Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
“ D evin.” Kade barely controlled his tone of voice, but the man was seriously starting to piss him off.
“Aren’t you looking good, Kade,” Devin said, sweetly.
That nasally voice sounded like nails on a chalkboard to him now. “What do you want?” Kade demanded, not bothering to be polite.
“What makes you think I want something? Can’t I just say hi to an old flame?” Devin asked, feigning hurt.
Kade snorted. He could just picture Devin poking his thin bottom lip out in what he assumed was a sexy pout but really made him look ridiculous. “You went out of your way to see me, you hate this side of town. I already told your wife you won’t get any money out of me.” He took a sip of his coke before he continued. “I won’t have sex with you either. You need to give it up, Devin. I don’t want you and you don’t want me.”
“You owe me for taking care of you,” Devin growled.
Kade laughed. “No, I don’t Devin. I asked you to leave and you wouldn’t.”
“I care about you, baby,” Devin said, softly.
Kade barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes and suppressed a shiver, that endearment coming out of his mouth made Kade’s skin crawl. “No you don’t. You only care about what I can do for you. You are too shallow to care for someone else without wanting something in return. Go home to your wife and leave me the hell alone. You won’t get anything from me Devin, even if I were to keel over right now you won’t see a dime,” he barked with venom clear in his voice.
“Hey baby.”
That deep reassuring voice easily put Kade at ease as did the strong arm around his shoulder and warm lips against his cheek. He breathed deeply to catch that woodsy scent he loved so much.
Kade had to swallow around the lump in his throat before he replied softly, “Hey.”
“Excuse me we were in the middle of a conversation, get your hands off my boyfriend,” Devin snapped.
Kade almost choked on his drink at the man’s audacity, while Ram just met his dull brown eyes head on. “Well considering I know for a fact you are not his boyfriend as he’s been in my bed lately, you can drop the act, Devin. Kade has asked you several times to politely fuck off, I can make it unpleasant if you would like.” He could clearly see anger and jealousy swimming in those dark eyes.
Kade could feel Devin’s eyes boring into him but couldn’t find the energy to care. Ram was so warm and he was so tired.
“You bottom for Kade? I doubt that,” Devin said, snidely.
Ram laughed, squeezing Kade’s shoulder before he could say anything. “One, don’t act like bottoming for him makes me weak, I can show you I’m not. Two, as you already know he makes it worthwhile.” The jealousy pouring off the man was a balm to his wild emotions.
“I’ll see you later, Kade,” Devin said, sweetly.
“No, you won’t. Make this your final warning Devin and fuck off,” Kade ordered. When he knew Devin was gone he turned to Ram. “Thank you, I didn’t need your help but I appreciate it.”
Ram shrugged, moving his arm even though it hurt to do so. “I just came in for breakfast and saw you looked uncomfortable. I’ll leave you be.” When he moved to get up Kade’s hand shot out to stop him, but he dropped it before he made contact and looked away. “What is it, Kade?”
Kade just shook his head, unable to explain what he was feeling.
“Kade, I need you to talk to me,” Ram said, the order clear in his tone.
Kade shook his head in panic, his emotions were too close to the surface he wouldn’t be able to control them. He felt a warm tongue lick his hand as Valk tried to offer him comfort.
Ram could see Kade was close to a full on meltdown. “Let me take you back to your office.” The fact that Kade didn’t even put up a fight worried him. He grabbed his breakfast to go, led Kade to his truck and helped him in. The cab was deathly quiet on the ride back.
“Go ahead and eat, I have a phone call to make,” Kade said the second they were back in his office.
“Okay, I’ll be back.” Ram had seen a break room down the hall, and while he hated to leave Kade, he was hungry. Kade already had his phone to his ear so he left quietly. While setting out his food he thought about what he could do to help Kade. He was so zoned out he didn’t hear anyone join him.
“Why are you here?” While Torres looked confused he didn’t seem angry.
