Chapter Eight #2
Cairo didn’t react. He gave no indication that he had murdered someone tonight. “That’s inconvenient. I hope that doesn’t bring more grief your way.”
Beau made a dismissive gesture. “It’ll be a cold day in hell before I stress myself over a bunch of leaderless child predators.
I’ll make a call. It’ll be handled.” He stood.
“In the meantime, I have a completely unaware husband waiting for me in bed.” He tossed a glance around the room, making a sweeping round of eye contact.
“He will remain unaware.” Everyone nodded and mumbled their agreement about how Kylo should never know this.
Beau focused on Cairo again. “You also have a man waiting for you. You scared the shit out of him. Make it right.”
Cairo nodded. “I will.”
Rhodes was shocked, on the edge of disbelief, and oddly proud as hell of the man who had stolen him.
Without looking back, Beau walked away, leaving a room full of baffled men behind.
Some muttered words of being grateful Cairo wasn’t hurt and laughingly offered to let him join the Agafonov team. All Rhodes could do was stare at Cairo as the room cleared.
Cairo chewed his bottom lip and held Rhodes’ gaze. It was obvious he was nervous but determined to not back down. Rhodes couldn’t have him alone fast enough. Cairo didn’t wait until the final person filed out.
“I love you.” Cairo made the proclamation steady and serious. No one could doubt him.
Nothing else mattered. That realization fell over him with absolute certainty. At the end of the day, Cairo was unharmed, and he loved Rhodes.
Still, they didn’t move toward each other. “I couldn’t let anyone else get hurt.”
Rhodes' breath left him. Cairo really had been the one to kill Hugh. He had already put two and two together, but there was something about Cairo addressing the mess head-on. His throat swelled. Rhodes wasn’t dumb.
“You left here to die, didn’t you? How could you do that to me?” It seemed something else mattered after all. He couldn’t stop. His heart was breaking. “You stole my heart and gave me a life I never thought I could have. Did you even think about what would happen to me without you?”
Cairo blinked. His eyes filled with tears, but it was as if Cairo refused to let them fall.
“You mean everything to me. But this one thing isn’t about you, and I couldn’t carry it any longer.
When I saw what Hugh did to JJ, it was like I was back in that nightmare all over again.
Except this time, I wasn’t helpless, and I couldn’t sleep another night knowing that monster still walked the planet.
” Cairo held up his hand, stopping Rhodes before he even thought to speak.
“I know I could’ve come to you and things would’ve been handled. It had to be me.”
Rhodes got it. It wasn’t like he didn’t know Cairo deserved this retribution. He just hurt for himself and the knowledge that Cairo might have died tonight while he did nothing.
Cairo slowly made the distance between them vanish, as if scared Rhodes would push him away once he got too close. Damn. Rhodes really loved him. There was no chance he would reject him in any way. Rhodes just wished Cairo understood how he felt.
Cairo slid his palms across Rhodes’ sides until they met behind Rhodes’ back, leaving no space between except for squished roses.
“I’m sorry I hurt you. My whole mind was consumed with hurt and anger.
I thought about you, but I realize now my thoughts were all about my side of things.
You’re such an amazing man. All I could think was how much you’ve given me and how strong you’ve made me.
I thought about how I was okay to die because I’d found you.
For a moment, I held the world, and life with you was more beautiful than I could’ve dreamed.
I thought, at least I had gotten a little love before the end.
So you’re right. You deserved a lot better from me than to think only about my feelings.
If you’re done with me, I get it. I deserve to hurt the way I made you hurt. ”
Truth be told, the more Cairo said, the more Rhodes wanted to turn him over his knee. But there was nothing Rhodes could say to change anything. Instead, he set his roses aside and tossed Cairo over his shoulder. Rhodes headed for the stairs, ranting the entire way.
“I love you. If you ever offer to let me go again.” Rhodes tried to think of a threat, but nothing genuine came to mind.
“Well, I don’t know what I’ll do, but you won’t enjoy it.
” He stamped up each step. “Our relationship isn’t up for leverage.
You don’t get to fix things by letting me go.
This is real. That means we always stay and fight.
” Inside their bedroom, he kicked the door behind him and tossed Cairo on the bed. Rhodes held Cairo’s stare. “I’m yours.”
