Chapter Five
With his tongue held between his teeth, Cairo did his best to keep all his colors inside the lines.
Meanwhile, Kylo brushed strokes across a canvas.
Cairo couldn’t see what he painted, but Kylo looked intense.
No matter how hard he tried to lose himself in the activity, Cairo’s mind kept returning to the night before.
The way Rhodes had looked at him kept butterflies in his stomach.
Cairo had been desired before, but things were different with Rhodes.
The way Rhodes looked at him felt good. Natural.
Healthy. The way Rhodes held him afterward still made Cairo glow with happiness.
He didn’t want to find a corner to hide in.
Cairo hadn’t felt that way yet with Rhodes.
Without question, he was safe. It was an addictive feeling.
The hair stood on the back of Cairo’s neck.
He glanced up in time to see Rhodes walk away from the open door.
A black t-shirt strained against his muscular body.
He wore a gun like he came equipped with it.
Cairo should be scared, knowing who he was and what he did.
He wasn’t. Rhodes was who he needed. Strong yet gentle.
The desire to chase after him bordered on desperation.
“You look adorable in big-boy clothes.” Kylo’s words had Cairo’s eyes swinging his way.
“Do you really think so?” The question popped out before Cairo had time to think. He ended up sounding a little too excited.
Kylo eyed him. He gave Cairo a sharp nod. “I do. You need a pop of color, though.”
Cairo glanced down at himself. He wore blue jeans and a blue shirt.
“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” A pit opened in Cairo’s stomach.
He had tried something new and obviously had done it wrong.
Cairo kind of thought he might hyperventilate.
Everything he did was wrong. He didn’t know how to please people.
Kylo stood. “Don’t be silly.” He grabbed Cairo’s hand and pulled him to his feet. The overenthusiastic tug had Cairo nearly landing on his face. Somehow, he kept up.
“Where are we going?”
“To play dress-up, of course.” Kylo made the statement like he thought Cairo could read his mind.
“Oh.”
Kylo pulled Cairo into a room that was nothing but clothes. Puffy tutus and brightly colored tops sat alongside elaborate dresses and short costumes. Cairo tried looking in every direction at once.
Kylo pulled a bright purple silky vest from a hanger.
“Here.” He dressed Cairo while Cairo stood like a doll for his whims. Kylo buttoned the piece and took a step back.
He tapped his chin. “Hmm. That’s pretty good, but I can do better.
Let’s do this.” He took the vest off and found a white Hawaiian shirt with bright orange flowers.
Kylo tucked Cairo’s arms into the holes but left it unbuttoned.
With that done, he grabbed a brown fedora.
After popping that onto Cairo’s head, Kylo dragged Cairo to a vanity area at the opposite end of the closet.
He shoved Cairo into a chair with his back to the mirror.
Kylo hummed as he dug through a set of small drawers.
He came out with something furry and small, but Cairo couldn’t tell what it was.
Kylo toyed with it for a second, peeling off a paper backing before tossing the trash over his shoulder.
“I can’t wait for you to see this.” Kylo chuckled and danced in place while pulling and tugging at Cairo’s face. Then he suddenly spun the chair, leaving Cairo staring into the mirror at a stranger.
Cairo leaned closer. His mind didn’t make a sound. A fake five o’clock shadow covered the lower half of his face. Between the hair, the hat, and the shirt, Cairo looked thirty. He couldn’t stop looking at himself.
“Wow.”
Kylo tapped his fingertips together and bounced in place. “Is that a good wow or a bad one? We can find something else.”
“I can’t believe I’m looking at myself, but it’s a good wow. It’s like I’m all grown up.”
Kylo sat next to him on a bench built into the wall.
“You are grown. That’s the wonderful thing about being an adult.
You get to choose. No one is the boss of you.
You can wear this or even a dress. If you’re feeling like you need extra comfort, then you can be a baby.
I still get to wear my tutus like I’m on stage again.
Every day, you can be someone new. You can be the old you or a new version you built.
There’s no reason you can’t be something in between or something entirely different. You’re free here.”
Cairo went back to staring at his reflection. He wasn’t sure he was ready to be quite this grown, but he also didn’t want to be a baby today. While still staring into the mirror, he looked at the selection behind him. Something deep black caught his attention.
Cairo turned and pointed. “What’s that?”
Kylo bounded to his feet. He pulled the material off the hanger. “Yes!” It was a short-sleeved button-down shirt.
