"I want you to know that I'm serious about changing. I've joined an AA group each week and I'm starting counseling. I think we're all going to go to a family therapist, but I'm working on myself right now."
"That's good," I say. I don't know what else to say. Seeing him, standing in this hallway, memories come back to me. Those years that I got yelled at, pushed, and smacked for not being the parent they expected me to be when I was just a child myself.
"I don't expect us to have a relationship tonight," he continues. "But I would like to try and rebuild whatever we can. Completely on your terms. I know that I did a lot of unforgivable things, but I would like us to get to know each other as the people we are now."
I nod. I can give him a chance. It might take a while for me to trust him and to work through what he did to me, but I can see that he means what he is saying. I want to be in my siblings' lives more than ten minutes five days a week. We don't hug or shake hands. He nods and offers the smallest smile before turning around and walking back to the kitchen.
"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes," he says. "We're having baked spaghetti and garlic bread."
Chapter Twenty-Two
"Daddy?"Orionlooksupat me with those big, brown eyes I can never say no to.
And dammit if he hasn't learned that, too.
"Yes, Orion?" I look up from the tablet in my hand to see my Boy standing in the kitchen. He's holding one of the snack pouches.
"I have?" The kitchen island is blocking the lower half of his body, but I know he's wearing only a diaper. He decided that his clothes were too much today and I figured it wasn't hurting anything to let him go with it. He's been slipping into his little Little side more often and a lot easier over the past few weeks. After our trip on Valentine's, I think that opened up a new level of trust between us. He trusted me to take care of him and not shy away. I still have his painting of us with all the sea creatures framed and hanging in his playroom.
"Only if you can bring Daddy a water."
"Okay!" I watch him waddle in the diaper over to me, water in one hand and a pouch of apple slices in the other. "Here go, Daddy."
"You are too cute," I say as I set the tablet down. Orion sits on the couch next to me and he opens his apple slices quietly. I let him eat a few before I break the silence. "Are you ready for tomorrow?"
"Yes!" His smile is contagious, his excitement palpable. We're going back to the club tomorrow, this time as a celebration of sorts. We have a lot to celebrate.
The owner of Shade Grown Coffee finally came to his senses and saw how much his nephew was trying to change. Austin says they received a load of complaints about the new policies and changes within the shop. The group that comes in on Thursdays sent in a combined complaint that they wanted Orion there to make their drinks. Orion was so proud of that message, he talked about it for a week after he got his old shift back. I love that my Boy has such a strong work ethic and takes pride in his work.
After all the complaints, the owner decided that Austin would be a much more suitable owner. Austin, for what it's worth, accepted the offer but had Remi sign off as well. Austin has taken a business class, but Remi, and myself, have the business degrees and experience. As the owner, Austin promoted Orion to assistant manager and gave him a pay raise. He’s also hired my company to run the books for him.
These positive changes allowed Orion to save up the money within a month to buy out his rent contract. He moved in with me officially two weeks ago. Best two weeks of my life.
"Are you excited to have a new friend coming too?" I ask right as Orion crunches down on an apple. His and Austin's co-worker, Tyler, is joining us at the club tomorrow. From what I gather, he's made a few comments to Austin and Orion that he's interested in the dynamic and wants to explore it. We're all going together to be there, to make sure he's able to experience it with people he can trust around him. Plus, Rachel says she has a Daddy friend that she thinks would make a good match.
"Are you enjoying those apples and Daddy should stop asking you questions?"
Orion laughs at this, but nods his head yes. I wrap my arm around his shoulders and pull him into my side. We sit like that until his snack pouch is empty. "Daddy?"
"Yes, honey?" I turn my head to look at him. He's slouched down on the couch so his head is resting on my shoulder. He smiles up at me with those pretty teeth and beautiful eyes. I don't understand how he can be equal parts adorable and hot at the same time.
"I love you."
"I love you, too." I close one eye, trying to figure out what he's about to ask. He has that glint in his eyes that says he's being extra sweet for a reason. "What do you want?"
There's silence and then Orion smiles. It's almost bedtime and I know he's going to be out fast after a long day of playing. Austin and Remi came over earlier and they played for hours, until Austin was ready for a nap. Orion, despite regressing to a younger mindset than Austin, doesn't take naps. He plays and plays until he crashes at bedtime. I love it because it means all the cuddles for me before bed.
"Can I make a mess?" he asks.
I glance down at his lap, but the diaper is thick enough it hides what I'm sure is an erection, if he's asking to make a mess. It's become a thing with him, which I'm not complaining about at all. He's discovered he loves coming first and then having me fuck him or make him come a second time in some way. He's explained it that the sensitivity he feels after coming and while I'm fucking him pushes him further into that sub headspace. He's always gone fully nonverbal afterward, but he communicates with soft touches and little sighs.
I know why he's asking for this today. We finally made the appointments at the clinic once the tax season was over and I could afford to take a weekday off. We got tested the day after the tax deadline and our results came back yesterday. We are both negative. The thought of fucking my Boy bare for the first time has me growing in my sweats.
"Go for it, Baby." I sit back on the couch and he grins, already reaching his hand down into his diaper. He has one of the flaps open so he has easier access. I love watching him get himself off as well. After only a few strokes and Orion moaning obscenely with his eyes closed, I reach over and pull the other tab, pulling the whole thing out from under his body. He opens his eyes in shock, but I discard the diaper and focus on the man in front of me.
His slit is glistening with precum already. His hand glides up and down quickly. I can feel my own cock straining against my pants, but I don't touch it. If I do, this is going to be over way too soon.
“Run upstairs, baby,” I direct him. I don’t have any lube down here and if we’re doing this, we’re going to do it right. He reacts immediately and I’m grateful that the curtain upstairs by his paint station is closed. The desk has seen plenty of play time. It’s white wood is now decorated with stains where paint was spilled or a brush rolled off the towel. Even one spot where the canvas Orion was painting on fell over and smeared. There was a bit of consoling needed after that incident because he thought it meant he broke my rule.
