“Maybe I want to watch it now,” Miles said, lifting his chin, his eyes full of mirth and challenge. “Maybe I’m not tired.”
“You’ve been yawning. You just like being contrary.”
Miles smiled up at him, holding his gaze. “Maybe. But you’re still unbearably overbearing.”
Ian raised an eyebrow. “Haven’t we established that your brother brainwashed you into thinking that it’s a good trait?”
Miles laughed. “Brainwashed being the key word.”
Looking at that warm, open smile, Ian had an unsettling realization that he didn’t really want to say goodnight. He frowned. “Goodnight.”
Miles smile faded, his face falling.
Jesus, the boy didn’t even bother hiding his disappointment. Was he for real?
Ian tore his gaze away and strode out of the room.
Miles’s soft “Goodnight” was still sounding in his ears as he entered his bedroom, trying to ignore the feeling of dissatisfaction under his skin.
What the fuck, seriously? His fixation on Miles was starting to shift into a bizarre territory, even for him. It was bad enough already that he’d spent far too much of his limited free time with Miles. His unwillingness to be away from him even at night was… He didn’t even know what the hell it was.
At this rate, before long he would end up tucking Miles into his bed, regardless of the obvious, juvenile crush the boy had on him, a crush that he should have nipped in the bud when he first noticed it.
Fucking hell.
Maybe he really was an asshole.
Chapter 9
Miles had always mocked his siblings and their significant others for the stupid, ridiculous way they had behaved around their love interests. The mocking was good-natured and loving, of course, but he couldn’t deny that he had felt a little superior as he watched his brothers and future in-laws make fools of themselves. That would never happen to him, Miles had thought confidently. Even if he turned out not to be asexual, he’d never behave like a total idiot. Or so he had thought.
But the morning after he’d sucked Ian off, when Ian entered Liam’s playroom to say goodbye to his son before work, Miles had the dubious pleasure of experiencing what he had mocked his siblings for. He felt himself flush, for no bloody reason. He didn’t know where to look, his gaze moving erratically from Ian’s hands to his blue shirt that made the color of his eyes pop.
Wrenching his gaze away, Miles fixed them on the impeccable cut of Ian’s dark-gray suit, studying the way it hugged Ian’s broad shoulders and—
Ugh.
Feeling mortified and utterly confused—what the hell, he didn’t behave like an idiot last night when it had actually happened—Miles moved his gaze to the safest thing in the room: Liam.
The boy was avoiding his father’s gaze, but at least he wasn’t crying or trying to squirm out of his arms. That had to be encouraging, right?
Miles frowned, feeling utterly under-qualified for this job once again. He still felt that Ian would be better off finding a nanny that actually knew a thing or two about children’s psychology and child care in general.
Ian brushed his lips against Liam’s forehead and met Miles’s gaze over the boy’s head. “Good morning.”
Miles just nodded, his tongue thick and uncomfortable in his mouth. God, what was wrong with him? So he had sucked the guy’s cock. Big deal. Why was he being so ridiculous about it now?
“Morning,” he managed at last, his voice sounding throaty and strange even to his own ears.
Christ, the blue of those eyes didn’t even seem real.
Realizing that they’d been just staring at each other for too long (or was it just him?), Miles dropped his gaze hurriedly. To Ian’s strong, elegant hands. Hands that had been stroking his hair and gripping his throat as Ian’s cock fucked his throat—
His face far too warm and his jeans suddenly far too tight, Miles cleared his throat and said, “You should probably go before you’re late, Mr. Caldwell.” He nearly face-palmed as soon as he said that. Had his brain relocated to his prick?
Ian’s eyebrows flew up. “Mr. Caldwell? I thought we were past that.”
Miles pulled a face, laughing. “Please ignore what I say. Apparently you literally fucked my brains out last night.” He shut his mouth as soon as he said that, but it was too late. The damage was already done.
Ian stared at him.
Then he set Liam down and walked toward where Miles was sitting.
Miles’s heart hammered somewhere in his throat as he looked up at him.
Ian studied him intently.
“Did I?” he murmured, his fingers threading through Miles’s hair.
Miles was very proud of the fact that he managed not to make any embarrassing sound. He’d never thought having his hair touched could feel this good.
“You don’t have to sound so smug about it,” Miles said, unable to stop himself from giving Ian a smile.
Ian didn’t return it. “I still have twenty minutes until I have to leave,” he said, his fingers stroking Miles’s nape.