Cairo was immediately on his feet. “I love it.” The material was satin, and it caught the light.
Cairo couldn’t stop giggling as he changed shirts.
The moment he was dressed, he automatically grabbed the neon purple vest he had discarded earlier.
He was almost giddy as he shed the facial hair and hat.
Kylo sprang forward and ran his fingers through Cairo’s hair, giving him a messy-hair look. He also unbuttoned the top few buttons on the shirt.
“That’s your look.”
Cairo nearly jumped out of his skin when Kylo’s personal bodyguard, Mickey, spoke. He had been so quiet, Cairo forgot he was there. Cairo tried to cover his reaction.
He brightened. Before he could respond, Kylo dragged Cairo back to the vanity. This time, he didn’t have to dig quite as much before coming back with makeup. He painted Cairo’s eyes, giving them a smoky look that made the light blue color pop.
He saw Mickey nod behind him in the mirror. “Perfect. Rhodes will love it.”
Cairo’s gaze shot to hold Mickey’s stare. “Do you really think so?”
Mickey nodded. “You should go see for yourself.” He checked his watch. “He’s probably hanging out in the security building right now. This is when he gives Teddy a lunch break.”
Cairo exchanged glances with Kylo.
Kylo shooed him toward the door. “Go. Report back, though. I’m dying to know how he reacts.”
Cairo stood. He twisted his fingers. “Okay.” He took a step toward the door before freezing in place. “I don’t know where the security building is.”
Mickey waved for him to follow. “Come on. I’ll get a guard to escort you.”
He followed Mickey to the door. A guard leaned against the wall outside. Cairo realized he knew him. Fletch had been the guard at the toy store with him.
“Hey, Fletch. Can you walk Cairo to the security building?”
Fletch smiled. He looked nice. “Sure. Come on.” His smile was sweet. That helped a little with the idea of being with such a huge stranger.
The idea of Rhodes seeing him dressed like this still stretched Cairo’s nerves, though. “Hold on.” He raced back to the coloring table and grabbed his stuffed dog. Cairo tucked him under his arm before jetting back to Fletch. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Fletch’s smile grew as they fell into step beside each other. As they made their way outside, Fletch focused on him. “You look nice.”
Cairo flashed him a smile. “Thank you. I’m hoping Rhodes thinks so too. I’m not being his baby today.”
Fletch shot him a confused look. “Why does that matter? I can’t imagine that being something Rhodes cares about. He’s only dated one other Little before. Everyone else he’s dated has been like me, I guess.” He hesitated for a moment. “You know, just stuck being my real age.”
Cairo practically felt the way Fletch tried to avoid using the word “normal.” “What was he like?” He didn’t know why he asked. Maybe he was into mental torment.
Fletch shrugged. “Who? Rhodes’ ex?” He shrugged again and answered without waiting for Cairo to confirm that was who he meant.
“If I’m honest, I never liked the guy. He was conniving.
I don’t believe he was as much of a Little as he was a user.
All he did was take. It was kind of weird when he left. ”
“How so?” Cairo was invested now.
Thankfully, Fletch didn’t seem opposed to gossip.
“Rhodes was hurt, but he also didn’t look anywhere near as pinched as he had with Brody.
It was like a weight was lifted from his shoulders.
I doubt Rhodes will admit it, but I don’t think he was very happy in that relationship.
Don’t get me wrong, he loved taking care of Brody, but it was very one-sided.
He deserves someone who wants to make him happy too.
” Fletch looked his way. “I can see how much his feelings matter to you. I’m glad he met you. ”
Cairo’s face heated. He wasn’t used to praise. Luckily, he didn’t have to respond.
Fletch motioned toward a smaller house ahead. “That’s the security building. Would you like me to walk you to the door?”
Cairo waved off the suggestion. “I’ll be okay.
” Plus, he kind of needed a few minutes to clear his head.
He couldn’t let Fletch think it was reflection of him.
“But I really liked talking to you. Maybe we can talk again sometime.” Cairo had enjoyed the adult tea spilling. Plus, he just needed friends.
“I’d love that.”
With the promise of speaking again secured, Fletch headed back toward the main house.
Cairo focused on where Rhodes worked. He took a deep breath and moved in that direction.
Fletch was right. Rhodes needed someone who wanted to make him happy.
That someone was Cairo. He held his stuffed dog tighter. He would make Rhodes feel like a king.