Pretty in Pink

Chapter One

Ford

I made it this far; I can’t punk out now. I took a few deep breaths and stepped out of my truck, where I was parked in the lot in front of The Playground, the club Amir told me about. If I didn’t know what it held inside, I’d think it was any other building in the strip of businesses that surrounded it. It was unassuming, with no flashing signs, bright lights, or anything else to draw attention to it.

“First time?” a deep voice asked from behind me. I turned towards the sound to find a man who was several inches taller than my five foot eleven inch frame.

“Is it that obvious?”

“I had that nervous look once; pretty sure we all have,” he answered with a kind smile, helping to settle my anxiety. “But trust me; get settled in, and those nerves all disappear. But you gotta get in there.” It was as if he heard my unspoken struggles, and was giving me the push I needed. I had no doubt in my mind he was a Daddy…or Dom. Whichever he was, he was a good one, because when he clapped my shoulder and motioned with his head for me to follow him, I did so without question.

Just inside the entrance was an employee of the club. He nodded his head towards the man, who must have been a known regular, but held up his hand to stop me. I showed him the barcode on my phone that showed I’d filled out the necessary paperwork and paid my fee, and he gave me the nod to continue on. I once again followed the man, who was kindly waiting for me.

We entered through a windowless door and stepped into a room full of lockers. “You’ll need to leave your phone here,” the man explained, “They’re not allowed inside the club.” I’d read that information online, and it made sense; that way nobody would have to worry about unsolicited photos.

I nodded and slipped my cell phone out of my pocket before placing it into an open locker. I noticed that none of them had locks on them; the foundation of this whole place was trust, which also brought me some peace.

But that was shaken when the man stripped off the sweatshirt he was wearing, revealing a leather harness strapped across his hairy chest. I looked down and questioned my outfit choice; my favorite jeans, a flannel button down, and a pair of boots. It was my choice pretty much daily; I dressed for comfort. But now I was worried that I wouldn’t stand out. Who would pay attention to me when there were leather beefcakes hanging around?

“Everyone has different tastes,” the man told me, once again picking up my silent thoughts. He slapped my back once more before leading me out of the room and around a corner, to a second door. Behind the heavy wood, I could hear the gentle thump of music. It wasn’t overwhelming; it was low enough to not hinder conversation, but loud enough to enhance the atmosphere.

“Relax and have fun,” the man told me before shouldering open the door. I followed him inside and allowed the door to close behind me. My eyes scanned the large room, widening as I took in everything I saw; men of all ages and sizes in all different stages of dress sauntered around. Hungry gazes abounded, but not a single look held judgement.

My attention was caught by a young man, wearing only a pair of tight leather shorts. His eyes were trained on the hairy harnessed man until he got close; then he cast his gaze to the floor before dropping to his knees. Mr. Harness ran his fingers through the young man’s hair and bent down to whisper something into his ear. Even though his answering smile wasn’t meant for me, I could still feel its warmth, along with their instant connection. The young man stood up again, the two of them clasped hands, and walked away.

Well, hell. I didn’t even know the man’s name, but it still felt as if my only friend in the place left my side. I was glad he found someone to spend time with, but I also felt dumb standing alone in the middle of the bustling room. So, I made my way to an empty loveseat along the wall. It was cool, comfortable leather, and I chuckled to myself as I thought, easy clean up.

Now that I was out of the spotlight, I took the opportunity to really look around. Scattered around the open room were many others like the man who had accompanied me inside; hulking figures dressed in leather and harnesses. On the flipside, there were several men scantily dressed in tiny shorts, or less.

And then my eyes fell on a sight that made my heart ache with adoration and envy; on their knees on the floor were two young men, each of them wearing cotton shorts and cropped t-shirts, allowing their diapers to be seen peeking out of the waistband. They were both pushing toy cars along the carpeted floor.

I wondered if the pair knew one another before their visit. They certainly looked as if they were acquainted; they were all smiles and giggles as they played together. Watching over the duo in nearby chairs were two other men, each dressed casually. I knew immediately and instinctively that they were the Daddies to these two boys by the way they watched them with dumb, lovestruck grins.

