“It’s very okay,” I assure him, playing it cool and trying not to smile too much in case it breaks the moment. “Note to self: more picnics and more pissing Jackson off.”
“I heard that,” Sammy says, not looking up from his book. “Naughty word.”
I don’t take my eyes off Jackson. “Sorry, buddy. You can have an extra treat.”
“Two extra treats,” Sammy says, flipping the page loudly.
“Nice try, but no.” I finally pull my gaze away from Jackson. “I refuse to be out-negotiated by a four-year-old.”
“Whatever.” Sammy rolls his eyes playfully and continues reading.
“How’s your day been?” I ask Jackson, my eyes oscillating between his face and our touching hands.
“Not great. Peanuts isn’t responding to his meds. Looks like I’m going to have to call the vet out again.”
“Good thing we switched to a monthly pricing model, isn’t it?”
He regards me with warmth shining in his eyes. I don’t know if there really is some magic picnic voodoo at play here, but for some reason, they seem to bring out a softer side to Jackson. A hand-holding, sweet-smiling side I am really liking.
“Also, thanks for letting me stay in my cabin.”
That I’m not liking so much. I’m probably being overcautious, but I really wish he’d move out of there, like, yesterday. What can I do, though? He asked for an extension, and I gave him one.
“I’ve been keeping a close eye on wind conditions,” I tell him gravely. “Things are going to pick up this weekend. Wind speeds could reach up to ten knots.”
“I have no idea what that means.”
It means shit. Ten knots is a mild breeze, might rustle a few leaves on the ground at most. “Cyclonic conditions.”
He grins, seeing right through me. “Yeah, right.”
“Fine. But if we get any bad weather, you are out of there.”
“Sure, sure,” he says dismissively, nibbling on a carrot stick.
I glance over to check Sammy’s attention is glued to that book and not us. I lower my voice anyway to ask, “How are you feeling about the stuff we’re doing?”
A grin spreads across his face, lighting up his green eyes. He leans in closer. “You referring to our newly initiated employee cleanliness hygiene initiative?”
I smirk. “Correct. And just for the record, the program currently only applies to you.”
He squeezes down on my hand. “Currently?”
“Currently and exclusively only to you,” I clarify.
“Good.” He relaxes his grip and moves in even closer, his shoulder brushing against mine. “My new favorite thing is walking around the sanctuary with your cum leaking out of my ass.”
A warm flush spreads through my chest. “We call those weekdays.”
His features soften as an unfiltered grin spreads across his face. “You’re a doofus.”
I run the pad of my thumb against the soft skin atop his palm. “I’m enjoying what we’re doing.”
“So am I.”
“I like it a lot. I likeyoua lot, Jackson.”
His grin fades a little. He tips his head up and stares out into the distance. His lips twitch, but he’s unable to push any words out.
