5. Everett
EVERETT
I pulled up outside a squat brick apartment building and put the car in park.
Trace gathered his bags off the floorboard and turned toward me before releasing his seatbelt. "Thanks again for the ride."
I didn't unlock the doors right away, still turning over everything I'd witnessed over the last few hours. I didn’t want to call him out or overstep, but I knew what I was looking at.
I'd suspected his tendency in the toy store, but my suspicions were confirmed in the food court. The way his voice climbed a few octaves when he asked for nuggies made my heart clench in a way I’d forgotten was possible.
I'd only heard that term in the nursery at the kink club I visited once a year on Daddy Night.
But that voice was never aimed in my direction and never from someone I was so immediately drawn to as Trace.
With Trace, his Little side seemed closer to the surface than it was for most people. Close enough that a lollipop and toy store were all it took to invite a bit of regression.
It broke my heart to know he’d been doing everything alone. Not just dealing with the seizures, but also having to hide who he truly was around most people.
"It was my pleasure." I racked my brain for a way to draw out the moment without being overbearing. "I had a really great time with you today."
He paused there for a second before taking in a deep breath. "Do you wanna come up for a while? I'm not tired yet, and I've got a whole backlog of shows nobody wants to watch with me."
Yes, yes, a million times yes! "Yeah." I controlled my smile so it wasn’t too cheesy and nodded. "I'd like that."
Trace’s second-floor apartment was small but as charming as he was.
There was a shelf by the TV that held rows of small collectibles, and a worn crocheted blanket was draped over the back of the couch.
He pulled the two Squishmallows out of the bag and arranged them on the love seat facing the door.
"You want something to drink? I've got water, juice pouches, and maybe some soda that's probably flat by now. "
The soda at dinner was enough for me. "Water's fine."
Trace disappeared into the kitchen and then came back with two glasses.
He handed one to me and then dropped onto the couch before grabbing the remote off the coffee table.
"I've been trying to get through this baking show for like three weeks.
Connor refuses to watch it with me because he says the judges are mean. "
I smiled at that, curious to meet Connor. Not that I would be around long enough to meet his friends... "Are they?"
"Brutally." He pulled his knees up onto the cushion and tucked himself into the corner of the couch. His Connor Cow ended up in his lap, and he had one arm curled around it while he scrolled through the menu with the other hand.
I didn't say anything about it. I just enjoyed watching him in his element.
We got two episodes in and the conversation was easy considering we were two people who'd met a handful of hours ago.
He talked over the judges and offered commentary I hadn't asked for, but I enjoyed every second of hearing it.
We even talked about work, with Trace telling me about his job at the store and me sharing some of my dumb jokes that the Ferris kids seemed to like.
Trace liked them too.
It was somewhere in the middle of a soggy crust crisis that he went quiet and eventually paused the show. "Can I ask you something?"
My arm was across the back of the couch, close enough that I quickly brushed his shoulder with my fingertips. "Sure."
"You've been really normal about all of this.” He waved in the air, gesturing to himself.
“The seizures, the toy store…the whole day, really.
Most people either treat me like I'm made of glass or they get weird and distant once they know I could drop to the ground at any moment. You've done neither."
I took a moment to think about how best to answer that. "I grew up around it a little. Not seizures specifically, but people who needed constant awareness from the people around them. I've never been great at looking away from something hard or scary just because it's easier."
He nodded as if that answer satisfied something in him. Then his eyes dropped to the cow still tucked against his side and his posture changed as he decided to keep the open dialogue going.
"And earlier…at the food court." He glanced up at me then quickly looked down, gauging my reaction. "That wasn't just me being weird for no reason."
"I didn't think it was." I moved my hand to his shoulder and cupped it. This time, I didn’t move it.
"Do you know what ageplay is?" He sighed as if he felt compelled to explain it before I could even respond. "I identify as a Little…and when I’m in Littlespace, I kinda act younger. It’s basically age regression…but in a fun way.” He was rambling now, talking quickly with nervous energy.
