Chapter 15: The Night He Pretended

After hours of lying in each other's arms, wrapped in silent comfort, Thaddeus gently urged, "You should sleep now. It's late."

He waited, watching as Kayden finally lay down, brushing soft fingers against Thaddeus's chest one last time before Thaddeus got up and left for his room.

Moments after settling into bed, a knock came. He opened the door, and there Kayden stood, quiet, almost hesitant.

"I... I don't feel like sleeping alone," he said softly, eyes not quite meeting Thaddeus's.

Thaddeus said nothing. He only stepped aside, letting the door swing open wider.

He knew why Kayden came. Knew it wasn't just about loneliness. But he couldn't bring himself to shut the door, not on him.

They lay down, quiet. Kayden kept his distance, respecting invisible boundaries. Until Thaddeus exhaled and murmured, "Come closer."

Kayden shifted slowly, nestling against Thaddeus's chest, his warmth making his breath catch. His skin tingled at every contact, his body starting to stir with need he could no longer suppress.

He'd told Thaddeus once, he was his first, his everything. So wanting him like this didn't feel wrong to Kayden. It felt natural.

But Thaddeus, no matter how deep his desire ran, always held back. He gave Kayden only pieces of himself, soft touches, quiet moments but never full passion. Never the raw, consuming kind Kayden craved. Every time they came together, it felt like Thaddeus was doing it out of guilt, not want.

Kayden wants to be wanted completely. So this time, he didn't hide it. He whispered into the quiet, voice low and needy.

"Daddy... I'm horny."

The words hung in the air like a lit match.

Thaddeus stilled. Silent. Breathing heavily but trying to calm himself. Then finally, he whispered back, "Can we... not do that tonight?"

Kayden's heart sank. "Okay," he muttered, though his body ached.

He tried to stay, but every part of him burned with want. Thaddeus's scent, his warmth, the way his heartbeat thudded under Kayden's ear, it was too much. He sat up, not angry just overwhelmed.

"I'll go back to my room," he said softly.

But before he could rise, Thaddeus grabbed his wrist. "Stay," he said, his voice low.

He pulled Kayden gently back onto the bed, positioning him carefully, reverently.

Thaddeus undressed him slowly, eyes locked with his, as if searching for something deeper. Then he undressed himself, revealing all the restraint he'd been hiding under clothes and silence.

He leaned in, lips brushing softly, kissing Kayden like he might break.

Then he moved lower.

One hand slid beneath Kayden, lifting his hips gently. Kayden gasped, sharp and breathy. The second hand followed, fingers stroking along his spine, down to where desire throbbed.

Thaddeus kissed down his neck, his jaw, his collarbone, his mouth hot and insistent. He took Kayden's nipple between his lips, sucked hard enough to draw a cry. The sound was wet, needy, punctuated by the helpless moans Kayden couldn't hold back.

"Ahh...Thad…"

He licked lower, teasing, worshiping with tongue and teeth until he reached Kayden's cock, already flushed, aching.

He took him in.

Kayden arched off the bed with a desperate whine, hips twitching. "Ahn—ahh—Daddy… I'm gonna…"

Thaddeus didn't stop, even as Kayden's thighs trembled. Just before he came, Kayden begged, "P-please… take it off—your mouth—ahhh—!"

Thaddeus pulled back just in time. Kayden spilled over his face, his chest rising and falling like a storm had passed through him.

Then, before Kayden could even catch his breath, Thaddeus climbed over him, pulled him close, and slid inside.

Kayden cried out, a real sound, raw and broken. "Nnghh...Thad!"

He felt every inch of him.

Thaddeus's thrusts were slow, deep, and precise. His hand reached around, wrapping firmly around Kayden's still-hard cock. The rhythm of his body and hand worked in sync, drawing another wave of pleasure from Kayden's cock.

"Ah—ahhh—I'm…!" Kayden convulsed, releasing again, body shaking against Thaddeus's chest.

But Thaddeus hadn't finished.

He held Kayden tight, one arm wrapped around his waist, the other gripping his thigh as he moved, deeper, harder, chasing an orgasm that wouldn't come.

Kayden trembled again, not from pleasure this time. His body was overwhelmed, too sensitive to take more.

Thaddeus slowed. He stared down at him, worry slipping into his gaze. Kayden's trembling wasn't the usual aftermath, it was more.

And his own release was still far away, his body still hard, still craving but he stopped.

Watched him.

