Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“It’s not much longer, right? The hike wasn’t this long when we were in school.” Lorne seemed to think I was making it longer just to torture everyone. “Has someone messed up the trails too?”
Yes, but—
“I fixed the trails.” Carrick sounded like he was on his last bit of patience when dealing with his mate. “But you know that because we’ve had this conversation three times already.”
We’d also had the why did he have to come too conversation three times, but I wasn’t throwing that in his face.
I was just doing my best to ignore the fact that Lorne had promised him a wonderful blow job in exchange for company on the hike.
“I’m distracted and grumpy.” Lorne’s perfectly manipulative pout was obvious in his voice even though I didn’t turn around to look. “It’s too far. I think they’re still broken. What if we’ve been walking in circles?”
Before I could point out that I was not a terrible guide, he kept going. “I heard that the last group got so turned around they didn’t even make it to the portal. They didn’t get to have story time and I bet there are a thousand sticks.”
His dramatic delivery had several other littles sighing. “Can I ride on your back, Daddy? I’ll be little and you won’t even notice me.”
Bullshit.
Wait, which group hadn’t found the portal clearing?
How long had the trail been fucked up?
Would—
“No, it’s not too private to ask.” Kenzie’s too-innocent voice finally weaved its way through the other ridiculousness and I realized the mate bond was suspiciously quiet. “Honest.”
Good grief.
Turning around on the trail, I frowned and searched through the crowd to find my mate.
Yep. Wide eyes and blushing.
There he was right beside that naughty dragon who was doing his best to look entirely too sweet.
Where was that troublemaking dragon’s Daddy?
There.
Glaring at the man who was trying not to laugh, I gestured toward the next turn in the trail. “Alright, we’re almost there. You guys go up and make sure it looks perfect. We want Paxton to see it pristine, right? I’ll keep him here for just a second so you can make sure it’s ready.”
We’d all grown up going on field trips to pick up the sticks around the area and then hear the story of the portal, so there were only faint grumblings about forced marches and not enough snack breaks as they kept going. With kids, I would’ve never left them on their own, but the nuts in question were all technically adults and most had their Doms and Daddies with them.
Okay, a few of the other locals we’d somehow picked up when Kenzie had gone to the diner for breakfast were single, but they were well-behaved and trying not to giggle at the ridiculousness of the whole thing.
I was hoping that meant they’d be good, but I wasn’t going to hold my breath. I’d just been grateful Kenzie hadn’t dragged Mr. Kennedy along with him, so I hadn’t classified the extras as naughty or nice…that had clearly been a misstep on my part based on their grins.
“Kenzie? Talon?” Glaring at the two men who were suddenly both looking guilty, I didn’t break my stare as I gestured for them to follow the rest of the group. “I’m sure you’re not deliberately making my mate squirm, are you?”
Paxton was just too cute and too polite. They probably couldn’t help themselves. I’d always thought Talon was the one with the common sense between the two of them, but I was starting to see why they were mates.
“No.” Kenzie shook his head, giving me wide eyes that were not believable at all. “We’re keeping him entertained, but now we’re going to get the portal ready. I’m very good at clean-up games.”
Just look cute and play dumb.
Yep, the old men definitely had a point.
As Kenzie dragged Talon off with whispered instructions not to look so guilty, I reached my hand out for Paxton. He wasn’t too startled and brushed off whatever they’d done as he hurried over to me. “I…I didn’t ask enough questions. I forgot. You mentioned it, but I forgot to ask.”
I was going to kill those two.
“Next time anyone asks to walk with you and keep you company, I’m going to tell them no.” Paxton’s immediate nod said I needed to keep a closer eye on him when we were in public. “Alright, what was Kenzie torturing you with?”
“Um, well…” Paxton nearly tripped over his own foot and almost went down, so I swept him up in my arms and kept walking as he caught his breath. “Thank you, Daddy.”
He rested his head on my shoulder and sighed instead of telling me that he needed to walk on his own like he normally would have, so I knew I was right to worry. “Is your hoard naughty toys, Daddy?”