Page 55 of Pose for Me
I manage to rustle up a quick meal for Lane, adding as much protein as possible.
When I get back upstairs, I find Lane in the same spot I left him, his legs pulled to his chest as he stares out of the window.
He looks over at me and smiles. “Another shake?” he asks, holding his hand out for it.
“It’ll help you gain weight. I’ll go grocery shopping tomorrow. Make a list for me tonight, yeah?”
“Okay, Daddy.” He drinks the shake, and I can’t help but watch how his Adam’s apple bobs with the motion. I rearrange myself in my pants and look away. It’s his first full day being free of the cell. I’m sure he’s tired from our walk. He won’t be able to handle the things I want to do to him just yet.
He finishes the protein shake, then eats the food I brought up for him. We sit in silence as I watch Lane devour all his food. When he’s done, I take the plate and put it on my dresser to return to the kitchen tomorrow.
Then I hand him a notepad and a pencil, and he writes down a quick grocery list of things he likes. I look over it, smiling that I had a lot of the items in my cart when I went grocery shopping. I was right—Lane has a sweet tooth.
Setting the notepad on the nightstand, I walk over to Lane and hold out my hand. “Come on,” I say, pulling him from the chair. “Let’s get you to bed.”
Lane yawns widely, his eyes drooping. “Tired.”
“I can tell. Shirt off?”
He nods, and I pull it over his head and toss it to the floor.
“Sexy, Daddy,” he murmurs with a soft smile on his weary face. I chuckle as I pull the covers back and lie down. Then Lane climbs in beside me, tucking himself close to my side and throwing his chained leg over my thigh. His sigh is long, and I practically feel him melt into me.
“Hold me tight,” he whispers, and I do, wrapping my arms snugly around him. He clings to me, his arms like iron.
I can feel his tears against my chest, but he doesn’t look at me when I try to lift his chin. “What’s wrong, baby boy?”
He sniffles and shakes his head but doesn’t let me go. I rub his back and try to calm him, but I’m not sure why or even if I’m comforting him how he needs me to.
His sudden mood shift might have a lot to do with his ankle being chained and him being cuddled up to a serial killer, but I think it’s more than that. Especially since he’s holding me like he never wants to let me go.
When the tears stop flowing and he relaxes, I say, “You want to tell me what’s wrong?”
He lets out a long, tired breath. “Just…a hard childhood. It’s been fucking with me. When you hold me, it’s like…you’re fixing something that was broken so long ago.”
“What—”
Lane shakes his head again. “I’m too tired to get into it now, Daddy. Can we talk about it later? Please?”
If it were anyone else, I would push and push and push until the person gave me what I wanted. But I have to take care ofLane. Even though I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing, I don’t want to upset him when he begged so sweetly.
“Okay,” I say, but I know that I’ll ask again, and he’ll tell me. Whatever the issue is, I can make it better for him.
After a few minutes, he says, “Daddy?” I hum in response. “Can I have a few books, please? You don’t have a television up here.”
With a kiss to his forehead, I nod and say, “I got you, boy. Anything you want.”
Twenty-Two
Lane
I smilewhen I wake up and see the books Ryell left me on the nightstand. Fiction, nonfiction, crime dramas, thrillers, romance. Where was Ryell hiding these?
Before I dive into a book, I go to the bathroom to relieve myself and brush my teeth. I also run the razor over my face, not wanting even the slightest hint of facial hair.
The shower is harder to accommodate, so I decide to wait until Ryell comes back so he can wash me.
I get warm all over thinking about his hands on me. The care and attention he’s been showering on me is addictive. He’ll make it hard to leave.
