Daddy’s Little Secret (The Lactin Brotherhood)

Chapter 1

“Daddy, do we have to go back to Phoenix?” It was awesome up here, far away from the closet I was in down south. Here, Daddy didn’t hide who I was to him, or what we were to each other. We had our own house and everything. Down south, he had his apartment and I had my room at Grandma’s…

Plus, up here I got to be me.

“I’m afraid so, Angel. Daddy and Uncle Chuck have a meeting with a new client tomorrow and it’s in the office. You can play with Tae in his playroom while we meet. Won’t that be fun?”

“But-but, I like it up here. It’s just you and me, and when we have to go into town, everyone is so nice to us.” And I’m afraid that back in Phoenix I’ll just be Daddy’s employee. Again.

Daddy kept our relationship hidden for like, forever, until Uncle Chuck said something to him. Then whoosh! Everything changed. He encouraged my Little to play with Tae and even kissed me in front of them. But my gut was telling me when we headed back to Phoenix, I’d be his secret again.

I didn’t like that.

It made me sad, and that felt like I didn’t matter.

“Angel,” Daddy knelt in front of me, “what’s really going on inside that handsome head of yours?” I didn’t look up, didn’t want to see the disappointment in his eyes. Daddy took the toys from my hand and set them aside then tipped my chin to face him. “Talk to me, Trey.”

No cute Angel nickname, just my real name. Not. Great.

“I don’t want to be your dirty little secret anymore.”

“Wow.” Daddy lost his balance and fell back on his butt. “Direct hit and not undeserved. Come here.” Daddy patted his lap, and I crawled over and sat on it. “I’ve been a bad Daddy.” I shook my head. “Yes, Trey, I have. Daddy has a lot of making up to do, but I can promise you one thing.”

“What’s that?” Daddy gave me a super-sweet kiss that made my tummy all swirly.

“Daddy will never put you back in that nasty closet again. You never should’ve been there in the first place. This weekend, we’ll move all your stuff from your grandma’s house to Daddy’s place.”

“Really, Daddy?” We’d kinda been living together since Samian left for college, but nothing was made official and I hardly had anything at his place.

“Really. No more hiding you, no more hiding us. You’re my boy, my partner for life, and I love you. I hope you know that.” Daddy’s eyes got all sad. I didn’t like it when Daddy was sad or hurt.

I’d been in love with this man since the first time I met him.

I was still in high school, two grades ahead of Tae.

I applied for a job through the school program I was in for a part-time laborer my senior year with Ashwood Handyman Services.

Uncle Chuck was the one who interviewed me.

The first jobsite he sent me to was to help Daddy out.

We worked so well together that Uncle Chuck made us a team, and as soon as I graduated, a full-time employee.

Watching how Daddy was with his brothers, raising them like his own, only made me love him more.

They may not have had a lot, but what they had a lot of was love.

He went without more times than I could count just to make sure Tae and Samian had what they needed.

He’d always put himself and his needs last, and now that he could focus on his own life, he was lost.

And that was why Daddy needed me.

I’d be Daddy’s big boy. “It’s okay, Daddy.”

“No, Angel, it’s not. You were there all along, helping Daddy, and now it’s time for Daddy to take proper care of his boy.

You’ve never been second to me, Trey. I was just so overwhelmed I never saw past what had to happen right in that very moment.

” Daddy rubbed his hand up and down my back, and I sank into the soothing feeling.

“Daddy had a lot to do.”

“Yes, and now those days are behind us, and my main focus is you and proving to you that I’m worthy of your love. I don’t expect you to believe that, but I need you to do something for me.”

“What’s that?”

“You need to call me out when I’m wrong. You’ve taken a lot over the years when you shouldn’t have. You tell Daddy when there’s something you don’t like. This is a relationship. I should’ve admitted that a long time ago and made things right. I was a fool, Angel.”

“No, Daddy.” I snuggled in tighter. “Tae and Samian were kids and they needed you. You did what was right by them.”

“And now it’s time for me to do right by you.”

Right by me was Daddy milky time. “Daddy, suckie?” We’d spent the morning cleaning up and packing, and I was worn out. “Nappy?” My Little was done being a big boy.

“Yes, my sweet boy worked hard this morning helping Daddy. He can have his suckies and a nap. Then, we have to head back to Phoenix.” I sighed. “I know, but we may be up here more often. Fingers crossed tomorrow’s meeting goes well.”

That sounded promising, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I’d been hurt before by broken promises, though I did my best not to let on.

Only my grandmother knew, just not by who or to what extent.

Guess Daddy wasn’t the only one with secrets.

“Come on,” he tapped my butt, “let’s go lie down.”

I scrambled to get up. The faster I moved, the quicker I got my treat. Our cozy cottage in the pines was my favorite place to be, and right now, Daddy and I had the place to ourselves. Too bad it was only for a couple more hours.