“Dropped Kade off after breakfast… met Devin,” Ram said before Torres could reply.
“Where?” Torres demanded.
“The deli. I walked in and saw Kade, I knew it wasn’t good so I intervened,” Ram stated, taking a bite of his sandwich.
“What happened?” Torres pulled up a chair and thanked Ram when he passed him a slice of bacon.
“Don’t know the whole story yet, but came in to Devin demanding money. When Kade said no, he switched to the whole ‘I still love you’ shit. I interrupted and told him to get lost.” Ram shrugged.
“Kade?” Torres asked.
Ram shook his head. “I don’t know, he came in and said he wanted to make a phone call.”
“Probably to his therapist,” Torres sighed.
Ram raised a brow.
Torres shrugged. “Don’t ask.” He turned when Kade entered, his face pale and pinched. “Kade?” he said quietly.
“Fuck off Torres,” Kade barked.
Ram saw the hurt flash across the man’s face, but couldn’t really bring himself to care considering what kind of pain he’d caused his friend the night before.
Kade fixed his coffee and left without another word.
Torres sighed. “Yeah, I fucked that up.”
Ram chuckled. “I get where you are coming from, but I won’t hurt him. I don’t have it in me to hurt him.”
Torres nodded. “I’m sorry. I just, I know what you’re into, and I just can’t see Kade as a little or into any kind of rougher play.”
“That’s because he’s not, he’s more of a middle. He lacks the need to be taken care of in all ways that littles or even some boys need, and I would never use rougher play with him. Whether he likes it or not I wouldn't be able to do it. He’s independent and doesn’t need someone to take over his life, he’s more like a cranky teenager.”
Torres chuckled. “Yeah, I guess I can see that.”
“He needs the affection he’s been denied his whole life, Torres. This isn’t about sex for me it’s about giving him what he needs, too many things have been taken away from him. He deserves more,” Ram told him.
“I know you don’t need my blessing,” Torres mumbled.
“No, I don’t but I love my nephew, and don’t want to cause a rift. I also respect the hell out of Kade and your opinion matters to him,” Ram said as he cleaned up his mess. “You think on that and I’m going to go check on him.”
Torres nodded. “Thank you for talking to me, even after what I said.”
Ram shrugged. “I probably would have done the same thing had I been in your shoes. Hell I almost killed you and put your body in the incinerator at work when you got near Leo so I guess we’re even,” he said nonchalantly as he left Torres sitting there with his mouth open in shock. He didn’t bother to knock on the door but strode right in. Kade was pacing frantically in front of the window. “Kade.”
Kade froze for a moment. “Not now, Ram.” He waved him off. He couldn’t handle anymore, he was almost frantic in the way he wanted everything to stop.
Refusing to back down Ram stepped into Kade’s path and pulled him into his chest when he got close. The gasp and broken curse told him he’d made the right choice.
Everything stopped in those strong arms. Kade was able to regroup after seeing his ex, fighting with his best friend, and potentially losing someone he wanted more than anything.
“Can you tell me what’s wrong?” Ram asked, softly threading his fingers through the short hair on the back of Kade’s head.
Kade moaned. No he couldn’t. Couldn’t Ram see that? He could barely draw in air to breathe. His phone rang and there was a knock on the door and he was done.
All Ram had to see was Kade’s eyes filled with tears before he reacted. Reaching over to the phone he yanked the cord out causing the phone to crash to the floor, but it ended the insistent noise, before he stalked to the door. “Yes?” he asked Kade’s receptionist as she stared at him dumbfounded.
“Um… Mr. Kinkade’s next appointment is here,” she said slowly.
Ram nodded. “Okay, great he’s on the phone. Can they wait a few minutes?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“Great. I’ll let him know.” Ram shut the door, silently locking it before he walked back towards Kade. Bending his knees a little he hauled Kade into his arms thankful he worked out when Kade wrapped those powerful legs around his waist.
