Daddy’s Picky Eater (Blue Collar Daddies in the City #8)

15. Dexter

15

DEXTER

Sunlight streaming through the curtains woke me the next morning. I blinked away the light, momentarily disoriented by the warm weight on my chest. Then memories of the best night of my life came flooding back, and I smiled.

Augie was still fast asleep with his mouth slightly open and his thumb resting on his lip where it had slipped out of his lips.

The urge to wake him with kisses was strong, but I was content to simply watch him for a few moments. When he finally stirred, my sweet boy burrowed into my armpit for a moment and then stretched like a cat. “Mmm, sore but good sore.” He pressed his lips to my bare chest.

"Good morning, sweetheart." I brushed a lock of hair from his forehead and kissed it.

Augie's eyes fluttered all the way open, and he beamed. "G'morning, Daddy."

"Did you sleep well?"

He nodded, stifling a yawn. "Best sleep ever."

"I'm glad. Are you ready for breakfast? There’s a diner I really like that I can take you to. They make a delicious blueberry coffee cake." I lifted him slightly off my chest so I could carefully watch his face. “How do you feel about blueberry coffee cake?”

“Oh, um.” He bit his lip and looked toward the window. “Real or imitation blueberries?”

“Real, of course.” I chuckled at the question. “Is that okay?”

“Um, no thank you.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Is that okay?”

“Of course it is.” I patted his back then pulled up the covers when I felt his cool skin. “You don’t like blueberries?”

“Not real ones.” He rested his head on my shoulder. “But there’s a mix in a blue box with imitation blueberries that I really like. I know those aren’t supposed to be good, but they kinda taste like candy.”

“Oh, I loved those!” I knew exactly what he was talking about. “I ate them every weekend when I was a kid.” I thought about our options. “If you don’t mind waiting, I can run to the store and buy the mix. Or we can go out and get pancakes or waffles and I’ll have the mix ready for tomorrow.”

His eyes lit up as his breath hitched. “You’re gonna be here tomorrow too?”

I cocked my head. “If you’d like me to.”

“I would! I do.” He sat up and straddled my waist. “Will you, Daddy? Please?”

I wrapped my arms around him and sat up so he was pressed against my chest. “I think I can arrange that, sweetheart.”

Colorful Lego bricks were scattered across the floor, forming a rainbow around us as Augie carefully placed another turret on our growing castle. Like in the bath, his tongue poked out in concentration, lost in his childlike focus.

"What do you think, Daddy?” He sat back on his heels and inspected our masterpiece. “Is it big enough yet?"

My heart swelled at the innocent question. "I think it’s perfect, baby boy. You're doing such a good job."

Augie beamed at the praise, and his cheeks flushed pink. He reached for another handful of bricks and hummed softly to himself as he continued building.

I loved how easily he slipped into his Little headspace with me. Ethan had warned me that Augie was reserved, but from that first night, he seemed to open right up. It was humbling and reminded me of the immense responsibility I was taking on by becoming his Daddy.

Augie was sweet and gentle and deserved all the best things. I just hoped I was strong enough to give him everything he ever dreamed of.

After playing for a while longer, I glanced at the clock and was surprised to see the afternoon had gotten away from us. "Let's get cleaned up for now, sweetheart. It's almost dinnertime."

"Aww, do we have to?" Augie pouted adorably even as he started organizing the loose bricks into piles by color.

"I don’t know about you, but I’m getting hungry."

“Yeah, me too.” He reached for his phone and snapped a picture of our castle. “I’mma send this to Brayden. It’s way bigger than his castle.”

“Great! So, what sounds good for dinner? I’d love to cook for you, but only something you really like.”

Instead of the look of terror I’d become accustomed to seeing whenever I mentioned food, he smiled. "Oooh, can we have 'sgetti?"

"Of course.” I was surprised by that. “Regular marinara or meat sauce?”

“Um, I like plain noodles with butter. And sprinkle cheese."

I grinned. “Like, parmesan cheese?”

He nodded. “Yes, please and thank you.”

I kissed the top of his head and headed to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, Augie came in and washed his hands. “I can help, Daddy. Just tell me what to do.”

