Jasper bit his lip, looked at me, then away, and back again. Ultimately, he shook his head no. I wasn’t so sure that was a truthful answer.
“You sure about that, sugar? Because I kinda think you might be hungry for something.”
“Daddy, you said you don’t like to cook. I eat cereal.”
“Can I let you in on a little secret?”
“If you want.” Jasper’s expression turned serious. “I good secret keeper. Cross my heart.” Jasper was all business now. Secret-keeping was serious stuff for him.
“I don’t like cooking for myself, or for other people, except for one person. You know who that is?”
Our fingers twined together as we headed toward his cottage behind the main house. After it was obvious the secret wasn’t a tragedy, the skip was back in his step.
My general self was too serious, but when Jasper was around, I felt lighter. His little self lived in the moment, and I liked it. There was no chance I was a little myself, but I appreciated that he found so much freedom in it. He’d said before that he often went into the space when overwhelmed, but that sometimes he simply enjoyed it. I hoped like hell that today was one of those times.
We’d only just decided to give dating a go, but I was already down for the idea of being his soft place to land. The person he could trust to let the real world retreat and enter the world of pretend, which was his little space. The trust from him and the responsibility on me were burdens I wanted to bear.
“Is it…? Is it me, Daddy?”
I hated the hesitation in his voice, as if he couldn’t believe somebody would go out of their way for him. There might be some gaps in my dating education, but I’d be the best damn boyfriend Jasper ever had. He’d seemed skittish about exclusive dating, so I’d keep the wholeI’m your boyfriendto myself for now. I could wait to spring that on him later. Maybe after breakfast? He might need a full stomach for that one.
“Yep, it surely is.” I squeezed his fingers before reaching for the doorknob. “So tell me what you’re in the mood for so I can figure out how to make it happen.”
“French toast?”
“You’re not sure?”
“Yes, but you sure?” The first time I saw Jasper in his little space, I was surprised by his quietness. This time, it was his hesitation. Someone had dulled his shine when he was in this mode, and I’d be damned if I contributed to it.
“French toast it is, but first we both gotta take a shower.” Jasper looked like he was about to argue, but one look had him quieting back down. “And then I hope you’ll hang out with me today.”
“With you?”
“Yep, I haven’t had the full Daddy experience, and you’re the only one I want it with.”
“All of it? Really?”
“I surely do.”
As we talked, I led Jasper down the hallway to his bedroom and into the bathroom. I switched on the hot water and let it warm before I turned back to Jasper. He stood behind me with an expression I didn’t understand. There was confusion, but wonder too. What had those asshole Daddies done to make Jasper so unsure of himself?
“Sugar, you want to wash yourself, or will you let me do it?”
“You, Daddy. I want you.”
I shot Jasper a grateful smile. He was leaning into the moment, and I was damned if I’d let him regret it.
“Thank you for trusting me, sweetheart.”
He was too sweet to keep my hands off. I leaned down and brushed a soft kiss on his lips, and then again for another taste. Jasper pressed himself against me and returned my kiss. Our tongues twisted and twirled around each other. It was wanton but sweet too. And I’d take it every damn chance I got. But kissing Jasper wasn’t getting him clean or fed, and that felt like a Daddy thing to do. The selfish thing would be to put those things off just because I wanted to claim him.
With the water finally warm enough, I stripped us both down and ushered Jasper under the spray. Any thoughts I had about lingering were shut down when I heard his stomach rumbling. My first instinct had been the right one. He didn’t need someone who just wanted to fuck him. Well, we both knew that part was true enough.
Jasper deserved someone who wanted to put him first.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Jasper
