“Well, don’t prove me wrong.”
Feeling as though he was in another reality, Nat scooped Wanda into his arms and padded after Duke to his bedroom.
“Youare trusting me a lot, for someone who’s only known me for two days,” Duke said.
Nat chewed his lip. “You just feel safe.”
Duke studied him curiously, eyebrows raised. He didn’t push further, though. Instead, he opened his door and stepped in, waiting for Nat to follow.
Duke’s bedroom was cozy. His bed was huge, with an incredibly plush duvet that made Nat want to jump right in. An old-fashioned cuckoo clock hung on one wall, surrounded by various carved ornaments that belonged on a Yuletide tree.
Come to think of it, the ornament wall was painted a deep green, with sweeping lines throughout that reminded Nat of pine needles.
He stared. “Is that a Yuletide wall? Like, it’s supposed to be a tree, but you put your ornaments on a wall instead?”
“Yes.” Duke grinned with all his teeth. “You’re one of the few people who get it.”
Nat wasn’t going to think about the number of people Duke had invited in here. “You must like Yuletide a lot, to bring it into your bedroom.”
“Well, I’m not having sex with it,” Duke said dryly.
“But you could,” Nat’s mouth said before he could stop it.
Duke’s eyebrows went up. “How?”
Nat cursed his stupid mouth. “Um, there are candy cane dildos.”
“Oh? Have you used one of those?”
“No! Well, only because I don’t have the money to buy one.” Nat’s shoulders slumped. “They’re really pretty, though. They’re clear glass with red stripes twisted around the outside. But... I’ve also seen a Yuletide-tree butt plug.”
His eyebrows still raised, Duke pulled out his phone and began tapping on it. “Huh. I’ve found them both. And I’ve ordered them.”
“Oh, gods.” Nat wasnotthinking about what Duke might do with those toys. “Do you have something Wanda can sleep in?”
Duke startled. “That’s right. My apologies. I’ll be right back.”
He hurried out of the bedroom, leaving Nat and Wanda alone. Nat tried not to pry. But he couldn’t help staring at the trophies on the far wall, the photos of the night sky next to the bed.
Only the ornament wall felt like something an employee was allowed to look at. Nat stepped closer, admiring the carved owls and turtles, the little wooden dolls that had their limbs connected with string, so if you pulled on one limb, the rest would move along with it.
Nat was admiring the intricate cuckoo clock when Duke entered the bedroom.
“That’s a nice cock,” Nat said. And froze. “Fuck my stupid mouth. Oh, gods, that came out wrong, too.”
Duke’s lips curved. “Thatisa very nice clock. It was a gift from my grandfather. And your mouth isn’t stupid. I’m enjoying everything that comes out of it.”
“At least it’s coming outside.” Nat sucked in a slow breath, and thumped his head against the wall. “Just shut me up and put me out of my misery.”
Duke snorted. “I won’t do that, but I do have a crib you can borrow.”
He set it up next to the bed, fluffing up its mattress and blanket.
“Why do you have a crib?”
“I fostered some younger children before I got Mallie and Teddy. The older ones don’t get adopted as quickly.”
“Mallie and Teddy seem to like it here,” Nat said honestly. “They really like you.”