One of the men looked up from his boy and caught my gaze. At first, his face drew up into an irritated expression, and I understood; Daddies could be very protective of their boys. He didn’t know I meant no harm; I was just some schmuck gawking from across the room, and he wanted to make sure that’s where I stayed.

I raised my hands in front of my chest in a placating gesture, and, after studying me for a moment, his own face softened at whatever he saw. He gave me a tight smile and nod before looking back at the cute young man and his toy car.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I did not want to catch the wrath of another Daddy, so I quickly snapped my gaze away to survey the rest of the club. I noticed a long bar at the far end of the room, and I thought a drink may be the liquid courage I needed to stop hiding in the corner.

But a second swipe of my gaze down the bar suddenly had me thirsty for something other than alcohol. Leaning on the countertop was someone so beautiful, I would have thought I was already drunk and hallucinating, if I weren’t stone cold sober.

The young man was average height, but his slim body gave him an elongated appearance. As did the short pink skirt he wore; it landed halfway down his thigh, revealing his long, shapely legs.

He turned from the bar and my mouth gaped open when I got a full frontal view. He had shaggy brown hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed both focused and dreamy at the same time. His outfit was cute and feminine, but the sharp contour of his jawline and squareness of his torso was all man. He was the absolute best of both worlds.

His appearance didn’t scream ‘little’, but I saw what I hoped were subtle signs; his cropped white top was printed with a picture of Hello Kitty, and instead of sandals or heels, he wore a pair of glittery pink sneakers, like he was fashionable, but still ready to play.

Matching his tennis shoes was the sparkly purse hanging at his side. I wondered what was inside; toys, perhaps? Other tiny treasures? Maybe I was reading him wrong, or it was only wishful thinking, but damn, was I wishing.

My mouth watered as I watched his purse gently bounce against his thigh as he walked. Try as I might, I couldn’t stop my eyes from drifting until my stare settled on his groin as I wondered what was under that skirt. I didn’t see a noticeable lump from a diaper, but there was an undeniable bulge that had my heart racing.

I’ve got to stop. This poor guy was just trying to cross the room, and there I was ogling the hell out of him. I mentally kicked myself and raised my gaze to his face, and we locked eyes. I was caught.

But he didn’t seem irritated or nervous. A spark of mischief danced in his pupils and a predatory grin crossed his pretty lips. He kept laser focus on me as he sauntered across the floor. I savored every moment as he seemed to move in slow motion, yet somehow his hips swished in time with my racing heart.

He stopped when he was right in front of me, his toes only inches from mine. I searched my brain for something smooth or intelligent to say, but it was too busy shitting itself with excitement.

Before I could come up with anything, the young man held out a bottle of soda and asked, “Open this for me?” I took it on instinct and twisted off the cap before handing the bottle back to him. “Thanks.”

He plopped down beside me and my mind swirled with surprise and delight. I should say something. I’ll thank him for joining me. No, that’s lame. I’ll start with my name. Fuck, what’s my name? The little beauty was throwing me for a loop.

“Ford!” I said too loudly, and the young man blinked in surprise as he lowered the soda he was about to sip. Dammit .

But then his lips curled into a smile. “Is this a game?” My heart thumped at the excitement in his voice. “Chevy!”

A garbled whine left my throat before I cleared it. “No, no…it’s my name. My name is Ford.”

“Oh. I like it. I’m Keegan.”

“You’re very pretty.” Fuck . “I mean, that’s very pretty. Your name. But you’re pretty too. Or…handsome.” I didn’t know what the hell was wrong with me. I was usually so cool, calm, and collected, but now my only hope was that the ceiling opened up and a bolt of lightning took me out of my misery.

“You’re nervous,” Keegan said matter-of-factly.

“A bit.” There was no sense in denying it; he’d already witnessed my bumbling embarrassment. I expected him to shake his head and get up to walk away; I was clearly not Daddy material at that moment.

But to my surprise, Keegan stayed put and unzipped the purse at his side. “You know what helps me when I’m nervous? Games.” My stomach fluttered; it was the second time he’d mentioned them, cementing that my guess and hope about him were correct. “Do you know how to shuffle?”