“My friend, Connor, is a Little too, and we have playdates now and then. Like…we wear onesies and watch cartoons and color and play with blocks. It probably sounds weird to you, and I’m sorry if it bothers you, but it's just how I decompress. "
Before he could work himself up even more, I slipped my palm behind his neck and rubbed my thumb along his jawline. "I know about ageplay and being a Little."
That got his attention even more than my hand on his face did. Instead of pushing into my palm, his head snapped toward me and his eyes locked on mine. "You do?"
"I do." There was no version of this conversation in which I kept this half of myself hidden. I had the perfect opportunity to lay it all out there, and I took it. "I'm a Daddy Dom and have spent time in the Littles’ nursery at Primal. Are you familiar with it?"
He set the remote down and turned fully to me. “I’ve heard of it but never been there myself. My seizures are more likely to happen when I’m overly stressed or stimulated so…” He shrugged, but the awe on his face didn’t waiver. “But you’re really a Daddy? Like, a lifestyle Daddy or just for sex?"
"Lifestyle Daddy, but to be completely honest, I’ve never been in a serious relationship.
I haven’t even participated in scenes at the club.
Just conversations and observations, learning what I like and what I’m not into…
What I know for sure is that I hope to have a boy of my own someday.
" I leaned back and pulled my hand away to give him room to think.
"I like taking care of people and hope to find someone who’ll let me take care of them. In life…and in sex."
"That's..." He seemed a little stunned as he searched for the right words. "That's a lot of stuff I wasn’t expecting to hear."
I definitely wasn’t expecting to say all that. "Should I have held back until our second date?"
"No." His response was instant, and his eyes were wide with my labeling our TV time as a date. "And is this a date?"
“I’d like to think it is, but I don’t want to pressure you into agreeing if you just wanted some company after a long day.”
We sat there for a second as he just looked at me, scanning my face for sincerity before he nodded. “Yeah, it’s a date.”
I smiled and reached forward with my open palm.
He looked down and slowly placed his hand in mine.
It felt good to hold him like that. "I’ve been looking for a Little who I connected with for a long time.
” I interlaced our fingers and gave his hand a squeeze.
"I had no idea you were going to board my bus today, but I’m so glad that you did. ”
He ducked his chin, but I could see the smile peeking through. "I didn’t think I’d ever find a guy who was willing to deal with my Little side, much less my seizures."
My brain was telling me to slow down and not freak him out, but I couldn’t help myself.
I’d wasted too much of my life waiting for things to happen to me.
Now that I was being given the chance I’d been waiting for, I wasn’t about to miss it by being vague or unclear.
“I love everything that I know about you so far.” I took a minute to gather my thoughts.
“I’m sure there’s still a lot that I don’t know, but I’d like to learn… if you’re open to that.”
Trace’s eyes looked glassy as he leaned close to me. "This feels like the first honest conversation I've ever had on a date. You really want a Little?” He seemed like he was trying to keep his expectations low to avoid disappointment.
"I really do. I've spent a long time holding back that side of me because I wasn’t sure who could handle it.” I chuckled when I thought about his honest confession that started this whole discussion. “But you’re so damn brave and were open with me, so I owe it to you to do the same."
"So, what’s next?" He was quiet now, like he was almost afraid of the answer. "Do you want this to be a real thing? Not just for tonight…"
I’d already made my decision hours ago. But I wanted him to know I was serious and not just responding without thought.
"I’d like to get to know you better and show you how I can take care of you.
The everyday moments, the seizure moments, and the Little moments.
All of those aspects make up the sweet, handsome boy that has had me wrapped around his finger all night.
And if I’m being completely honest, I'm looking for something long-term. What about you?"
He was quiet long enough that I wondered if I'd said too much. I was moving fast and that was probably a bit overwhelming.
Then he put the cow down next to him and slid across the couch, closing the distance between us until he was close enough that his knee was tucked up against my thigh. "I don't know what I'm doing but what you said sounds good."
"Neither do I." I choked out a laugh. “But if you’re interested in trying, then I am too.”
Trace nodded and leaned closer. "I’m interested."
I cupped the side of his cheek and leaned in slow enough that he had every chance to pull back if he wanted to.
He didn't pull back, so I pressed my mouth to his in a soft kiss.