Doll Parts (The Game 4)

“Two.” He looked a little tired, and I couldn’t blame him. It’d been a crazy weekend. “I think we’ll all sleep well tonight. Noa’s reaching his limit.”

That wasn’t surprising. A pain slut like him should’ve enjoyed that last station. At least a pain slut who appreciated having his head messed with.

“Out of my way, please! Out of my way, please!”

I peered down the stairs to see Noa running up again.

He let out a huge breath and gently pushed me away from KC. “Sorry I left, Daddy. I gotta be the one to help you. I’m sorry.”

Behind his loud crankiness was an incredibly affectionate little helper who wanted nothing more than to be there for KC. It was so very easy to get attached to him too.

“It’s quite all right, baby.” KC kissed the boy’s temple and squeezed his hand.

Cameron and I headed down the stairs ahead of them, and we waited in the lobby as the lift descended.

Cam tapped my hip in a silent request.

“You may speak.” I combed back his hair with my fingers.

“Thank you, Master. I suppose I never understood why KC has to take the lift down. I’ve seen him walk up the stairs with just the cane. He has the strength, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, he has the strength,” I replied. “It’s his knees. They can’t support his weight going down. They’ll cave.”

“Oh. Okay. That makes sense.” He glanced up at KC and Noa before meeting my gaze again. “Does he feel better these days about the accident, Sir? He’s not depressed anymore?”

I tilted my head. “He has bad days like the rest of us—moments where he feels he’s weak and like he’s not enough. It’s been almost a year since he went off his antidepressants, though.”

“I understand.” His expression turned sheepish. “I guess I’m struggling to let go. I’m worried sometimes—I’ve been Noa’s big brother, you know what I mean, since we started dating, basically. I’m always trying to be one step ahead and prepared.”

That was the Cam I knew—and loved.

“That’s the beauty of us all being together, darling.” I cupped his face in my hands and kissed his nose. “You don’t have to let go. At the same time, you can shuffle some worries over to me and let me take care of things.”

It took time for any couple to find their happy medium, and we were four partners. Four partners with different connections within the dynamic. It was going to take time to adjust to certain things.

That evening, KC and Noa finished in second place in the fastest closing ceremony we’d ever hosted. With thunder roaring overhead, they quickly assembled their puzzle pieces and hollered out the individual phrase found on the pieces, “Daddy’s always right,” which was rapidly followed by Noa shouting, “Hey! I don’t agree to that!”

The points for each station would be determined by those of us organizing the event, so that the score could be added to the total later on. And with KC and Noa having just joined the Games, they had some catching up to do. But then, as far as I knew, only five couples had participated in all three events so far.

Many were tired after the eventful weekend, so the house cleared out pretty quickly, with a dozen or so staying behind for more play and spending time with friends.

KC and I did the opposite. We hauled our two into the main house for a shower, and then we rushed back to the cabin, where comfortable clothes and a late snack awaited.

Approximately two minutes after we’d brought snacks, beverages, and Cameron’s laptop upstairs, the power went out.

“Ooooh!” Noa found this very exciting. “We should watch a horror movie!”

I’d heard Cam complain about how bad his laptop battery was, so maybe a movie wasn’t the best idea.

“It’s so quiet without the AC,” Cam marveled.

I dug out a couple mosquito-repelling candles from my dresser, lit them up, and put them on the nightstands. “It better come on again, or you and I will have two Hayles kicking the duvets to the floor in their sleep.”

Cam scoffed. “Noa will do that even when the AC is on.”

Noa sat in the middle of the bed and just grinned and shrugged. “I can’t help I’m a ninja when I sleep.” Then he threw himself sideways and used KC’s chest as a pillow. “Are you also a ninja when you sleep, Daddy?”

“You know it.” KC pushed himself up on his elbow and ruffled Noa’s hair. “If I slept in Lucian’s bed and started shoving away the covers, he would wake me up and say I had to either go to my own room or at least suck him off so my stay would be worth his while.”

I chuckled and got comfortable against the headboard. “That’s love.”

“It’s going to be a madhouse if we ever live together,” Cameron joked. He was the last to jump into bed, and he got settled between Noa and me. “Two guys who can’t stay still in their sleep, one Master who mutters to himself all night, and poor little me.”