Chapter Seven
Dom
He’d been right. Playing with four of them was much better than just two. Ezra worked the zombies, Brandon wanted to be the bad guys, while Lake and he got to the brave soldiers.
They’d done this game where each of them got to be the hero. He couldn’t say how long they’d been playing but it had to have been hours by now.
Ezra attacked Brandon’s group as he and Lake sent arrows flying from their wall. Lake giggled when one of the arrows bounced off a zombie and flew across the room. Remi glanced up from the tablet in his hands.
“Oops!” Lake shouted.
Remi chuckled but didn’t admonish them or get up. Dane had gone to pick up Annabelle from her day camp that she loved while Eric showered. They’d have dinner soon. Movies later once Annabelle was in bed. Then Dom was hoping that his Daddy would give him special touches again.
The basement door opened.
“I hear there’s a party going on!”
“Daddy!” Ezra scrambled up to his feet before he ran to the stairs.
Lake, Brandon, and Dom all laughed as Ezra leapt into Eric’s arms.
Remi rose from the chair in the corner. Where he’d spent most the day while Dom had been playing. Sure, Remi had provided snacks and drinks. He hadn’t taken Dom upstairs again to change him. He was always there when Dom looked up from playing though.
He swore he had plenty to keep him busy from the reports he was reading.
Dom had worried he’d get bored though. It was one thing to allow a boy to have a few hours, but this play date had literally taken up an entire day. Remi never got tired. Dom was one lucky boy.
Eric sauntered into the room, carrying Ezra. “The pizza has been ordered.”
“Yay! Pizza!” Dom cheered.
“Pizza! Pizza!” Brandon chanted.
Lake didn’t holler and shout like them, but he was grinning.
Remi knelt between him and Lake. “How does pizza sound, Lake?”
Lake blushed before dropping his eyes. “Did…did you get a cheese?”
“Of course we did. We know you’re a vegetarian. We’d never forget something so important.”
“Thanks.” Lake’s voice was soft.
“You are very welcome.” Remi patted Lake’s back.
Dom saw something else. Knew there was more going on. “Daddy?”
“Yes, baby?”
“Can we get some more wawa? Thirsty.”
“Sure.” Remi rose but stopped to gather their abandoned sippy cups.
Dom crawled over to his friend. “Hey, what’s going on?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
That was always Lake’s response.
“What happened?”
Lake grabbed his hand. “I had to go to dinner with my family this week.”
“I know. I texted you. You did that ‘I’m fine’ thing.”
“It’s… I hate going.”
Dom knew this. “Then why do you do it?” They’d had this argument over and over.
“I have to.”
“No, you do not!” Dom gripped Lake’s hand hard. “They don’t deserve your time and attention. They make you feel bad.”
“They don’t mean to,” Lake argued. Like always. “They just don’t understand me.”
“What is there to understand?” Dom asked. “You don’t eat meat. You’ve told them over and over. I bet they gave you a hard time.”
“My dad. My brothers…”
“What about your mom? She knows too,” Dom insisted.
“She makes the meal for everyone.”
“Everyone except you,” Dom reminded him.
Lake sighed.
“And why won’t your brothers get your back? Make your dad stop pushing.”
“You know how they are,” Lake said. “They mostly leave me alone.”
“When they’re not going through your stuff for your father.”
“That only happened a couple of times.”
“You should have moved out after the first.”
“I can’t—”
“Lake.” Dom hated this. “I’m worried about you.”
Finally, Lake looked at him. “I have my friends. I have this time. It’s what I need. And I wouldn’t have this without you.”
“I love you,” Dom said. “We all do.”
“I love you too.” Lake wrapped those thick arms around Dom, pulling him close. “Thanks.”
“Best friends for life,” Dom whispered. Anger filled him. Lake was such a sweet guy. He couldn’t stand any type of violence, which made him working as a bouncer interesting. He’d been in the military because of his fucking father. And those no-good brothers of his. Lake had barely lasted the four years, and it had broken something inside him. Dom couldn’t allow Lake’s family to continue hurting him.
Brandon climbed clumsily over to them. “Okay?”
“We’re okay,” Dom assured him. “Hungry.”
Lake wiped his eyes on Dom’s shoulder before pulling away. “I heard there was cheese pizza.”
“Pizza!” Brandon began to chant again.
Dom helped Lake to his feet before following Eric, Ezra, and Brandon up the stairs. He’d have to figure out some way to help Lake. He promised his friend not to tell anyone else, but Dom’s stomach ached at the thought of Lake suffering any longer. He didn’t need to live with his brothers or be at his parents’ beck and call.
They entered the kitchen where Dane had Annabelle sitting in her booster seat at the table.
“Hey, pretty princess.” Dom danced over to the little girl.
“Hi, Unc Dom.” Annabelle waved her hand.
