Page 53 of Various Intentions

To my surprise he came over and kissed me on the cheek.

I gave him a look. “What was that for?”

He shrugged. “For housing and feeding me…and being an awesome Dad.”

“O-kay. What’s brought this on?”

“Don’t know. Just, things are going great, y’know.”

I grinned, pleased to see Taylor so content. “How’s Riley?”

Taylor blushed, a rare enough occurrence. “Riley is delicious.”

“Oh my,” I said, clearing my throat.

“Well, you did ask.” Taylor could hardly contain his glee.

“Perhaps you don’t need any supper,” Matteo said.

“Man cannot live on…man…alone. Besides, I’ve, uh”—Taylor tried not to smile—“worked up an appetite.”

I couldn’t help laughing at Taylor’s cheek, but I shook my head to show I didn’t necessarily approve of a young man spending the entire afternoon in flagrante delecto with his lover.

Oh, who am I kidding?Of course I did. I made my hand into a fist and held it out.

Taylor stared at my hand. “Oh my God.”

Matteo stopped walking toward the kitchen and glanced behind him.

“Shhh. No sudden movements. Nic wants me to fist-bump him. What the fuck is happening?”

The hand that had been a fist shot out and clamped down on Taylor’s earlobe.

“Ow! Fuck!”

I twisted it so that he had to bend in a strange way and smiled down at him.

“Don’t make fun of your elders. It’s not attractive.”

“I’m not trying to be attractive to y— Ow! Help, I need a safeword!”

I let him go. He took a step back and rubbed at his ear.

“Jesus. Old people sure have tempers.”

I surged to my feet, but Taylor held up a hand and immediately backtracked.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Behave yourself or you’ll be sent to bed with no supper.”

“Thatwouldbe tragic. Consider me behaved.” Taylor went and cozied up to Matteo. “You still love me, don’t you, Daddy?”

Matteo simply turned his head and planted a soft kiss on Taylor’s scalp, while Taylor flashed me a narrow-eyed gaze.

“Don’t forget I have a drawer full of wooden paddles in the basement,” I said.

“Who could forget that? But you wouldn’t waste your talents on little me. Plus, it would be mondo weird since you like to do it to Vincent.”