Chapter 14
Preston
Ikept checking my Apple watch every five seconds. Giving Sage time to get to his car and drive here shouldn’t have been more than twenty minutes. But he hadn’t shown up at that time. Twenty more minutes had passed. He was late.
Of course, I worried. I was the worrying type. I liked things organized, running smoothly. Co-workers often commented on how uncluttered my office and desk were, and would joke often, saying, “Are you sure you’re getting any work done?”
I simply liked having a place for everything and everything in its place. If things were out of place, I worked hard to set them right either at work or in my personal life. That is, what personal life I had. If Sage didn’t show, I might not have that.
I paced my foyer, snapping my fingers. What if he didn’t show? What if he’d changed his mind and decided I wasn’t daddy material.
I scolded myself for the thought. He’d loved every moment here from his bath to making love. He had barely been able to contain his excitement about coming back tonight. Plus, he’d left me his necklace, a plastic pacifier he said was important to him.
I’d spent the day getting ready. Clean sheets and comforter on the bed. Clean towels in the bathroom. Bathtub sparkling and ready for more boy baths. I’d shopped for more tub toys and also ended up with some new coloring books and a huge set of crayons.
I also bought candles in jars. I loved candles when I was feeling romantic. I got the sweeter scents like melon and sugar plum thinking a little like Sage would prefer that.
I had sub sandwiches in the fridge waiting in case he came in hungry. Six hours of evening work was bound to make a boy famished.
What if Sage had car trouble? Or worse, an accident. That got me a bit more frantic because I knew he’d call me… if he was able. I wouldn’t be able to contain myself if he was hurt. I kept up my pacing.
I could text him but I didn’t want to seem overly protective, even though I was. At this early stage for us, he didn’t need to feel like he was being stalked, especially if he’d changed his mind.
For whatever reason, I’d had guys ghost me in the past. It seemed to be common behavior for men. Women complained endlessly about it on talk shows. And my gay friends had complained about it as well, especially if they were seeing a bi-curious mostly straight guy.
I understood people didn’t like confrontation or feeling awkward and might do anything to avoid that. If Sage had changed his mind—
Before I could finish that thought, headlights illuminated my front window and the tiny window in my porch door. All the air left my lungs in a whoosh.
I heard a car door open and close, then footsteps on the porch. I didn’t want to seem too eager but I couldn’t hold back. I opened the door to see his hand raised, ready to knock.
“Daddy.” He practically fell into my arms.
My arms went around him. “I’m so happy to see you.”
“I’m sorry I’m late.” He began to talk fast about work and getting delayed by his manager and something about his schedule. I didn’t care. I only cared that he was in my arms again, warm and safe.
I nuzzled his soft hair with my chin. “All that matters is you’re here now,” I said. “Are you hungry?”
“Mmm.” He spoke against my chest. “Not really. I had a snack on my break.”
I hustled him inside and shut the door. It was getting colder at night now that it was autumn.
Sage slid out of his backpack and jacket. His backpack looked fuller than it had yesterday. I hung his jacket for him, then looked at his pack.
“Did you bring some things for overnight?”
“My favorite footie jammies with dogs and cats on them,” he replied. “And a clean change of clothes.”
I took it from him. “We can take this upstairs, then.”
He nodded. “Thank you, Daddy.”
I loved hearing him call me that. “You’re welcome, baby.”
We stood still for a moment, staring at each other like we were each looking at a miracle. Then I leaned down and kissed him.
When I straightened, Sage whispered, “I’ve been dreaming of that all day.”
“Me, too.” I ruffled his hair. “Well, if you’re not hungry, would you like to go upstairs?”
“Yes, please. I’m always a little tired after work.”
He didn’t look tired; he looked excited. But I let that go. “Come on.”
I carried his pack for him as he followed me upstairs.
He let out a loud “Wow” as we walked into the bedroom.
I’d placed lit candles on both nightstands and on the table by the window.
There was also one flickering between the two bathroom sinks.
The door was open, so the light from there could be seen as well.
I had a bookcase by the door where I also placed two more candles.
Flame shadows danced upon the ceiling and walls.
The bed was made, the pillows arranged and stacked at the head of the bed. The curtains were partially open showing the balcony where I’d strung sparkle lights along the rail.
Sage turned to me, eyes shining. “It’s like magic. It smells so great, too.”
“Good.” I placed his pack on the bed. “Well, you said you’re tired. Would you like to change into your pajamas?”
