Chapter Nine #2
Lining up his army men on two sides, he put them in neat rows. The dragons were on the side closest to the door. They had the best eyesight. The superheroes ended up with the largest area to protect but that was okay because they could fly.
Going back and forth from the shelves to the rug, James added more protection for his country. It was definitely a country instead of a city.
“Holy shit!” James grabbed the large red engine fire truck.
Immediately lights and sirens blared from the toy.
“Language, boy.”
James jumped. He’d forgotten he wasn’t alone in the room. Turning, he spotted Jacob sitting in a rocking chair that had been pushed into one corner. He had a thick blue blanket on his lap. It looked soft. What had he been doing? Oh, he’d said a bad word. “Sorry…Daddy.” Was that okay?
Jacob smiled back at him. “It’s okay. I know you’re excited about all your new toys, but no naughty words, okay?”
“Okay.” James turned back to where he’d found the fire engine. There was an ambulance, cop car, and a tow truck. So many vehicles. He tried to grab them all.
From across the room, Jacob sighed.
So maybe James was being a little greedy but there was so much to play with. So very much. If this was what being a little was, then James was in little heaven and never wanted to leave.
He added the first responder vehicles to the middle of the rug.
James had to pull up his jeans a few times as they dipped low on his hips.
Irritating but James didn’t want to stop playing to find something more comfortable.
He had a country to defend. And in his country, all were welcome.
The soldiers all worked hard to protect one another and make it safe for anyone who wanted to join them.
* * * * *
Jacob
In all his years of experience, Jacob had never seen a more natural boy. James hadn’t hesitated once he’d found the toys that had spoken to him. He hadn’t even glanced over at the toys that were meant for a younger little. No, those hadn’t been what called to James.
More than half the shelves were empty.
James had everything that Jacob had thought the boy would love down on the play rug. It pleased Jacob that he’d known the boy well enough to get the toys right. Watching from his corner had infused Jacob with pure fulfillment.
He didn’t think that James had realized that two hours had passed as he played.
It was just past midnight. James’s eyes were still shining brightly with happiness.
Although about fifteen minutes ago the boy had started to wilt just a little.
It started slowly. A yawn. James moved to his stomach instead of playing on his knees.
Then rested his cheek on his hand as he straightened his army’s defensive line.
Jacob folded up the blanket that he’d been using and set it back on top of the stack beside the chair. He couldn’t help but fill every room with soft blankets, even the playroom.
He rose and straightened his back.
At least the cushions of the rocking chair were as comfortable as the reviews online claimed. Jacob could see himself spending hours curled in that chair. Being close enough to James in case the boy needed him but also giving James the freedom to play and explore.
The boy hadn’t hesitated diving into playtime.
For a first-time little, James had fully submerged himself.
It was amazing to witness. To be a part of.
Jacob had expected that he’d need to draw James into exploring.
Had even prepared himself to get on the floor and play so James was more comfortable. That had not been necessary.
Now he needed to get James to bed. If there wasn’t a change to James’s schedule, he would need to be at the fire station around mid-morning.
Strolling across the room, Jacob stopped to crouch at James’s side as the boy yawned again.
“Hey,” Jacob said softly as he ran a hand down the red cape that James still wore.
James covered his yawn before grinning at him.
“It’s getting late. We should get you to bed,” Jacob told him.
“But I’m still playing,” James whined.
“I know, baby,” Jacob soothed. “It’s after midnight. Don’t you have to work tomorrow.”
James frowned as he climbed to his knees. “But—”
“You can stay here,” Jacob offered even though he hadn’t thought about it before that moment. “In the guest room. That way you can play in the morning before you have to go to work.”
“I can stay?” James asked. He rubbed his eyes.
The boy was so tired.
“Playtime before breakfast,” Jacob promised.
James looked at him suspiciously. “What about my toys?”
That was a problem. Normally Jacob would insist that the playroom was cleaned at the end of the night. This was James’s first time being little though. Jacob could deal with the mess for one night. “We can leave the toys where they are.”
James pressed his lips together as disbelief filled his eyes.
“They will need to be cleaned up before work tomorrow,” Jacob added.
James laughed. “Okay.” He held out his hand.
Jacob rose then pulled the boy up.
Of course, James was still yawning. Jacob really should have ended play earlier but James had been having so much fun. Plus, Jacob could already see that the evening of playing had done wonders for the boy.
One late night wouldn’t hurt anything.
Jacob was already looking forward to the morning.
He ushered James into the guest bedroom that was normally claimed by his brother. Jesse left enough things that the room looked lived in.
“Your room?” James asked as he stopped next to the dresser.
“It’s the guest room that Jesse uses when he visits.” Jacob corrected.
There was a look on James’s face that he couldn’t name.
“Would you like me to get you something to sleep in?” Jacob offered.
James nodded slowly. “I need to use the bathroom.”
“Go ahead,” Jacob replied. “You remember where it is?”
“Yeah.” James glanced toward the hall where the bathroom was located.
“I left the toothbrush you used before on the counter. Brush your teeth too. I’ll meet you back in here to get you in bed.”
James snickered. “Yes, sir.”
“You could spend a few minutes in the corner if you’d rather,” Jacob suggested.
