Page 97 of Hiding From Laughter

We’d take it into consideration, but itleft me wondering what else he’d been thinking. “What else came to mind?”

Because that hadn’t been where I’d thoughthe’d start.

Blaming me for letting him sleep withSawyer’s partner was where I’d thought we’d begin his worries.

Had he not thought about it that way?

How had he thought about it?

“Um, my second thought was that I didn’tthink it was a scene.” Frowning, he cocked his head and scrunched up his facebefore shrugging. “No. Not a scene.”

More fascinating logic was right around thecorner. “Because?”

He threw up his free hand and finallyturned to look at me. “Um, littles don’t do scenes they’re just little. Duh.Pups are the same way. They pup. I threw the ball. He fetched the ball. I gavehim cookies. He humped his Master’s leg. That was not a scene. The bathroom wasa scene. Stuff that seemed to be going on in the back of the building wasdefinitely a scene.”

I managed not to laugh but it was close.Based on some of the sounds we’d heard, I thought I knew what it was and ithadn’t been his kind of scene. “There were demonstrations going on tonight, butyou’re right, I think we’d count those as scenes.”

There’d been several reasons I’d known notto take him to the stage area on the other side of the club. Just because hehadn’t read the newsletter didn’t mean I hadn’t. Someone needed to make sure westayed within his limits and that seemed to be my job.

“So we’re in agreement.” Ashton nodded likewe’d made a good decision and charged off in another direction as his fingersabsentmindedly stroked mine. “When you said something about wanting meat wasthat a dick joke or did you want a hamburger? I know you’d prefer steak but Idon’t have the ability to sit down in a restaurant right now for a variety ofreasons.”

He’d drive everyone bananas and then fallasleep in his chair.

“Agreed.” I wasn’t going to torture any ofus like that. “Drive-thru alright with you?”

Wait.

“Don’t change the subject.” I was as easilydistractable as he was tonight. “You don’t consider little time or pup time tobe scenes?”

“No.” He was doing his best not to look atme like I was a moron, but he needed to work on his expressions. “You’re notdoing anything to me and his Master wasn’t doing anything to him. Well, I wasfeeding him cookies, but that can’t be what makes a scene, otherwise dinnerwould be kinky.”

God.

No. I wasn’t even going to go down thatmental rabbit hole.

“Well—”

“No.” I wasn’t going to lethimgodown that rabbit hole either. “We’re staying on point so I don’t give myself anulcer.”

“Okay.” Ashton leaned over and kissed mycheek. “I think you need food, though.”

“It’s not my blood sugar. I’m trying tomake sure I didn’t fuck something up when I let you nap with Sawyer’s partner.”He just blinked at me. “What? Why are you just staring at me?”

The brat reached up and stroked my headbefore going back to holding my hand. “Maybe I should drive. You’re confused.”

For fuck’s sake.

I was not confused or as fragile as heseemed to think.

“Why am I confused?” Relaxing back in theseat, I decided worrying was not helping and to just do my best to sort throughhow he saw the situation.

His way was much easier and my stomachthought that was a good idea.

“Because I didn’t nap with Sawyer’spartner.” Ashton clearly thought that was ridiculous. “Little me napped withthe pup. I’m really sure someone said he was tired. I was helping.”

Of course he was.

“So you get a reward for that later, huh?”His nod was expected and yet still insane. “Okay, I’ll remember that, but we’llprobably do good boy rewards tomorrow. I think we’re both too tired for thattonight.”

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