He set his bags on her bed and reached into one, pulling out Bumbly.
“Oh!” She cried out, reaching for the toy. He handed it to her, and she unselfconsciously hugged it.
“He was a bit muddy and worse for wear, so I cleaned him up for you. Along with this.” He handed her over her snuggly.
Tears filled her eyes, dripping down her cheeks.
“Hey, poppet,” Archer told her worriedly. “Don’t cry.”
He drew closer and she leaned into his chest, letting him hold her. His hand ran through her hair. “Shh, everything will be all right, Caley. I promise. Everything is going to be fine.”
“Thinking maybe you might sleep a bit better, now? I know Abby would be lost without Bun-bun,” Kent told her.
He spoke so freely about Abby and her Little side. As if it was nothing unusual. And there was always a clear note of affection in his voice. It was obvious he cared about her very much.
“And I also got a few things to tempt you to eat.” He drew out a small box filled with donuts. Two cupcakes, also in individual boxes. As well as an assortment of deli sandwiches. Then he pulled out a chocolate milk and a strawberry milk.
“At least there’s one healthy thing in there,” Archer grumbled, looking over the assortment.
“The sandwiches are for you, man.” Kent winked at her.
“Are you trying to put her into a sugar coma?”
“Just trying to tempt her to eat. I made sure everything was soft for her throat.”
Archer turned to her, giving her a concerned glance. “What would you like to start with, love?”
She really wasn’t hungry. More than that, she wasn’t really comfortable with one of them helping her eat.
“Oh, and I got straws for the milk. Metal ones. Environmentally friendly.”
That surprised a smile out of her. “Chocolate milk.”
“Okay.” Archer reached for the chocolate milk, opening it and putting the straw in. Then he held the straw up to her mouth. She took a long sip, letting out a small sigh of pleasure as it soothed her throat.
Yummy.
Some dribbled down her chin, as she drank too quickly. Mortificatio
n filled her. But Archer just calmly reached for the napkin and wiped her face clean.
“All right. What do you want to start with?” He looked down at the food skeptically. “Not sure I would call most of this actual food. Sugar, and additive and fat.”
Kent rolled his eyes. “How about a donut, sweetheart? I’m partial to the jam-filled ones.”
She looked at the donuts. “I’m all right.” But that one with sprinkles and pink icing did look awfully nice.
There was a beat of silence and she glanced up to find Kent staring at Archer.
“How about this one, love?” Archer reached over and tore a piece off the one she’d been looking at. He held it to her lips.
She blushed, feeling shy.
“You don’t eat it and I’ll have to,” Kent patted his tummy. “Then I’ll have to go home and explain to Abby why I’ve got sprinkles and pink icing all over my shirt.”
She had to smile at the image of the big, tough man covered in sprinkles and pink icing.
She opened her mouth and Archer popped the piece of donut into it. He fed her a couple more bites while the two men talked as though there was nothing out of the ordinary about one of them having to feed her. When she’d had enough, she lay back tiredly.