“Did you have a good day?” Dom asked while bending to kiss the top of her head. He’d never wanted to have children of his own. Not before or after finding out he was sick. Getting to be an uncle to Annabelle though. That made Dom incredibly happy.
“The best!” Annabelle said, beaming up at him. “I painted the prettiest picture.”
“I bet you did.” Dom sat beside her. “We’ll have to hang it up.”
“Papa did!” Annabelle pointed toward the fridge.
Dom looked over and there was a finger-painted sheet attached by magnet to the fridge. He also noticed that his Cookie Monster sheet from his coloring book was hanging beside it. Dom hadn’t seen Remi hang it, but it warmed his heart.
He gave a little dance as Remi walked in carrying several cardboard pizza boxes. “Pizza!” He lifted his arms in celebration.
“Pizza!” Annabelle repeated.
Dom laughed with the little girl as Remi scowled at him. “No yelling.”
“Sorry!” Dom told him.
“Sorry, Unc Remi,” Annabelle parroted.
“It’s a good thing you all are so cute.” Remi set the pizzas in the center of the table.
“We cute,” Annabelle told him.
“We are so cute!” Dom agreed.
“Well, I’m hungry,” Ezra said, reaching for the pizza.
Eric smacked his hand. “Wait for everyone else.”
Remi brought over paper plates. “Here you go.”
“I get pizza too!” Annabelle said.
“You get pizza too,” Dom said.
Eric already had a knife, cutting up her piece. “Right here, baby girl.”
“Okay.” She clapped her hands.
Dom glanced over at Lake to check on his friend. Lake was grinning at Remi as Dom’s Daddy put a plate with three pieces of cheese pizza in front of them.
Yeah, they would all have Lake’s back when his friend was ready to share his story with the others. Dom wouldn’t bring it up until he had Lake’s permission. He couldn’t break Lake’s trust. Not when Lake had finally broken down late one night and Dom had sworn not to tell anyone else.
He’d keep his eye on Lake. Everything would be okay.
A plate with two slices of pepperoni pizza was placed in front of him. Dom looked up. “Thanks.”
“Of course.” Remi ran his hand down Dom’s back.
They were very careful to keep any Daddy talk or play away from Annabelle. They didn’t want to confuse the little girl. It made staying in the house difficult sometimes, but Dom loved being close to his friends.
* * * * *
Remi
He closed Annabelle’s door after checking to make sure she was sleeping soundly. Remi had the monitor tucked into the waistband of his jeans, but he’d wanted to make sure the little girl was fast asleep.
It was now time to wrangle the boys into their own beds. Dane and Eric were both on shift and Remi was tired. It had been a long evening of making sure Annabelle was happy and taken care of while the four boys binged on horror movies and popcorn. Eric and Dane were going to owe him.
Remi returned to the living room where the boys were sacked out on the couch.
He went to Brandon first, picking up the nurse’s slight form and carrying him to bed. He made sure Brandon was all tucked in and that his nightlight was on. The boy still had trouble sleeping alone.
When he got back to the living room, Ezra was stirring.
“Hey,” Remi said, crouching down. “You ready for bed?”
Ezra looked beside him. “What about Lake?”
“I can tuck him in here. He’s slept on the couch before. I don’t want him driving this late.”
“Can…can he sleep with me?” Ezra asked. “Daddy will be late.”
“I think that is a good idea.” Remi helped Ezra up off the couch. “You two can keep each other company. And the bed will be much better for Lake’s back.” Remi had been sleeping on that couch lately. He wasn’t that comfortable.
“I wake him.”
Remi almost stopped Ezra, but the boy scooted closer to the edge of the couch. “Lake,” he whispered. “Lake, it’s bedtime.”
Lake rubbed at his eyes and grunted. “Huh?”
“Come on, sweetheart,” Remi coaxed. “You’re going to sleep with Ezra tonight.”
“I am?” Lake blinked sleepy eyes at him.
“You sure are.” Remi really wanted to find out what was going on with the boy but didn’t want to push. He thought that Dom might know but his baby hadn’t said a word. Remi would try to talk to him before they had breakfast. Lake was hurting about something.
“Okay.” Lake pushed off the couch and Ezra grabbed his hand.
“Come on, we’re having a slumber party,” Ezra told him.
“I like slumber parties,” Lake responded. He ambled down the hall with Ezra pulling him.
Remi followed behind them.
Ezra pushed the bedroom door open.
Moving around the bed, Remi pulled down the covers so the boys could get in. Remi stood back as Ezra dragged Lake over and they climbed onto the mattress. He pulled the covers back over them as the two boys cuddled close in the middle of the bed. He’d text Eric so the other man would know that they had company for the night.
Once he had Ezra and Lake tucked in, it was time to get his own boy in bed.
He closed the door behind him. Just one more little to get settled for the night.
