Page 10

“I see that.” Remi crouched beside him. “There’s someone here to see you.”

Panic filled Lake and he shook his head. No one should be looking for him. Was it one of his brothers? Oh jeez! What if it was his dad? The shaking began before Lake could control his fear.

Remi ran a hand down Lake’s back. “I promise it will be okay. I would never allow anyone in here who would hurt you.”

Lake knew that. He nodded slowly.

“Come on in!” Remi called.

He watched the door as another man entered. Jesse! He had actually come to their little housewarming party. Lake couldn’t believe it. Jesse was there in the playroom.

He made a weird sound in the back of his throat when he realized Jesse was going to see their special space.

“It’s okay,” Remi whispered, patting Lake’s back.

“Hey, Lake,” Jesse said, stepping over their fallen stuffie guards. “Is it okay if I give you something?”

“Me?” Lake pointed at himself.

Jesse smiled.

Lake had to swallow hard. Jesse was just so attractive. It wasn’t fair that anyone could fill out a suit the way thatJesse could. Lake had never seen him dressed down and often fantasized what Jesse hid under those perfectly tailored suits. Not that he’d ever find out. No matter what Lake’s friends said. Jesse was far out of Lake’s league.

“I have a gift for the house and one for you too,” Jesse told him. It was only then that Lake noticed Jesse was holding two beautifully arranged bags with colorful tissue paper.

Lake glanced at Remi.

“I need to get Dom to bed,” Remi said. “Why don’t you open both gifts and we can tell Dom about it in the morning.”

Glancing at his sleeping friend, Lake nodded. Dom needed his rest. “I can do that.” Lake wanted to force the little mindset away, but he found it difficult when he was in his favorite room and knew he was safe.

As embarrassed as he was for Jesse to see the new playroom, this wasn’t the first time Jesse had been around when they were all regressed. Eric had remodeled their entire basement into a huge space for their little time. Since before Christmas, Jesse had been visiting more often.

It was quiet as Remi lifted Dom from the beanbag chair then carried him out of the room.

Lake was still holding a fairy and only noticed when Jesse looked down and smiled.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt your playtime,” Jesse said.

He shrugged. It must be getting late if Ezra and Brandon went home. Now that they shared a humongous backyard, it was so easy to have playtime. Both houses had the best playrooms, after all.

Jesse sat beside Lake.

Lake peered nervously up at Jesse through his lashes. Dressed in a loose pair of jeans and a hoodie, he wasn’t wearing anything revealing but he still felt exposed sitting next to Jesse and his expensive suit.

“This is for the house,” Jesse said, handing over the bright blue bag.

Lake eagerly yanked out the soft paper, getting to the box inside the big bag. He shoved the tissue and bag away to Jesse’s quiet chuckle and drew out the heavy box. “What is it?”

“Well, open it and find out,” Jesse told him with amusement evident.

Lake rolled his eyes but placed the box on the carpet in front of him. He carefully opened the side tabs then pushed the lid up.

A gorgeous white porcelain tea set was nestled in foam.

Lake gasped.

“I figured the tea set you all played with probably stayed at the other house,” Jesse said. “You need one for here too.”