“You have always had my heart. Little or big. Every version of you is mine. I was dumb trying to think I could get past these feelings. And if you want space, I will give it to you. But please don't think that I don't want you. The problem is that I want you too much. I want to be your Daddy. I want to take care of you. I want to not spend a single moment away from you for the rest of my life. And that's why I had to leave.”
The thumb between his lips slips out as he pushes himself up. His blanket falls away, revealing hair that has been tugged and pulled until it's standing on all ends.
I want to smile at it because it's so like him. At the same time, I don't dare because whatever he says next is going to lead into whatever comes for us.
Instead of answering me, he crawls forward much like I did. My boy doesn't speak so much as he climbs into my lap. His body forms into a ball with his legs curled towards his chest. His mouth moves to my neck, and I feel his lips pressed against my skin. I don't hesitate to wrap my arms around him as I tip my head to the side to give him more room.
“Eddie?” I question.
Instead of answering me, I feel his mouth suck against my skin. Whether he's marking me or too deep into Little space to care, I'm not sure. I only know that I'm going to soak up this entire interaction and hold on to it. It'll be a core memory for the rest of my life.
It's not until he pulls back and whispers, "Daddy," that I feel a sense of peace move through me.
I am his as much as he is mine. I'll be the best damn Daddy he's ever seen.
CHAPTER 6
Eddie
“Daddy,” I whisper, testing the word out with the man I’ve always wanted to have the title.
The look Bram gives me tells me his words were true.
When he was talking before, I kept my face covered for two main reasons. The first was because I didn’t want him to see me ugly crying. The second was from shock. My jaw was wide open as I attempted to process what he said.
Bram likes me.
No, that’s wrong.
Bram loves me.
More than friends kind of love.
Is this a dream? Did I actually fall asleep in the toy store? I had to have. There’s no way all this is real.
“Eddie Baby.”
I come back to myself as the man I’m thinking about gains my attention again. His gaze is knowing, his smile amused.
“You ready to get out of here? I’ve got a nice, cozy cabin waiting for us. As fun as tonight seems like it’ll be in the town, I want you to myself,” he tells me.
Nodding my head, I wrap myself around his body like the clingy baby I am. He laughs as he shifts an arm under my butt.
“Hold tight to Daddy.”
I squeeze him even tighter as he moves us from the floor into a standing position. The minute we’re up, he’s off to the door. I expect to feel a blast of cold, except he stops.
“Eddie Baby.” His hand runs down my back. “Daddy told the nice man who let you stay here that we’d buy some things. Would you like to look around? There are a few things in the cabin, but I’d like you to pick some things out yourself for you and me to play with.”
“Daddy, play?”
His smile grows at my question. He nods and kisses the tip of my nose.
“Yes, baby. Daddy is going to play with you too. I love when we have our special time together.”
With a wiggle, I motion for him to put me down. He does instantly, though he does hold me like he’s worried I’ll be unsteady.
I always knew he’d be the bestest Daddy.
