Page 270 of Daddy's Pride

Same with calling him Daddy now that he’d explained a bit more about what that really meant to him in the kinky sex club way, and that other boys at that club called him Daddy, too.

The dog snuffled in her sleep, and I swiped my face dry, then leaned over the edge a little further to make sure she was okay.

I thought she was?

But I wasn’t entirely sure, so I stretched up and turned on the little lamp on the nightstand so I could see her better.

Okay, she looked fine. And I knew North would take good care of her because he was really, really good at that. He didn’t actually need me here, even though I’d talked him into letting me come over by promising to help watch her tonight.

That had been a lie. I hadn’t even admitted it to myself at the time because I didn’t think I’d realized it? But I did now. I’d just wanted to be close to him, but maybe if I went back to my place tonight instead of wearing the oversized-on-me t-shirt he’d given me to sleep in, the one that smelled just like him, and tossing and turning in his bed?—

I meant, the guest bed.

Um, yeah. Maybe if I left, I’d be able to get my head on straight and remember how thankful I was to even know him. Because that had to be better than lying here and pining for things that I hadn’t even realized I wanted until I actually met him, right?

“Right,” I whispered, my throat tight as I stared down at the sleeping beagle. “But don’t worry, girl. I’ll still come check on you. Or, like, ask him how you’re doing if he doesn’t want me to come back over.”

A soft knock sounded on the door, sending my heart right up into my throat as I whipped around and sat up, staring at it.

“Owen?”

“Um, yeah?”

“I saw the light on. Is everything okay?”

I nodded, then blushed at my own stupidity. He couldn’t see me, obviously.

I cleared my throat. “Um, yeah. Yes, Da—North. I’m fine. We’re fine.”

This was the part where I should add that I was going to head home after all, but the words stuck in my throat, my heart beating so fast I almost felt dizzy.

Was he still there?

I hadn’t heard him walk away.

Should I say something else?’

But finally, he did. “Baby, can I come in for a minute?”

“Yes!”

Oh God. I was really, really hoping I hadn’t sounded too eager.

“Um, is everything okay with you?” I asked as soon as the door swung open, realizing that I wasn’t actually sure why he’d wanted to come in. “Did, um, did you need me to leave?”

I’d been planning to. I’d basically talked myself into it. But now the idea of him saying yes to that made my chest hurt in a whole new way.

I hugged the pillow against myself even tighter, and North frowned.

“No. Of course not. Is it okay if I come sit on the bed with you?”

I nodded, worrying my lip between my teeth as he came closer. He’d changed into a pair of soft-looking sleep pants that were plaid in all different shades of blue and green, and they made his eyes pop until I almost felt like I was drowning in them.

Also? He had no shirt on… so I kind of had to drown in his eyes. Um, I mean, look at them. Because otherwise I’d, um, look at other things. Which was… maybe not okay?

I had no idea.

But I did know that seeing him shirtless made me realize that I was wrong about being a little bit gay. I was pretty sure that I was actually all the way gay.