Daddy took off his shoes, shirt, and binder then laid down beside me on our bed. He gathered me in his arms, and I settled in and latched on. Daddy milky was the best. Taking naps wasn’t his thing and he always got up before me, but I’d take whatever time I could get with him.

Would all that change once we lived together?

Guess there was a lot left to find out once we got back home.

Ugh, thinking of that dinky apartment that wasn’t in the best area of town as our home sucked.

Especially when we had this pretty new cabin in the pines.

Daddy and Uncle Chuck told me and Tae they were even gonna build us a playground. I couldn’t wait.

Pretty trees, lots of shade, not many people.

Yawn.

Just me and….

“Angel.” Was I still dreaming? Daddy’s lips were all over my face, working their way down, and my winky was wide awake.

“Special kisses, Daddy.”

He laughed. “No time, though I am questioning what were you dreaming about?” Ignoring his question was the best answer.

“But I guess you’re keeping that secret, naughty boy.

Come on, we need to get home before it gets too late.

” Guess our fun time was over. “Wash up and go potty. We’ll grab dinner when we’re close to home. ”

“I don’t want that to be our home anymore. I want to live here.” I stomped off, slamming the bathroom door behind me. In hindsight, that wasn’t so smart. Sure enough, when I came out, Daddy had his mad face on. “Sorry, Daddy.”

“You know.” Daddy was sitting on the bed, roughly rubbing a hand over his face. Frustrated. My stupid, stupid mouth did that to him, and after all the nice things he’d said to me today. “Never once in all the years we’ve been together have I had to punish you.”

Oh, shoot. I really blew it.

“And I really don’t want to start now.” When it took Daddy a long time to get his words out, you knew he was really upset. I’d seen him this way a handful of times with Tae. Samian, I don’t remember him ever getting into trouble. Probably because he learned his lessons through Tae.

“I’m really sorry, Daddy. I woke up grouchy.” And horny, and having him turn me down just kinda set me off. “It won’t happen again.” I didn’t like to get in trouble. Grandma knew that better than anyone. “I promise.”

He just sat there, staring at his hands. I really broke him this time.

But when he stood and started to walk away, it felt worse than any punishment would have.

“Grab your backpack, Trey. Let’s head out.” And he left, just like that. The truck started, and I knew he wasn’t coming back. The longer I made him wait, the worse this would get.

Back to Trey…

I grabbed my backpack off the hook by the door then locked it behind me. Daddy didn’t say a word as I hopped into the truck, but he buckled me in. Well, good to know he didn’t want me to get hurt even though I had hurt him.

Didn’t feel so good to be on this side of it either.

The drive into town was silent. Daddy stopped at the gas station to fill up the truck then ran inside and came back with two drinks. Before I could thank him, he shut the truck door and went to shut off the pump.

“Thank you for the drink,” I said when he got back inside.

“You’re welcome.”

We were on the road, heading out of town before he spoke again.

“Trey, I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and I’m doing my best to right them, but you also know there is more to our relationship than sex.”

Ugh…

I sighed. “I know, Daddy. I was having a naughty dream and wasn’t totally awake. You know it’s not all about sexy times for me either.”

“I know, Angel, just felt like we weren’t on the same page.” Daddy reached over the console and squeezed my hand. “You were playing Daddy, trying to avoid the inevitable.”

Not always good when your Daddy knows you as well as mine did.

“We get to be us up here.”

“We will get to be us everywhere, but we still have day jobs, most of which have been within our community. So, calling me Daddy and me taking care of you won’t change in those instances, but, just like before, proceeding with caution elsewhere still has to be exercised.”

Was it okay to hate haters?

“Okay, Daddy. I’ll be a big boy when we’re at work.”

He raised my hand and pressed his lips to the knuckles. “I know you will. We’ve never had to discuss punishments before, but now that we’re out in the open, I’m sure your Little’s ornery side will show itself.” He cocked a brow.

“He-he, maybeeee?” I did my best to be good, but sometimes it was super hard. “Spankings?”

“No, that’s foreplay for my naughty Angel.”

“Umm…”

“Time-out corner.”

“I hate sitting and doing nothing, Daddy.”

“Exactly. Looks like we have a winner.”

Ugh, smart Daddies. It was hard to get anything past them, but at least he was smiling again. Daddy switched the radio to my favorite station, and I sang along until we stopped for dinner.

“What’s it gonna be, Angel?”

“Umm, can I get a nuggie kids’ meal and a burger on the side?” I was a hungry boy. Pouting through breakfast didn’t work in my favor.

“You can.” Daddy placed our order, and we ate in the truck as we finished the short drive. Things weren’t perfect between us, but they were definitely better, and I couldn’t wait to play with Tae tomorrow. It was like having a day off.