Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Luca
Banging on the back door pulled Luca’s attention from his very yummy snack as James jumped up from the table. They were expecting Josh, and James’s twin Scott, might stop by. The banging wouldn’t be done by Scott, who hardly made any noise, ever.
James’s Daddy, Jacob, sighed as James nearly sent his plate sliding off the table. Jacob caught the edge of the plate as James ran for the back door. “No running,” Jacob ordered.
James cackled, still running as he yanked open the back door. “Josh!” he practically shouted.
Pressing his lips together, Luca held back his amusement.
James was such a brat. At least when James was with his Daddy.
Luca loved seeing his friend so free and relaxed.
Before getting together with Jacob, James had seemed to carry the whole world on his shoulders.
Jacob had taken that pressure off, showing James a better way of dealing with life and responsibility. A little kind of way.
“Hey, brat,” Josh greeted. “Grab some of this stuff before I drop it.”
“What’s all that?” James pointed instead of helping.
“Stuff,” Josh replied. “Don’t be nosy. You’ll find out if you behave.”
Luca rose, knowing that Josh wasn’t going to get much help from James.
Not with James already deep into brat mode.
Luca and James had been meeting twice a week for playdates.
It was shocking, but Luca had found another little to have playdates with within his own tight circle of friends.
Josh admitting he was a Daddy as well had opened Luca’s eyes that kink could be found in all aspects of his life.
Except inside the club with the hottest guy that Luca ever had his hands or mouth on.
Not that he was going to go back to thinking about that asshole again.
It was bad enough he’d confessed what he had to Dawson earlier.
Snorting out a laugh, Luca pushed James aside as he tried to dig through the bags that Josh was holding to actually help Josh. James beat him to one bag and dropped to his knees to start yanking everything out.
“James,” Jacob said in a warning tone. “Don’t be rude.”
“It’s for me,” James responded with a whine.
“It’s for both you and Luca,” Josh replied. He stepped around James while nodding to Luca. Everything went onto the kitchen counters except for the one bag that James had now emptied onto the floor. “Thanks.”
“But it’s my playdate,” James argued.
“I think there’s plenty for both of you.” Jacob poked at a bag. He glared at Josh. “You really shouldn’t have.”
“Just spoiling my favorite boys,” Josh responded with a wink to Luca.
Luca grinned. While he had a small box in the corner of his bedroom that held his little stuff, it in no way compared to the entire room that Jacob had made for James.
Even better for Luca was the fact Jacob had the time and money to not only provide everything James needed but also for any friends that James would make along the way.
For Luca money wasn’t the issue so much as space and knowing he didn’t have much time to indulge as he wanted.
While Luca wasn’t a 24–little, he’d had to settle for either indulging on his own alone in his apartment or making the couple of hours’ trip to the club, which, as busy as he was, Luca couldn’t always manage.
“You are so awesome, man.” He nudged Josh’s side.
“What kind of uncle would I be if I didn’t show up with gifts?” Josh teased.
“Dude!” James jumped to his feet, lunging for the other bag. “All this is so cool!”
Catching James by the back of the shirt, Jacob yanked his boy back. “No.”
“But, Daddy! Toys!” James was squirming as he tried to escape his Daddy’s hold.
Luca giggled while leaning against Josh’s arm. It wasn’t only when he was on the water sitting on his board or riding a wave that Luca had a place to escape to. This…these people that accepted him as he was also offered Luca the chance at peace.
James and Jacob showed Luca that there were still good men out there that weren’t ashamed to embrace the Daddy and boy relationship.
Also Josh was an amazing friend and had no problem showing Luca how much he cared and never minded taking time with Luca.
There was absolutely no attraction between the two of them.
Which was a damn shame. Josh would make an amazing Daddy to a little.
Although from what Josh had shared, he was looking for a boy that regressed younger than either him or James with the whole diaper, wetting, and bottle aspect that Josh craved.
Luca needed a firm hand. He was looking for a partner that would step up and take control of the things that Luca didn’t want to handle.
Could he handle them? Absolut-fucking-ely.
Did he want to? No, he did not. Luca didn’t mind that his responsibilities were taking over his life.
That was just par for the course when it came to him.
Luca couldn’t tell people no. When someone was in need, Luca was the first volunteer to help. It was just who he was.
That was why he needed a strict Daddy to step in when Luca couldn’t help overextending himself. Not that Luca minded all the responsibility he found himself with. It would just be nice to have a Daddy by his side. To help him carry the burden.