Kade pushed his wet face into Ram’s neck as the tears came harder. “Ram…” he groaned, he couldn’t bring himself to call him what he desperately wanted to, no matter how hard he tried.
“Easy, baby. I got you.” Ram walked them into the bathroom, remembering Saint making fun of Kade for making the room soundproof. He eased them in, closed the door and turned off the lights.
“Why’d you turn off the lights?” Kade mumbled, taking in a deep breath. Ram’s scent of leather, pine, with an undertone of citrus helped calm his racing heart.
“You can tell?” Ram asked, curiously.
“Yes, most people that are blind don’t only see black. For me it’s like being in a dark car wash, nothing is in focus and it’s all hazy to the point where I can’t make out anything but I can still tell where it’s lighter or darker.” He nuzzled deeper into that calming scent.
“That makes sense. I know it’s different for every person.” He sat Kade down on the vanity but stayed close, even though it was hard. Kade kept wiggling to get comfortable and by the time he settled Ram was breathless and hard as stone.
“You okay?” Kade asked worriedly, Ram was so still it felt like he wasn’t even breathing.
“Kade if you don’t stop moving you’re gonna make me come in my pants like a child and I’m gonna be pissed,” Ram hissed, unable to take anymore.
“Oh.” Kade’s breath caught when he noticed Ram’s hardness pressing into his abs. All his blood rushed south and in seconds he was just as hard. “Fuck,” he groaned.
Ram chuckled, grinding into Kade. “You’re gonna become insatiable aren’t you?” The thought overjoyed him. He loved sex in all forms.
“Ram,” Kade growled, then begged, “Do something,”
Kade begging was something he’d never thought he’d hear and he knew he would never get used to it. It always set his blood to boil. “I can’t baby, your next appointment is here and waiting on you.”
“Fuck them,” Kade snapped.
“Kade,” Ram said in his Daddy voice, stopping all his movements. “You have a job to do and someone to help, you need to go see what they need.” Panic flashed across Kade’s face as he held onto Ram tighter. “I’m not going anywhere, I’ll sit in the corner and read if you need me to, okay?”
Kade sighed reality crashing into him. “Okay.” He slumped in on himself.
Ram saw the defeat in Kade’s eyes, but he wasn’t his Daddy and at this point there was nothing he could do about it. “After this we’ll talk okay? But I really wanna see you in action.” He knew that would get Kade moving. The man thrived on being the best at everything.
When they were settled with Ram on the couch with Valk at his feet and Kade at his desk the new appointment was brought in. Ram just sat back in awe of how Kade handled the distraught woman, but he could tell by the end of it Kade was wiped. “Was that the last appointment for the day?”
Kade nodded tiredly. “Yes, but now I have to do paperwork.”
“Leave it for tomorrow and let me take you home,” Ram demanded.
Kade raised a brow. “Is that gonna become a thing, you ordering me around?”
Ram chuckled. “That wasn’t an order, just a strongly worded request.”
“I don’t think I have it in me to be a little or even a boy, Ram.” Even though he hated to say it he felt like he should be honest. He really wanted to be with Ram, especially considering his body’s reaction to the man, but he had no idea what he was doing.
“I don’t think you’re a little. I think you lean more towards a middle, someone who is like a teenager. You don’t need someone to come in and take over your life but you need someone who can help guide you or be a sounding board when you need one or only in the bedroom. You may only want that power exchange there and that’s okay too. You can function like an adult but sometimes you need Daddy to remind you that you need to take care of yourself,” Ram said as he settled on the edge of Kade’s desk, and carded his fingers through the man’s soft hair to hopefully help with the migraine he could see was brewing.
The thought of Ram only wanting to take care of him in the bedroom sent a pang of longing through him. Kade wanted Ram to take care of him everywhere, not just in the bedroom and he didn’t want to have to schedule a time to see his Daddy. He had no idea how to even put into words what he wanted. He scrubbed his hands over his face. “I need to get Torres to start on this before we leave.”
