Chapter 26: The Unexpected Truth

Thaddeus's lips crashed into his again, this time hungry, deep, and messy. There was no longer a line between gentle and desperate. Kayden clung to him like he was his air, and Thaddeus gave himself to him like he had no other choice.

When he finally entered him, Kayden gasped sharply, nails digging into his shoulders. Thaddeus paused, letting him adjust, eyes locked on his. There were tears in the corners of Kayden's eyes, tears of pain and desire tangled together but he nodded.

"I'm okay," Kayden breathed. "Please… move in."

And Thaddeus did.

Slow at first, letting the rhythm build, the pressure rising with every thrust, every breathless moan Kayden gave him. Kayden's body melted into his, legs locked around his waist, as they moved together like they were meant to.

The room echoed with the sound of skin on skin, their breathing, the wet kiss of bodies meeting in the dark. Kayden's voice became a litany of pleas and praises. "Yes. Deeper. Daddy." Each word pushed Thaddeus closer to the edge.

"Kayden," Thaddeus groaned, gripping his waist and burying his face in his neck. "You feel so good."

Kayden sobbed out a breath and kissed his temple. "I love you like this. When you don't hold back."

"I'm not stopping," Thaddeus whispered, pressing him down and claiming him again and again.

When Kayden finally shattered beneath him, trembling and breathless, Thaddeus followed him over the edge with a growl of his name, spilling everything he was into him.

They stayed like that, tangled in sweat and sheets, skin to skin, heart to heart.

No words.

Just breathing.

Until Kayden finally whispered, "I'm yours, Daddy. Voice trembling with raw emotion. "Stop treating me like a kid when it comes to sex. I'll get better. I'll adjust, only when you show me your strength. But if you keep hiding just to avoid hurting me, then all of this will start to feel like a lie. Like I'm not capable enough for you."

Thaddeus sat still, his eyes searching Kayden's face as if trying to read between the lines of his boldness.

"I don't know what you mean by soft," Kayden continued, his voice lower now, aching with truth. "All I know is, I'm obsessed with you. And I just want to get better… to be enough for you."

Thaddeus leaned against the wall, arms crossed loosely over his chest, eyes quietly watching Kayden as he wiped his damp hair with a towel.

His voice was low when he spoke. "Can I ask you something?"

Kayden glanced up, surprised by the softness in his tone. He paused, towel still clutched in his hand. "What do you want to ask, Dad?" he said quietly, trying to read the expression on Thaddeus's face.

Thaddeus exhaled through his nose and pushed off the wall, moving closer. "Do you want to be enough for me, Kayden?"

Kayden blinked, heart skipping at the weight behind those words. "Yes… I do," he answered, voice steady but low. "Even if I'm not now… I want to be."

Thaddeus studied him, his eyes dropping briefly to Kayden's trembling fingers before meeting his gaze again. "Then stop acting like you're still a child when it comes to me," he said. "You say you want me, but the moment I touch you, you flinch like I'll break you."

Kayden's throat tightened. He leaned back slightly, but Thaddeus caught his wrist gently.

"I'm not trying to scare you," Thaddeus said, voice quieter now. "But if you want me to show you how serious I can be… then you have to stop hiding every time it gets intense."

Kayden searched his eyes, struggling to find the right words. "I'm not hiding," he muttered. "I'm just not used to… feeling this much."

Thaddeus stared at him for a moment longer, something heavy flickering in his gaze. Then, slowly, he leaned forward and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to Kayden's lips.

"Then again, if you want to be enough for me," Thaddeus murmured against his mouth, "can I ask what conversation you had with Ariz that led to him warning you to stay away from sweet things? Or… did you do something behind my back?"

Kayden lightly tapped his chest with a pout. "Daddy…"

Thaddeus chuckled, raising both hands in surrender. "I'm joking," he said, though his eyes betrayed his curiosity. "But I'm dying to know the truth."

Kayden let out a small breath before confessing, eyes downcast, voice low. "I was the one who asked Ariz for advice. After you said I was soft… I didn't like it."

He looked up, face painted with shy defiance.

"I don't want to be soft," he admitted. "I want to be naughty. Dirty. Strong. I want to have the kind of energy that's enough for you."

Thaddeus looked at him, and something twisted in his chest. Kayden always spoke without a filter. Shamelessly honest. And that honesty made it impossible to look away.

"For now…" Thaddeus said gently, "You have nothing to overthink. You are enough for me."

