Giddy Up, Daddy (Dirty Daddies 2024 Anthology #5)

Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Alden

A few days after Kennedy safeworded and left, it was killing me to give her space, but I knew it was important. Out in the barn, I took some extra time to rub down Topaz. Thankfully he hadn’t been injured in the crazy ordeal. Topaz was Kennedy’s horse, but he held a special place in my heart. He was a colt from my powerful American quarter horse, aptly named Phantom Eclipse for his midnight coat. Phantom’s injury in the ring had been caused by faulty equipment that had sidelined me. The arena had been proven to be negligent and subsequently shut its operations. I’d slipped from being at the top of my game to wallowing in guilt. My early retirement from roping events and the circuit was a surprise only to my fanbase. Though Phantom lived several more years, the toll from his injuries wrecked his body and he’d passed away too early. No one understood the connection other than my closest friends. His accident had devastated me, and Topaz being hurt would have done the same. Choking up, I brushed Topaz and fed him a treat.

“Alden!”

Glancing to the entrance of the barn, I saw Wyatt striding toward me. His sudden appearance pulled me fully out of my thoughts. My cocky rebel seemed to be in a much better mood.

“What are you yellin’ for? My ears work,” I chided as he came closer.

“I didn’t want to sneak up on you.” He hugged me, nuzzling against my chest.

“Between your loud-ass boots and that heavy stride, the whole world knows when you’re coming.”

“I do love making an entrance.” Wyatt grinned.

“It’s been days since I told you to come over and talk to me.” I’d texted him right after Kennedy left, needing to do something to feel like we were still moving toward an end goal.

His Adam's apple bopped up and down as he swallowed hard. Jabbing his fingers through his dark-red locks, he studied the ground before looking into my eyes. “I’d rather muck out the stalls.”

Was that a challenge? I observed his posture, unsure and vulnerable, much like he’d been the other night after I tanned his hide. Whatever cockiness had dragged him into the barn disappeared. I took the bait.

Handing him a rake, I patted his shoulder and headed out. “Go on then. I’ll be in the house.”

“But–”

“Have fun!” I didn’t hide the extra swagger in my step. If he wanted to battle, I’d show him what he was in for.

Two hours later, Wyatt waltzed into my den. His jeans were covered in dirt and hay and the perpetual scowl on his face had returned.

“I need a shower,” he announced, flopping onto the couch next to me.

“You want company?”

It was a simple question, but his demeanor changed in front of me. His eyes widened and he rubbed the back of his neck. In a flash, the cocky confidence was replaced by something I couldn’t name. Back when we were in the circuit together after a long night of competing, we’d sometimes showered at the same time simply to get in and out. But we never lingered. Allowing a few more moments of silence, I stood.

“Come on, rebel.”

Wyatt followed me into the bathroom that had been redone a few years ago. The showpiece was a huge garden tub, one that always eased tension from my muscles. Years of wrangling left my body sore. Nothing felt better than a long soak. I used fancy bath salts and everything. My walk-in shower featured an oversized waterfall-style spout. I twirled the faucet, setting the water to the right temperature.

“I don’t know what my problem is today,” Wyatt lamented.

“Maybe you realize I’m serious about us.” I took the opening I’d been waiting for, and thankfully, Wyatt responded.

“What about Kennedy?” He frowned and shook his head. “I’m on board, Alden. I already told you that. But it’s not that simple.”

He was right, but I wasn’t ready to let on. I wanted desperately to be in the here and now, focused on him. “What about her?”

“Is she wanting what we want?”

Turning around, I knelt down and lifted each of his feet as I removed his boots and socks. The tension swelled as I thought about how to answer. Busying myself with his belt, and jeans I stripped him down to his boxer-briefs. I took my time with his flannel shirt and undershirt.

“Kennedy and I spent a lot of time talking the other day, and she seems to be very open to the idea of me as her Daddy.” It was an honest answer, even if it left some things out. But a half-answer wasn’t fair or Daddy-like of me. I cleared my throat and continued. “She’s still struggling with the idea of the three of us. I’m giving her some time to work some stuff out. In the meantime, I’m ready to focus on you. Will you let me? Will you let me be your Daddy give me the chance to balance the three of us in a throuple?” I said my piece then held my breath. I could see Wyatt fighting his own inner demons and I thought for a second he was going to dip like Kennedy had. But instead, he gulped, and nodded, his eyes locked on mine.

“Yeah.”

Chuckling from relief, I gestured to the shower. “I thought I’d have to work a lot harder to convince you.” There was still stuff to work out, but I’d been as honest as I could be without Kennedy communicating exactly what her issues were. I didn’t need to tell him she’d safeworded out of our conversation and I was giving her space at the moment. Those things were on me, and had no bearing on my relationship and dynamic with him. One battle at a time.

But Wyatt didn’t seem as ready to just focus on the two of us as I was. “It’s probably because of me. I don’t think she likes me like that, Alden. Hell, some days I don’t think she likes me at all.”

Well, now, I was concerned. And confused. “The two of you are friends, right?”

“We go stargazing a lot. Sitting outside under the sky and talking about life,” he said softly.

“Uh-huh. Necking?”

Wyatt scoffed. “I wish. Kennedy views me as some sort of rodeo heartbreaker.”

“Huh. I wasn’t aware of her opinion.”

Maybe that was her problem, the thing she wouldn’t talk about. We’d seen people come and go through Wyatt’s life like a revolving door full of bad choices.

Wyatt tugged off the last item of clothing, and I was forced back into the present. His body was sculpted from years on the circuit. I admired the cut of his muscles, his washboard abs, strong calves and perfect ass. Yanking my shirt over my head, I appreciated the way he checked me out. My boots and jeans followed and prompted him to step into the stream. Tasking myself with washing his hair, I liked how he relaxed underneath my fingers. Wyatt moaned softly as I worked the lather through his dark-red strands, lightly tugging.

