Page 126 of Cloudy With a Chance of Bad Decisions

“Of course.” I didn’t make him finish the question, instead striding over to my mattress and sleeping bag with purpose. “I’ll double-check it for bugs first, okay?” I promised, even though I doubted anything had snuck inside there.

“Thank you.” George watched me as I worked, checking every nook and cranny. Because I’d remembered how cold he’d gotten the previous night, I made sure to turn the space heater on a bit hotter before returning to the freshly inspected sleeping bag with a smile that I hoped was enticing.

“You want to be little spoon or big spoon?” I offered.

George didn’t reply; he just climbed onto the mattress and slipped inside the sleeping bag, wiggling all the way toward the edge. He faced away from me, which I suppose was his answer to my question. Pleased, I snuck inbehind him, twisted to zip us up, then settled at his back. It felt second nature to sling my arm over George’s torso and pull him in close. He shivered when I nuzzled the back of his ear, lacing a few unassuming kisses there to show him just how much I appreciated his vulnerability.

“Georgie?” I said after a few minutes of comfortable silence. He’d gone lax in my arms, his breathing deep and easy. Not asleep yet though, if the way he was absentmindedly playing with my fingers was any indication.

I didn’t want to wake him up, but I figured I needed to know.

“When you were with…asshole-Mc-fuck-face,” I began. George made that high-pitched noise he only did when he was trying not to laugh. “Did he…you know…” I paused, realizing that was the wrong question. “Was he your Dom?” There. Better.

“Yes.” George’s voice was quiet. It was all the answer I needed.

“And that’s something…you want? Not because of him, but because?—”

“Yes. I want it.”

“Okay.” I sucked in a breath, thoughts whirling. I wasn’t surprised. In fact, I felt validated. Validated that what I’d assumed was reality. That I’d read him correctly. But that didn’t change the fact that this revelation proved Brendon’s abuse had run far deeper than surface-level. He’d taken George’s trust and he’d…

He’d crushed it.

At least…if the way George talked about him was any indicator.

It made me so fucking angry. So goddamn livid—that anyone could take such a gift and twist it into something so?—

“Go to sleep,” George replied, still playing with my fingers. “Stop worrying so much.”

My swirling thoughts stilled. The anger fled. Just like that.

It was funny. He was such a cute little hypocrite. Telling me not to worry—when that was all he ever did. But…it worked, despite this.

Because George was here in my arms, not with Brendon. George wassafe. George was cared for, cuddled, and pampered the way he deserved to be. Therewas no need to waste what little time we had together chasing apparitions.

I hid against the back of his hair. It was soft.So soft.Tickling my nose as I nuzzled into it, inhaling the scent of his cologne greedily. Or maybe that was his shampoo? Either way, he smelled amazing. He always did.

“I’m not worrying,” I lied, realizing—belatedly—that we hadn’t addressed the elephant in the room from this morning. Specifically, the way he’d run away from me,worrying. “I’m just…ruminating.”

“Ruminating about what?” George said when I didn’t finish my thought.

Now I felt guilty for what I was about to say, simply because I was teasing him again—and here he was being adorable and grumpy and sleepy in my arms. I held him tighter, debating whether or not to open my mouth.

George sighed. “You’re going to say something stupid, aren’t you?”

“You know me so well.”

“Spit it out,” he replied with amusement that he tried to hide. “So that we can sleep.”

“Okay…” I grinned, something fizzy and bright buzzing in my stomach. Not between my legs this time, but higher up. Like butterflies were actually a thing, and I had a whole colony dancing around in there. “I was just going to promise…not to run away if I wake up tomorrow morning with a boner.”

George froze.

I waited, eager.

He was either going to elbow me or smile—either would be lovely.

Instead, he laughed, once again defying expectations.

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