Doll Parts (The Game 4)

I dipped down and spoke for only Noa to hear. “It’s important you listen to every word. Got it?”

He nodded but didn’t say a word.

Hopefully, the pillory threat hanging over his head would give us a nice weekend. Even if it kept raining like this.

CHAPTER 13

KC Hayles

“Am I in trouble, Daddy?”

“What makes you think that?” I grunted as I rolled my chair up the ramp to the front porch. The event had started, and we were heading straight upstairs in the main house for our first station.

Noa didn’t respond. He bit his thumbnail and played absently with his tail, having hopefully figured out that pretty much anything he said would be incriminating. Either he lied, or he admitted he’d been a brat. He wasn’t ready for any of those options.

Brats were stubborn little bitches.

Bless their hearts.

“Before we go in—” I halted him from opening the door. Others passed us, and we were met with ear-deafening music inside, not to mention colorful spotlights and smoke. I spied balloons and other decorations in the lobby too, and the club area would be even worse.

I moved toward the seating area—where we’d surrendered to each other our first night back in each other’s lives—and I pulled him onto my lap. “Have I mentioned I love you in your puppy bottoms?”

He smiled quickly and nodded.

I touched his cheek. He needed to disconnect from the show they’d just put on. He was thinking in terms of punishments and consequences; he was unsure of where he had me. And I didn’t want that tonight.

More people hurried up the steps to enter the Funhouse.

I smirked ruefully, wishing we could have privacy, but we didn’t have time. Ivy and Beau were expecting us upstairs.

“I actually love you in whatever you wear,” I admitted. “Especially when you don’t wear anything at all and you’re snuggled up next to me in bed.”

He grinned, uncharacteristically shy, and rested his head on my shoulder. “I love it when you say you love me.”

That was what I was getting at. “Get used to hearing it a lot,” I murmured.

He pursed his lips and lifted his head again, and hesitation shone in his eyes. “What kind of love are we talking about?”

I chuckled. That was the right question. “Every type there is, freckles. But mostly, the insane love that’s been building up for years. The kind that tells me that this little boy right here…? Yeah, him I want to spend the rest of my life with. That kind of love.”

His smile was so fucking beautiful, as was the relief in his eyes, and he threw his arms around me.

“That’s the kind of love I feel too, Daddy.”

I closed my eyes and hugged him tightly, letting the words sink in. Then I cupped his cheek and rested our foreheads together. “It’s always going to be the four of us—and it’s always going to be the two of us.”

He sniffled a little and nodded a whole lot. “That’s what I want.”

“Good. Me too.” I kissed him softly. “Are you ready to suffer in the Funhouse?”

He giggled. “Why didn’t you call it the sufferhouse to begin with, Daddy?”

I shrugged. God, I felt tons lighter now. We’d needed this moment. “Maybe it would’ve watered down what you’ll be doing when I punish you for your brat spectacle today.”

He must’ve felt better too, ’cause he just crossed his eyes at me.

“But that’s a story for another day,” I added firmly. “Well, kind of. You definitely need me to crank up the sadism—you’ve made that very clear.”

“No, I haven’t!”

“Oh, you have.” I grinned and patted his hip. Time to head upstairs. “But you trust Daddy, right? You trust me to guide you through this event without putting you in harm’s way?”

He knitted his brows together. “Of course I do.”

That was all I needed to hear. “Keep that in mind,” I said. “Up you go.”

We made our way inside and were instantly met with the results of a crayon factory explosion. The dungeon monitors were dressed like clowns, everybody was in motion, helium balloons floated in the ceiling, streamers and banners graced the walls, brats were yelling—Jesus Christ, I suddenly knew what children’s birthday parties were like.

A clown jumped out in front of Noa. “Welcome! To the Funhouse!”

Oh shit. I hurriedly reached for Noa and pulled him to me. His instant glare and how he balled his hands into tiny fists said more than enough.

“Don’t fucking scare me like that!” he shouted. “C’mere, I’ll kick you in the nuts!”

The clown laughed uproariously and waddled off.

“Boy, I will put a leash on you,” I warned.

He snarled and stomped his foot. “Who was that, Daddy? I’m putting him on my shit list!”

I had no idea, to be honest. It could be anyone on the volunteer list. “Or you’ll make yourself useful and activate the lift for Daddy.” I pointed to the stairs.