We walk into the dining room. The long table is already lined with my employees who live on the estate, a ritual we rarely pass on, unless I’m busy or in a particularly foul mood.
What Ididn’texpect when I walked in was to see Kit here… out of bed, in my seat.
A flicker of panic runs through me and I still in the doorway. Ray moves past me to sit down opposite Armen.
Armen and Selina have become close with Kit these past couple of days, good friends, if you will. Right now, the three of them are in the middle of a conversation, Armen gesturing animatedly with his hands. I don’t listen to the words. My gaze is locked on Kit, flicking over him, checking if he’s okay. The IV line is still in his arm but not connected to anything. His dark curls are still a mess, but no one cares. After what he went through, he needed the rest. But goddamn… something hot and possessive rolls through me, laced with pride.So much pride.
He hasn’t noticed I’m here yet. I watch as he covers his mouth with his hand, trying to keep a straight face instead of laughing at whatever Armen just said.
The past couple of days I’ve realised Kit thinks he’s like a mutation now, that the scar makes him hideous. I get it, it’s still red and swollen, the stitches still sticking out. The doctor will remove them in a couple more days.
The most heartbreaking thing, though, has been that no matter how much time I spend with him, Kitalwaystries to turn his face away. He tries not to let me see the scar. But I want to see his face. I love his face… the soft curve of his jaw, the way his curls fall into his eyes, the quiet vulnerability in his expression even when he’s trying to hide it. My eyes go wide at the thought, and I immediately shove it down.Nope. We’re not going there. Just eat and shut up.
I walk over to my usual seat at the head of the table, already preparing to tell Kit to move so I can sit down. I’m still the boss; I can’t be showing everyone how soft I can be for the boy.
But Kit simply stands up out of the way without me having to say a word, shaking his head at Armen with a small, amused smile. “You’re full of bullshit, Armen. No way did that happen.”
Selina clicks her fingers at Kit and chimes in, “I second that.”
I sit down, wondering what the hell they’re even talking about. As soon as I’m settled, Kit just… sits back down.On me. On my lap. I wasnotexpecting that. I look down at where he’s perched, then back up at the back of his head, my brain short-circuiting for half a second. A tiny grin tugs at my mouth as I try to withhold the low growl building in my chest.Not the time, Soren. But damn… I hope he lets me back in soon. I cannotwaitto rail this boy again, everysingleday.
I shuffle the chair closer to the table as best I can and pull Kit more comfortably back against my chest, angling him slightly to one side so I can still reach around him when the food arrives.
Armen leans forward, grinning. “Boss, tell them I’m not making it up. You remember that time me and you went to that axe-throwing competition like ten years back? When we had to fly out to Tennessee?”
I groan at the memory, embarrassed I ever agreed to something so ridiculous. “Uh huh. What about it? You know I hated that trip.”
Armen laughs. “Yeah, yeah. Anyway, tell them that I landed that axe backwards without looking!”
I huff a laugh. “It’s true.Butyou did scare the shit out of everyone watching.”
Armen shrugs shamelessly. “I deserved that win.”
I deadpan, “There were kids there, Armen.”
Armen covers his mouth, hiding his shameless grin. I just roll my eyes.
Kit leans back, resting his head against my collarbone as I take a sip of my drink. I don’t miss Selina’s observing smile before Ray pulls her attention away, leaving just Kit and me in this weird little bubble.
Kit whispers, almost shyly, “I’d like a shower after dinner.”
I nod and set my glass down. “Okay.”
Honestly, I’d love to help, but Kit has been stubborn about accepting help these past couple of…
My thoughts are cut off when he adds quietly, “Will you help me?”
I slowly turn my head to look down at him. “Seriously?”
Kit blushes adorably and mumbles, “I mean, only if you’re not busy… you know what, it was a stupid thing to ask of you…”
I press a kiss to his shoulder and murmur, “I’d love to help. After that you can help me finish my taxes.”
Kit snorts out a surprised laugh that makes me raise a brow.
He covers his mouth gently. “Sorry.”
I nip at his earlobe with my teeth playfully. The interaction feels easy and natural, like something I didn’t know I was missing.