I took the pack of cards he offered me and smiled at the pictures of puppies printed on their backs. “I do.” I divided the cards into two piles and riffled them together. Keegan gasped when I bridge shuffled them, making sure they were thoroughly mixed.

“That’s so cool!”

I chuckled and did it again just because I wanted to hear his amazement over such a simple trick. “What would you like to play?” Keegan’s suggestion was working; having something to focus on was helping me push my nerves away.

“How about Go Fish?”

“Sounds great.” As I counted out seven cards for each of us, I nodded to their pictures and asked him, “So, you like puppies?”

Keegan nodded. “And kitties, bunnies, birds…pretty much all animals. The softer they are, the better.” It wasn’t hard to believe that he enjoyed soft things; he had a calming presence and peaceful energy.

“And I bet you are very gentle with them,” I guessed, placing the rest of the cards face down on the table before us.

“I am,” he replied with a proud smile. “I like to go to the shelter to help take care of the animals who don’t have homes. Some of them are scared, so I’m extra gentle with them so they know they can trust me.”

I could practically feel my heart swelling in my chest. “That’s very sweet of you. Have you ever thought of adopting a pet of your own?”

“Every day,” he sighed. “Especially Ruby; she’s a beautiful Yellow Lab. I’ve been helping take care of her for almost a year. When she first came to the shelter, she was so scared, she wouldn’t even eat, and she would whimper if anyone came close. But I visited her and talked to her every day, getting a little bit closer each day. After a few weeks, she finally let me pet her head. And now when she sees me, she gets so excited! She barks and wiggles her tail and spins around in a circle.”

Keegan absolutely glowed when talking about his animal friend. “She’s very lucky to have someone so sweet and patient looking after her.”

He beamed, threatening to expand my heart beyond capacity. But it only lasted a moment before a frown took its place. “I wish I could have her as my own, but my apartment doesn’t allow pets. I’ve thought about sneaking her in anyway, but that wouldn’t be fair. She needs room to run.”

I wanted to do whatever I could to put a smile back on his pretty face. I cupped his smooth cheek and leaned in closer to tell him, “I know that had to be a tough decision. I’m proud of you for thinking about Ruby’s needs. You are a very sweet and special boy.” It was hard to believe that just a few minutes ago, I was struggling to put a sentence together. Talking to Keegan was easy. All I had to do was focus on making him happy, and everything came naturally.

Something flashed in Keegan’s eyes as they looked into mine. They somehow darkened and brightened at the same time. Was it longing I saw? Or was I imagining things? It didn’t appear to be anything negative, although he wasn’t speaking. Maybe he was tongue tied now. At any rate, I didn’t want to risk making him uncomfortable or pushing any boundaries. So, I turned my attention back to my cards and asked him, “Do you have any twos?”

Keegan blinked at my words before shaking his head free from confusion, focusing on his hand as well. “I have one.” He handed it over before asking, “Have any fours?”

“Go fish.”

He lifted a card from the stack before wrinkling up his nose and stuffing it amongst his others. Apparently, it wasn’t a four. “So, what do you do when you’re not helping out at the animal shelter?”

“I work at the distribution center in Prestonsburg.”

“Do you enjoy it?”

Keegan shrugged. “It pays the bills, but it’s boring. I just put stuff in boxes and attach labels all day.” I wondered if that was perhaps why he enjoyed games so much; they served as a distraction and break from mundane life. “The only exciting thing is that I prepare bags of dog food for shipping. Sometimes a bag has a rip or a can is missing the pull tab, so that means they can’t be used, and I get to take them to the shelter. That’s how I went for the very first time, and how I met Ruby.”

“That sounds wonderful.” I was pleased to hear the company allowed him to donate the unusable items, and that he’d found something he enjoyed because of it.

“It is, but that’s the only wonderful part. Even the uniform I have to wear is boring.”

I imagined he would make anything look fantastic, but could understand that the mandated uniform wouldn’t be his personal style. I was curious about Keegan’s attire choice. It was alluring and beautiful, and I wanted to know the story behind it, but I didn’t want to come across as judgey or rude.

Maybe he saw something in my expression, or maybe he’d been asked countless times, but he offered, “I like looking pretty. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.”

