Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
MICAH
“Man, I wish I had better news for you.” The bike mechanic tucked his rag into his back pocket and stood with a rueful head shake. “Both of your rims are warped, and your treads are shot, so you’ve got to replace the wheels too. If I only switch out the inner tube, it’s not gonna last long because of the warping.”
That explained why I’d had to replace them so often, and I’d already been aware the tread was worn smooth. Ugh. I regretted my next question before it left my lips. “How much would new ones cost?”
“Rim, tire, and tube?” At my nod, he rocked back on his heels and looked thoughtful. “With what I have in stock, you’re looking at close to four hundred with tax.”
“Oh, that’s a lot of money.” Given the clientele they catered to, it made sense the bike store wouldn’t have cheap stuff, but I hadn’t expected it to be that high either. It was two or three hundred more than I’d hoped to spend. “Umm, okay. Thanks for looking at it.” Daddy’s bank card burned a hole in my pocket.
“Yeah, it’s pricey.” The mechanic began to turn away but stopped and snapped his fingers in what looked like inspiration. “Hey, I’ve got a set of rims in the back that are in decent shape, but they’re used. You interested?”
“Maybe. How much do you want for them?”
“Hundred bucks for both. It’ll take me a little time to true the spokes if you need to run some other errands.”
“Um, I’m not sure how much is available on my card. Can you run it, and if it goes through, then yes?”
I held my breath until the light turned green on his machine. When we signed the documents, Daddy mentioned he’d already transferred the money into an account for me. But I’d been poor for far too long to trust money was in my account just because someone said it was there. The mechanic was polite enough not to mention my audible exhale.
“Can you give me about an hour?”
I agreed and decided to spend the next hour wandering through downtown. The pretty, mostly brick business district had reinvented itself into a bustling downtown area even when so many small towns had been boarded up and had withered away. In just one block, I passed a few bars, the café where Daddy and I had breakfast, a cute pocket park, some professional offices, and a few retail stores. With more time to kill, I headed down to the marina.
As I got closer, I smelled the brine of the Sound and heard the cries of a few seagulls. Since Wild Fern was on this side of town, I headed over to look at their kitchen garden in the daylight. The server on our first visit mentioned the chef never minded if people stopped to admire his gardens, so I didn’t think anyone would care if I walked through, even though they were probably closed. From a distance, it looked like most of the beds had been mulched over in preparation for winter, but a few late-season vegetables held on.
When I crossed the street, a bright-red sign in the window of the restaurant caught my eye. Help Wanted – kitchen assistant . One of the older boys at my last group home had a part-time job as one in high school. He said it was mostly cleaning and dishwashing, and I could do those things. I’d never worked in a commercial kitchen, but I’d done plenty of shifts at the group home. Maybe they’d count that as experience? Fingers crossed.
If I had a real job, I wouldn’t feel like a leech living off someone else’s generosity. The wrinkle that loomed large in my plan, which could only barely be called a plan, was figuring out how to keep myself available for Daddy. If I could work and save enough, I wouldn’t need to take out student loans to finish my degree. But I needed the job first.
The sign hadn’t specified a time, but cars were parked in the employee area behind the restaurant, so someone had to be there. Most importantly, I was already here. Decision made, I tried the door and found it unlocked. Obviously, it was a sign. The dining room was empty with tables halfway prepped for settings but still unfinished. No one was at the host station or behind the bar though. It was a different and less romantic vibe with all the lights on.
“Hello? Anyone here?” I called to the back, hoping someone would hear me and I wouldn’t need to wander aimlessly through the restaurant. That wouldn’t make the impression I wanted to make.
“Oh, hey, can I help you?” A tall, dark-haired man came through the kitchen doors. He carried a stack of menus that he set down before he strode across the room to meet me with an outstretched hand. His expression was curious but friendly.
“Hi, I saw the sign in the window for the kitchen assistant position and, uh, wanted to apply for it.” I shoved my hands in my pockets because I didn’t know where else to put them. My voice cracked, but I kept it steady as best I could.
“Cool, we put out the sign today, so lucky us that you saw it,” he said as he patted his pockets until he pulled out a pen and pad with a cry of triumph. “Did you want to do the interview now? I shouldn’t admit it, but we’re pretty desperate to have someone start. The kitchen backup is pretty effing real.”
“Sure. I can do it now.”
“Awesome, I’m Elliott. I’m stepping in for the general manager who’s out of town right now.”
“Will I need to interview with them too?”