Remi stopped by Dom’s room to turn the covers down. He covered Jimmy’s cage so the bird could get his own sleep. In the living room, Remi peered down at Dom snuggled into a blanket. His thumb in his mouth. He looked so peaceful as he rested there.
“Hey, baby,” Remi whispered, leaning over his boy. “Let’s get you into bed.”
His boy remained asleep.
Remi picked Dom up to cuddle him close to carry him safely down the hall. He hated to move his boy too much, but he could tell that Dom was wet. He laid Dom down before turning to grab a fresh diaper, wipes, and powder. His boy had seemed to really enjoy the powder.
He unsnapped the onesie and pushed it up before he removed the diaper. At least Dom was light enough that Remi could maneuver him as needed. The boy didn’t make a sound until Remi ran a wet wipe over him.
Dom hissed.
“Shh,” Remi soothed. “It’s okay.”
“Cold.”
“I know, baby. I’m almost done.” He lifted Dom’s lower half and slipped the fresh diaper under him. He powdered his boy before he got a new diaper on him. With just a few snaps, the onesie was back in place.
“Baba?” Dom asked.
“Not tonight,” Remi told him. “Nighty-night time.”
“Nighty-night.”
“That’s right.” Remi pulled Dom up the mattress and laid his head down on the pillow.
“K.” Dom rolled over to bury his head in the pillow.
He brought the covers over Dom’s shoulders before he left the room. It only took about ten minutes to get everything cleaned up in the house and make sure that the place was locked down tight. With the alarm set.
Ezra’s parents hadn’t been back in town, but they were all still concerned that they could show up at any moment. Everyone had vowed to do whatever was necessary to keep Annabelle safe.
Once he was convinced that everything was as it should be, Remi returned to Dom’s room. Well, the guest bedroom but it might as well be Dom’s by now. Remi was glad that Dom had remained close. It had given Remi the opportunity to care for the boy. To work until Dom came to him. Now that he had his boy, Remi didn’t plan to ever let him go. But the house was a little small for six grown men and a little girl.
Remi had his own house but it was closer to the station and not in this neighborhood.
Maybe Remi could find something close to this house. In the same neighborhood or something. It was worth a shot. He’d have to discuss it with Dom once the little weekend was over.
They’d both be returning to work and the real world on Monday.
That didn’t mean that Remi planned on not spoiling his boy. It would take some work, planning, but he could give Dom little time every day if that was what his boy needed. Wanted.
He closed their bedroom door before pulling his shirt over his head.
Remi dropped his shirt on top of his bag then froze. His bag. Remi had been keeping his own secret. The kink that called to him.
Remi could already picture Dom with his hands bound, having to rely on Remi for all his needs. Dom would really be dependent on him if he couldn’t use his hands. Had to be carried everywhere.
Fuck! Remi wanted that.
He craved to see his boy tied up with his rope, under his control.
It wouldn’t be like the scenes that he worked with his mentor. Remi didn’t want Dom to be tied to some piece of equipment. To paddle or spank him.
Remi wanted to be the one that Dom went to for everything.
Everything.
There was a reason that Remi had no issue with the diaper or changing his boy. He wanted that. To have complete and utter control over everything. To do everything. For his boy. His baby.
It wasn’t the time to introduce anything new to Dom. Dom was trusting Remi and Remi could not screw this up.
He had a feeling that if everything didn’t go perfectly,then Remi wouldn’t get a second chance. Remi had to give his boy the perfect weekend. Shucking his jeans, he threw them on top of the bag before he climbed in bed with Dom.
Remi drew Dom to his chest, wrapping the boy up tight.
His boy smelt like the powder that Remi had used on him along with the soap from the bath after breakfast. Remi nuzzled the top of Dom’s head, breathing deep. Calming himself. Dom’s newly dyed thick dark hair tickled his neck.
The boy had been lost for so long, but Remi saw him. Could tell even when he'd been pushing them away that he really wanted to hold them close. Even something as small as dyeing his hair and Dom refused to ask for help.
That was all Remi wanted to do. To help.
It was all he’d ever wanted to do.
Help people.
Protect people.
Even if it was protecting people from themselves.
Like he had been helped.
So many times, Remi had almost gone back to the drugs. Had wanted to chase that high. The need had been worse than anything that he had ever felt. Remi had been strong. He stayed with the program. Kept the promise he’d made to the cop that had believed in him. He hadn’t disappointed his parents again. And yet he felt so alone.
His friends helped fill the void.
Remi’s work was vital to keeping him on the right path.
And now he could see a clear future in front of him. One that included more nights like this. More time cuddling a precious boy. Remi closed his eyes, enjoying the weight of Dom’s smaller body against his chest. He allowed his eyes to close and sleep to creep in. Falling asleep with his whole world in his arms.