Page 71 of Their Little Helper

Good question.

And it even made the Papa in question break and a smile peeked through. “Should we look and see if we have something special to cuddle with?”

“Yes.” Head bobbing so fast I started to worry about his neck, Harley’s wiggles got stronger. “I…I like cuddling, Papa.”

When he finally got his head under control and hadn’t hurt himself, Harley turned to me. “I…I like cuddling, Daddy.”

He seemed stuck on the fact that he’d gotten another present.

“Do you think Papa got you something that’s alive? Oh, is it messy like glitter?” My questions had him going very still and frowning as Santos got up from the table and started gathering up the trash. “What about something loud to cuddle?”

“I…” Harley paused again, his curious brain racing. “I like music?”

That had Santos’s eyes going wide. “I did not pick out something loud to cuddle. No drums, and for fuck’s sake, nothing with glitter.”

Going still, Harley finally laughed. “Glitter drums, Daddy.”

That would be wonderfully messy and would make Santos nuts…I was going to have to see how much those would cost.

Before I could open my mouth or dig out my phone, Santos waved his finger in my direction. “If glitter drums show up at my house I’ll forget how to spank.”

As Harley snickered and hid his face against the table, Santos waved his arms around. “Oh no. I’ve forgotten how to spank. I guess I’ll never learn how to do it again.”

“You’re old but you’re not senile yet.” Shaking my head, I sighed. “But if he’s forgotten that part, it might’ve already set in.”

As Harley giggled, I reached over and patted his shoulder. “Don’t tell him, but first the brain goes and then the dick follows. But it’s okay. We’ll take care of him.”

Sitting up, Harley swallowed back more laughter. “We’re…we’re good helpers, Daddy.”

And the giggles escaped.

Santos’s eyes rolled to follow the laughter and he shook his head. “Your Daddy is a terrible influence.”

Terribly smart…but it was a curse sometimes.

“We’re going to ignore that now, though.” Walking around the table, Santos took Harley’s hand. “I have surprises so that takes precedence over brats needing attention.”

“Surprises?” More than one? “What else did you get him?”

At what point was I supposed to ask about shopping addictions?

“More surprises?” Perking up again, Harley forgot how funny everything had been. “I’m a good boy, Papa.”

So that clearly meant it was okay to buy him lots of surprises.

“I know you are.” Santos looked very pleased with himself as he nodded toward the living room. “Let’s go see what I got for my guys.”

Me?

“Oh, Daddy too?” Reaching for my hand, Harley dragged us both to the living room at a breakneck speed I hadn’t expected from him. Giants were usually slightly lumbering at the very least but he must not have gotten the memo on that. “Hurry, Daddy. Papa got us presents.”

Hopefully.

Harley was going to be very upset if he’d misunderstood Santos’s teasing.

“I think it’s just?—”

Dangerous.

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