“Nah, he won’t be back for a couple of weeks, and we can’t wait that long. I didn’t catch your name…” He paused with his pen poised over the pad and waited for me to respond.
“Micah Morgan.”
“Nice to meet you, Micah. What’s your kitchen experience?”
It was the moment of truth. “I don’t have any commercial kitchen experience, but I lived in a”—I scrambled to find an appropriate word that wasn’t group home —“dormitory where we ate together. I took plenty of shifts in the kitchen helping with the prepping and cleaning.”
“This is a part-time job. Does that work for you?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“We’re open in the evenings, which can make catching the ferry tricky, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. We’re experimenting with Sunday brunch too.”
“I’m staying here on the island.” He looked like he had questions about my word choice but stayed quiet. “So the hours will be fine.”
“It’s mostly washing dishes, sometimes busing tables, and doing odd jobs in the kitchen so the line can focus on getting food out. The pay is entry-level, but it comes with a meal on the house when you work. Do you have any interest in cooking?”
Crap. How honest was I supposed to be here? My indecision took the choice out of my hands. “I’d say your silence means no. It’s fine, don’t worry about it. How big was the dorm you helped out in?”
“Usually fifteen to twenty people, plus three or four staff members.” Elliott looked concerned when I gave my answer. Go big or go home, right? “I don’t have any real experience, but grunt work and cleaning are fine with me. It’s important to me that I’m on time for things.” I paused to suck in a deep breath before continuing, “And I really need a job.”
Elliott looked pensive, but he hadn’t said no yet. Hope remained alive.
“Are there any workarounds you’d need for your schedule?” Double crap.
“I have another obligation, but I can work around the schedule you give me.” My claim wasn’t strictly a lie since I didn’t know if it was true.
My gut said…absolutely nothing because I was mostly wandering in the dark. Nix’s story rang in my head. If Daddy hadn’t treated him any differently when he found out about the circumstances of his working for his grandfather, maybe he’d understand why I was here applying for a job. As a selling point, no one who saw me with him would see me in the kitchen here. Maybe was doing a lot of heavy lifting in my plan.
“What the hell. Can you start tonight?”
My body hurt. Every. Single. Muscle.
Elliott had told me to be back by four in a T-shirt, jeans, and shoes that could handle a slippery floor. After getting my bike, racing home to change, telling Nix I’d be back late, and flying back to the restaurant, I was early by an hour. I wasn’t taking any chances of being late on my first night of work.
The ride home from the restaurant was considerably slower than the trip there, but the aches left me feeling more accomplished than I had in months. Elliott said I did a great job for not having any experience in a restaurant, and my work helped keep them from getting quite as backed up. After a quick introduction to the kitchen staff, he installed me at the dishwashing machine for a never-ending caravan of dishes. After hours in the steamy heat, I helped clean the kitchen from top to bottom.
Muscles I hadn’t used in a while screamed at me, and muscles I didn’t know I had were ready to revolt. But, my first day was done. I hadn’t broken anything, and I’d kept up with the dishes between fetching items and clearing out the trash. It might not be much, but I was proud of myself. If I kept it up, I’d be on my way to independence.
Nix had given me the alarm code to the house before I left, but I still crept in like a thief in the night as I entered the house via the garage. I knew the house was empty, so I wasn’t sure why I was worried about being quiet, but I tiptoed to my bedroom anyway. The smell of grease and oil permeated my clothes and skin. I quickly stripped off my clothes and laid them on the counter to air out before putting them in the hamper. The shower sluiced over me to wash away the tightness in my muscles and the lingering odor of the kitchen. I felt like a new man when I stepped out of the shower.
I was both exhausted and wide awake when I finally crawled into bed at midnight. My phone was a beacon on the nightstand calling to me. The lure was too strong, and I picked it up to double-check for any messages or calls. I’d left it behind when I came back to change for work, so I hadn’t looked at it for hours. There was a call from Daddy, but no voicemail. I switched over to check messages.
#Daddy: Hey you, I finished my meeting and I’m headed back to the hotel. Talk to you soon. Miss you.
Daddy: I made a mistake not bringing you because I’m not used to eating dinner by myself. Technically, it was with people, but they aren’t you, so I’m not counting it. I think you’d like the place we ate at. The vegetarian part of the menu was huge. Miss you.
Daddy: We went to a concert tonight, and Adele’s speaking and singing voice are polar opposites. I’ve seen the videos, but I wasn’t prepared for it in person. Are you an Adele fan? Because I wouldn’t be sad to see her again. Miss you.