“I’ve thought about this,” he murmured, nuzzling into my neck.

“About what? Me washing your hair?” I prompted.

“No, not your actions. I’m in my head, I don’t really want to talk right now.”

“We don’t have to. Relax and let me take care of you.”

I kept my hands on him, washing him intimately while he grew more relaxed. He’d agreed to a throuple, but the thing with Kennedy was still bothering both of us. Focusing on him, I kissed his neck, loving the way he squirmed.

“You’ll get soap in your mouth,” he warned.

“Nah, I rinsed you off first.”

We got out of the shower, dried off and went into my room. He glanced at his clothes and at me several times. There were many things we could do instead of getting dressed. Cocking an eyebrow, I gestured for him to speak.

“May I suck you off, Sir?”

“A title and a blowjob? Aren’t you cute?” I rubbed my chin and then reclined on my bed, propped on my elbows so I could observe.

“You think I’m adorable?” he said, grinning.

“Yes, Wyatt. I do.”

He smirked, letting his own towel fall before climbing onto the mattress. He rubbed his hands along my legs until he reached my knees. Wyatt continued his journey until his fingers brushed across the tip of my cock. Licking along my shaft, he paused.

“Are you teasing me, Wyatt? Or is something bothering you?”

Please don’t let me strike out twice.

Instead of talking, he wrapped his mouth around my cock. Swirling his tongue around the tip, he paused and glanced up the long line of my body as if seeking encouragement.

“You feel so good, babyboy. Keep going,” I whispered.

Something flickered in his eyes but he continued, one hand wrapped around my thickness as he pleasured me. Still he seemed less enthusiastic than I expected. As if concerns were still zinging through his head or he had insecurities he hadn’t shared. Slowly releasing my dick from his lips, Wyatt sat back on his haunches. I growled, hoping my displeasure was clear.

“Did I tell you to stop, brat?”

“No,” he said, rubbing his throat.

Shit . He wasn’t teasing. I launched into damage control because something had spooked him. Much like Kennedy the other day.

“We don’t have to have sex,” I said casually while trying to get a pulse on the situation.

“I’m sorry. Really sorry. I can’t do this right now.”

Wyatt shook his head and grabbed his clothes. From the way he bragged, Wyatt didn’t typically turn away the opportunity to get physical. His sudden hesitation brought a lot of unanswered questions and a heap of confusion. I thought it made sense to explore a relationship but maybe I was wrong. I prided myself on understanding my partners, my submissives, the people who meant something to me. But for the second time in a week I considered that my approach had been the wrong choice. It left me floundering, a feeling I wasn’t used to.

“Wyatt, don’t run away without telling me what’s on your mind.”

He continued getting dressed. Reluctantly rolling off the bed, I put on comfortable lounge pants and a t-shirt. Watching him stand there without speaking made me worry that I might be losing not only my shot to have him as my boy, but also as my friend.

“I have to figure some shit out,” he said.

His statement didn’t clarify anything. Trying to think of a response, I walked him out of my bedroom and down the hall.

“I think I understand your hesitation. Hell. It makes sense on every level. How can you and Kennedy possibly trust me to lead when I can’t even face my own goddamn fears and get back in the ring?”

Wyatt frowned, looking deeply unsettled. He opened his mouth, but seemed to think better of it and sighed. “It's not like that.”

We continued to the front door where he laced up his boots. This was on me. I’d pushed the two of them into a throuple too fast. Everything crumbled in a flash because I couldn’t balance us.

“No, I’ve clearly made a bad call. I’m pushing for too much too fast. It clearly isn't working. I’m sorry for believing it could,” I admitted.

“Please don’t say that, Alden. This is my fault. You want to be with me, but Kennedy doesn’t. At least, that’s what it feels like. She loves you!”

“Kennedy loves both of us. She’s just been through a lot. I promised her that I’d balance us. But maybe I’m not always right, Firecracker.”

“ There are three of us. The responsibility shouldn’t fall on you completely. Please don’t throw away everything with Kennedy just because I’m a mess.”

“You are not a mess.” I stepped closer, stopping short of touching him. Though I wanted to pick him up and hold him and reassure him that everything would be okay, it wasn’t true. Our friendship could be in jeopardy if he got stuck in his head.

“I am a mess. You’re given me the opportunity to have the relationship of my dreams. And I’m tossing it back at you.”

“I’m patient, babyboy.”

The pet name brought tears to his eyes. It didn’t make the situation any better.

“Walking away feels like I’ve got a gaping hole in my chest, Sir. I’m closer to admitting my fears, ones I’ve never let see the light of day, but not yet.”

Swallowing hard, I stepped to his feet and cupped his cheek. “When you’re ready, trust that I can handle the three of us.”

“You’re not gonna sit around twiddling your thumbs waiting for the two of us to get on board. You deserve more than that. All I want is for you to be happy, Alden.”

“I’m not giving up. Not easily.”

We let a few moments of silence hang over us, but it wasn’t awkward. Opening the front door, I leaned against the door jamb. Wyatt shrugged on his jacket, keeping his eyes on mine. He hugged me close, inhaling deeply as if trying to imprint my scent into his senses. I kissed his forehead and let go.

“I’ll only let you two run wild for so long before we’ll have this conversation again.”

“I know, Alden. I love you. That’s not changing. Just give me some time.”

“I love you, babyboy. I always have.”

Watching him walk onto my porch and out to his truck gutted me. I knew he needed space, but damn if it didn’t hurt my ego and my heart to see my best friend strut away into the starless night.