“Complicated?”

He gave a sad smile. “Some people are really offended by the clothes I wear. That’s why I like it here so much; nobody says anything mean.”

I hated the thought of this precious young man getting picked on or made fun of for any reason, but especially for something as trivial as clothing. The world had bigger things to worry about than what someone chose to put on their own body.

I rested my cards on the table and leaned in close. “If someone is offended by simple pieces of cotton, that reflects poorly on them, not you. What makes you happy is your business, and nobody else gets a say in what it should be. Besides, they’re probably just jealous that you look better in those clothes than they ever could.”

Even in the dim light, I could make out Keegan’s pupils dilating as his glossy lips parted slightly. Oh, how I wanted a taste of those pouty pillows. But I didn’t want to cross a line. Some men didn’t like physical affection when they were in little mode. Though we were having a pretty ‘normal’ or ‘adult’ conversation, we were still playing a game, so I didn’t want to muddy the waters. I also didn’t want to be rejected. I could be reading the situation totally wrong, and he wanted nothing to do with me in that way. Maybe he just wanted to play Go Fish.

I lifted my cards into my hand again, and asked, “Do you have any kings?”

Keegan stared at me for a long moment before closing his lips and studying his own cards. “I…I have two,” he answered quietly, and passed them over. I put them with the two I already held, and laid all four onto the table top. He seemed to switch back into a playful mood as a smile crossed his lips. “You’re very good at this game.”

It was all a matter of luck, but I would still take the compliment. “I have played this game a lot with my boy.” I looked up at Keegan, waiting for him to ask for a number, and found that his smile had vanished. His lips were stretched into a tight line and his eyes were no longer dark and hungry; they were practically burning from under his brows.

“You have a boy?” He sounded so angry, and my heart broke. I was enjoying our game and conversation, but he obviously wasn’t any longer. Did he have something against men with children? Maybe he thought I had a young child at home, and didn’t want the responsibility. Hopefully his mind would change once he heard that my son was fully grown and out of the house. Hell, maybe that would make it worse; Henley’s age probably wasn’t too far from Keegan’s. Maybe he was realizing how much older I was.

I didn’t get to ask any questions or give any explanations before Keegan ripped the cards from my hands. He shoved them into their box and began gathering up the rest of the deck from the table.

“Then why are you here?” he asked in a gruff voice, nearly ripping the cardboard box with how hard he was forcing cards into it. “Does your boy even know?”

“Well, no, I didn’t mention anything to him but-”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he yelled, slamming the box onto the tabletop. “I thought maybe you were here scouting for a third, which isn’t for me at all; I’m too needy and jealous and clingy for a relationship like that. But maybe others would be interested. But you’re just here without his knowledge? Cheating on him?”

“ What ?” My body actually recoiled in shock. It took a moment for his words to link together in my mind, and for me to realize what he thought was going on. I’d certainly dug a hole for myself, and only hoped I could climb out. “I don’t have a boy ; I have a son.”

His eyes slowly widened from the little beads of hatred they’d narrowed into. “A son?”

I exhaled, grateful that he was sticking around for my clumsy explanation. “Yes. He’s a grown adult and has a Daddy of his own.”

“Oh.” Keegan slowly nodded a few times before picking up his box of cards. “I’m sorry. I can try to find the ones you had…”

I stopped his search with my hand on his. As pleased as I was that he wanted to stay and play with me, I thought it was time for a conversation instead. I bumbled through my life story; how I had met Henley’s mom when I was young, that she dipped out after he was born and left me to raise him on my own, that I was bisexual but hadn’t had many relationships, and how I’d come around to my Daddy awakening through Amir. I spoke quickly and barely took a breath between words, but Keegan listened to every one of them.

“I’m sorry I freaked out,” he finally replied with a tight, guilty smile.

“You don’t need to apologize. I made a terrible word choice. But please know; I would never cheat on my partner. I’m loyal and looking for one special person to spend my time with. And though I don’t judge anyone who is polyamorous, I’m too territorial and protective for a relationship like that.”