Ram scraped his nails gently over Kade’s scalp and relished in his moan. “Do what you need to do but we should leave soon, you’re fading fast.”
Kade grumbled under his breath knowing Ram was right. He hit the intercom button a little harder than necessary if Ram’s chuckle was anything to go by. “Torres, my office.” While he wasn’t rude it was clearly an order.
“Yeah?” Torres asked as he entered a moment later.
“Mission.” Kade tossed him the file. “Master Sergeant Jordan Wells, he’s been labeled MIA, but his sister believes something is wrong.”
Torres nodded reading the file, but watched the two men out of the corner of his eye. The way Kade leaned into Ram’s gentle touch told him all he needed to know. “Okay, I’ll start on it. I’ve got a few contacts I can call to see if they can tell me what’s up, go home and get some sleep, Kade. You look rough buddy.”
Kade snorted the last of the tension between them disappearing. “Bite me.”
Torres grinned. “I don’t think your Daddy would like that.” While he knew Kade was on the fence about it he was happy for him, and he really hoped the man would take the jump and have a chance at happiness. “Congrats man you deserve someone like Ram after everything that’s happened. Y’all have a good night,” he said, shutting the door before they could reply.
“What did you threaten him with?” Kade demanded making Ram laugh.
“I didn’t, I think he’s actually starting to pay attention to how we interact with each other.” He ran his fingers back through Kade’s hair. “He’s starting to see it’s not just one sided, but that you’re also standing on your own two feet and I’m not coercing you into this. That you want it as much if not more than I do.” He grinned. “You just need to come to terms with it, but I’m not going anywhere and I’ll be right here when you’re ready.”
Kade had to clear his throat before he could speak. “Appreciate it,” he mumbled. He’d never spoken about his wants and desires, it had always been about others, and now as an adult he had no idea how to ask or even think about what he wanted.
“We can talk more about it later, let me get you home. Some sleep should help you.” Ram got up to stretch his legs while Kade grabbed everything he needed and put Valk’s harness back on.
“I’m ready.” He followed Ram’s footsteps thirty paces to the elevator, another eleven paces to the door leading out into the garage and fifteen paces to Ram’s truck. Once he got Valk loaded up he sunk into the soft warm leather seat and yawned.
“How’s your head?” Ram asked softly as he started the truck.
“It’s fine, dull ache, it’ll pass.” He yawned and settled in for the short ride.
Back at Kade’s apartment it was easier for Ram to shuffle Kade around now that he knew the layout. “Go take a hot shower.”
Kade’s head shot up from where he was taking his shoes off. “Why?”
“See if it’ll help tell your body it’s time to sleep.” Ram was waiting on bated breath to see how Kade would react.
Kade shrugged. “Okay, if you think it’ll help.”
“Remember you can always safe word if you feel uncomfortable.”
“I know but it’s not like it’s a hardship to take a hot shower.” He grinned.
Ram chuckled. “No it’s not.”
“Will you join me… I mean like be in the same room?” Kade could feel his face heat as he wrung his hands before they were suddenly encased in bigger ones.
“I would love to, if that’s what you want, but know this Kade your scars are a part of you and when you give me the chance I will worship them.” He held onto Kade’s hands knowing he would go back to wringing them if he didn’t.
“I know, I don’t know if I’m ready to show you but I want you in there with me,” Kade choked out. He was proud of himself for asking, but the thought of Ram or anyone seeing what had been done to his body filled him with a sense of dread.
“Kade baby, if it was up to me you’d forget what it was like to have personal space.”
Kade laughed but he could tell Ram wasn’t kidding. “Hopefully one day we’ll get there.”
Ram had to close his eyes against the wave of longing that threatened to leave him battered and bruised. He followed Kade, dutifully turning his back as he got undressed and into the shower.
“Sweet Jesus,” Kade groaned as the hot water soothed his aching body. “What do you want out of this arrangement?” It was easier to ask when he knew Ram couldn’t see him. The shower curtain, as thin as it was, offered him the barrier he needed to be able to ask.
