Page 87 of These Monstrous Deeds

Before he loses his self-control for the second time in less than 24 hours, Nathan moves on to wash the rest of the boy. He thinks Carter looks a little sad about it, but he doesn’t say anything, and Nathan respects the promise he gave of consent. He’ll happily use Carter, but only if the boy very clearly asks.

He might have to sneak away and jack off once or twice today…

Carter is too short to wash Nathan’s hair, so Nathan does it himself while Carter just watches him with a hooded gaze. He moans when Nathan’s fingers make their way into his hair next, massaging his scalp. His eyes fall closed. “That feelssogood.”

“Good.” Nathan gives in to his temptation just a little, leaning forward to press a kiss to the boy’s soap-streaked forehead. He continues to work the soap into his hair before gently guiding him towards the shower spray. “Tilt your chin and close your eyes, sweetheart.”

As usual, Carter does as told. The water works in tandem with Nathan’s fingers until his pretty hair is all washed out.

Nathan’s never wanted to stay in the shower so badly before. He’d live in there with Carter if he could. There’s a chance Carter feels the same, his lips curving into a subtle pout when the water is turned off.

“Stay,” Nathan orders, though he makes sure his tone stays soft since it’s the boy’s day off. Once he steps out and quickly dries himself off, wrapping a towel around his waist, Nathan grabs a fresh towel and gestures for Carter to step out. He carefully dries him off, lingering in the same areas as he had when he washed him. The boy shudders and sinks back against him when Nathan turns him around to dry his hair with the end of the towel.

“I really like days off,” Carter sighs. “Not sure I want to do anything to earn another one, but this is nice.”

Nathan’s chest aches. He wishes he could give Carter days like this all the time, without the boy needing to earn them. Since that’s not possible, he just tosses the towel off to the side and orders, “Brush your teeth and meet me in the bedroom.”

Then he leaves the boy behind before he can do anything reckless, his heart fucking racing as a sudden realization sinks into his bones.

Maison said topretendto fall in love with Carter.

What if Nathan is accidentally doing it for real?

???

There’s a pair of black Armani boxer briefs that he recognizes immediately as Nathan’s, along with a faded t-shirt that he assumes is the man’s as well, set out on the end of the bed. Nathan – Carter isn’t sure how he feels about using that name, his heart racing at the thought of allowing this man to live in his mind as something other thansir, but he’s trying - is standing by the dresser wearing nothing but sweatpants. It’s a similar pair to the ones he wore last night. Carter thinks they might be his favorite things on Earth. He could spend hours just appreciating the way the waistband slings low on the man’s hips, his happy trail curling its way down to the cock Carter has become well-acquainted with. His mouth goes a little dry as he stares at the man, taking advantage of Nathan being distracted by his phone.

Except Nathan smirks and asks, “Enjoying the view, sweetheart?” without even looking up from his screen.

Damn him.

Carter feels his face flush. “I – uh – the clothes on the bed. Are they… for me?”

Still smirking, Nathan puts the phone on top of the dresser and turns to face him fully. His own gaze travels appreciatively down Carter’s naked body. It’s hungry and possessive. Carter shivers as he remembers the man growling at him, calling him little red. Carter had liked that.

Carter had liked that far too much.

“Those are for you, yes. I just sent a message for breakfast to be delivered.”

“Awesome.” Carter grins, but then he freezes. “I mean – I get to eat, right? You mentioned I get to eat all my meals today.”

Something dark passes through Nathan’s expression, but Nathan responds before Carter has a chance to apologize. “Yes. You can eat all you want. I’ll even get you snacks.”

Carter has to fight the urge to do something ridiculous like jump on the bed and cheer. He’s pretty sure he’s happy enough today to do so, if only Nathan hadn’t gotten weird at the end of their time in the bathroom just now. He shouldn’t have said that stuff about liking his day off so much. This might be the worst part of the freedom he has today. There are plenty of opportunities for Carter to fuck up when he can’t rely on strict rules and orders.

“Are you going to get dressed, or are you letting me enjoy my view all day?”

Startled out of his anxious thoughts, Carter hurries to grab the briefs off the bed and tug them up his legs. He does the shirt next. It’s just as big as the one from last night, going down to his thighs, sliding off his shoulder. Something flashes in Nathan’s eyes when Carter turns to present himself with a ta-da gesture. It’s either lust or anger. Before Carter gets the chance to inspect it further, there’s a knock on the door, and Nathan is jerking his gaze away like just looking at Carter is enough to burn him.

“Kneel on the floor,” Nathan orders, already walking to the door. “Opposite side of the bed. Now.”

Flinching at the sudden shift of tone in their day, Carter steps around the end of the bed and sinks to his knees. Something hot and sharp twists in his gut. Nathan –sir?- had said he wouldn’t have to kneel today. He said no following orders without hesitation either. If Carter was braver, he would have stood his ground and questioned the man, but Carter isn’t brave. Or maybe bravery has nothing to do with it. Maybe it’s about being smart.

Not angering his big bad, terrifying mobster wolf that fuckingownshim and can do absolutely anything he wants to him is the definition of smart.

The man speaks with someone at the door, his words too soft for Carter to hear. Carter peeks over the edge of the bed just as he steps aside to allow a house slave to push a large metal cart on wheels into the room. The smell of food is suddenly overwhelming in the small room, making Carter’s stomach growl. Carter curls in on himself and ducks his head back down as he hears him dismiss the slave.

But the door never closes, and when the man speaks again, he sounds…angry.

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