Page 31 of His to Break

"Thank you," Caleb whispered, his voice choked with emotion. He fought back tears, unwilling to let them fall in front of Eli. In his heart, he clung to the belief that Rowan was still alive – as his twin, he felt certain that he would know if Rowan had met a tragic fate.

But was he just deluding himself?

Eventually, Ryker checked his watch. "Time for your tutoring, buddy," Ryker told the little boy, who looked up at him with a mixture of disappointment and curiosity. "We have to head back now."

"Okay-y-y," Eli groused, giving the partially-finished sandcastle one last pat before taking Ryker's hand.

Caleb smiled at the sight of them together, his heart swelling with love. As they made their way back toward the resort, the sun casting long shadows upon the ground, Caleb couldn't help but marvel at the twisted path that had led them here. Despite the darkness that still lingered at the edges of their lives, they were finding solace in each other's arms, charting a course through uncharted territory together.

"Let's go home," Caleb murmured, following Ryker and Eli back to their temporary sanctuary, determined to hold onto the happiness they'd found — even if it was just for a moment longer.

Caleb sat on the edge of their bed, the soft fabric of the sheets brushing against his thighs as he took in the sunlight that streamed through the open window. The lazy rustle of palm leaves in the warm tropical breeze was a soothing soundtrack to their life in hiding. He watched as Eli played with a toy car on the floor, his small fingers gripping it tightly, completely absorbed in his imaginary world.

"Ms. Garcia is late," Ryker said, checking his watch and casting a quick glance toward the door. Caleb could see the tension in Ryker's shoulders, the same way he carried himself when they were out in public, always cautious, always ready for anything.

"Relax, it happens," Caleb replied, playfully nudging Ryker's leg with his foot. He'd grown fond of teasing the older man, enjoying the way Ryker's stoicism would crack ever so slightly under the pressure of his flirtatious jabs.

The knock on the door came just as Caleb finished his sentence. "See?"

Ryker opened it to reveal Ms. Garcia, the elderly woman they'd hired as Eli's tutor. Her kind eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled, her gray hair pulled back into a neat bun.

"Hello, everyone!" she greeted, her voice like a warm embrace. "Are we ready for our lesson today, Eli?"

Eli looked up from his toy, his face lighting up with excitement. "Yes, Ms. Garcia!"

"Good afternoon, Ms. Garcia," Caleb said, rising to his feet. "Thank you so much for this. We really appreciate your help with Eli."

"Of course," she replied. "Many children these days, their parents travel so much… It's good to keep up with their learning even on holiday! Eli is a fast learner, and very well behaved, you must be a good father." Her gaze flicked away from Caleb, and over to Ryker. "And you must be very proud of your grandson."

Oh. Oops. Well, there was a little age gap between the two of them, wasn't there…?

Caleb couldn't help but laugh, while Ryker's cheeks flushed with a mix of offense and embarrassment. He tried to play it off, clearing his throat. "Actually, I'm not..." Ryker began, but Caleb cut him off with a gentle hand on his arm.

"Yes, he's very proud," Caleb said, still grinning. "It's important to spend time with family in your older years... before you have to go into retirement and all…"

The look on Ryker's face was nearly too much for Caleb. He bit down on his lip, trying not to laugh.

Ms. Garcia, oblivious to their exchange, said her goodbyes and ushered Eli out of the room, leaving Caleb and Ryker alone once more. As soon as the door clicked shut, Ryker spun around to face Caleb, his eyes narrowed in mock annoyance.

"You want me to be your daddy, huh?" he growled playfully, stepping closer and pinning Caleb against the wall. Their bodies pressed together, the heat between them palpable.

"Maybe I just like getting under your skin," Caleb shot back, smirking and raising an eyebrow challengingly.

"Careful, boy," Ryker warned, his voice low and dangerous, sending shivers down Caleb's spine. "Keep that up, and I'll have to remind you who's in charge here."

"Go ahead, Daddy," Caleb taunted, feeling a thrill run through him at the word. "Show me who's boss."

Ryker responded by claiming Caleb's lips in a searing kiss, his tongue demanding entrance as they tasted each other. Pulling back just enough to speak, Ryker whispered against Caleb's mouth, "You better watch yourself, or I'll have to teach you some respect, little boy."

Caleb feigned innocence, batting his eyelashes seductively. "But Daddy, isn't that what you're supposed to do? Teach your wayward son how to behave?"

Ryker groaned. "You're impossible."

Caleb nipped at his lip. "You love it."

The charged banter only served to fan the flames of desire that burned between them. Caleb felt his pulse quicken, his body responding to Ryker's dominant presence. They'd danced this dance before, and as much as he loved pushing Ryker's buttons, there was no denying the thrill of submitting to the older man's control.

"Fine," Ryker growled, his hands gripping Caleb's hips tightly. "You asked for it." His breath was hot against Caleb's ear as he pressed closer. "You're going to be good for me now, aren't you?"

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