“Depends, are you wanting to just try out the daddy stuff? Or are you wanting something more permanent, I know you said you didn’t do hook ups and I understand, but if you just wanted to try things out I understand that too.” He picked at his fingers trying desperately not to peek at Kade’s gorgeous bronze skin.
Kade had to clear his throat before he could speak. “Is that what you want, to experiment?”
“No, I want all of you but I want to make sure that’s something you can handle. Daddy in the bedroom and your partner outside it.”
“You wouldn’t be my daddy outside of it?” Kade asked curiously as he washed his hair.
“Oh, I would be but I know you’d rather keep that bit private.” He grinned. He had other daddy friends that would be really upset if their boy wanted to keep what they had a secret, but as long as the people they cared about understood he didn’t care. He wanted his boy happy and healthy, his ego could take a backseat to that.
“Yeah, but not because I’m ashamed…” Kade hurried to explain, he never wanted Ram to think he was embarrassed or wanted to hide the man like he was still in the closet.
“It’s dangerous for you, in your position you’ll be seen as weak even though you’re the furthest thing from it,” Ram murmured. He understood where his man stood.
Having Ram understand and not make him feel guilty for it brought tears to his eyes and cemented his decision. The man understood him more than anyone he’d ever met. “Thank you.”
Ram could hear the catch in his voice and moved closer. “If you need me to be daddy when we’re around others come up with a code name or word, that way I know what you need from me.”
“So basically daddy for when we’re alone and another name for when we’re in public but I need you to take me in hand.”
Chuckling Ram agreed. “Exactly,”
“A secret code,” Kade said giddily.
Ram froze wondering if his mind was playing tricks on him.
“Batty,” Kade said confidently.
“Why Batty?” Ram asked curiously.
Kade giggled. “Daddy in disguise.” He cleared his throat.
Ram had been right, Kade’s voice had gotten higher as he’d regressed farther. “Your little is showing,” he teased.
Kade snorted. “Bite me,” he mumbled, rinsing out his wash cloth and doing a final rinse of his body. He took a deep breath and decided to take the plunge “Daddy, can you make sure I gots all the soap off me,” he asked quietly, he couldn’t tell if Ram’s gasp was good or bad, but he didn’t have to wait long to find out.
“Yes, A?kim, I would love to. Can you tell me your colors please?” Ram asked as he moved closer to the shower and gently moved the curtain.
“It’s green, Daddy.” He waited until he felt Ram behind him. “What does A?kim mean?”
“Hmmm?” Ram hated to say it but he was distracted, all of that gorgeous skin displayed for him to see. Scars marred most of his back, butt, and upper thighs but Ram didn’t care. He was absolutely perfect in his eyes.
“Daddy?”
The worried voice instantly brought him back into focus. “Yes baby? I’m sorry Daddy got distracted by your gorgeous body.” He gently placed his hands on Kade’s waist. “A?kim means my love in Turkish.”
“Oh.” Kade tensed a little as he got used to Ram touching him. He felt at peace, his skin didn’t crawl and he was able to relax into Ram. “I’m getting you all wet,” he mumbled, trying to stand back up. But he was so tired.
“Shhh, easy baby I got you.” Ram grabbed the shower head and rinsed the soap off Kade’s feet before helping him out of the shower. “Hold still baby and let me dry you off.” He quickly grabbed a couple of towels gently rubbing his hair dry before focusing on his body. Scars cut through every inch of his beautiful body but Ram lovingly patted him dry, not even bothering to look his fill, his boy was fading fast. “What do you sleep in?”
Kade leaned into Ram, nuzzling his face into his neck, and sighed. He was so warm and comfortable he didn’t want to move, but daddy had asked him a question. “Boxers,” he mumbled. He’d gone without clothes so long during his time in captivity it now felt like he was suffocating when he put any on.
