Chapter 3 #3
Grant cleared his throat to get his emotions under control. It was good though, spending this time with friends. Getting to see both Mitch and Jace completely in love with their partners.
They all needed something different but still similar in so many ways.
Grant passed the mug of coffee he was still holding to Byron.
“Thanks, man.” Byron took a long drink of the strong brew.
There was nothing better than waking up early in the morning and enjoying the freshness that dawn brought. The stronger-than-normal coffee was also an added benefit.
“How’d Caleb do last night?” Byron asked him.
“He was asleep before his head hit the pillow,” Grant said with a chuckle. “He swore he wouldn’t be able to sleep in a tent, but he did just fine.”
“It seems he’s enjoying this trip a lot more than he thought,” Byron noted.
“Yes, my boy is a worrier,” Grant agreed. “I think having you all here helped. It’s hard for Caleb to stress himself when he’s with Avery and Mitch.”
Byron nodded in agreement. “They are going to lose their minds with the surprise we have in store.”
He grinned. It was good to have friends within the park ranger community. He’d volunteered in some missing hiker cases when more law enforcement was needed. A buddy had told Grant about a special spot they could take the boys. After a pretty long hike, of course.
Grant turned when he heard the zipper from his tent.
Caleb stumbled out of the tent still dressed in his silk pajamas and with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. His eyes were barely open. His pretty baby was not a morning person.
“Daddy?” Caleb called. He winced as he walked over still barefoot.
Damn, Grant should have packed him some slippers.
“You okay?” Grant asked when Caleb reached him.
“Lonely,” Caleb mumbled before he dropped into Grant’s lap.
It was a good thing Grant expected his boy’s morning crabbiness. He managed to set down his coffee so he caught his boy.
“You weren’t there when I woke up,” Caleb complained.
“Just enjoying the early morning air,” Grant told him, amused.
Caleb buried his face in Grant’s chest. “Ugh.”
Wrapping his arms around his boy, Grant let Caleb snuggle.
Caleb had made great strides since they’d been together.
He didn’t lock himself away from the world in that fortress he called a house anymore.
He did his daily chores, went to school, and met with friends.
He still had to make at least one trip out of the house once a day, no matter what.
That was a rule that Grant was firm about.
It was getting easier to prove to his boy that people generally liked him. Even when Grant went on his morning run, the neighbors around them always asked about Caleb. Grant tried to tell his boy, but Caleb still had a hard time connecting to people.
Trust was hard for Caleb. Although they were making progress.
Still, Caleb was never going to be a morning person even if Grant was. Grant didn’t mind. He loved holding the sleepy boy in his arms as Caleb tried to sneak in a few more minutes of sleep.
Rubbing his face against the top of Caleb’s soft hair, Grant breathed in his boy. Caleb’s familiar and enticing scent calling to him. Caleb always smelled clean and fresh. Maybe Grant didn’t need to sit outside in the fresh air. He’d breathe in his boy all day long if he was able to.
There was more movement across the campsite and Jace crawled out of his tent. Although there was no sign of Avery yet. Jace stretched before he walked over. He picked up Grant’s coffee and took a drink before grinning at him.
“I’ll start breakfast,” Jace told him. “You have your hands full.”
Yes, Grant did. Caleb’s smaller hands went under his shirt. Yeah, Caleb’s hands were cold. Grant tightened his arms.
The plaid blanket was lifted higher around Caleb’s shoulder. Grant looked up and nodded his thanks to Jace. Jace winked in response.
Glancing over, Mitch was also covered in a blanket.
With the blanket secure around Caleb, his boy pushed up Grant’s shirt. Grant knew what Caleb needed. He pulled the blanket over Caleb’s head as Caleb latched onto his nipple.
Suckling. Grant loved being suckled. Caleb also seemed to need the connection. They often just sat on the couch in this very position. It wasn’t even sexual. Sure, both of them would often get hard. But the suckling represented so much more than mere sexual desire. They soothed each other.
Grant brushed his fingers through Caleb’s pale blond hair until he was cupping Caleb’s head and holding him in place.
Caleb sucked harder.
Leaning back against the log, Grant stared up at the sky. He’d always enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, all kinds of outdoor adventures. His father took him out every chance they’d had when Grant had been growing up. It wasn’t something that Grant had truly missed until this moment.
The trip had been about fun. Instead, Grant felt more settled and calmer than he had in years. His boy was the biggest part of that.
His boy. Caleb was everything to him. Grant closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift as Caleb suckled on him, the scent of bacon teasing his nose, and the soft murmur of voices comforting him. Life didn’t get much more perfect than this.