“Okay.” Cairo looked innocent and accepting. From his spot on the bed, Cairo looked way too inviting. Cairo’s tongue shot out and brushed along his bottom lip, as if suddenly nervous again. “Since you’re mine, does that mean I can touch you?”
Rhodes fought a smile. “Any damn time you want.” He had no idea why he still sounded angry.
Cairo shifted onto his knees. “I have my shoes on the bed. That seems like something you should scold me about.” Cairo gave him puppy-dog eyes. “Maybe even spank me.”
A smile exploded across Rhodes’ face. Rhodes had always known Cairo was the one in control.
That was fine. “I don’t know if that’s exactly spanking territory, especially since I threw you on the bed.
But you should take your boots off, just the same.
” While holding Cairo’s stare, Rhodes peeled his shirt up and over his head.
Cairo caught on quick. He was out of his shoes in no time.
Rhodes’ hands moved to his belt.
Cairo watched him pull the leather piece loose. His gaze moved from Rhodes unbuttoning his jeans to holding Rhodes’ stare again. “Is it okay if I still call you Daddy, even though I’m not little anymore?”
Rhodes stopped unzipping his jeans. This was an important conversation. “I am still your daddy.” He moved closer until he had Cairo toppled on the bed again, and he covered Cairo like a blanket. “Your sugar daddy.” Rhodes infused some humor into his voice, hoping he didn’t insult Cairo.
Cairo nodded. He looked like this was the most serious conversation he had ever had. “That’s true. You are very sugary.”
Rhodes snorted. He couldn’t help it. Being with Cairo was so much fun.
Cairo shoved his hands down the back of Rhodes’ loose jeans. “That makes me want to lick you, but too much has happened today. I need you inside me so you can stop the shaking in my bones.”
It hit Rhodes. Cairo was nowhere near as calm as he appeared. Cairo had simply mastered the art of hiding fear. He had himself tightly contained, but if Rhodes didn’t give him an outlet soon, all those emotions would flood out and break him down.
“I’ve got you.”
Rhodes didn’t hesitate to do whatever it took to get Cairo out of his clothes.
In no time, they were nude, and Rhodes’ lube-coated fingers worked at stretching Cairo.
Cairo never looked away from him. It was like Rhodes was the only thing holding him together.
Rhodes couldn’t take it. He shifted positions and impaled Cairo.
Cairo’s chin tilted upward, and the sexiest of moans left his perfect lips.
Rhodes couldn’t resist his exposed neck.
He dipped his head and sucked on the spot directly below Cairo’s Adam’s apple.
With one hand holding Cairo at the angle Rhodes wanted him in, Rhodes pumped his hips.
He kept a steady but slow rhythm. Not only did Rhodes want Cairo to feel his love, but he needed the connection too.
Cairo wasn’t the only one still shaking inside even though everything turned out okay.
The alternative still danced on his brain and scared the shit out of Rhodes.
Cairo’s fingers dug into Rhodes’ back as he strained to take what he wanted. “Please? I need you.”
Rhodes couldn’t deny Cairo anything. He hadn’t been exaggerating; Cairo fully owned him.
He chose another spot to suck as he picked up the pace.
Rhodes followed the sounds Cairo made. It got harder for him to hold out.
His mind was locked in pleasure mode. Rhodes couldn’t think about anything but the way Cairo’s body made him feel.
Rhodes buried his face against Cairo’s chest and made noises he couldn’t control. When cum hit him in the chin, Rhodes lost his mind. He used Cairo’s body, taking him exactly the way Rhodes needed.
“Goddamn, Cairo. You can’t ever leave me. I’ve never been as close to insanity as I was tonight. You’re every fucking thing to me. I don’t exist without you.” The closer he got to explosion, the less sense his words made. He was right there.
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Cairo’s whispered words pushed Rhodes over the cliff.
He cried Cairo’s name as an orgasm pulsed through him, rendering him blind and deaf.
All Rhodes knew was ecstasy and pure love.
His mouth covered Cairo’s as the last waves passed.
He still couldn’t get enough. Rhodes had to hang on to their connection any way he could.
As his skin cooled, the entire day washed over Rhodes again, all the way to the second Cairo said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Rhodes. Cairo would absolutely get his wish. Rhodes planned never to let Cairo leave his sight again.