Chapter Four
Law
Giggles filled the kitchen as Law set the third batch of cookies onto the cooling rack before the fourth and final batch went into the oven. The sweet sound along with the amazing aroma of baked cookies made the long day of hanging up the house lights worth the demanding work.
“You need to stop wrapping Nicky up in garland,” Jude said.
“But, Daddy, he ate four cookies!” Liam argued loudly.
Nicky remained sitting on the barstool in front of the island like he didn’t have a care in the world.
They’d decided to order soup and sandwiches to be delivered from a nearby deli for dinner, and while they waited for the food, Law had started mixing up the homemade batter for cookies.
Of course, it had been at Liam’s insistence that the night just had to end with cookies.
It was the hopeful look in Nicky’s eyes that had sealed the deal.
Not that Law minded the task. The cookie dough was much easier to deal with than the two tired but hyped-up boys.
The first batch of cookies was already gone.
The glasses of milk empty on the counter.
Law had one more batch in the oven for the night.
Not that he was sure the boy’s sugar crash would have them making it that long.
“I think someone is tired and cranky.” Jude pulled Liam onto his knee as he remained seated beside Nicky.
“Am not!” Liam said even as he yawned.
“You better watch out!” Nicky started to sing. “You better not pout!”
“Stop it!” Liam smacked at Nicky’s arm.
Jude caught Liam’s hand. “No hitting.”
Law glanced from Jude and Liam and over at Nicky. He nearly dropped the bowl that he’d picked up to clean. Jude had not been kidding about the amount of garland that had been wrapped around Nicky. Not that Nicky hadn’t been covered in garland most of the day, but this was ridiculous.
There had to be at least four long strands from Nicky’s shoulders to his waist. The boy couldn’t even lift his arms or use his hands. Law cleared his throat as he tried to remember what he’d been doing. He couldn’t help but imagine having Nicky tied up and at his mercy for other purposes.
Nicky peered up at him and grinned. And it didn’t appear that Nicky had an issue with the bondage. Was that because it was playing around with his best friend, or was there more to it? Law was dying to find out.
“I think it’s time that I get a sleepy boy home,” Jude said as he rubbed Liam’s back.
“But cookies,” Liam said with a whine.
Law set a batch he’d put in a baggie in front of Jude. “Cookies to take home.”
“That means I get the fresh ones out of the oven,” Nicky said as he danced in place.
“Not if I don’t unwrap you,” Law threatened.
“Hey!” Nicky exclaimed. “That’s not nice.”
“Neither is teasing your best friend,” Law pointed out.
“Yeah, and I spent all day helping you,” Liam said.
Law snorted. “You mean you spent all day playing with the toy soldiers and Santa dolls.”
Liam huffed. “I put stuff up.”
“In the wrong place!” Nicky accused.
“You’re just picky,” Liam responded.
“There’s a place for everything,” Nicky said seriously.
Since Nicky did take his decorating very seriously, Law decided it was best to stay out of that disagreement. Jude must have had the same thought as he rose while still holding Liam.
“Fuck! You rode with us,” Jude said suddenly.
Law chuckled. “I’ll order a car home. No problem.”
Jude shook his head. “No, man. I can come back—”
“I’ll order a car,” Law said more firmly. He let his gaze slide to Nicky and back to his best friend.
“Alright then,” Jude said, not laughing even as his lips twitched.
Liam would have totally caught on if he wasn’t already snuggling into Jude’s neck, practically asleep already.
“Say goodnight, boys,” Jude ordered.
Nicky leaned close, puckering his lips. “Love you, bestie!”
Leaning forward, Liam left a loud smack on Nicky’s mouth. “Love you too! Your house looks awesome!”
Nicky grinned. “Best house in the neighborhood. Thanks for helping!”
“Happy now?” Liam asked.
“Everything is perfect,” Nicky replied.
Law was happy to hear it. He’d probably worked harder making sure Nicky was happy with the enormous number of decorations around the house than he had at his own house for anything.
“And if you need anything else, you will call us,” Jude ordered. “No trying to do everything on your own.”
“I know,” Nicky replied. He attempted to lift his arms but grunted when the garland kept him in place.
Liam cackled. “Be good and maybe Uncle Law will unwrap you. Like a present!”
“I’m the best type of present,” Nicky agreed. “The present that keeps on giving…happiness.”
“Happiness,” Liam repeated. “Sure.”
“Enough now,” Jude said. “Grab your cookies so we can get home.”
“Can I have a bath, Daddy?” Liam asked with the last word garbled as he yawned.
