13. Xander
Chapter 13
Xander
The guys all understood my decision to not come into work this morning. We had a smaller job over on the other side of town and while normally I would have been there, I just couldn’t face it today.
It’s not that I don’t want to work.
Far from it, I love nothing more than working with the guys.
Bur after the situation with that horrible paparazzo sneaking up and taking a photo of me and Reece together, I just didn’t want to risk getting followed again.
My privacy means a lot to me.
I love my life as it is, and definitely never signed up to living the life of a celebrity. Being followed everywhere and having all my movements documented by a stranger is really not my thing at all .
Lane understood my dilemma about not feeling up to coming into work today, and it was actually his idea that I spend the morning in Morning Milk .
So here I am, sitting with a glass of milk, a cookie, and my stuffie Shine for company.
It’s quiet at Morning Milk , which is often the case this early in the morning. I can hear each and every word of the nursery rhymes being played over the sound system, but it’s actually making me feel a little bit sad.
Normally when I’m here, it’s all about having a good time and feeling myself regress into my most innocent, fun-filled self.
But not this morning.
Not even the extra-choc choc chip cookie is helping – which must be a first. Usually, even the smell of the cookie is enough to take my mood up a notch or two.
I feel glum.
As I give Shine a big squeeze to try and lift my mood, I think about Reece.
A big part of me wishes I was with him right now. After all, it’s not like our chemistry isn’t absolutely perfect as Daddy and Little. But another part of me isn’t so sure…
‘What if it will always be like this with Reece as my Daddy?’ I mumble, looking into Shine’s beautiful black otter eyes.
The problem with having a world famous Daddy is that there will always be media attention on him – and by extension, me too. There’s no way around that and it would be totally unrealistic to think otherwise.
I’m not totally na?ve, I know that magazines and the internet will always crave information about celebrities. And when it comes to soccer, there aren’t too many bigger ex-players than Reece Bellham.
If I’m his Little, then I know that I’ll become part of the Reece Bellham package as far as the internet is concerned. The last thing I want is to be self-conscious as I walk down the street or go to work with my crew.
I love being myself and doing what I want to do without fear of being judged harshly or talked about.
Urgh . This is tough.
I just wish there was some kind of easy answer or magic spell that could be cast to change everything and let Reece and I live our lives in peace.
And I definitely don’t blame Reece for any of this either.
Reece doesn’t court fame. In fact, if he was even remotely interested in being a big shot celebrity he would be living in LA or New York – or would have stayed in Europe where he is most famous of all.
Reece wants a quiet life, just like me.
I feel bad that his private life is seen as fair game by journalists and the media in general. And I can see how hurt and angry Reece was by the behavior of Tony Ripper.
Sigh. This is a tough situation.
I want things to work out between us, but I think I might need to make a decision on our relationship at some point… and it might be a hard decision to make too.
Luckily for me though, I’m not totally alone at Morning Milk …
‘Xander, you look a little sad,’ Nanny Josephine says as she walks from behind the counter over toward me. ‘No slouching. Come on, sit up straight and listen to Nanny for a moment.’
I immediately do as Nanny Josephine says – she has the kind of loving but no nonsense vibe that reminds me of the women who raised me, so I’m not about to get on her bad side!
‘Yes, Nanny,’ I say, sitting up straight and attempting to smile. ‘I’m okay. Just a little bit… you know. Life is hard sometime.’
‘Well yes it is, young Xander,’ Nanny says, a kind smile on her face. ‘But I think I might have a little surprise for you that will cheer you up.’
‘You do?’ I reply, my spirits suddenly raised by this unexpected ray of light.
‘Yes, I certainly do,’ Nanny says, a broad smile on her face. ‘On your feet and follow me, Little Xander. All will be revealed in one shake of a lamb’s tail…’
‘Daddy?’ I gasp, my eyes widening at the sight of Reece sitting on the big cozy chair in the corner of the nap room. ‘I didn’t know… how did you… what are you…’
‘I told you you’d be surprised,’ Nanny Josephine laughs. ‘I’ll leave you two alone. Have fun now.’
I truly don’t know how Reece managed to sneak into the nap room without my realizing he was here.
But as he’s sitting there with a warm smile on his face and looking immaculate in a crisp white t-shirt and pair of light-blue denim jeans, Reece is looking every inch the kind of Daddy I want to be with right now…
‘Come over here, boy,’ Reece says, waving me over toward him. ‘I think you need some milkies from your Daddy.’
‘Yes, Daddy,’ I reply, immediately making my way over toward Reece ready to drink some much needed milk from a bottle.
‘Not so fast,’ Reece says as I get close. ‘Take your clothes off. Right down to your briefs. It’s warm in here, and I’ve got a blanket just in case you need one. But we’re doing this skin on skin.’
With that, Reece removes hit t-shirt and I take a moment to admire his defined pecs and strong abs.
‘Enough staring at my body, it’s time for your milk,’ Reece chuckles, prompting me to undress quickly and then clamber up onto his lap. ‘Good boy. Now suckle on this and let’s see if we can get you off to sleep for a nice nap. My baby boy shouldn’t be feeling worried and sad. I’m your Daddy. And I’ll do what is needed to make sure you’re safe and happy.’
I nod as I begin to suck down the perfectly warmed milk.
I might have felt conflicted about the situation with the paparazzi and the effect it could have on my relationship with Reece. But there is one thing that I’m totally not conflicted on and that’s how natural and right it feels to be cared for by Reece.
I know it’s crazy to think this given what I was thinking out in the main café area, but Reece is beginning to feel like he could be the one .
I continue to drink from the bottle and look up into Reece’s soulful brown eyes and see a Daddy who cares for me and knows just what I need to make me feel like the most special Little in the world.
Reece didn’t have to come to Morning Milk to make me feel better. He’s got a lot going on in his life right now, and there was the risk of Tony Ripper following him again.
But Reece wanted to be here, with me.
Reece wants to be my Daddy – and I want him to be that too.
However that doesn’t change the fact that we’ve still got a slimy paparazzo attempting to follow our every move…
‘But what about the horrible man?’ I say, taking a breather from the milk for just one moment. ‘I don’t like him. Why can’t he just go away?’
‘Don’t worry, baby boy,’ Reece says, a look of determination on his face. ‘I’ve got you. In fact, I’ve got us both from here on in.’
With that, a warm feeling comes over me as I continue to suckle down the milk. Gradually, my eyes start to feel heavy, and I can feel myself drifting off to sleep in Reece’s arms.
I know that life isn’t always easy.
Sometimes there are horrible people – it could be a mean ex like Fraser, or a stinky paparazzo like Tony. But as long as I know that I’ve got my Daddy by my side, I know that everything is going to be okay.
All that’s left for me to do now is fall fully asleep and dream of all the wholesome fun me and my Daddy can have in our future…