It was one in the morning his time, but it was Vegas. Surely, he hadn’t gone to bed too early.
Micah: I’m sorry I missed your call.
His response pinged in seconds.
Daddy: It’s all right. I miss you.
Self-preservation warred with truthfulness inside me, and unfortunately, honesty won.
Micah: I miss you too.
I’d barely hit send when the phone rang, and Daddy’s name flashed on the screen. I answered just as quickly.
“Hello?” My hesitance made no sense, given no one else would be on the line but him.
“Little one, I couldn’t sleep until I heard your voice.”
A part of me melted at the words. I believed Daddy meant them. Whether his words held true for any length of time was up for debate, but tonight, they warmed me. This bed, the most comfortable place I’d ever slept, suddenly felt huge. And cold. Christ, I missed him. His voice in my ear wasn’t the same as being able to see his face, but it was better than nothing.
“I’ve missed you too.”
My lungs ceased to work while I waited to hear his response. The only part of me that moved was my jaw as I bit down on my lip. The metallic tang of blood hit my tongue.
“Good, then I’m not alone.” Air whooshed out of me. “I was surprised you’re texting so late.”
Ugh, why hadn’t I thought this through better? It struck me in real, horrifying detail that I had no idea how he’d react to my gainful employment when I was supposed to be his party companion. Granted, he hadn’t actually been to any since the jerk hassled me, but still. He heard my heavy sigh when I forgot to move the phone.
“Micah, answer me.” His voice took on the firm edge I remembered from the shed. Awkwardly, my dick noticed too.
“I got a job.” I hated how timid I sounded.
“A job? What kind of job?” His deep, measured voice settled over me. I was relieved and worried, which was as inexplicable as any other part of our relationship.
“I went to the bike store downtown to get my bike fixed and had to wait while they fixed it. It was just over a hundred dollars because they had to replace the rims, but they had a used set in the back, so I got a good deal…”
“Micah, I don’t care how much the rims cost. Scouring around for a used set was unnecessary. How did a bike repair get you a job?”
“Oh, I had an hour to wait while they fixed it, so I wandered downtown looking at the stores and then walked down by the harbor. Wild Fern had a sign in the window for a kitchen assistant, so I went in and applied. Elliott, the front manager filling in for the general manager, interviewed me right then and offered me the job. My first shift was tonight.”
The words tumbled out of me in a rush to get them out in the open before being sidetracked again. The line fell silent. I closed my eyes and offered a quick prayer to anyone listening that Daddy understood why I’d applied and taken the job.
“They’re only open in the evenings, right?”
“Mostly yes, but they’re doing a Sunday brunch now too. He said I wouldn’t do Saturday night and Sunday brunch. So if I worked one, I’d have the other off. It’s only part-time, though, and they’ll work around my obligations to you.” And then I waited.
“Why did you want an outside job?” The question was difficult to answer without worrying I would sound completely ungrateful. While I tried to come up with the words, Daddy added, “Little one, I need you to do something for me before we continue this conversation.”
“I can try.”
“Where are you right now?”
“In my bed.”
“Okay, I need you to go to mine.”
“What?” I was confused by the request.
“Before we can continue this, I need you to be in my bed. Take your phone charger with you.”
It seemed like a small enough ask, so I climbed out of my bed and trooped across the hall to his. Even though Daddy had asked me to go there, I still felt like a trespasser entering his room without him. I pushed the door open wide so I’d have some light to find my way to the bed and switch on a bedside lamp before returning to shut it.
His king bed was high off the ground with a thick mattress. The trouble with being short was how often you had to climb places. Daddy’s bed was one of them. Once up there and settled against the pillows stacked against the headboard, I could see the room in the low light of the lamp in more detail than I had the last time I was here. The bedroom was dark and masculine, just like Daddy. It exuded quiet luxury without any hint of being garish or loud. The only part out of place was me.
“You in there, baby?”
“I am, yes.”
“Then send me a picture so I can see what I’m missing.”
“Uh, oh, okay. One sec, please.”
I fumbled with the camera to take the requested selfie. It took a few different angles before I was satisfied the picture wasn’t completely terrible. This back-and-forth was way beyond my comfort zone, but I hoped it lasted. Never in my life had butterflies ever taken residence in my core. I hit send with a deep breath before I found a way to chicken out.
“Little one, you look so damn good in my bed.” My only response was a noncommittal squeak. “I wish I was there with you.”
