I don’t hesitate to pick him up again. He comes to me willingly, his koala behavior locking him tight to me as I move us to the couch. When I sit down, he positions himself in my lap facing me, his head buried in my chest as his legs settle on the sides of mine.
Humming gently, I rub his back in a soothing manner to encourage him to relax. Little by little, his body sinks deeper into mine. I enjoy the comfort holding him this close brings me as I watch the clock above the fireplace. Despite needing to relish this, I know better than to burn his food by forgetting the time.
Neither of us speaks as the time passes, content to simply be together this way. I can’t deny how perfect it all is. The ease with which we’re accepting this new level to our relationship brings me great joy.
What I thought would be so hard is actually quite natural.
I hold him until there’s no putting it off any longer. Tapping his hip, I tell him, “Up, Eddie Baby. I’ve got to get the food.”
He rolls off me, tucking himself into a ball as he stares up at me. It’s the Littlest he’s been so far, and I revel in the fact that me holding him brought this on.
I cover him with a loose blanket before shifting into the kitchen to put together a plate. Once I’ve got the pile of food and a cup of ketchup on the side for dipping ready, I settle down besidehim. Despite preferring something heartier, I’ll eat whatever he doesn’t finish. It’s more important to have him taken care of than to prepare myself something now.
Eddie will always come first. It’s the Daddy way.
CHAPTER 8
Eddie
My bladder wakes me from a dead sleep, telling me I had far too much milk before bed. I wonder for a second why I didn’t get up in the middle of the night to go potty.
It’s then I feel an arm tighten around me.
Oh, that would be why.
Daddy’s firmly locked around me, his body molded to mine, with a leg between mine and his ankle hooked over my calf. He clearly didn’t want me to sneak away in the middle of the night. Not even for a bathroom break.
I giggle as I try to wiggle free. The more I move, the tighter he squeezes me.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asks in a groggy voice after my third attempt.
“Potty!”
He huffs, though he lets me free. “Come right back to bed, baby. I want more cuddles.”
Blushing, I nod as I scoot across the mattress to rush into the attached bathroom. The second I’m inside, I relieve myself with a loud sigh. I can hear Daddy chuckle through the open doorway.
It makes me smile to hear him so happy. He hasn’t been like that in a while.
Remembering what he said, I realize I was the cause all along. His feelings for me had him torn in two just like I was. How silly we were.
After cleaning my hands and tucking myself away in my briefs, I skip back into the bedroom. Daddy is hugging my pillow, his breaths deep as if he’s trying to take in my scent while I was away. I smile at how much I like this new version of him.
“I’m back,” I announce as I step up to the side of the bed.
He releases the pillow in an instant. “Need you, Eddie Baby.”
Diving under the sheet he lifts, I press my body up against his as close as possible. I don’t want there to be an ounce of space between us.
“Missed you,” he tells me as he presses a kiss to my forehead.
I sigh. “Only went potty.”
“You were too far away. Next time, I may have to go with you.”
Everything in me lights up at that idea. I’m not sure where the desire comes from. Or maybe I do.
I’ve always liked the idea of a Daddy who would take care of everything for me. And by everything, I do mean every-single-thing. It bothers some people to be that vulnerable, but not me. Not when it comes to Bram.
