Page 43 of Hiding From Laughter

I managed not to laugh, but I did reachpast him and grab the soap. “I’m silly. What was I thinking?”

The way he was shaking his head said hewasn’t sure I’d been thinking at all.

We were going to have to agree to disagree,but I decided to give him a few seconds to get over the initial rush ofexcitement before I dragged him away from the toys.

And his spoon.

Maybe?

He still had a tight grip on it and didn’tseem to think putting it down was necessary, but some of the animals seemed tobe just as important.

“Can’t we put the elephant down for just asecond?” I thought it was a reasonable request but he glared at me and pressedhis mitt to his chest as he scrambled to stand up. “You’ll be able to play withit better once you’re in the tub.”

There was no way to take the mitts in thewater, so I was going to have to give him access to his fingers. Unfortunately.I wasn’t going to lie. I liked how helpless he looked and he was adorable whenhe waved his hands and whined at me.

But they were not waterproof and he’d wantto play with his new goodies.

Nope.

Hands went under his arms, toys and all.

His stormy face made me want to give him akiss but that wasn’t the best idea at the moment.

“Who’s in charge here?” Keeping my voicelow and stern, I managed a passably pissed-off expression that got a sigh frommy cutie. I waited, raising one eyebrow until he huffed and stomped one foot.“Me. That’s right.”

He couldn’t seem to decide how to respond,but he kept sucking his binkie and looking at me like he was mentally cursingme.

“Give me your hands.” I needed to check onthem at the very least. “Naughty boys don’t get rewards.”

His head turned and he looked at the bagI’d set on the counter.

And then there was another sigh.

Such a drama queen.

Two stomping steps brought him to me and heheld out his hands like he was going to jail.

Taking his spoon and his elephant got anaudible pained sound from him like he was being tortured. I’d somehow done thisto myself, so I knew I had to be patient with him.

But how had buying him a cute spoon turnedhim into a crazy troll that had to guard his treasures?

Chapter 13

Ashton

Mine.

Mine.

Mine.

’Wards.

Had to be a good boy to get my ’wards.

“Almost done. Good boy.” My naughty man waspretending to smile but he was mean. “You can’t get into the bubbles in yourclothes, baby.”

I could.

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