Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Jace
Jace patted Avery’s bottom discreetly as they exited the restaurant. He planned to take Avery for a walk on the beach after dinner. He didn’t want Avery suffering with a wet diaper though.
Jace hadn’t been sure if Avery would be comfortable going to the restaurant in the diaper.
His boy had made the decision when he’d brought the diaper to Jace after Jace announced they needed to get ready for dinner.
Avery’s little diapered butt was adorable in his dark gray slacks and Jace quite enjoyed the view.
Finding his boy still dry, he led Avery down the steps instead of toward the parking lot.
“Where are we going?” Avery asked, bouncing by his side.
“For a walk,” Jace replied. “I thought you’d like to take a walk on the beach with me.”
“That would be nice,” Avery agreed.
Since Jace booked a late flight, he hadn’t planned too much for their first night there.
Jace had made the dinner reservation but that would have been easy enough to cancel.
Since Avery had embraced his little side, Avery was more outgoing but he could still stress himself out.
Usually his lily, a stuffie, and his pacifier would help calm him but unfortunately there were times when that just wasn’t possible.
So many would judge his sweet boy, although they knew nothing about what he’d been through. Jace, himself, had met some, even in the clubs, that looked down at him for wanting to be a Daddy.
It was hard to explain to someone outside the lifestyle what called to him about being a Daddy.
Basically, Jace was a Daddy because that was how he was wired.
He needed to care for his boy. The power exchange and trust between him and Avery was everything.
But that didn’t mean Avery wasn’t capable or stupid.
Letting Avery be little gave his boy the chance to let his worries fade away during their special times.
They reached the bottom of the deck and Jace stopped them.
“Let me get your shoes and socks off. That way you can feel the sand.”
“Thank you,” Avery said quietly. He was peering around, not seeming to land on any one thing.
It was a beautiful night. Not quite chilly but there was a nice breeze.
Jace crouched and helped Avery out of his shoes and socks. Then he rolled up Avery’s slacks to his knees. He removed his own shoes and socks and rolled his pants just past his ankles.
Jace doubted he could keep Avery completely out of the ocean. When he was done, Jace gathered their belongings under his left arm while he took Avery’s hand with his right. “Are you ready?”
“Is the sand like my sandbox at home? It looks different though. So maybe not?”
“Let’s find out.” Jace urged Avery forward.
“I’m kind of scared.” Avery laughed lightly. “And I don’t know why.”
“It’s a new experience,” Jace responded. “It’s okay to be unsure. But I’m right here.”
Avery squeezed Jace’s hand before stepping off the deck.
Jace expected some kind of reaction but not the frown Avery gave as he looked down.
Avery bounced a little. “It’s…hard.”
Jace nodded. “Compacted.”
“Huh.” Avery took a step forward then another.
Jace tried to think of a way to combat Avery’s disappointment. Jace had really thought that Avery would love the beach.
Avery stopped suddenly.
“What’s wrong?” Jace asked in concern.
“Do you hear that?” There was awe in his voice.
Jace tried to pick up on whatever Avery heard but eventually shook his head. “What?”
“The waves, Daddy!”
Avery’s seamless change from big to little had Jace grinning in relief. Big Avery might worry but little Avery would enjoy his adventure.
“The waves! I can hear them!”
Ah, yes. Jace could hear the waves crashing against the shore. “Would you like to get closer?”
“Please! Please, Daddy!” Avery dropped his hand and hopped around. “Please!”
“Okay, baby boy.” Jace motioned Avery forward. “Go ahead but stay where Daddy can see you. And don’t get in the water.”
Avery hooted before running off. The moon was so bright that Jace didn’t lose sight of his boy as Avery raced toward the ocean. He wasn’t worried about Avery not listening to his orders. Avery was such a good boy.
Jace dropped their shoes and socks and pulled off his suit jacket and placed it in the sand a few feet from the water where Avery was jumping back and forth. He laughed as Avery almost missed timing the waves coming in.
Standing there watching and hearing Avery’s giggle was a balm to his soul.
It hadn’t been an easy year for his boy.
Going from a part-time student and working all the time to a full-time student had been hard.
Avery was still wary of the other students.
Not that Jace could blame him. Avery had explained all about his last roommate who’d teased and taunted him.
If Jace could, he’d find the little weasel and put him in his place.
Not that they had to worry about it any longer.
Finally, Avery had given up his tiny apartment and moved in with Jace. Having Avery in his space all the time was everything to Jace. They were building a home together, a future, and Jace would be lost without his boy.
He strolled forward, catching Avery’s attention.
