Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Somehow, my sneaky Sage had managed to move in without my realizing it.
No complaints, going to sleep and waking up with him quickly became two of my favorite things, not to mention this completely bypassed that whole awkward living together conversation.
Gotta say, when my boy set his mind to something, he dove right in and went for it.
“Little boy, is everything you own in here?” I browsed through the closet, realizing he now had nearly as many clothes as I did.
“Yup.”
“How did you move in without Daddy knowing it?”
“You said it yourself, Daddy. This place is magic. Poof!” He spread his hands out. “Here I am.”
“Guess I should let the office know your old room is available, Genie.”
“Nope. I told Sadie already.”
“Oh lord, what did she say?”
Sage giggled. “That her Daddy was right again.”
I’d never hear the end of this.
He steadily played with his turtles, lining them up in front of the other animals on the table, completely unfazed by our conversation.
“You said you’re keeping me forever, Daddy. ’Member, no take-backsies.”
“I remember, bossy boy.”
“Not bossy, Daddy’s the boss.”
So this Daddy once thought. Now he had his boy living with him and had somehow completely missed that happening. Huh, better keep an eye on him before he finds a way to trade my trusty old truck in on a new one. Sneaky monkey.
Sage had fallen in love with the Butterfly room and had even made a few friends there.
Miss Price said he was her best helper, and he was a joy to have around.
It was hard not to fall in love with Sage and his caring demeanor.
All that boy wanted was to be loved and make sure everyone around him was happy.
Daddy’s little helper.
I’d have to get that printed on his next onesie.
“Have you heard from Devon?”
“Yup, but he’s super busy. He said as soon as he gets a chance he’s gonna text you about dates and flights and stuff. He misses us.”
A chuckle escaped. Anymore, that seemed to happen a lot around Sage. “I bet he does. What do you think he’d like for Christmas?” Getting out of the freezing winter for a week in sunny California was just the gift this Daddy wanted, but December was a long wait for Sage to see his bestie.
This is where a playwright would type insert dramatic sigh, because that’s exactly what I just got from him.
“I dunno. The only way we ever celebrated Christmas was at church. No gifts, nothing special. Lots of casseroles and Jell-O with chunky stuff in it.” He shivered.
Can’t say I was a fan of it either, which made them easy to eliminate from future menus. Regular Jell-O, sure, but add anything to it and you’ve lost me.
But now I understood the heavy sigh.
“Well”—I leaned over the couch and kissed his head—“that’s all changed.
See if you can pick his brain and find out what he likes.
” Meanwhile, I’d keep a mental list going for Sage.
I swear, I could wrap a drinking straw and give it to him, and he’d think it was the best gift ever because it was just for him.
Holy hell my love for this boy ran deep.
As did my recent online expenditures. I’d managed to stash away a few prezzies to dole out to my good boy every now and again but soon the hiding part would be hard to pull off.
It’s funny how reflection hits at the oddest times, how I’d once thought my life was complete.
Only I now knew that it wasn’t. Not before Sage came into it.
Gazing down at this adorable man, sitting cross legged on the floor playing with his toys, Sage was the Little my life was in dire need of.
My brain and heart were no longer warring, searching for who knows what.
Well, now I knew what and the who that went along with it.
My sweet Sage.
In the short time he’d been in my life it all clicked into place, completed the puzzle. Sage was my calling, what drew me to this magical Ranch as he’d lovingly dubbed it.
Between Master Derek being the ultimate matchmaker and my boy, who appeared to know what I needed even before I did, there might be some truth to his words and the magic that possibly lies within these lands.
“Are you okay, Daddy?”
I shook my head, clearing the fog. Those beautiful concerned blue eyes stared up at me. “I am, sweetheart. More than you know.”
More than even I knew or could understand, though I looked forward to a lifetime of learning with Sage by my side.
“Come here,” I patted my lap and he curled right up. “Do you have any idea how much your Daddy loves you?”
Those sweet curls tickled my chin as his head moved. “Yup. The forever kind.”
“Exactly.” Lazy Sundays had become my favorite. Totally lowkey, spent catching up on laundry, eating at home instead of at the restaurants. My cooking skills had improved, not that I was ever terrible at it, but basic microwave meals were about all I’d attempted before.
Who knew I had it in me to cook. I was learning so much about myself. “How about tubby time after dinner then a movie in bed?” Since Monday morning was just around the corner.
“Yes, please and thank you,” Sage snuggled in tighter. “Daddy, do you like-like me?”
“Like-like you?” Were we back at grade school?
“Yeah. You’ve seen me nakey at bath time. I’ve seen you nakey, yet we never get nakey together.”
Ah, this subject again. The only problem was I couldn’t figure out why I’d put off sex with Sage as long as I had. But now he’d mentioned it enough times that second guessing if he was ready wasn’t fair of me.
“Daddy likes-likes you more than you know and I apologize for making you wait. You’ve just had so many big changes in your life that I didn’t want to rush you into anything sexual.”
“I-I’ve, I’ve been thinking about it a lot.” The nervous stutter returned. “I’m just not sure about the whole”—he swung his hand around—“um, bottoming thing.”
“Understood and it’s something that we will gradually work up to if you want to try. It’s not for everyone and if that never happens for us it doesn’t matter to me.”
“It doesn’t?”
“Nope.” I booped his nose. “You can top Daddy if you want.”
“You’d let me do that.”
