“Because Gideon is right; I need to give Patrick time to think this through. He doesn’t need me hounding him with phone calls and texts.” He grunted. “Besides, I disgust myself. I shouldn’t be this obsessed with someone I hardly know. Ugh.”
The twins giggled.
Derek chuffed. “It’s not funny, brats.”
“It kind of is,” Marcus tittered. “You’re socutewhen you’re in love.”
“I’m notin love. I just met him. I’ve barely talked to him.”
Marcus laid his head on Mickey’s shoulder and smiled adorably. “I loved Mickey the second I saw him.”
Mickey kissed his soft hair. “And I loved you back.”
“You two are special cases.”
“Huh-uh,” Marcus countered. “Lots of people fall in love at first sight. It can happen to anyone.”
“Be that as it may,” Derek said, “I don’t want to smother him or be too pushy. But if it’s left up to me—Iwill.So…” He pointed at his cell. “… keep that thing away from me until the end of the week.”
Mickey pursed his lips, eyes squinting. “What if Patrick calls? Or texts? Should we tell you?”
Derek groaned with laughter. “Inthatcase—yes.But I don’t think there’s any chance of that happening.”
Marcus took the phone and hugged it to his chest. “Canwecall Patrick?” He scrunched his nose teasingly. “I betwecould get him to go out with you again. Get him allsteamingfor you.”
“No.”Derek held up a stern finger and the twins burst out laughing. “You two behave yourselves, you hear me?Nounsolicited calls—got it?”
The two boys looked at each other, impish gleams in their blue eyes. “Yes, Derek.”
“Promise?”
“Um…” They giggled. “Uh-huh.”
“Say it.”
The boys fell against one another, laughing. “We promise.”
Derek eyed them suspiciously. “Maybe I should just give the phone to Gideon…” He stepped toward the bed.
“No!” Mickey squealed and grabbed the device. “We won’t call him—we promise!”
“All right…” Derek mumbled doubtfully. “You’d best not, or else.”
“Or else what?” Marcus crawled to the end of the bed, swaying sexily on hands and knees, the tip of his tongue clamped between his teeth, his smile seductive. His tiny blue shorts hardly covered his firm little ass that suddenly demanded Derek’s undivided attention. “What kinds of naughty things will you do to us if we break our promise?”
Derek shook his head. “You two are impossible to threaten.”
Rising to his knees, Marcus beckoned with his finger.
“What?” Derek smiled, eyes narrowing.
“Come here.” Marcus stretched out both arms and wriggled his fingers, his petite hips rocking hypnotically side to side—and inside those delectable shorts… a lovely erection was forming.
Derek moaned and went to him.
Mickey slipped the phone in the nightstand drawer and joined Marcus at the end of the bed. The two boys pulled Derek down onto the mattress and flopped on top of him.
“You’ll be all right till Friday,” Marcus cooed in his ear. “You just need lots of distraction.”