“I knew you were going to say that. Such a Daddy,” James teased as he turned back toward the hall.
Jacob followed behind him. James went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him as Jacob continued to the master bedroom. He could have found something in the drawers that held Jesse’s clothes but honestly there was no way that Jacob would ever allow James to wear another man’s clothes.
Going to his own dresser, Jacob pulled out the middle drawer. He chose one of the softest pajama pants that he owned. He wanted James to be comfortable. The shirt didn’t matter as much as most of the tees were one hundred percent cotton.
Soft materials called to Jacob. Part of that childhood trauma that Jacob pretended he was over. Irritated with himself, Jacob slammed the drawer closed before turning and returning to the guest bedroom.
The bathroom door opened as Jacob was passing.
The boy stumbled to a stop to avoid them crashing into each other.
“Woah,” Jacob said, wrapping an arm around James.
“Sorry!” James leaned against him. “I guess I’m more tired than I thought.”
“It’s fine. It was a big night for you.” Jacob got them walking.
“It was so easy.” James sounded amazed. “I just saw the toys and wanted to play with them.”
Jacob couldn’t resist kissing the top of James’s head. He still wore the red cape. James was absolutely adorable. “You are a natural.”
“Do you really think so?” James asked while peering up at him.
“I’ve seen first-time littles before. Most need to be coaxed into playing. Not you though. You had a plan and got busy. It was fascinating to see.”
James shuffled his feet to a stop at the guest room doorway. “And I can do it again?”
“When you wake up,” Jacob promised. Well, he considered that answer. He was dealing with a brat after all. “After you get eight hours of sleep. No sneaking out of bed to play.”
James laughed. “Fine. Fine. I really am tired.”
“Come on. I’ll tuck you in and everything.” Jacob urged James forward.
“Yeah.”
Jacob directed James toward the big bed. “I’ll set the alarm for eight. That will give you time to play, eat breakfast, and then get ready for work.”
“That would be great. Thanks.”
He nodded. Of course. Jacob wanted to take care of everything for the boy. “Any request for breakfast?” He set the clothes on the mattress then reached for James’s shirt.
“Cape on or off?” Jacob asked.
“Off. But I want it.”
“No problem,” Jacob didn’t comment about that. The cape was like a security blanket, so he wasn’t too surprised. “So breakfast?”
James hummed as he lifted his arms. “The French toast was good.”
“How about strawberry crepes?” Jacob offered. He got the shirt over James’s head.
“Really?” James groaned. “That sounds wonderful.”
Jacob tugged on the button of James’s jeans. “With bacon?”
James’s eyes sparkled. “I love bacon.”
“Who doesn’t? Only a heathen.” Jacob kept the conversation going while he undressed James. By the time Jacob had James in his pajamas, the boy was now complaining about having to wait for breakfast.
“Does that mean breakfast before playing?” Jacob teased. He pulled down the top blanket before gesturing James to climb onto the mattress.
“It is so mean to make me choose,” James complained.
Jacob pulled the blanket up James’s chest before he picked up the cape from the bottom of the bed. He passed the cape over.
James’s face turned red as he shoved the cape under his pillow.
Once the boy was more comfortable, Jacob would make sure to show James that he had nothing to be embarrassed about. Leaning down, Jacob kissed James’s forehead. “You were a very brave boy tonight. I’m proud of you.”
Jacob tried to straighten but James caught his shirt in his hand. “Do you really mean that?”
“Even if you’d hated playing and decided that it wasn’t for you, I would be proud because you tried.” Jacob sat on the side of the bed so he could ensure that he had James’s full attention.
“I feel…like something inside me just clicked together.” James huffed out a breath. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
“You don’t have to explain it,” Jacob assured him. “Not to me.”
“I still have questions,” James said.
“I suspect so. One play session isn’t going to fix everything. Is there anything you want to ask right now?” It was late but Jacob would give James all the time in the world.
“What do you get out of it?”
“It?” Jacob needed clarification.
“Being a Daddy,” James said. “Taking care of me. You fed me then watched me play for hours. Doesn’t seem fun from your position.”
Jacob nodded. “That’s a good question.”
“It is?”
“Sure.” Jacob shrugged. “You’re a curious boy, after all.”
James laughed.
Damn, Jacob loved it when he could do that for the boy. “Feeding you settled something inside me. I like knowing that I could provide that for you. Watching you play is…soothing. I know you’re safe. Happy. Not a care in the world. That makes me happy.”
“Okay.” James looked thoughtful.
“Now it’s time to sleep,” Jacob said sternly.
“Yes, Daddy,” James said with a wink.
“Brat,” Jacob replied but smiled. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
Jacob strolled to the door and turned off the light. “Door open or closed?”
“Open, please,” James replied softly.
“I’ll also leave the bathroom door open in case you need to go in the middle of the night,” Jacob told him.
“Thanks,” James said. “Night.”
“Sleep tight, sweet boy.” Jacob turned and went to his own room.
He would shower and get ready for bed himself.
Each step that took him farther from his boy made his heart ache.
And James was his boy, whether Jacob had wanted to admit it or not.
James was totally going to break Jacob’s heart.
At least Jacob was going into it with his eyes wide open.