A wiser version of me would have stayed silent. Unfortunately, the wiser version of me was otherwise occupied. “I wish you were too.”
The world didn’t implode at my embarrassing confession, but I desperately wanted a change of topics.
“Tell me why you went out and found yourself a job.”
Never mind, let’s return to the embarrassing part.
“Because I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you, and I want to be able to take care of myself.”
“Why would you be taking advantage of me when I’m the one who brought you into my house?”
“I don’t know exactly, but you might. Please don’t think I don’t appreciate everything you’ve done for me, including not sending me to jail. You’ve done so much for me, and I’m not ungrateful.” Daddy stayed silent, and I gave him time to think.
“You weren’t ever going to jail.”
“What? Officer Hagen said you could have sent me.”
“First, I’d never even consider asking anyone to be arrested whose only crime was sleeping in my shed. Second, Officer Hagen would’ve sent my ass to jail before he let himself arrest you.”
“You’re joking.” I snorted.
“It’s true,” Daddy responded solemnly but broke the facade with a laugh. “He’s a good guy, I think.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
With the ice broken, our conversation turned to his business trip and why Jamie was getting on his last nerve. While he complained about the shenanigans during their meeting, the affection was clear. It was difficult to imagine a friendship that had lasted since childhood, but jealousy over it burned in me. No one could tell me stories about my younger self. I held all my memories. And that thought burned a hole in my soul. A return to the light-hearted story was needed before I went too far down that rabbit hole.
“Oh no, I’m already boring you.” Oops, I was closer to the edge than I realized.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because I asked if you’d ever wanted to go somewhere on vacation, and I got nothing.”
“I was thinking!” A little white lie was perfectly fine. “Honestly, I don’t think so. I came to Almstead Island because I needed to get away for a day, so that was kinda the only vacation I’ve been on.” Great job, Micah. Fantastic way to kill the vibe. “That was too far of a stretch for me.”
“Yeah, I should’ve thought about that before I asked.”
“It’s okay. If I had to pick somewhere, it’d be tropical with sandy beaches instead of rocky ones like ours.”
Thankfully, Daddy changed the subject, and I eased myself off the emotional cliff. In the best sort of distraction, I focused all my attention on him. His voice was deep and gravelly. I kept asking questions so he’d keep talking. Despite being on the phone, the timbre of his voice sent vibrations through my body. Lust pooled in my core and spread its tendrils through me. My growing erection distracted me.
“Baby, you okay?” The huskiness of his tone made it obvious he understood my problem. “You just need to ask because I’d love to help you.”
The ache was too intense to be ignored and…and I didn’t want to. I wanted to play this game with him. In the end, I’d probably lose, but there was no reason I couldn’t enjoy the rounds until that happened.
“Daddy, I need to touch myself.”
“Is that how you ask for permission?”
“Daddy, may I touch myself. Please.”
“Of course, you can, but only if you’re a good boy and follow the rules. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” I croaked out. “Daddy.”
“You’re such a good boy, Micah.” Heat curled around me. “I need to see you to appreciate it when you play with yourself. We’re gonna switch to FaceTime, and then you’re gonna strip for me.”
A strangled sound escaped my throat, but I didn’t hesitate to make the switch to FaceTime or shed every scrap of clothing. When he moved the angle of his phone lower, I realized he’d been naked for the entire conversation.
“Move your phone so I can see all of you,” Daddy said.
I closed my eyes and panned the phone down the length of me. My nipples were already tight buds and my peen stood at attention. More than anything, I wanted to touch myself and get some relief, but Daddy wasn’t ready for me to touch anything. He reminded me of a cat who liked to play with its food before devouring it. Instead, my hand flexed helplessly at my side. My whimper echoed around the room as I panned back to my face.
“Christ, you’re sexy.” My breath hitched at his praise. “Open your eyes, baby. I want to show you how hard you make me.”
Daddy panned the phone down his muscled chest, covered in dark hair, past his flat stomach to where his girthy, beautiful cock stood proudly at attention. He stroked himself lazily with slow, steady movements. Precum glistened on the flushed dark-red head, and my mouth watered to have him. I gave a sharp gasp when a vision popped into my brain.
“Oh, that sounds promising. What are you thinking about, baby?”
Truth or lie, that is the question. Was there anything to lose at this point?
“I was imagining how you’d taste.”
“Is that it?” Daddy’s tone was knowing.
“No, not exactly.”
“Tell me the rest.”