Kayden shook his head. "No, I'm not. I've heard you groan in the bathroom after we made love, twice."You still treat me like someone younger. Like I'm not worthy of the kind of desire you want to show."

Thaddeus exhaled, slow and conflicted. "You're right. I've been taking things slow. Not because you're not enough, but… because I didn't want to break you."

Kayden reached for him, eyes burning with frustration and hunger. "But I want to be broken," he said, voice firm. "You don't get it, I want to be spoiled. I'm already spoiled, I just haven't put it all into practice. You're my first. You should be the one to show me everything. Every kind of intimacy that feeds you. Don't treat me like I'm fragile. Show me everything. Even if I tremble, at least I'll know you're being real with me."

Thaddeus closed his eyes for a second. The emotions tangled inside him were a storm: love, guilt, and desire.

"It's not only about sex, Kayden," he said quietly. "I want to treat you right… in every way."

"But you still don't want to admit that you want me."

The words hung heavy between them.

Thaddeus finally pulled him close, wrapping an arm around his waist. "Come here," he murmured. "Let's give it time, okay?"

He pressed a kiss to Kayden's hair. "You trust me, right?"

Kayden nodded, his face buried in Thaddeus's chest like a child seeking safety. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he asked, "Daddy… can I sleep now?"

"Yes," Thaddeus said, brushing a hand down his back. "You've done so well today."

Within minutes, Kayden drifted off, wrapped in the warmth of Thaddeus's embrace. But Thaddeus lay wide awake, staring at the ceiling. His mind was racing, caught in thoughts of Kayden, of the boy's persistence, his honesty, the way he was giving everything to prove his worth.

And then… There was Ryland.

What would Kayden's father do when he found out? What would it cost them?

But none of that mattered now. Because the truth was, Thaddeus was already in too deep. He couldn't go back, even if he wanted to. And the worst part was… he didn't want to.

He turned, watching Kayden's peaceful face in the dark. Carefully, he leaned down and kissed his forehead.

"I'm already yours too," he whispered to the sleeping boy, before finally letting sleep take him as well.

The morning sun had barely risen when the suit was delivered to Thaddeus's doorstep. A soft knock echoed through the quiet hallway, but he barely stirred from the warmth of the bed.

Still caught between sleep and wakefulness, Thaddeus felt the vibration of his phone on the nightstand. Lena's name flashed on the screen. He glanced at it, then let it ring out. His attention shifted.

He turned, expecting to feel Kayden close beside him, but found the other side of the bed already empty. Kayden had curled himself into the corner, his back turned, body completely bare under the thin sheets. They had fallen asleep like that, naked, tangled in each other, and yet now there was distance.

Thaddeus shifted closer, gently pulling Kayden into his arms. His hand brushed over his skin, warm. His brow creased.

Kayden stirred, his lashes fluttering but never fully lifting. As Thaddeus pulled him gently into his arms, he pressed a palm to Kayden's forehead and frowned. The warmth beneath his skin was unmistakable.

"You're burning up," Thaddeus murmured, concern softening his voice. "Do you want to take something? I can get you some medicine."

Kayden's lips moved faintly, a tired sigh slipping out as he turned slowly and rested his cheek against Thaddeus's chest. His voice came out low and raspy, barely a whisper.

"No… I don't want medicine," he said without opening his eyes. "I just want to stay like this… with you."

Thaddeus wrapped his arms around him more tightly, one hand gliding up and down his back with soothing strokes. "Okay," he said gently, holding him like something sacred. "Then rest. I've got you."

Kayden made no sound after that. Only the steady rhythm of his breathing filled the space until he finally drifted back into sleep.

Downstairs, the front door creaked open without warning.

Rassel had arrived earlier than expected. She'd told her brother she would be coming next week for work, but plans had shifted—and a part of her had wanted to surprise him anyway.

As she stepped inside quietly, suitcase in hand, she motioned to the maid to keep silent.

"I want to surprise him," she whispered with a knowing smile.

But as she climbed the stairs, the lightness in her steps was soon replaced by hesitation. She reached his bedroom door, slightly ajar, and peeked inside, only to freeze in place.

What she saw stopped her cold.

Bathed in the golden hush of morning light, Thaddeus lay curled around someone, his arms protective, almost reverent. Both of them were unclothed, their bodies tangled in a way that spoke not just of passion, but of something far more intimate and vulnerable.

Rassel's breath caught. Her eyes darted to the figure Thaddeus held so closely.

It was Kayden.

And suddenly, the surprise was hers alone.