Page 4 of Specter
Duke drew a steadying breath. Then he snagged Noah and flipped him over his shoulder and the back of the couch. He landed safely in Duke’s lap. His eyes shone bright with happiness as peals of laughter escaped him. Duke couldn’t look away or stop smiling at the sound. “Why do you waste your time on me? In fact, why do you waste your life on this ranch? You should run away and be young somewhere fun. Surely you don’t want to be trapped here forever.”
Noah’s smile disappeared. “It’s okay if you don’t want me here. I can sneak back home.”
Duke’s chest nearly caved at the idea of Noah leaving him. “You’re the only person I want here. Let’s throw everyone else off my land and become hermits.”
A gorgeous smile exploded across Noah’s face. “According to you, my toy cars are worth a lot of money. I could sell them and steal you away to however far the money would go. We can be hermits where no one knows our names.”
Duke drew Noah closer. He couldn’t stop himself. Noah’s lips haunted his dreams. “I have money.” He whisked his lips across Noah’s as lightly as possible. Duke didn’t want to scare him. “Tell me where you want to go.” His lips moved to the corner of Noah’s mouth. “I’d give you anything.”
Duke pressed his hand against his stomach at the memory. If only he had known exactly how prepared Noah had been to run. Every night since the one he lost Noah had been a million years long. He hadn’t known one year could feel like ten. Noah had to be at this party. If he wasn’t, Duke feared what he might do. Insanity had only been a hairsbreadth away for twelve long months. Tonight felt like the edge.
Two pairs of underwear sat on the bed, waiting. Noah stared at each pair and debated. One was covered in cartoon cars and the other was a pair of black boxer briefs. Honestly, the boxer briefs were more comfortable and what he wore most often. But if he met someone, maybe they would expect the cars. Unexpected tears pressed at the backs of Noah’s eyes. He didn’t know if he could do this. It felt like all the progress he’d made with Duke was gone, but so too was Duke. What did it matter if Noah regressed into being a Little and stayed that way forever? He had only matured for Duke.
“Are you wearing your big boy underwear?”
“Yes.” Even to Noah’s ears, he sounded unsure.
Duke shook his head. “That didn’t sound truthful. Let me see.”
Noah blushed but dutifully unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, showing Duke his red boxer briefs. “I don’t know if they’re strictly big boy underwear since they’re not white briefs, but these are more comfortable.”
Duke kissed the tip of his nose and helped Noah fix his clothes. “Those are perfect. You did good. I’m proud of you.”
Noah beamed under the praise. No one said nice things to him except Duke. Noah wondered if the love and desperation he felt showed in his eyes as he looked at Duke. He wanted Duke to see him as a man… as desirable. Without thinking and before he missed his chance, Noah shot forward and pressed his lips to Duke’s. Duke didn’t move. In fact, he leaned into their kiss. Noah’s lips instinctively parted. Then his body was on fire. As quickly as it happened, it was over. Duke walked away from him, leaving him cold.
Noah grabbed the underwear covered in cars and angrily pulled them on. He didn’t deserve to be comfortable. For a moment, Noah stood, chest heaving, and with his broken heart screaming. Then he peeled off the underwear and pulled on the comfortable pair. No matter what, Duke’s praise still lived in his brain. With his heart in his throat, Noah stepped into his dinosaur pajamas and zipped them to his throat before pulling up his hood. He moved to look at himself in the mirror. Noah massaged his arm as his gaze moved over his reflection. His blue eyes seemed lighter than usual with his face pale and tears barely resisting the fall. Noah swallowed. He just needed to get through tonight. Then maybe he could find his way back to sanity.
With a breath for courage, Noah pulled on his backpack full of toys and he headed for the door. As he reached for the handle, his throat tried swelling closed. Noah pressed his forehead to the cool wood and the nightmare that always waited to consume him overtook him again.
“I knew it.”
Noah’s head whipped around. He jumped away from Duke. Blood covered Ted from head to toe. The shotgun in his hands shook with the same madness and fury that filled his eyes.
“Your momma tried to say I was crazy, but I knew I wasn’t. I told her you two had been making eyes at each other. I won’t have it. I’ll see you both dead first.”
Duke shoved Noah behind his back. “Whose blood is that, Ted? Put the gun away.”
“I knew things weren’t right. Noah’s been hiding from me. He’s been disappearing at night. At first, I thought he was just hiding in the woods to get away from me. But then I saw the way you looked at him and I knew. Kate said I had to leave him alone. She said he was too old for me now anyhow.”
Noah whimpered. He couldn’t stop the sound from escaping. Ted was telling Duke his secret. It was like having his heart ripped from his chest.
“Put the gun away, Ted. We can figure this out.”
“Come out from behind there, baby boy. Your momma is dead now. She can’t stand between us.”
Tears streamed down Noah’s cheeks. Whimpers he couldn’t swallow kept rising in his throat, choking the life from him. He never, ever wanted Duke to hear this. Noah would rather die.
“What are you saying, Ted? Is that Kate’s blood?”
“Baby boy, it’s time to be with Daddy now.”
A sob tore from Noah.Ted would kill Duke and then he would be trapped forever. He had to make his move. Duke had given him nearly a year of happiness. It was over now. All he had to do was let Ted kill him instead of Duke and this lifetime of nightmares would end.
“I love you.” He whispered the words before he tried stepping around Duke. Duke’s grip refused to loosen so he could pass.
Ted’s voice turned whiney, almost sickeningly desperate. “That’s it, baby boy. Come to me. You know I can make you feel good. We can play a game.”
“You sick bastard.” Duke lunged. A loud blast cut through the air, deafening Noah. He covered his ears. Blood splashed his clothes. Duke hit his knees. “Run, Noah! Don’t look back. Run!”
