Craig countered. “I just don’t know if it’s the right thing to do.”
Louis decided not to roll his eyes at him. This time. Instead he mentioned the other thing that had been on his mind. Which might answer Craig’s question. “I don’t know if I still need CDR giving me personal security.”
“Oh?”
“Nothing’s happened since the attack at the club. Maybe that was a one-off. A warning or something, only we never found out what for. But once the party is over, I think we should reduce it down to the club only.”
Craig turned, one leg tucked under him, to face Louis. “Are you saying that for financial reasons?”
“I can’t pay for this level of security forever. CDR is about as expensive as there is,” Louis admitted, “and I’m still paying off the loan for the business expansion. I’m not Zach Fyre wealthy.”
“I don’t think many people are,” Craig said.
“After the party, let’s go away, just the two of us. Then I need life to return to normal.”
“With or without me?”
Louis looked him in the eyes. “With. If you’ll have me?”
“I think I can do that.”
“I won’t do what I did last time, Daddy. If you need to go away to work, I won’t pressure you to stay.”
“You’re willing to compromise for me?”
Louis nodded. “I should have done it last time.”
Craig cupped Louis’s cheek with one gloved hand. “We both should, boy. We were both stubborn and silly.”
Louis knew his bodyguards could see, but he didn’t care. They knew who he was. What he was. He bowed his head. “I love you, my Daddy.”
“I love you more than I can say, boy.”
Louis looked at the road ahead and grinned at Craig. “We’ve got time for more?”
“Hell yes.” Craig’s eyes sparkled. “A lot more.”
“And you’ll sleep in my bed tonight?”
Craig gave him a stern look. “Boy, you remember who’s in charge of this relationship?”
Louis winked at him. “But who has the power?” He gunned the engine and rumbled away before Craig could answer.
Craig
Oh, his boy was going over his knees for a spanking as soon as they got home, and Craig was going to enjoy reddening that ass.
Going out on the Hogs had been a great idea, and asking CDR to keep their distance had been even better. He loved the twinkle back in Louis’s eye. He hadn’t seen it for a long time, and he was afraid it had been beaten out of him. Craig still burned at the thought of those animals thrashing the spirit out of his boy.
They purred through the mountain roads until they were losing daylight, then returned home, all four men with huge smiles on their faces. Craig couldn’t get over how happy Louis looked. Even the fading bruises didn’t detract from his smile.
He checked in with Jace, who thanked them for the day and disappeared.
Craig followed Louis inside and nearly swallowed his tongue. Still dressed in his leathers, Louis was on his knees in the middle of the entry, his head bowed, and wrists crossed behind him.
“Baby?”
“I was cheeky to you.”
“Are you asking me or telling me?” Craig said sternly.
“Reminding you. Daddy.”
You bratty boy.
He knew what Louis was asking for.
“What do you think your punishment should be?”
“Spank me, Daddy.”
His boy sounded way too happy about the prospect. Craig was fucking ecstatic. It had been a long time since he’d had a boy over his knees.
“Wait in the bedroom for me.”
Louis rose to his feet. “Yes, sir.”
But he hesitated and Craig raised an eyebrow. “Boy?”
“Do you want me to undress?”
Craig shook his head. “I’ll help you undress.”
Louis looked relieved. “Thanks.”
“I know your limitations, and I won’t push you beyond them,” Craig assured him. “There’s time for that. Now is for reconnecting. My hand with your ass.” He waggled his hand and Louis giggled. “Upstairs now.”
Louis didn’t run. Craig had a feeling Louis was aching all over. He would make sure they both soaked away the activities of the day in a hot bath later. But first, his boy’s ass would pay the price for being cheeky.
Craig headed upstairs but before he went into Louis’s bedroom, he diverted into the master bedroom, happy when he saw the solid wooden chair still in the corner. It had been made for them, to accommodate Louis’s height and weight. Craig dusted it off with one of his ancient T-shirts that had been left on the bed, and grunted when he picked it up. He’d forgotten how heavy it was. He backed into Louis’s bedroom, almost falling over Louis who was