Chapter Nineteen
Alphaholes
Silas: In what universe does my brother go on a work trip and come back with a baby? Tell me.
Rue: An alternative one. Especially as he’s bringing that little girl home to our place! What the fuck is that all about?
Kodi: He’s lost his mind. That’s what that is about.
First, he picks Frey up and cradles him like a damn baby outside the hotel.
I mean, when the fuck did those two even get together?
Wasn’t he the one adamant that he wasn’t for getting caught?
Now he’s adopting a baby with Frey!!!!! Mind fucking blown.
Laken: Looks like he’s been keeping his cards close to his chest. That the case Silas? Even you appear shocked by the news when Popi mentioned it to us. If Booker was gonna tell anyone about all this, it would be you.
Silas: He doesn’t tell me everything…
Jupiter: Holy crap. I knew something was wrong. He used to tell you everything, fuck, even when he farted. What the hell happened? You two have a fallout and haven’t been able to kiss and make out?
Silas: Fuck, why do you always have to make this about sex? We ain’t interested in each other, not now, never have been, and stop being a wind up merchant. ‘Cause Jup, you do not get to spout that crap in front of Frey. Those two are gonna have enough to contend with.
Jupiter: Rue, you owe me fifty bucks. I told you something was wrong. And what’s the betting we’ll all get roped into helping? I need to find a place, because I don’t wanna be babysitting, no damn way.
Rue: Way to fucking dump me in it, Jup. Who said anything about us babysitting? Booker is the one who decided to adopt that little girl.
Kari: Haven’t you learned yet Rue, Jup would spill faster than a broken jug? And when was it decided the little girl was moving in with us? No one mentioned that to me. Babysitting duties might not be so bad…
Kodi: Don’t you dare start offering, or we’ll all have to because you know what Popi’s like once he gets something into his head. And nobody told you Kari, because you’re away in New York and not answering your damn phone. Your PA not able to figure out how to take a call?
Kari: Stop that shit right now!
Kodi: ….
Kari: I’m warning you.
Taylin: Behave you two. What is it with you guys lately?
But let’s get fucking real here. Rue, Kodi, you saw what went down in that hotel room.
That little girl needs us. We signed up for this when we decided to step the fuck up and be a part of something that has far-reaching implications for many.
Dad: Well put Tay. There are going to be changes, and if any of you upset your Popi with this bullshit, then you’ll have me to answer to. That little girl is family. Our family, got it?
Jupiter: Sorry Dad, I’m sure I speak for everyone, we were just shocked and mouthing off.
Kodi: Yeah, we’ll be there and support Booker, Frey and Emmy any way we can.
Dad: Good, because there’s a family meeting to discuss just that tomorrow evening. I’ll expect you all there. That includes you, Kari.
Kari: I’ll be there.
Kari shut the group chat and stared unseeingly at the hotel room, hearing Bowie move around in the next room. Holy fuck, I’m going to be an uncle.
Booker and Frey were daddies. Mind blown. Kari had thought Hollis and Taylin would be the first to make him an uncle, despite suspecting there was something going on between his brother and Frey. He couldn’t have imagined this. Never saw it coming, and it seemed neither had his brothers.
He reread Dad’s last comment: Good, because there’s a family meeting to discuss just that tomorrow evening. I’ll expect you all there. That includes you, Kari.
Kari was grateful that his being away in New York meant no one would think twice about the last part.
Because Dad’s comment was all about Kari never being at home these days.
Not even to keep up appearances of late.
Outside of work, Bowie was his entire focus since they’d agreed to explore Bowie’s little side.
Bowie, like he did with everything, was dedicated to discovering all there was to know.
He’d confessed about a couple he’d found online who shared their relationship.
A daddy and a little, who both lived in New York and had mentioned Ty’s, the club Kari was taking Bowie to tonight.
The place had a nursery for Daddy and Littles.
Kari had done some research of his own to ensure it was the right place to take Bowie for the first time.
What he’d found was a great, supportive community.
The couple that owned Ty’s were a daddy and Little.
The kink community online group Kari was part of raved about the place.
When the trip to New York had come up, it had given them some freedom for Bowie to meet and play with other Littles.
Bowie was so cute when he allowed himself to get out of his head and release expectations around what he should or shouldn’t like.
Kari had suggested this was a good time to meet with like-minded people who didn’t know them. Bowie had taken a week before he’d come back to Kari to say he was willing to give it a try.
With that in mind, Kari had ordered several outfits for Bowie so he wouldn’t stand out.
He was in the other room trying them on.
Kari had offered to help, but Bowie had declined.
He was disappointed, but he would never reveal that and potentially upset Bowie.
So, while he waited, he’d opened the alphahole group chat when it started alerting him to incoming messages.
“You won’t laugh, will you?” Bowie’s voice came through the door.
“Of course not. Remember, I picked those outfits. Are you going to show me which one you picked?”
The door opened slowly and Bowie’s head popped around it first, before the rest of him appeared.
