Page 11 of Disciplinary Action
“What a creep,” Cal said, the hostility in his voice making Gideon smile.
“It seems like a lifetime ago,” Gideon promised, pressing a kiss to the top of Cal’s head.
The boy scoffed like the answer didn’t satisfy his anger, but then he was moving on. “Is that why you’re a… What do they call somebody like you? Who likes to be called Daddy?”
“Daddy Dom,” Gideon said. “No. No, that’s not why.”
“Is it true you lost somebody and that’s why you never use the same boy twice?” Cal asked, his voice one step above a whisper.
There was a sharp pang behind Gideon’s ribcage. “Is that what they say about me?”
Cal shrugged, picking up Gideon’s hand and playing with his fingers. “They said you seemed lonely but guarded. Did you? Lose somebody?”
Gideon surprised himself by answering, “Yes, my husband.”
Cal squeezed Gideon’s hand, the sorrow in his voice unmistakable. “Were you his Daddy?”
Gideon sighed. “No. He was mine.”
Cal sat up and turned around, causing the water to slosh along the sides. “That sucks. I’m sorry.”
Gideon swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. It was such a shitty condolence, but he could see the boy truly meant it, which somehow made it seem like it just happened yesterday and not six years ago. “He was much older than me,” he said before clearing his throat. “Still, I thought we’d have more time.”
“What happened to him?”
The boy’s questions seemed endless now. “He was in a car accident,” Gideon said before clearing his throat. “Now, let’s get out of this tub before you get any wrinklier.” He kissed the boy’s lips to stave off whatever question he might lob next.
Cal snorted a laugh as he stepped out of the tub. “Like I’m the one who has to worry about wrinkles.”
Gideon snapped the towel, catching the boy’s thigh. “Watch it, brat. You’re still mine for another thirty minutes. I could squeeze in another round of spankings.”
Cal’s eyes went round as saucers. “No, Daddy. I’m sorry,” he said, his voice full of fake fear.
“Yeah, yeah. Go get dressed.”
Gideon padded to his dresser and pulled on a pair of soft cotton pajama pants and sat on the end of the bed while he watched the boy dress. He was dragging his feet. It was clear he didn’t want to leave. If Gideon was honest with himself, he didn’t want him to go, might never want him to go, which was reason enough to send him away.
Once Cal dressed, Gideon opened the drawer to the credenza just beside the front door, pulling his wallet free and handing the boy ten crisp hundred-dollar bills. The boy didn’t take it, just stared at the money in Gideon’s hand like he’d never seen it before. “What’s that?”
“It’s yours.”
He shook his head, his conscience at war with his survival instinct. “I can’t take that. That’s twice what you paid Hillary.”
Gideon took Cal’s hand and pushed the money into it. “Hillary wasn’t here tonight. She wasn’t in my bed. You were.” Gideon lifted his chin and gave him a lingering kiss. “And you were perfect. I’d give you ten times this if I had it.”
Cal looked anywhere but at Gideon. “And you never see the same boy twice? Never?”
Gideon could see what he wanted, knew what he asked, and for the first time in years, the thought of breaking his one and only rule tempted him. But he couldn’t. He just couldn’t. Especially not for this barely legal boy with his big green eyes and broken life. “I’m afraid not. But if I could make an exception, you would have been the one I made it for. I don’t know if that brings you any comfort.”
“Does it matter?” Cal asked, his lower lip trembling enough to twist something deep in Gideon’s chest.
“I guess not.”
Gideon opened the door, and the boy turned to go. He snagged his arm and turned him back toward him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Be careful getting home. Don’t forget to text Hillary that you’re safe.”
The boy didn’t speak, just nodded and left.
Gideon closed the door and leaned against it, forcing himself not to chase after the boy. He wasn’t sure how long he stood there, but by the time he locked the door, he was certain he might have made the biggest mistake of his life.