And then, quietly, Thaddeus groaned a practiced sound. He let his hips still, then pulled out slowly, pretending he had spent.

He kissed Kayden's shoulder, gently, then slipped away into the bathroom.

The door shut.

Inside, he braced a hand against the wall and finished alone, stroking himself under the cold water until he finally groaned for real, the release he never shared in bed.

Kayden lay there, chest rising and falling, eyes fluttering open.

He listened.

A few seconds later, he heard it.

Another groan, longer, real, echoed from the bathroom, followed by the sound of water and Thaddeus's heavy breaths.

Kayden said nothing. But something inside him shifted.

"It wasn't the first time, it had been happening, Thaddeus pretending for Kayden's sake. Finishing alone in silence while giving Kayden everything.

And for the first time. Kayden noticed.

But he said nothing.

He wanted to see if it would happen again… and then decide what to say.

When Thaddeus returned to the bed, he kissed Kayden's forehead gently and pulled him close, wrapping their bodies together like nothing had happened.

Kayden rested his head on Thaddeus's chest again, this time quiet in thought.

But even in his silence, Kayden knew, something was shifting between them. Something tender, something deep, and still not quite spoken.

Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Kayden stirred beneath the sheets, slowly blinking awake, only to find Thaddeus already watching him.

Their eyes met in the stillness.

"Good morning, Daddy," Kayden said with a sleepy smile, voice low and teasing.

"Good morning," Thaddeus replied, his voice warm. "Did you sleep well?"

Kayden gave a small nod, then stretched slightly. "You're staring at me," he mumbled, lips curving upward, "but you didn't kiss me."

He tilted his head playfully. "Where's my morning kiss?"

Thaddeus chuckled under his breath before leaning in to press a gentle kiss on Kayden's lips, slow, soft, and lingering.

"Do you have class this morning?" he asked.

Kayden shook his head. "No class today. Nothing at all."

Thaddeus sat up, adjusting the sleeve of his shirt as he prepared to get ready for work. Kayden pouted behind him, eyes wide like a sulking child.

"I'll be bored alone at home," he whined softly.

Thaddeus said nothing at first, standing quietly.

Then Kayden added, a little too casually, "Maybe I'll go over to Darren's place."

Thaddeus turned his head.

"Go dress up," he said. "You're coming with me."

Kayden's face lit up immediately. Without another word, he jumped up and threw his arms around Thaddeus in a quick, tight hug before dashing off to get ready.

The bedroom door clicked softly behind him as it closed.

Thaddeus stood there for a moment longer, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Downstairs, the dining room was already set for breakfast. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filled the air. Thaddeus and Kayden walked in together. Kayden was freshly dressed, his hair slightly tousled, eyes still carrying the softness of morning.

Thaddeus pulled out a chair for him before sitting down across the table. The maids noticed, but said nothing, only exchanging brief glances as they moved around quietly, serving fruit, eggs, toast, and tea.

Kayden leaned back slightly in his chair, watching Thaddeus pour milk into his cup.

"You don't usually do that," he teased, lips curving into a smile.

"I'm in a good mood," Thaddeus said smoothly, setting the cup in front of him.

"Because of me?" Kayden asked, pretending innocence.

Thaddeus didn't answer, but the small smile on his lips said more than words. When Kayden reached for the butter, Thaddeus was already handing it to him. When Kayden reached for a napkin, Thaddeus wiped the corner of his mouth gently with his own handkerchief.

The quiet gestures were subtle but not lost on the two maids working nearby.

At the far end of the kitchen, one of them whispered to the other while pretending to check the pantry shelf.

"Did you see that?" she murmured. "Boss doesn't even act like that with people, It's like he's… soft with him."

"The boy's Ryland's son," the second maid replied, not looking up. "They've known each other forever."

The first one scoffed lightly. "Still, it's not just familiarity. It's something else. The way he watches him… I think something is going on between them."

The second maid turned slightly, giving her a firm look. "It's not your business. Just do your work."

Still, curiosity lingered in their expressions.

Back at the table, Kayden took a final sip of his tea and glanced at the time.

"You ready?" he asked.

Thaddeus nodded, standing first and walking around to gently fix the collar of Kayden's shirt.

"Let's go."

The two walked out together, the front door closing behind them in a soft click. The sleek black car was already waiting outside.

As they slid into the backseat, Kayden glanced at Thaddeus again, a quiet smile playing on his lips.

He liked mornings like this.

And deep down, Thaddeus did too, even if he never said it aloud.