“Okay, let’s get you ready for bed.” He easily led Kade to the bed to sit while he grabbed a pair of tight black silk boxers, and he wasn’t going to lie, they made him drool as he slid them on Kade and they settled around his hips and groin, fitting like a glove. “Scoot up, baby.” He tapped Kade’s thigh while he stripped down to his boxers and joined him.
“Sleepy,” Kade mumbled as he slid into Ram’s arms, tangling their legs together and settling his head on one thick strong shoulder.
Ram chuckled. “Night baby.”
“Night Daddy,” Kade mumbled.
Ram couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear from those soft spoken words as Kade settled into a deep sleep, slumping into him and giving him all his weight. He was wired and knew he wouldn’t fall asleep anytime soon so he passed the time stroking Kade’s hair, and marveling at the gorgeous tattoo on his boy’s chest. A beautiful pegasus in flight. He wondered what that represented for his boy as he thought about the future. He must have dozed off because he awoke feeling like he’d been in the desert and hadn’t had anything to drink in days, he gently nudged Kade aside and waited until he’d curled around his pillow before he left the room, heading to the kitchen. He had just taken a sip of cool water when a scream made him jump. Tossing the glass in the direction of the sink and hearing it shatter he rushed back into the bedroom. “Kade baby I’m here.” He knew better than to try and touch him when he was dreaming, that could lead to both of them getting hurt.
Kade was tossing and turning on the bed getting wrapped up in the sheets as he tried desperately to get away from his attackers.
“Mercy!” Ram snapped and Kade froze. Unfocused hazy eyes looked his way. “Daddy?” he asked roughly, his throat hurt and he didn’t know why. Wasn’t Daddy supposed to be in the bed?
“Shhh, baby, I’m right here.” Ram gently crawled back in the bed hauling Kade close as he tried to get his bearings. “Do you want to talk about it?”
He must have had a nightmare, while the details were still fuzzy he didn’t want to even think about what he usually dreamed about. “No.”
Even though he was holding Kade pretty tight he was still restless, his legs twitching and his fingers tapping along Ram’s skin like that would keep him from falling back to sleep.
Ram rolled them settling Kade beneath him as he used his body as a makeshift weighted blanket.
Kade groaned as all that warm delicious muscle pressing him into the mattress made his breathing pick up. He gently raked his fingernails down that broad back loving the flinching of each muscle and waited to see the reaction he would get, and he wasn’t disappointed when Ram made a strangled hissing noise before shoving his face in Kade’s neck.
“You’re trying to kill me,” Ram groaned.
Kade grinned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“This isn’t talking things out.” Ram pointed out.
“I don’t want to talk about it, the nightmares happen often but I don’t want to relive them again when I’m awake. I’ll tell you about them, I promise but not now,” he begged.
“I’ll give you time to regroup and I definitely don’t want those memories in this bed, but it doesn’t matter when or where we are if you need to talk I’ll listen.” He shifted, settling most of his weight to the side so they could talk easier. “I know what’s in here is not all good.” He tapped Kade’s temple. “But I don’t want you to hold onto things because you think it’ll scare me.”
He swallowed hard. “I hear you, and I promise to try.”
Ram kissed his neck. “That’s all I ask.”
Kade waited a few moments just soaking up all the affection Ram was dishing out. “Can we have more sexy fun now?” he asked hopefully.
Ram laughed, a full on deep belly laugh that shook them and the bed. “Jesus,” he muttered as he tried to regain control.
“Is that a no?” he asked, trying not to pout.
Ram chuckled. “Fuck Kade anything you want all you gotta do is ask, baby.”
That was a heady thing to think about. “I just want that feeling back,” he said tiredly.
“The frotting session?” Ram asked knowing Kade was still exhausted.
“Yeah.”
“Let me grab the lube.” He pushed up and quickly pulled on some sweats, Kade kept his apartment cool, while he rushed towards the living room to his duffel. A knock at the door stopped him. He groaned in frustration. It felt like they were always interrupted, but as he wrenched open the door he plastered on a smile when he didn’t recognize them. Two men and a little boy stood in front of him. “Hello, how can I help you?”