“Sweetheart”—I pressed my lips to his in a gentle kiss—“don’t you know by now that your Daddy would do anything for you?” Sage shrugged. “We should’ve had this conversation already and it’s totally on me that we hadn’t. Do you know what being vers means?”
“I-I read about it.”
“Well, your Daddy is vers. I have no preference for being topped or doing the topping. For me, all that matters is that you enjoy it, well, that we both enjoy it.”
He grinned.
“There’s my boy’s sweet smile. I want you to know that even though Daddy had been a fool about this, you can come to me any time with anything. Okay?”
“Yes, Daddy, and I do, just with the whole sex thing.” There went that hand waving through the air again. “I thought maybe you didn’t like me that way.”
“My love, Daddy not only likes you in all ways, but he loves you in all ways. You’re it for me. You’re my forever. Remember, no take-backsies.”
Sage giggled and held his finger out. “Pinky swear, Daddy?”
I tangled mine with his. “Pinky swear.” I sealed the deal with a kiss. “Guess what’s for dinner?”
“What?”
“Homemade buffalo mac ’n’ cheese and dino chicken nuggets.”
“Yay!” Sage may be a Little-Middle hybrid, but he was the perfect hybrid for me.
“Why don’t you color a new picture for our fridge while I get dinner going?”
“Okay, Daddy.” He gave me a big, wet smooch and hopped off my lap and straight to his coloring bin.
That storage container shelf set up we got for his toys was perfect for the small space we had.
I wonder if, now that we were living together, it would allow us to qualify for a two bedroom.
I’d love for Sage to have his own play space.
I’d email Master Derek and see how that worked.
There may have been a wait list we’d be put on but it was worth a try.
While the noodles boiled, I fired off the email and got to work assembling the rest of dinner. Sage sung along with the cartoon he had on as he colored, and I danced to the beat as I mixed the cheeses in. Light, jovial, the once grouchy ranch hand was no more.
It was time for the parental meet and greet, no more putting it off. I’d never introduced anyone I dated, aside from my senior prom date, to my folks before, but it was time.
“Dinner’s ready.”
His hand flew up, waving his latest creation around. “Your picture is too, Daddy!”
“Let’s hang it up first. Pick the magnets you want to use.” I had bought him a couple of different sets. Turtles and sea life plus one of various butterflies.
“There.” He rearranged the others so the new one of a colorful butterfly perched atop a giant sunflower hung front and center.
“I love it, and I love you. Now, let’s fill that tummy of yours.
” These last couple of months Sage had gone from a thin, pale, quiet boy to the loving, happy, chatty, healthy one in front of me and I was beyond elated.
They might have fed him three meals a day, or so Sage led me to believe, but they’d definitely limited how much he was allowed.
Two bowls of mac and countless nuggets later, my boy was finally full.
Now on to an equally as important step for the evening.
Was it nerves that had me moving at a snail’s pace clearing the kitchen, and, if so, why was I nervous? I was the experienced one here.
Because this time matters more than any other has.
Get it together, Warner.
“Little butterfly, get your toys cleaned up please. Daddy’s gonna run your bath.”
“Yay! Tubby time!”
That gave me a few minutes to calm myself down, get the bubbles going, and pour in his surprise package of multicolored mini rubber duckies.
“Rainbow duckies! Thank you, Daddy.”
I turned to kiss him and shook my head the second I saw nothing but skin. “You’re welcome, but why are you naked? Where are your clothes, Sage?”
He shrugged. “I dunno. They just went poof! Can I get in now?”
There would never be a dull moment with this boy in my life.
“In you go.” First thing he did was line up his tubby toys.
“Duckie, seal, duckie, whale, duckie, shark. Sharkie, duckies are friends and we don’t eat them, so be a good boy.
” Even his toys weren’t allowed to fight.
Sage avoided conflict in every aspect of his life.
“Where’s my… there he is. Duckie, Shamu, duckie, fishie.
” Yes, he did indeed have two different whales, and one was a Shamu twin.
With Sage entertained, I gathered the supplies I’d need for a thorough shower once he was out. It’d been a while since I bottomed, and if my boy ever did, I’d have to remember to cover the hygienic basics with him beforehand. I knew the internet was his go to, but it wasn’t always to be trusted.
“PJs, yes or no?”
He gave me a stinky side-eye that was more adorable than menacing, which I believe was what he was going for. “Daaaddddyyyyyy.”
“Hey, just double checking. You could’ve changed your mind.” This Daddy had just been properly schooled by his snarky boy.
“Nakey. You and me.” Bubbles floated through the air as he pointed between us.
“Sir, yes sir,” I saluted him.
“Nope, Daddy’s in charge.”
Yeah… right.
“Alright, my adorable prune, put your toys in the bag.” The mesh one hanging on the side of the tub was ideal for drying and keeping his tubby toys fresh. I helped him out and dried him off but before I could slip his robe on, he took off toward the bedroom giggling.
“Daddy can’t catch me!”
Game on!
Right as he jumped for the bed, I caught him midair, tackling him atop it. “Never”–tickle—“underestimate”—tickle, giggles, more tickles—“your Daddy.” A barrage of tickles and giggles followed.
“Gonna pee! Gonna pee!” Gasping for breath, his laughter slowed. Those bright blue eyes peered up at me. “I love you, Daddy.”
I stole a kiss and was reluctant to break it, though I knew we’d share more intimate ones very soon. But having my naked boy beneath me was proving to be a challenge to move away from for even a moment. “I love you too, Sage. Alright, you go pee while Daddy showers.”