Josh was not the strict Daddy that Luca needed. The fun uncle? Hell yeah, Josh had earned that title tenfold.
Josh just beamed. “I have to bribe them for favorite uncle status.”
“No you don’t,” Jacob said, although his words were drowned out by James’s squeal.
Luca wasn’t alone in wincing.
James raced to the other side of the kitchen, hiding whatever was in his hand.
Luca watched his friend closely. He had no idea what James had found but the excess of laughter didn’t bode well for anyone. Josh was too busy being smug, Jacob frowning at the bags, and Luca used their inattention to shift his body behind theirs.
James got the top off whatever he held and shouted before he started to spray them.
Luca ducked, grabbing hold of the counter’s edge and knocking a bag onto the floor. A can rolled to his feet and Luca figured it out.
“What the hell?” Jacob spluttered.
Josh laughed hard enough he had to hold on to the counter.
Luca yanked the lid off the can of silly string and shook it as hard as he could while crawling between Josh’s legs. From his position he could see that James was still targeting Jacob and Josh. James wasn’t even paying attention to him. He waited for the perfect moment.
“Boy,” Jacob growled.
“Daddy! Play?” James asked sweetly.
Jacob attempted to brush the sticky mess from his shirt. “No.”
“No?” James repeated sadly. “Please.”
“What is this?” Jacob tried to flick the purple silly string from his fingers but that shit was not coming off.
Luca rolled his lips. He didn’t want to give away his position from between Josh’s legs. But Jacob’s reaction was hilarious.
Josh shifted while dropping his arm down before he was passing Luca a second can.
Luca looked at the cans in his hands. One pink and one green.
Ha! He glanced up and Josh smiled and winked.
Best uncle ever! Luca was totally going to repay Josh back somehow.
Maybe a trip to the club to find Josh a little of his own was in order.
There was no reason that Josh remained a Daddy without a little.
He’d make a great Daddy for a boy who needed his world lightened.
Although, Luca was aware that Josh already had his eye on a person. That was complicated as shit.
“Why is it cold?” Jacob questioned as he started toward the sink.
This was Luca’s chance. As soon as Jacob was out of firing range, Luca crawled forward, aiming both cans at James. He hit the button on the top, spraying James down.
James wailed and his own can went flying.
Jacob whirled around but it was too late to save James.
Jumping to his feet, Luca advanced on James until he was on his back, holding his hands up in front of his face. Luca did avoid James’s eyes, not wanting to hurt his friend. He was a good friend like that.
Josh whooped and clapped until the cans in Luca’s hands ran empty.
As soon as Luca was done tormenting James, he backed away closer to Josh. James slipped onto his stomach, piercing Luca with narrowed eyes. “You should run,” James advised.
Oh? Oh! Right. James might actually be faster than Luca. Pushing off with his right foot, Luca raced from the room. His socked feet slipped on the tile but he managed to stay upright as he hit the carpet in the hallway.
“No running!” Jacob hollered. “Boys! You know better!”
Luca nearly slowed down. Jacob wasn’t wrong. Neither of them could afford to be injured. Except at that moment James ran around the corner.
“We’re not!” James lied.
Luca grabbed hold of the doorjamb to the playroom, helping him launch himself across the room. He jumped into the beanbag chair and held up his arms. “Safe!”
“No fair!” James said, coming to a stop beside him. “I almost had you.”
“You too slow!” Luca taunted, letting some of the baby come through. He noticed that James’s shirt was still covered in the silly string that Josh had bought them. He snickered and pointed.
James looked down before giggling too. “Messy!”
“Yes, you are,” Jacob said, entering the room with Josh following behind him.
“Play clothes, Daddy!” James replied.
“Yes, boy, I know.” He strolled to the dresser in the corner.
Still sunk down in the beanbag chair, James kicked his feet as Josh walked over to crouch beside him.
“Good job, tiger. You really got him,” Josh praised.
Luca clapped happily. He liked being the winner. Winning was the best. “Yay!”
“I really didn’t think that was going to be the first thing they found,” Josh commented.
“More toys!” James shouted as he whirled around with one arm out of his dirty shirt.
“Nope!” Jacob caught James’s arm. “Arms up.”
“But, Daddy,” James whined.
“Arms up,” Jacob repeated. “Or you could spend some time in the corner.”