“Sorry to disturb you but we heard a scream,” the older man said.
Ram winced. “Noise complaint?”
“Oh, God no, I own this building Mr. KinKade has nothing to worry about. This is my son John and my grandson Jack, and I’m Joshua.” He held out his hand.
“Ephraim, but everyone calls me Ram.”
“Batty!” Kade called in a ridiculously high voice, he could hear Ram talking to someone and figured it was his neighbors.
Ram snorted. “Except Kade who calls me Batty.”
“That’s because your bat shit crazy to put up with me,” he mumbled tiredly as he shuffled closer, handing Ram a hoodie while he wrapped his blanket tighter around his shoulders.
While Ram was both happy and sad to see that Kade had put on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie, he was happy he looked snug.
“Who’s your friend Kade?” Jack asked studying Ram curiously while he pulled the hoodie over his head.
Kade gave him a tight smile, not having been in this kind of a situation before where he introduced a partner. “He’s my partner so he’s more than a friend.” He cleared his throat. “He’s also the one that taught Valk all his tricks.”
He gasped, starting wide eyed. “Really?”
Ram smiled at the kid who’s L’s sounded like W’s. “I sure did, I’m a veterinarian, but I train service dogs for Veterans.” He patted his leg and Valk leaned against him. “Valk has always been one of my favorite babies I’ve trained. How old are you Jack?”
“I’m eight.” He held up the appropriate amount of fingers to show him.
Ram smiled. This kid sounded just like Kade when he was exhausted enough to regress, so that gave him the idea of what age he was around when he did. “Awesome, well if you would like to come down to my training facility one day I can show you how to teach some tricks,” he offered.
He squealed, making Kade wince and grab onto Ram’s arm. “Dad, Papa, can I please?” he begged.
“We’ll talk about it,” Joshua said, smiling down at his grandson.
“Yes!” He pumped his fist in the air.
“Gotta do all your homework and chores first though,” Ram said with a raised brow.
“Yes sir,” Jack stated nodding like a bobble head.
Kade snickered. “Your daddy is showing.” He couldn’t resist teasing Ram hoping the others didn’t realize it.
“You wish to hell I was your daddy,” Ram fired back.
Kade gasped dramatically. “Blasphemy.” He laughed.
Ram chuckled, flicking Kade in the ear. “Watch it.”
“How? I’m blind.” He snorted at his own joke before dancing away from Ram and his flicking fingers.
Ram groaned and rolled his eyes aggressively. “I think you’re still high from your meds.”
Kade nodded, smiling. “I’m gonna get some water.”
“Wait!” Ram barked as Kade moved closer to the sink.
He stumbled to a stop, his heart dropping at that angry sounding voice. He had no idea what he’d done.
Ram rushed over. “I’m sorry baby, I broke a glass and I didn’t want you to cut yourself.” He quickly cleaned up the mess and handed Kade a fresh glass of water.
“Thanks Batty,” he mumbled shakily, and Ram knew what he needed.
“It was a pleasure to meet you guys, but Kade’s about to crash.” He gave John his number for when they were ready to bring Jack by to play with the dogs. Once they’d finally left he turned to see Kade cuddled into the couch holding his cup as Valk laid over his feet. He leaned down to kiss him. “Bedtime.”
Kade sighed tiredly. “God yes.” He looped his arms around Ram’s neck. “Comfy, don’t wanna move Daddy.” That same higher pitched voice was back and he made a mental note to talk to Kade soon to see if they could figure out why he regressed to that age when he was tired.
“I know you are, but the bed will be even comfier.” He took the glass and set it on the table before hauling Kade into his arms which seemed to be his new favorite pastime. “We’ll talk in the morning okay?”
Kade grunted in agreement as Ram walked them back to the room, he didn’t even feel Ram strip him down to his boxers before joining him as he was already asleep.