Page 95 of Mr. Naughty List

“Yeah. We fought a few days ago. We haven’t spoken since.”

Dad sighed. “She’s a hard one, your mother. But it’s not like you to be so tough on her. What’s it about? That boy of yours?”

Aaron wanted to deny it, but of course he couldn’t. He slid his fingers through Constance’s soft, black fur and was gratified by her soft purrs. “Yeah. She’s always said if I want to work in her school, then I have to stay in the closet.”

His father was silent, and Aaron’s hair stood on end. Somehow, he sensed his father’s rage.

Rushing on, Aaron clarified, “Not that I ever fought her on it. I agreed. I didn’t want the complications of being out as a teacher. What if… What if parents didn’t like it?”

“Then fuck ’em.”

Aaron laughed. “Yeah. I’m coming to see it that way. But Mom… She’s never going to be okay with me being gay, is she?”

“You’ll have to ask her, son. I’d like to think she’ll come around, but she never came around on me being a farmer, even though that’s what I was when she found me.” Dad sighed heavily. “But I wasn’t her son. You are. After the divorce, you became her primary relationship in the world. It wasn’t healthy on a lot of levels, but what was I supposed to do about it? I think once she accepts she can’t run your life, she’ll come around to some sort of relationship with you. She won’t cut you out. Not like she did me.”

“I don’t know.” Aaron smoothed Constance’s fur. “I think she might.”

“I’m here for you. The family’s here for you. You won’t be alone in this world. But I know everyone needs their mama. I needed mine until her dying day.”

“I miss Grandma. She was wonderful.”

“She put up with a lot of hooey from us kids, and from Dad.” He chuckled. “Listen to me. Bring that boy out for Christmas Eve, and if you haven’t made it up with your mother by Christmas Day, bring him over again to watch your cousins’ kids open their presents.”

“RJ has his own family, Dad.”

“Well, come out alone. We’re always happy to have you.”

“I know. I love you, Dad.”

“Love you, too, Cracker. Hang in there. It’s the season of miracles.”

“So I’ve heard.”

After disconnecting the call, Aaron considered reading a book in bed until he grew sleepy enough to drift off. But once he was beneath the covers, everything felt all wrong. His ass was tender from the braided belt, and he’d had to apply cream to it twice over the course of the day. He felt unsettled, like he needed something more. A spanking. A fuck. A simple kiss.

Was he allowed to ask for what he needed? He’d never been allowed to before.

Picking up his phone again, he opened the text thread with RJ. They’d exchanged something simple earlier when RJ had reassured Aaron that things were going to be okay with Carter, and they’d agreed that a night apart would be for the best.To allow your ass to heal, and to allow me some time to convince my stepbrother that I’m a troll.

At the time, Aaron had agreed readily enough. He’d had grading to do and he was tired after several sleepless nights. Plus, he’d realized that having RJ around was a distraction from thinking about his mother, and he owed it to himself to figure out what he wanted to do about her. But now, reading over the texts again, he couldn’t help but wonder…

Girding himself for humiliation, he typed in a question and sent it.

If I didn’t want to fuck you anymore, would you still want to spend time with me?

TheReadmessage appeared. There was a long delay and then bubbles, then no bubbles, and then bubbles again.

I’m calling you.

The phone started to ring as soon as the message came through and Aaron shivered as he picked it up. “Hey.”

“Did I hurt you? Are you okay?”

“You hurt me, but I liked it, remember?”

“I know, but…” RJ let out a frustrated growl. “What did you mean by that message?”

“I don’t know.” God, he felt like an idiot now. An adolescent idiot, even though he was coming up on thirty and was older than RJ. “I just got worried.”