Page 41 of The Paternity Puzzle
“Don’t get overwhelmed. You can pin anything that stands out to you and go back into the board and narrow it down. You can remove pinned items that don’t fit or that Royce doesn’t like. It’s a digital mood board, so you can move things around according to your…mood.” They started with the functional things the room needed first. They added different styles of cribs, dressers, armoires, and changing tables to the board.
“You’ll want one of these,” Kelsey said, pointing to a sunny yellow glider with a matching footstool. “They’re perfect for late-night feedings and soothing a little one to sleep.” When Sawyer saved it to the collection, Kelsey added, “I didn’t mean you had to add this glider. You can get them with just about any fabric color or texture.”
“Yeah, I know, but I like the sunny yellow one. It will look great with the pale gray paint, and it reminds me of you.”
“Charmer.”
“So they say,” Sawyer replied as he typed “baby bedding” into the search bar. “Oh, that one,” Sawyer said, tapping on the first image featuring a white crib with a baby quilt folded over the edge. Adorable baby safari animals filled each square of the blanket. They were cartoony enough for a nursery without straying too far from the real animals. “I really love this one.”
“Add it to the collection, and keep scrolling to see if anything else jumps out at you.”
The magnitude and range of nursery themes was impressive and sometimes overwhelming. Sawyer found a few other contenders, but the baby safari animals remained his first pick. Kelsey helped him find storage and decor options that matched the theme, including wall stickers that looked like murals. He just needed to convince Royce.
Sawyer was shocked when he noticed the time. “We’ve been at this for almost two hours.”
“Welcome to the Pinterest rabbit hole. Wait until you explore recipes and life hacks.”
“That’s probably better than the carpet cleaning videos I got hooked on while I was in Denver,” Sawyer told her.
“What? Show me?”
They spent another hour watching his new friend James tackle dirty rugs with his adorably named machines and tools before they moved to the pool. Swimming for Kelsey meant floating on a raft with a cold beverage in her hand and warning people not to get her hair wet. Sawyer enjoyed a dip in the cold water before he hoisted himself on a raft and sipped a virgin strawberry daiquiri he’d whipped up for them in the blender. And that’s where Royce found them when he returned home. He’d changed out of his work clothes and put on tropical-themed board shorts and a white tank top. Seeing his husband’s handsome face had the same intoxicating effect as the booze he’d left out of the drink.
“Yay!” Kelsey and Sawyer cheered.
Royce smirked as he approached them. He tossed his phone onto a lounger before walking to the edge of the pool. “I could get used to this kind of greeting.” He squatted down, reached for Sawyer’s float, and tugged him closer. “You look blissful.”
“I am. I have the most amazing husband and best friend.” Sawyer puckered his lips for a kiss.
Royce eyed him warily but leaned forward. Sawyer grabbed a fistful of his tank top and pulled him into the water.
“Hey now,” Kelsey said, holding up her hand as if that would keep her curls dry. “You know the rules.”
Royce emerged from the water looking like an aquatic god. He slicked the drenched hair off his forehead and apologized to Kelsey for Sawyer’s naughty behavior. “I will teach him a lesson.”
“Mm-hmm. I just bet you will, but can it wait? My bestie promised me Mexican food.”
Royce held Sawyer’s gaze as he said, “Sure thing. Let him worry about his punishment for a few hours.”
Worry wasn’t causing the tingle of arousal in Sawyer’s balls.
Kelsey snorted and paddled closer to the edge of the pool.
“Where are you going?” Sawyer asked.
“I’m going to call Andrew and ask him to meet us at the restaurant. Our little angel is still with Grandma, so we can have an adult double date. Chips, salsa, and all the beans!”
“Lucky Andrew,” Royce called after her.
Kelsey acknowledged him with a bark of laughter as she rummaged through her purse for her phone.
“How was your day?” Sawyer asked.
“Boring and frustrating.” Royce rested his hands on the raft and pulled it closer when Sawyer started to drift away. “I don’t know much more than I did yesterday, so I could’ve stayed home and enjoyed the day with you.” He glanced over at the patiowhere Kelsey talked on the phone to Andrew. “But I think you had the day you needed.”
“You’re always my first choice to do anything with, and I’m glad you’re home now.” Sawyer ran his fingers through Royce’s hair. “What’s this about a punishment?”
Royce placed a hand on Sawyer’s thigh and squeezed. His gray eyes smoldered with an intensity that made Sawyer suck in a sharp breath. “Before dinner, we’re going to shower together.” Royce trailed his fingers up Sawyer’s legs until he reached the bottom of his swim shorts. “I’m going to work you up to the point of painful arousal and refuse to let you come.” When Kelsey went inside the house, Royce slipped his fingers under the shorts and brushed them against Sawyer’s balls through the mesh liner. “You’ll sit across the table from me, primed and ready to fuck, fighting the urge to squirm and give yourself away or make yourself come.” Royce slipped his fingers under the mesh netting and cupped Sawyer fully, skin to skin.