Page 47 of Lesson In Trust
“Even if it’s the nasty pill?”
“Even if,” he agreed.
“Okay.” With the rapt attention of a toddler, she studied his left and right sides. Finally, she selected the right.
Quick as a fucking whip, Eli switched the pills, then brought his left hand to his mouth, tossed the meds back, and swallowed.
Callie’s mouth dropped open.
Just as quickly, Eli’s right hand shot forward, dropped the pill between her lips, then closed them, pinching them together.
She scowled at him.
“I held up my end of the deal, minx. Be a good girl and swallow, or I’ve got something else to tickle your tonsils.”
She giggled. The sound was so quiet, but it warmed Evander down to his toes.
Both he and Elias might be on a slippery slope of learning when it came to this Daddy Dom thing, but they must be doing something right.
Dutifully, Callie made a show of gulping. When Eli released her lips, she opened her mouth wide and stuck her tongue out at him.
He laid his thumb on the perfect, pink muscle. “Little girl, you’ve had enough time to recover. I think it’s almost time to play again.”
Seeing his friend falling into her innocence, knowing exactly how that ended, Evander cleared his throat. “Almost being the operative word, Eli.”
“Daddy!” Callie squealed, dashing off the bed to run to him.
He wasn’t sure whether he was offended she’d been so wrapped up in Eli that she hadn’t seen him lurking in the doorway, or grateful that her connection with his friend kept her occupied when Evander’s business responsibilities snowed him under.
Speaking of snow…
He caught her as she threw herself into his arms, swinging his curvy little sub up with ease. Nuzzling his face into the side of her throat, he sighed in contentment.
She was his home, his peace.
“We have to go, babygirl. The roads are still shitty after all that snow, and we don’t want to rush and get into an accident.” He kissed a line up to her jaw, then found her mouth. “Want to sit on Daddy’s lap on the plane?”
“Hate the stupid plane.”
“I know, but you’ll like where we’re going.” He shifted her onto his hip as Eli deftly tidied her workspace and gathered the essentials. “Daddy Eli has some exciting things planned.”
“I need to work.”
“There’ll be time for that for us all, but we need a short break from it.”
“Pfft.”
“All set.” With the stuffed elephant and Callie’s laptop bag in hand, Elias tipped his chin to the door. “Head down, I’ll do one last check and follow you.”
Callie gasped. “My stuffies!”
“They’re staying here and having a house party, little minx. Fanta is coming with us.” Eli passed her the elephant. “Don’t drop him, he’s a long way up when you’re playing monkey.”
The stuffie was immediately wedged between her body and Evander’s.
It was the little moments like these that felt absolutely right. The three of them packing up and heading out on a trip, no one left behind, acting like a family.
Jaxson, Emma, and Chase—the owners of Black Light—were in a far bigger and brighter spotlight than them, due to their previous careers, yet their trio had survived and was thriving despite public scrutiny.