Page 109 of Innocent

Then it hits me. “You’vereallybeen planning this for a while. That level of security clearance doesn’t happen overnight.”

He grins. “You already had the approved clearance when I flew to Florida.”

He couldn’t have done that alone.

“So Kev and President Samuels—”

“Co-conspired with me, yes. Shae put in the request. Leo has SitRoom access, you know.”

Sneaky fucking boy. “Yeah, and Leo was—”

“On The Shift, yeah.” His smile fades. “I’m going to need you, Sir. Everywhere. I wanted to cover my bases.”

Well, shit.No pressure, huh? “They’re not telling Leo I’m back?”

“No. They promised to keep that quiet for us.”

I study his expression. “You weren’t going to let me leave the plane until I agreed to come back, were you?”

He blushes. “No, Sir. I wasn’t.” He lifts his chin. “You know this is the right thing, though. Don’t you?”

I walk over and kiss him. “Sneaky fucking boy. Might have to spank you for that.”

He grins. “Oh, no, Sir. Pleeeease don’t spank me.”

“Brat.”

There’s a knock on the door. I walk over and open it to find a man in an army uniform. “Mr. Walsh? I’m here to take you to the SitRoom, sir.”

Elliot looks entirely too pleased with himself. “Have fun, Jordan.”

* * * *

We’re both exhausted—and I’m completely brain-fried—by the time we make it home that evening. That means we do nothing more than bathe together and collapse, cuddling in the middle of Elliot’s bed.

Mostly because morning will come too damned early, and Elliot has to be on top of his game.

I also do my best to hide the fact that I’m pissed off Leostillhasn’t responded to Elliot’s texts. In fact, I confiscated the burner, so Elliot’s no longer responsible for it.

I set my alarm to wake me fifteen minutes before Elliot needs to be up, so I can prepare our coffee. He’ll skip his workout again tomorrow, meaning he can sleep a little later. He’s sound asleep literally seconds after his head hits the pillow.

Thank goodness.

Tonight, hopefully, won’t be a nightmare kind of night.

Apparently, it’s not, because once I settle in with him draped around me, I don’t know anything else until my alarm goes off the next morning. We’re still snuggled together, although in sleep I rolled onto my side and he followed, tightly spooning around me.

I hit the ground running and gently get him up and moving. Before we head downstairs to the detail, he grabs my hand and looks me in the eyes. Glasses again today, because I don’t want him fucking around with contacts when he’s obviously trying to find his emotional footing in this new thing between us.

Besides, the glasses make him look hotter.

“Thank you, Sir. For everything.” He sounds nearly choked up.

I pause and pull him in for a long, strong hug, making sure I rub his scalp as I do. “Anything for my boy.” I kiss him, lingering, loving how he’s smiling when I finally release him.

Elliot is as skilled at pulling a mask in place as I am. The difference is I’m far better at holding on to mine for long periods of time. By the time we hit the front door, Vice President Woodley is firmly in place, and my boy is safely tucked away until tonight.

At least my public mask is similar to Elliot’s Sir. There’s not a drastic difference in the two, the way there is between Elliot’s VP and boy masks.