“Daddy!” Avery bounced over. “Did you bring my swim trunks? Do I get to go in the ocean?”
“I did and you do. Not tonight though. I rented us a cabana on the beach by our hotel for tomorrow. We’ll have all day to play in the water and on the shore. Just imagine how big a sandcastle you can build.”
Avery squealed and jumped. Jace found himself with an arm full of excited boy. “A sandcastle? It’s going to be so big! Like really big. Really really big.” He pulled back. “But I don’t have my shovel or bucket.” Avery pouted.
His boy was getting better at pouting, but he was still too excited to really pull it off this time.
“Is Daddy really going to bring you to the beach and not have a way for you to build a sandcastle?”
“No, Daddy.” Avery grinned. “Cuz you are the best Daddy in the world.”
“Oh I am, am I?” Jace hitched Avery up higher so his boy had to wrap his legs around Jace’s waist. “I think my boy is getting cheeky. Maybe he needs to cool down.” Jace stomped toward the water’s edge.
“No, Daddy! Noooooooo!” Avery giggled, trying to climb up Jace. “Not the water!”
“Yes the water!” he said while laughing himself. He pretended he was going to throw Avery in, but his boy was gripping him tightly. “I have a monkey on me!” Jace complained. “Get off, monkey! Get off!”
Avery’s grip slipped as he laughed too hard.
Jace took the opportunity to slide Avery down and dangle his feet over the water. Jace’s slacks were now soaked halfway up his knees but it was so worth it to see the brilliant smile and happiness in Avery’s eyes.
He lowered Avery until he was in the water just below his knees. Avery, his little minx, kicked and splashed Jace in retaliation.
“Oh I see how it is.” Jace grabbed Avery and hauled him to his chest. He kissed Avery deeply, distracting the boy from any further retaliation.
Avery clung to him until Jace pulled back. Avery panted, peering up at him. “This is the best night ever,” he whispered.
“I agree.” Jace tightened his arms around his boy. “Anytime I have you in my arms is the best night.”
Avery laid his cheek against Jace’s chest. Jace held his boy as the waves rocked them. It would suck getting back to the hotel, but they were on vacation, they’d live.
Avery sighed. “I’m wet, Daddy.”
Jace chuckled. “Me too.”
“No, Daddy.” Avery lifted his head. “I’m wet.”
“Okay, baby boy. Let’s get back to the hotel and get you changed.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
* * *
Avery
Avery lifted the scuba diver out of the water before dipping him back in. His Daddy had thought of everything. Even Avery’s favorite bubbles and bath toys.
“It’s time to get you cleaned up,” Jace stated as he walked into the bathroom.
The bathroom was just as mind-blowing as the rest of the hotel room. Avery loved it. The marble tub was so big that Avery could even roll onto his stomach and stretch out. He did so, giving his Daddy a glimpse of his naked bottom. His Daddy really liked Avery’s butt. “I don’t want to.”
Jace shook his head. “It’s been a big day.” He sat on the side of the tub. “First plane ride and traveling all day. The excitement from the beach and dinner. We’ll watch some TV before bed.”
“Not tired,” he whined. He was so lying but Avery didn’t want the first day of the vacation to end.
“Bad boys get put in the corner,” Jace said. “Is that what you need?”
Avery sat up as he thought about Jace’s question.
Avery would never have thought that he’d need to be put in a corner.
Who would want to get punished? But when Jace disciplined him, it made something inside Avery just…
fill with peace. It wasn’t often he got in trouble and when he did, it was usually because Avery had said something bad about himself.
Or he felt unsettled and needed to be reminded that Jace loved him.
When he was done with his corner time Jace would hold him as Avery recited ten things good about himself.
“Avery? Do you need corner time?”
“I don’t think so,” he answered honestly.
Jace nodded. “It’s okay not to know. That’s what Daddy is here for. To help you.”
Avery gripped the side of the tub and floated closer. “K.”
“I think you might be more tired than you want to admit but you’re still listening to me and being a good boy. No corner for now.”
Avery nodded, accepting Jace’s decision.
“Please put the toys on the side of the tub to dry,” Jace requested.
Avery quickly cleaned up as Jace grabbed a washcloth and the liquid soap. They ended almost every day with a bath for Avery, so he knew what to do. He held up his arms first. Like always by the time Jace was wringing out the washcloth, Avery was hard.
Sometimes Jace would give him a hand job in the bath. Other nights Jace might spread him out while he lay against the counter and rim him. More often than not Avery had to wait.
As Jace dried off his body, Avery knew this would be one of the times he had to wait.