“Well, I was thinking we might like to have a salad with our pasta. Would you like to wash the lettuce?”

“Okay, but…no dressing for me, please.”

I winked. “I remember, sweetheart. No dressing for my sweet boy.” As I started boiling water for the pasta, I noticed him fidgeting more than usual.

"Augie, is everything okay?"

He nodded quickly. "Uh-huh. I’m fine." Augie retrieved the romaine lettuce I’d bought earlier and took it to the sink, but his movements seemed stilted and uncomfortable. It looks highly reminiscent of the pee-pee dance I’d seen on more than one occasion.

"Sweetheart, do you need to use the potty?"

“Nope.” He shook his head emphatically. "I’m helping now."

I hid a smile at his stubbornness. "Alright, but let me know if you change your mind."

He worked diligently on the salad, even dicing tomatoes into perfect cubes. But as he chopped, his squirming only intensified.

Finally, I couldn't ignore it any longer. "Come on, little one. Potty break."

"But Daddy..." He waved at the mess of tomato juice on the cutting board. “I’m working.”

"No buts. Let's go."

He pouted as he rinsed off his hands and let me lead him to the bathroom.

"I'll be right outside if you need me, okay?"

Augie left the door cracked while he peed, and a minute later, he came out looking relieved but sheepish.

"All better?"

He nodded, not quite meeting my eyes.

I had an idea but had to tread carefully not to put any pressure on him. "Sweetheart, I was thinking... Would you like me to help you into a diaper? That way you wouldn't have to stop playing or helping when you need to go potty."

His eyes went wide as he looked up at me. “Do you think I should?”

"Only if you want to.” I gripped his shoulders so I could watch his expression. “There's no pressure at all."

Augie bit his lip, clearly conflicted. "If you’re okay with it, I’d like to try it, Daddy."

My heart soared. "Of course, baby boy. Let's go get you into something more comfortable."

Augie pulled out the pair of footed pajamas he’d considered wearing the night before and a diaper from his dresser then stood awkwardly by the bed, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.

"It's alright, sweetheart. There's nothing to be nervous about."

“I know, Daddy. This is happy quiet, not nervous quiet.”

I grinned as I guided him to the bed. “I’m happy too, sweetheart.”

Augie was compliant and eager as he lifted his hips so I could slide the diaper underneath him. As I carefully secured the fasteners, I had to carefully arrange his erection so it wasn’t in an uncomfortable position. “Is this okay?”

“Yeah, sorry.” He covered his eyes with his face but was smiling. “I think my dick is happy too.”

I finished redressing him in his pajamas, and he squirmed a bit as he got used to the new sensation.

"Does it feel okay?"

"It's...nice. Different from when I do it myself." He glanced up at me shyly. “Better.”

I pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Now, shall we finish making dinner?"

He nodded excitedly as some of his earlier enthusiasm returned.

Augie finished up a dry salad, and we sat down for some buttery noodles and grilled chicken on separate plates so they didn’t touch. I added a few more spices to mine but was happy to indulge in the simple meal.

After dinner, I pulled out a box of cereal and held it up. “Who wants to make dessert?”

“Me, me, me!” Rice Krispie treats were Augie's favorite, and he’d made them several times on his own. "Can I stir, Daddy? Pretty please?"

"Of course, baby. Just be careful with the melty marshmallows. They’re hot."

He nodded solemnly, accepting the wooden spoon. As he stirred, I noticed him squirming against the counter.

"Everything alright, sweetheart?"

Augie bit his lip and then inhaled deeply. "Um, well…I’m a little wet now."

I smiled reassuringly. "That's okay, sweetheart. That's what the diaper's for. Do you need Daddy to change you?"

He shook his head and blushed. "Not yet. Can we finish the treats first?"

"Of course.” That was the whole point of the diaper, so he didn’t have to stop having fun to run to the bathroom. “We’re almost done, and then they’ll need some time to cool.”

Augie nodded and returned his focus to evenly covering every bit of cereal with the sticky, buttery mess. When we finally pressed the gooey mixture into the pan, Augie leaned against me and sighed happily. "Thank you, Daddy."

I wrapped an arm around him and pulled him closer. "For what, sweetheart?"

"For taking care of me. And…for everything."