“That’s good,” Keegan whispered breathily. He couldn’t hide his intrigue, and I didn’t try to hide the smile it brought to my lips.

He wasn’t shy with his emotions; he’d chew my ass out just as quickly as he’d give me ‘fuck me’ eyes, and admittedly, I enjoyed them both. I told Amir that I envisioned my perfect boy with a little sass, and it seemed Keegan had plenty to offer. Would telling him that be weird? Eh, I haven’t scared him off so far.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re sexy when you get all riled up?”

“Definitely not. Most people tell me I’m too much.” A saucy expression took over his face. “So I tell them to feel free to go find less.” I chuckled at his confidence and the perfect line, but the humor quickly left his face. “This probably isn’t what you were expecting tonight, was it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’m assuming you came looking for a little, and maybe some playtime. Which we had…for about five minutes…before I yelled at you and stole your cards.” His cute, guilty look nearly made me chuckle again, but I bit my cheek; I didn’t want him getting the wrong idea. “I do love playing games and lots of little activities, but I don’t like everything I’m supposed to. I like looking pretty and cuddling, but I’m not afraid to run my mouth if I have to. I know I’m not everyone’s cup of tea.”

“I’ve always been a whiskey guy anyway,” I told him with a wink, and received a pretty smirk. “And as far as what you’re supposed to like, you’re the only one who gets to decide that. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to anything in life. I didn’t even know about this lifestyle until my son began living it. He has his particular needs and interests, and found the Daddy who is perfect for him. But what works for them doesn’t look the same as what works for me, or you, or anyone else in here. We’re all wired differently, and that’s what makes life so exciting.”

Keegan sighed and propped his chin on his fist. “Where have you been all my life?”

I laughed and replied, “Just trying to survive single parenthood while figuring my own shit out. It takes a while to get this old and wise. Coincidentally, you’ve probably only been around for half of my life.” Even though I was nervous about his answer, I had to ask, “Does that bother you?”

“Fuck no.” I didn’t give two shits if he swore, but I was itching to try out this Daddy thing, so I arched my eyebrows and gave him what I hoped was a stern but still playful look. “Sorry, I mean, no, it doesn’t bother me. I like that you’re older. I’m twenty-four, by the way.”

“Forty three.” I could literally be his father. That could be a draw for some, but for others, age didn’t matter. I’d read blogs from couples of similar age, and even one with a younger Daddy and older little. What mattered was meeting one another’s needs. It sounded like Keegan may have different needs or expectations from those I’d read about, and I wanted to know exactly what they were, so I asked, “What sort of things do you like, youngin’?”

“Well, I don’t like being called youngin’,” he replied with a smirk, making me laugh.

It had been a joke anyway, because of our age gap, but I was curious what Keegan preferred to be called. A pet name was a simple thing that could hold a lot of meaning, as well as insight to what type of relationship someone was looking for. Baby could suggest they wanted to be pampered and cherished, a Prince or Princess may want to be spoiled, while Buddy may just need a friend. There was only one way to find out, so I asked, “What do you want me to call you?”

His sly, sultry smile remained when he answered, “Yours.”

I’d never had such a strong reaction to a single word. My heart raced, my breathing caught, and my cock ached with how quickly my blood surged south. Maybe it was just a tease, but my response was serious. I was undeniably drawn to this beautiful young man. And if he meant it, even if only for the night, I was going to jump at the opportunity.

I draped my arm across the back of the loveseat and leaned in close to his ear to whisper, “Then I need my boy to tell me what he likes.” A shiver rocked through him so hard that it vibrated the seat.

“I…I um…” Keegan was obviously having a strong reaction of his own, and I was eating it up.

I traced my fingers across his shoulder and onto the back of his neck as he shivered again. I caressed gently while I moved closer, until my lips grazed the shell of his ear. “Tell me so I can give you what you need.” It was a gentle push wrapped in a promise, and it seemed to be just what Keegan required.

“That,” he answered breathlessly, “I need that; someone to help if I stumble, or to keep me on track. I just want someone to accept me for who I am - not who they want me to be. I’m not a novelty. I’m not a Barbie doll just meant for dress up or play time before I’m put away and forgotten about. I want to belong to someone.”