He sat at the foot, still glancing about and nodded slowly as if in a daze. I hadn’t known him long, but I did know him well enough to see when he was sinking into the little he was. I knew he was waiting for me to take charge. I didn’t have to think about being a daddy. It all came so naturally.
It was interesting how an alteration in facial expression and body language could change who you saw before you.
I was familiar with that in court. People in trouble who needed lawyers might come to the office in paint-covered clothes and hoodies, but always before a judge their hair was combed and they wore a pressed suit or skirt. Sometimes I didn’t recognize them.
A change came over Sage that was like that but not affected, not for others to see except in private, in safe spaces like the club, like here.
“I can help undress you if you lie back.”
“Yes, Daddy. Then will you hold me?”
The feeling in my chest was like warm water soaking through my skin. “I’d love to.”
Sage lay back. I went to his pack and saw his pajamas right on top. I took them out. They were ridiculously cute. The shirt was a pullover and the bottoms definitely did have feet. I hadn’t seen pajamas like that since I was a tiny boy myself.
Sage went practically limp as I maneuvered him to get his shirt off. When he was naked from the waist up, I ran my hands down his sides. Next came his pants. He wore stone-washed jeans. Yes, I’d noticed because they’d cupped his ass perfectly. But not as perfectly as my own hands could.
I undid the button and zipper, slipping them down over his hips only to realize I hadn’t taken his shoes off. With his pants down around his ankles, I removed his shoes and socks, putting everything in a neat little pile.
He lay on my bed, the perfect male for me, skin gleaming, ribs showing just a bit, wearing only his underwear. They were stretch briefs. And white. I could almost see through them. But later for that. He wanted to be held now. That was his baby side. And I was only too happy to accommodate that.
I held up the PJ bottoms. “Do you want these on with or without underwear?”
He blinked up at me. “Without, Daddy. Is that okay?”
“It’s perfect.”
I put my thumbs beneath the waistband of his briefs and gently rolled them over his hips and down his thighs. Beautiful boy.
I grabbed the bottoms and got one foot, then the other through the legs and into the attached footies. Then I pulled them up. He lifted his hips for me and I became enthralled. It was as if I was entering a trance, the boy before me more precious than I could imagine and all mine.
He sat up and languidly lifted his arms so I could get the PJ top on, then rocked forward into my embrace. In an automatic response, I picked him up. He wrapped his arms around my neck and his legs around my waist, resting his head on my shoulder.
I put both hands under his ass and carried him to the head of the bed, kicking off my shoes and settling back on the pillows with him pressed tightly against me. His knees were bent as he straddled me.
Something fluttered in my stomach. I needed this as much as he did. The hug. The holding. The peace and quiet with the candleflames and balcony lights turning the room into a fairy tale scene.
Sage wriggled against me until his breathing went almost silent. I let my head fall back and closed my eyes.
Utter bliss.
We sat together for at least half an hour. When he finally lifted his head to look at me, his thumb was in his mouth. He took it out and blinked, his eyes brightening.
“I’m a big boy again.”
“Are you?”
He nodded. “Thank you, Daddy. For holding me again. I need it sometimes.”
“It might surprise you to know that I need it, too.”
He gave me an exaggerated frown, his eyebrows close together.
“It’s true, baby. I didn’t know I needed it until I met you.”
“But now you know?”
“Without question.”
“Sometimes you still have to ask questions. That’s why I go to school.”
“That’s true.”
Sage smiled, putting both hands against my cheeks. “You’re already a smart daddy even if you didn’t know about the daddy thing until recently. But if you ever have any questions, you can ask me.”
“I can ask anything?”
“Yep. Anything.”
I had both my hands on his shoulders. He still straddled me, and his closeness now had me feeling more than warm and fuzzy. Hot might be the word. Too hot.
“Okay. Here’s one. Do you like to color?”
“I love it.”
“Good, because I have new books for you. And an extra-large crayon pack.”
“Really?” Sage bounced on my lap. Then lifted up and sat back down in a gentler manner. “But I don’t want to color right now because you have a problem, Daddy. A big problem.”
He wiggled his hips, his ass brushing over my hard-on. I looked down at the tent in the front of his jammie bottoms.
I raised an eyebrow at him. “So do you, it seems.”
He leaned back, laughing. “Yes, Daddy, and I need help with that.” He tilted his head and stuck out his lower lip. “Please.”