“Only if you don’t fall asleep in the car,” Jude told him.
“Good luck with that,” Nicky teased.
Liam stuck out his tongue, Nicky copied him, the timer for the oven went off. Law turned to the oven as Liam and Nicky said their goodbyes. He set the cookie sheet on the protective mat on the counter then went back to turn off the oven.
Nicky was leaning forward with his face hovering over the hot sheet.
“Don’t even think about it,” Law warned.
Nicky jerked back. “What?”
“That’s hot,” Law told him. “Do not try to pick up one of those cookies with your mouth.”
The boy managed to shrug his shoulders. “No hands.”
That wasn’t even worth replying to. Law crossed his arms over his chest as he stared down at Nicky.
Nicky batted his eyelashes and grinned.
Law lifted a brow. He would not smile. It would set a bad precedent to let Nicky know that Law found him adorable.
Nicky tucked in his chin as he pushed out his bottom lip.
Nope! Law would not give in. Nicky could have burned his mouth or chin or some part of him. That just wasn’t safe.
When Nicky still didn’t get the reaction he apparently wanted, he huffed. “Fine. But I wasn’t even going to steal a cookie. I just wanted to smell them.”
“You can smell them from there,” Law said. “What if you’d fallen forward? It’s not like you’d be able to catch yourself without your hands.”
“Do you have to be so sensible?” Nicky grumped.
“I do,” Law said with amusement evident in his tone.
That made the boy laugh. “Fine. Do you want to help me out of this garland?”
Rocking back on his heels, Law let his arms drop to his sides. “Not really. I kind of enjoy you like this.”
“Helpless,” Nicky taunted.
“Yes.” Law pressed his palms onto the counter as he was the one that leaned forward this time.
Nicky gave a full-body shudder.
Law chuckled low and deep. “I think you might like it too.”
“I…” Nicky licked his bottom lip as he struggled to respond.
Interesting. Law pushed off the counter to stalk around. This was the first time they’d been alone since Law had decided that he wanted to ask Nicky out. Hell, Law wanted to spend time with Nicky and it didn’t matter if Nicky was big or little. He was already invested.
Nicky’s eyes grew as he watched Law closely.
Stopping in front of the boy, Law forced himself to not reach out, no matter how much he wanted to. While Nicky might enjoy the teasing, he hadn’t actually consented to anything.
“Do you?” Law asked in a whisper.
“Do I what?” Nicky replied just as quietly.
“Enjoy being tied up and helpless for me?” Law questioned.
“Ye…yeah.”
Law sucked in a sharp breath. That breathless reply was hot. “Do you like the thought that I could do anything to you right now?”
This time Nicky opened and closed his mouth several times before nodding.
“Words, boy,” Law corrected. “Verbal consent.”
Nicky swallowed hard. “I…I like the thought of you being able to do anything to me right now.”
“Good boy,” Law praised.
Nicky’s entire body seemed to relax.
Did the boy have a praise kink? Law could definitely work with that. He reached out to run his hand over the back of Nicky’s head and down his neck. “You are my good boy, aren’t you?”
Nicky moaned. “I want to be,” he said so softly that Law barely caught it.
“What’s that, baby?” Law squeezed the back of Nicky’s neck. “Say that again for me.”
“I want to be your good boy,” Nicky said again. This time Law could hear the words clearly.
Leaning down, Law remained gripping the back of Nicky’s neck as he closed the distance between their lips. “So if I wanted to kiss you?” They were only a breath apart.
Nicky’s gaze dropped to Law’s lips then he glanced back up. “Do you? Want to kiss me, I mean.”
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since I first rescued you from a flat tire,’ Law confessed.
Nicky’s eyes widened.
Law nodded to show he was serious.
Nicky licked his lips again.
He could nearly, almost, feel that tongue. They were that close. Law swallowed back his own groan.
“So…” Nicky drawled. “You really do like me helpless.”
Law grinned in response. “I enjoy the illusion. We both know that you’re anything but helpless. You are a very capable young man that runs a successful company, has more resources than any of us probably knows about, and is smart and creative. I love the thought of you being helpless only for me.”
Nicky moaned then pressed forward.
Their lips connected.
Law squeezed the back of Nicky’s neck as he took control over the kiss. He pushed his mouth firmly to Nicky’s before coaxing the boy to open for him. Once Nicky parted his lips, Law thrust his tongue inside.
Law quickly knew that he was in trouble. Now that he was getting the first taste of Nicky, it would be nearly impossible to think about anything other than the way that Nicky surrendered utterly to him. It was a heady feeling, having this much control over such an amazing man.