“Go on.”
I was boiling up, my cheeks blushing red. “You’re—”
“So many things you can say, Jace, pick one.”
“I agree, you’re a hard candy, but those red ones that taste like Fireball. Like, cinnamon, spicy sweet, and hard at first, but the more you suck, the—”
“The redder your mouth,” he laughed. “I do love Red Hots.”
“That’s what they’re called. I knew it.”
He pulled me in and wrapped me in his arms before kissing me. We were in the open, and we were kissing. And nobody saw us, not a single soul. It was freeing, even if a little bit scary to keep this secret, but also shout about the kiss from the rooftops. Lorenzo’s shell had broken, and I was consumed by his soft, warm center.
16. LORENZO
I’d only been living on the ranch for a month, yet I seemed to know everyone’s schedules pretty well. It’s why I was able to get away with stealing kisses from Jace in those blind spots where people would never come, and especially when we were at the fence looking at the horses, people didn’t come by the stables, so why would they come to see the horses as they get some well-needed playtime and fresh air in, after so long cooped up in the stables rehabilitating them, they needed this time to socialize.
We were secretive about the relationship and romance blossoming between us for a couple weeks, and in that time, cameras were fitting in the stables, and I was able to get more time at the guesthouse. Jace would sneak out of the family home at night, climb into bed with me, and over those weeks, he’d slowly introduced me to a series of teddies which now called my bed home.
Jace woke early, seemingly earlier than me, although I always told him I’d been awake before him but pretended to keep my eyes closed. It was playful and almost competitive for him, but secretly, I think he knew I was still sleeping.
“Coffee and eggs,” he shouted.
My eyes snapped open to see him standing over me with a plate in one hand and a mug in the other. Jace was dressed in a onesie with red and blue stars all over them. Looking like an adorable snack, which was nice to have on hand if breakfast wasn’t filling. “Oh wow. I told you; you don’t have to make me food in the morning.” I said, shuffling to sit up in bed.
“I know, but I want to, and I have to eat myself,” he said, putting the plate on my lap and the cup on a coaster on the nightstand. “I also toasted some bread. One second.” Heskittered off, nearly slipping on the linoleum with his feetie pajamas.
I sipped the black coffee, just the right amount of bitter. Not burned, but truly brewed. It was almost like he knew me better than I knew myself when he would surprise me with things like this. And the eggs too, he’d added something to them that changed their flavor, chili flakes, I wondered after a taste.
Jace came back with his plate and another mug of coffee. There was another smaller plate on top of his eggs with the toast, squishing down his otherwise fluffy scrambled eggs. “I already buttered them,” he said. “Also, you should’ve let me make bread, rather than buying this stuff from the store.”
I tapped the tip of his nose with my finger and then pulled him in for a kiss. “You should be relying on me, not the other way around. I’ll buy the bread, and all the things I need, and one day I’ll make you food.”
“Well, you’re actually out of bread, so you might need me to make you some,” he said, batting his lashes and smiling.
“Looks like another trip into town is on the cards then,” I said. “Which reminds me, I have a list of things I need to buy.”
“Today?”
“You have time today?”
He puffed out his cheeks. “I should, but I thought you were going to get me riding one of the horses today.”
I was, and that was still the plan, but since I had to go into town, I was searching for something I could get for him. In the small spotlights of time when he allowed his little side out, I’d seen how truly pure he was, and what he wanted. It was going to be my pleasure to give him something for his little space, and to cement myself in his life as a rewarding Daddy, especially after he was now able to feed the horses without flinching or pulling his hand away in recoil.
“We can do many things in one day,” I told him. “Besides, if I can get you all booked up with things, you won’t spent the entire day worrying about getting on the back of a horse.” Ashwind was the horse that came to mind since he’d allowed me to saddle up and get his bridle on, and for short periods of time, he submitted to being ridden. All I wanted was to get Jace on the back of one, he didn’t have to go further than a couple yards.
“That feels a bit manipulative,” he said with a big pout. “You wouldn’t manipulate me, would you?”
“Of course, I absolutely would,” I confessed, it was hard to lie to his adorable face, and it wasn’t like I was manipulating him into something horrible. “Especially for something that benefits you. And I think this definitely benefits you. Plus, I’ve felt the way those thighs grip me when you’re on top. I know you’ve got the muscle to ride.”
He giggled, biting his lower lip away from a pout. “Don’t get me started on thinking about those naughty things,” he said. “We don’t have time to play.”
We had all the time in the world to play. I kissed him. “Another reward for later then,” I told him.
“Another?”
“I have something for you when you show me you can get on one of the horses and not panic,” I whispered and kissed him again. “And I’ll have another reward for you because you’re the sweetest boy I know, and you’re exercising such restraint from Daddy right now. Even when I’ve got some morning wood.”
