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“Always, baby.”

Lake kissed him. Hard.

Jesse kissed him back before nipping Lake’s lower lip. “I need to get back to work. You’ll be okay?”

“I’m fine.” Lake waved his hand toward the coffee shop. “I’m going to hang out with my friends before I go to work. Will I see you later?”

“You can count on it.”

“One more kiss,” Lake demanded.

Jesse gathered his boy close again then kissed him, showing Lake how much he would miss him for the next several hours.

Whistles and catcalls sounded around them.

Jesse pulled away slowly. “That should hold you until we’re alone again.”

“Great, now I’m hard. Dom is gonna love that,” Lake complained.

“You can handle him,” Jesse assured him.

“Let’s grab your coffees so you can get to work,” Lake said.

Jesse threaded their fingers together, pulling Lake along with him. They reentered the coffee shop. Dom was still sitting on the counter but next to him were two to-go cups.

“So, Lake’s Daddy,” Dom called. “What are you bringing to our little celebration on Saturday?”

“Should you be sitting up there?” Jesse questioned.

“I make him move when a customer comes in and wipe down the counter,” Ezra said.

“You didn’t answer,” Dom butted in.

Jesse grinned as he approached Dom. He grabbed the two cups and leaned close. “It’s a surprise.”

“No fun!” Dom whined.

“Guess you’ll have to live with it,” Jesse told him. He turned and walked away, stopping to kiss Lake quickly one last time. He needed to stop and drop off his present for Lake to find at work.

* * * * *

Lake

There was something about pulling off his cotton T-shirt, revealing the lace bodysuit underneath, that made Lake feel powerful. Sexy. Even in the bland locker room of the club. Putting the shirt back on had the opposite effect.

He finished stuffing his things into backpack and slung it over his shoulder then slammed the locker before locking it back up. Lake picked up Zeb from the bench but caught their reflection in the mirror.

Crossing the room, Lake stared at himself.

Was there something different about him? Lake couldn’t help but wonder. He felt different. Like the pieces inside him were finally starting to click in place. Even if the pieces bent on the edges when Lake had to cover up his pretty clothes and hide that part of himself.

He hugged Zeb to his chest.

Lake’s little buddy. His partner in crime.

Al was still upstairs in Jesse’s bed but the two stuffies would be reunited soon. Lake would make sure that he grabbed Al before his next shift. Lake had debated packing a bag to stay with Jesse again but had decided against it. He’d spent two nights already.

In the mirror, Lake could see his own frown.