Deserted - Auctioned

“What, specifically?”

“The stubble. You usually shave every day.”

Because Gray couldn’t grow a proper beard. The stubble looked all right, but if he kept going, he’d come off as a pubescent teenager trying to grow some fuzz.

“I’ll never be the hot mountain man you are, but…” He kissed Darius’s shoulder as he took his turn to brush his teeth.

“Mountain man,” Darius snorted in amusement.

Gray winked in the mirror before ducking out of the bathroom. He was in serious need of a shower, though that would have to wait until they got back from breakfast in town. Actually, with their plans and the showers being next to the gym in the main house’s basement, they’d probably work out first.

After putting on a pair of jeans, a tee, and a hoodie, Gray walked over to Jayden’s bed and gently smoothed back the boy’s wild hair. “Jayden? Time to wake up.”

Jayden grunted and threw an arm over his head.

Gray chuckled under his breath and decided to give him a few more minutes. In the meantime, he emptied his own duffel before he filled it with laundry. They’d bring it to the main house when they returned.

“We’re heading out for pancakes, buddy,” Gray said.

“Ohh,” Jayden whined. “I like pancakes.”

Gray grinned to himself. “I know you do.”

There was some huffing and puffing coming from Jayden’s corner. Then he pushed back the duvet and sat up, his hair a complete mess. But fuck if he wasn’t the cutest sight ever. Squinting and making a grumpy face, he was an old man in the making at the tender age of eight. Darius should be proud.

Jayden rubbed his eyes and yawned. He frowned hard and glanced around the room. Maybe he heard Darius in the bathroom. Next, his gaze landed on the other bed, and he scratched his shoulder.

Gray grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a sweater for Jayden. The boy needed a shower too.

Jayden crawled out of bed and stumbled over to Gray, and then he wrapped his arms around Gray’s midsection.

“I wanna shank your nightmares,” Jayden mumbled.

Oh hell. Gray ushered Jayden over to the nearest bed and picked him up to sit on his lap. “Do I wanna know how much you heard?”

“Some.” Jayden shrugged and glanced around them. “I’m on your lap. I’m a big boy, you know.”

Gray let out a soft laugh and slipped his hands under Jayden’s armpits. “Sorry. You can sit next—”

“No. Quit it.” Jayden went stiff and refused to move. “S’long as you know. I’m a big boy.”

“Of course.” Gray put on a serious expression. “You’re definitely a big boy.”

Jayden nodded firmly and smoothed down his pajama shirt that’d ridden up, revealing his belly. “Can you tell Jonas to be nicer in your dreams? My brother was awesome. Your dream-Jonas is not the same.”

“I know,” Gray murmured. “He was wonderful. I think I dream about him a lot because I wish I could’ve helped him better.”

Jayden knitted his brows and nodded slowly. “But you did your best. Can’t do no more than your best. That’s impossible, Gray.”

If only things were that easy.

“Kid’s right.”

Gray and Jayden looked up and found Darius watching them with his arms over his chest. The man needed to put on a shirt. Not that Gray minded having all that solidness, the ink, and even his scars on display. Darius was literally the most ruggedly beautiful man Gray had ever seen.

“I get that it’s easier said than done,” Darius went on, “but it’s a step in the right direction. When you have nightmares, you’re at war with yourself—not the other boys. It’s your guilt speaking.”

Gray was painfully aware.

Darius went over to the table and snatched up an army-green tee. “You gotta tell yourself—in the mirror if that’s what it takes, over and over—that you’ve done everything you can. You tried your hardest to save Jonas. You’re doing everything you can to save Jackie. You did what you could to be there for Milo.”

Gray didn’t wanna hear this, even though he knew he needed to. But he drew the line at involving Jayden any further, so he derailed it with a joke. “Did you pick up that pro-tip at therapy?”

Darius seemed to get it, thankfully. “I did. And did I follow the advice? Fuck no. But I’ve also told you not to do what I did. That’s why I still have a shit-ton of baggage to unpack.”

Gray couldn’t exactly argue. If he wanted to get better and reunite with his family, he had to do this properly.

“Can we get pancakes first?” He tested a smile.

“I think so,” Jayden interjected. “I’m starving.”

Darius chuckled. “Yeah, let’s go get some fuel.”NineTwo days later, Gray had discovered one thing.

Darius was the drill sergeant from hell.

The downstairs gym, which was more of a gigantic fitness studio, had everything. With the length of the area being at least fifty feet, it was long enough for suicide runs—Darius’s favorite form of punishment. That, and burpees. The ropes used in CrossFit could suck Gray’s dick too. He was fucking spent.