needed or wanted me to be a caregiver, but he’d shut my ass down quickly.

With a few shifted maneuvers, I checked his pockets and didn’t find the keys.

“Where are the car keys?” I asked.

“Bear ate ’em, Da.”

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