“If you were working, and I was sucking you while you did that.” I was so embarrassed and turned on and desperately wanted some relief.
“Sweet boy, we can make that happen, just not tonight.” Daddy gave me another flash of his dick. “Do you see how hard you make me? This is all you, little one. No one has ever gotten me hard like this. All I need to do is see you, hear your voice, or think about you, and my cock gets hard.” Daddy stopped talking to give himself a few firm strokes. “I think you put a spell on me.”
“Pretty sure it’s the other way around.” I laughed weakly. “My dick…”
“No, no, baby. We’ve already decided. It’s your peen…your sweet little peen.”
I’d always been embarrassed about my size, but shame wasn’t on tap tonight. It was only lust and need on the menu.
“My p-p-een is so hard it hurts.” His husky laughter was self-satisfied. “Can I touch myself?”
“Pinch your nipples for me. I want them sharp enough to cut glass, baby.” I immediately raised a hand to my chest to pluck the nubs there. “Show me.”
His voice enveloped me. This dance between us was a deliciously dirty one.
Daddy continued, “God, I wish I were there with you. When you touch yourself, it’s me. Do you understand? It’s me.”
The sensations crashed into my senses and made me drunk. It was too much. I arched off the bed as I plucked and pinched until it was painful. And then I did it again. My pride had been demolished, and I didn’t make a single attempt to contain my whimpers or gasps.
“Oh god. Daddy, please…” Precum leaked steadily from my peen and pooled on my stomach. “I’ll do anything.”
“Let me see your peen…what a mess you’ve made…better clean that up.”
There was no hesitation from me. I swiped two fingers through the sticky puddle and stuck them into my mouth to clean.
“Make sure they’re clean, baby.”
I sucked and swirled and licked and Daddy’s murmured words of encouragement sent me higher and higher.
“Good boy. You did such a good job for Daddy. You’ve earned a reward, haven’t you?”
“Yes, Daaaady,” I rasped.
“You’re such a sweet boy. Put your hand on my peen and jack it slowly.”
The pace was pure torture, but I did what I was told. The last thing I wanted was for him to stop this moment. I never wanted it to end. No man had ever made me feel like what I had to offer was enough for them, but Daddy did that in spades.
“Go faster, baby.”
Permission granted, I increased my speed and lost myself. All I had to offer were guttural moans without words. Daddy’s praise surrounded me as he encouraged me to find my release. Each stroke sent me higher into the stratosphere, and he was right next to me while I climbed. My hand worked at a furious pace as the nerve endings in my spine tingled in anticipation. Every muscle in my body tightened while I mindlessly pumped my fist on my peen.
“Baby, you’re so beautiful. Let it happen. Show your Daddy what he’s missing.”
My release roared through me like a freight train. My eyes were clenched shut and fireworks exploded behind my lids. I was left gasping for air on the bed while stream after stream of cum pulsed from me. It finally registered Daddy was mimicking my movements and pumping his cock to join.
“Daddy, I wanna see you come too.”
The camera angle immediately changed, and he flashed his fully rigid cock with his hand flying over it. His moans were deeper and lower than mine but no less desperate.
“I wish I could taste you, Daddy.”
“I wish you could paint me with your cum.”
“I want you to make me.”
My whispered words reached him and Daddy redoubled his efforts to find release. When his muscles coiled in a tight contraction and he half sat up, his strangled shout was a gift. Cum spurted from his cock, and I whimpered to see it wasted. I was already possessive over him. He claimed my peen as his, but I wanted to claim his too. My whimpers reached his consciousness.
“Baby, what’s wrong? You okay?”
“Daddy,” I whispered, “your cum should be mine.”
“Honey, it is yours. I’ll be home soon.” Since nothing was to be done, I fell silent but content. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Anything, Daddy.”
“Anything? That leaves a lot of room for negotiation.” His eyes sparkled with a devious glimmer. “Stay in my bed.”
“You mean right now?”
“No, I want you to stay there while I’m gone.”
“Yeah, I can do that.”
“Excellent. Sweet boy, I need to sleep to slog through the meetings tomorrow. I’ll be home in a few days. It’s short notice, but we have a charity dinner on Saturday. Think you can be there?”
“I told Elliott I wasn’t sure about my availability this weekend, so he put me on for Sunday brunch since I was almost certain that was a safe bet.”
“Perfect. Get cleaned up and then back into bed. Send me a pic so I know you listened, all right?”
“G’night, Daddy. I’ll send it to you.”
“Good boy. Sweet dreams. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”