Hold Close (Biker Daddy Bodyguards #2) - Sue Brown Page 0,35
face. “What did you tell him?”
“I told him to mind his own damn business.”
“What did he say to that?”
“Erik Strada.”
“Ouch,” Louis murmured as he took a bite of omelet.
Quinn couldn’t have given a better answer. After the revelation that Strada had left behind a string of abused boys, of course the elders of the community were going to be alert for any difficult situation.
Craig sighed and looked up at Louis for the first time. “I told him that whatever happened was between us only, but I would treat you with all the respect and attention that a boy deserves, while you were in my care.”
Louis felt tears prick the back of his eyes. It wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but it was exactly what Craig would say.
“Did that satisfy Quinn?”
“No,” Craig snapped. “He’s so loved up he wants everyone else to be too.”
He tore into the omelet with a ferocity that it really didn’t deserve. Louis decided to let him eat in peace. He went at a slower pace, but managed to eat half the omelet before he had to give up.
When they’d finished and had fresh coffee in front of them, Louis decided to broach the question of Strada. “Is Quinn okay with me?”
“You mean your session?”
“Yes.”
“He’s just glad you weren’t hurt too, baby. He’s not going to tell Cade. If you want to, that’s up to you.”
“I will. Cade deserves to know the truth.”
However awkward that conversation was going to be, Louis would be honest with the young man who’d claimed Quinn Ryder’s heart.
“I think that’s a good decision.” Craig wrinkled his brow. “Quinn’s going away for a few days before Cade comes home. A job with Josh Cooper.”
“I thought he was on my team.”
“Maybe they figure one Daddy per team is enough,” Craig said with a growl.
Louis chuckled. “Now that I agree with. You and Quinn would kill each other if you had to spend too much time together.”
“Much as I love the community, I remember now how much I love being my own boss.”
Craig looked across the table at Louis and he narrowed his eyes. Louis’s heart pounded. He knew that look of old. Craig was annoyed with him.
“Daddy?” It was automatic, the word slipping out.
“I’m disappointed in you keeping secrets from me and what’s more, assuming I would think the worse of you for having a session with a Daddy.”
“It was Erik Strada,” Louis protested.
Craig inclined his head. “You should have told me about him, but I’m more disappointed you didn’t think I could trust you again.”
Louis hung his head. “I’m sorry.”
“Daddy.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” Louis said quickly.
Craig nodded, but he didn’t look any happier.
Fuck. Louis had screwed up and he didn’t know how to put it right.
He stood, went around to where Craig sat, and knelt in front of him, his head bowed. “I was wrong.”
“Yes, you were.” Craig sighed and ran a hand over Louis’s hair. “But we’re still finding our way.”
“I’ll accept any punishment you give me.”
“Yes, you will.” But an edge of amusement was apparent in Craig’s tone as he said, “Do you need help getting up?”
Louis looked up to see Craig’s wry smile. “Yes,” he confessed.
Getting to his feet wasn’t graceful, even with Craig’s help. But Craig let him rest against him until the pain subsided and he could breathe again without his kidneys protesting.
“We need to talk about us,” Craig said.
“Is there an us?” Louis asked, unable to keep the edge of bitterness from his voice.
“Do you want there to be an us?” Craig countered.
“Yes.”
No hesitation. He owed Craig his honesty. Even after forty-eight hours back in Craig’s company, he knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with his Daddy. But what did Craig want? He didn’t want to find out Craig was only staying with him because he felt sorry for him. Their relationship had never been like that.
“What do you want?” Louis asked.
Craig
The question hung between them like an icicle in the winter air. They’d been dancing around this question for two days. Craig could pretend to himself they were just bodyguard and client, but one hint of another man touching Louis and Craig was a caveman.
What did Craig want?
“I want you to be my boy.” The words came out before he could hold them back.
He saw the cautious excitement in Louis’s eyes, knowing it was tempered by the knowledge of their break-up.
“Beyond this assignment?” Louis asked.
“Yes.”
Louis didn’t look happy. “We split up before. And nothing really has changed. You’re still abroad more