I wondered how many people had seen Keegan as an oddity or an experiment; someone to ‘try out’, but never commit to. It was the same worry I’d carried for Henley when I discovered his interests; that someone would use him out of curiosity. I was grateful that he found his perfect match, and hurt that Keegan hadn’t felt that same happiness. I wanted to put his fears to rest.

“I’m sorry you’ve ever felt that way. Everyone deserves to be seen and appreciated for who they are. Thank you for your honesty, and I’ll put all my cards on the table as well, no pun intended; it’s true that I’m new to all of this, but I’m not unsure of it. I’ve researched and read everything I could get my hands on to understand and answer my own questions. I would never have stepped foot in here tonight if I didn’t know what I wanted. This isn’t a novelty for me. You aren’t a novelty. I’m here to make a connection, and to be the best Daddy and partner I can be.”

Keegan’s answering smile was nearly blinding, and I was excited that we were on the same page. I wanted to keep the conversation flowing and learn everything I could about him. “What does little time look like for you? What do you enjoy?”

I rubbed the back of his neck as he thought for several long moments before replying, “I like games and toys, but for me, it’s less about playing and more about freedom. I can turn my brain off for a while, and not have to make hard decisions. I want to know that someone is looking out for me and I can just let go and be happy.”

Keegan wanted a caretaker and protector; someone to allow him the safety and freedom to explore. I was quickly realizing that pushing the ‘norm’ and having fun meant more to him than traditional little roles.

He strengthened my assumption when he added, “I’m not really into diapers or bottles, but I’d like for someone to cook for me and make sure I have enough to eat. I like the idea of rewards and punishments, and I love snuggling.”

“So do I.” Hoping it was an invitation, I wrapped my arm around his shoulders, and Keegan happily cuddled closer to me. His body fit perfectly against mine, like he was made for me. It warmed my heart, while his words had my brain spinning with possibilities. “What kinds of rewards do you like?”

He didn’t even need to think before answering, “Candy, cute outfits, maybe a new toy.”

“A soft toy?”

“They’re my favorite.”

I took a mental note before asking curiously, “What about punishments?” Admittedly, I’d never been great in that department; I was basically a pushover when it came to parenting. When I did have to put my foot down, Henley was such a good kid, he didn’t cause a fuss. I never had to punish him much at all. This was obviously a different situation, but I didn’t have much experience to pull from.

“Time outs are okay,” he shrugged. “Or if I’m really naughty, having to skip dessert teaches me a lesson.” I appreciated his input. I wanted to know what worked for him, and what were comfortable boundaries. “But my favorite punishment is spanking.”

I couldn’t deny the allure of the thought of Keegan bent over my lap, his skirt creeping up the back of his thighs, giving a peek of what was beneath. My cock filled and throbbed again until… wait a minute. “If spanking is your favorite, is it even a punishment?”

“Um…yes?” Keegan replied, batting his eyes in a playfully rotten way and making me chuckle. He was sugar and spice, and I loved it. “So…” he dumped his cards out of the box again, and gave us each seven cards. “What do you do?”

“I’m a welder.”

“You use fire to melt metal together?”

“You got it. I work at a manufacturing plant making automotive parts.”

“Is it dangerous?”

“It can be,” I replied with a shrug. “I’ve burned myself a few times over the years, and have learned the hard way to pay more attention. As long as I’m careful, I’m okay.”

“Then you better be very careful,” he insisted with a stern look.

“Excuse me, youngin’, who’s the Daddy here?”

Keegan didn’t laugh at the name or my joke, and the serious expression didn’t leave his face. “You are, but boys can still worry about their Daddies.”

Did…did he just claim me? There was no question in his eyes or on his lips. He just put it out there, and it felt…natural. If he wanted me, I sure as hell wasn’t going to fight it.

“Yes, you can.” There was no question in my mind either. We smiled at each other, and understanding passed between us. I didn’t know where exactly we were heading, or even what our next step was, but this was a beautiful beginning.

“So, do you have any fives, Daddy?”

My heart fluttered in my chest. Euphoria pumped through me so quickly, my head spun. It took everything in me to keep it together enough to answer, “Go fish.”