Kari got a lump in his throat at how fucking charming Bowie looked in the two piece he’d chosen.
The T-shirt was white with a blue bear on the front, much the same color and design as Boo-Boo, hence why he’d chosen it.
The matching soft jersey long pants were blue, with tiny white bears around the band.
They would only be obvious when the top was tucked inside the waistband, as Bowie had done.
It helped to make the outfit a lot less obvious to the untrained eye.
“You look charming, Babycakes.” Kari got up to walk to Bowie, ruffling his already messy hair and kissing the end of his nose.
His eyes crossed as he looked at the end of his nose before, a second later, touching it. “You think so… Daddy?”
His heart skipped a beat at how Bowie sounded using the term with more confidence. He didn’t always use it, but when he did, it felt even more special.
Kari held back the desire to chuckle at the way he ran a fingertip over his nose like it might be itchy or tingling. “I do. Is this the one you like the best?”
Bowie glanced at the bedroom door, frowning. “I… they…” he shifted his attention to Kari and sighed gustily.
“Some are more obvious what they are, is that it?” When Bowie nodded, Kari raised just one brow.
He pouted, just a little, knowing Kari wanted words. “Yes… I don’t feel confident enough to wear the rainbow dinosaur onesie.”
He cast a longing look back at the door, making it perfectly clear that was the one he really wanted to wear. Wanting him to have what he wanted, Kari figured how to make that happen.
“I understand that, this being your first time in a place like this.” He slipped his arms around Bowie, cupping his bottom to lift him, his legs automatically going around Kari’s waist.
Bowie had stopped mentioning he was too big and heavy with the sheer number of times Kari had proved him wrong.
Eye to eye, he gave Bowie a big cheeky grin, one he mimicked a second later. “What about I take the onesie in a bag with us? That way, if you decide you want to wear it later, after you’ve seen the Littles’ playroom, we have it with us?”
A simple brush of lips and Bowie melted against him, his eyes dark pools of happiness. “Can we do that?”
“We can.”
Bowie never asked for a kiss, but the way he puckered up his lips was all invitation.
They hadn’t gone beyond occasional kisses after the first one, which revealed Bowie’s inexperience.
Kari kept what happened between them at Bowie’s pace.
Taking his cues from him, as he did now, leaning in slowly so Bowie could decide if it wasn’t what he wanted.
The brown, expressive eyes held Kari’s until the moment their mouths touched.
Inky eyelashes fluttered closed, then his lips parted, and with it came the sweet flavor of cherry.
Then he became totally passive as he whimpered at the touch of Kari’s tongue sweeping into his mouth in a slow, measured move, tasting him fully.
Kari clung a little firmer to Bowie to resist his own urge to press his arousal against Bowie.
One step at a time. That was the mantra he had adopted since the first kiss and Kari clung to it as he deepened the kiss until they were both breathless and flushed.
Bowie licked at his puffy lips as he opened dazed eyes. “I can taste you on my lips,” he murmured breathlessly.
It wasn’t more than an observation, but that didn’t stop it being brutally arousing. Kari’s chuckle was far more strained than he’d have liked as he carefully lowered Bowie to the carpeted floor. “You snuck a cherry soda, that’s what I taste.”
Bowie giggled delightfully, looking sheepishly at Kari but not abashed at being caught. “I was thirsty.”
There was the cheeky boy, who was being more obvious with Bowie’s growing confidence at the knowledge it was okay to be like that if he wanted to.
Kari tapped the end of Bowie’s nose, his eyes twinkling with mirth. “Didn’t Daddy say no more soda tonight, when it makes you jumpy this late?”
Bowie heaved a sigh, his shoulders dropping dramatically. “Am I in trouble, Daddy?”
Kari pretended for a split second to think about it, then grinned widely. “Nope, because Daddy had one too, while he was waiting for his boy to get dressed.”
More joyous giggles and Bowie came and wrapped his arms around Kari’s waist, nestling his head on his chest. “Then you’ll still bring the onesie to the club with us?”
“Of course.” Kari kissed his bubble-gum scented hair. “I’ve ordered room service so you can eat something before we go out.”
Bowie did a full body wiggle, letting go. “Are we having New York burgers?”
“We are.” Bowie had a love of burgers and would eat them every day if he could. “And I’ve ordered salad too.”
“Do I have to eat the salad?” Bowie cajoled without trying.
“Yep. Now let’s get the onesie and pack it while we wait for the food, so we don’t forget it.”
Bowie didn’t wait and darted back through into the bedroom he’d picked in the suite. Kari followed at a slower pace, his mind back on the alphahole conversation. He knew the PAs had something similar. Bowie was at the bed, carefully folding the fleece onesie, his lower lip caught between his teeth.
Kari watched him, the warmth in the center of his chest morphing into something strong and permanent.
It left him breathless at what it meant for him.
To distract himself from thinking too hard about what it meant when they were going at Bowie’s pace, he asked, “Has Frey messaged in your group chat about what’s happened in Drinkwater? ”