Over the last week, I find myself wishing I knew this about him sooner. I’d like to think that perhaps I’d have made sure he wasn’t alone as often as I suspect he had been.
He’s been here for less than twenty-four hours. Already, it looks like there’s a weight off his shoulders. He hasn’t once taken out his phone, or even wanted to turn it on. When I woke up this morning and found him curled in a blanket on the couch with his tablet in hand, the smile he gave me was… beautiful.
How had I never noticed before? Maybe he’s never smiled at me like that. Has he smiled at anyone like that before?
The selfish, possessive part of me hopes that the smile he gives me is for me alone.
I pause at the back of the couch and lean down to kiss the side of his head. Felton gives me a shy smile. “Morning,” I say.
His answer is just as shy as his smile. It’s made even more adorable because of his deep voice. A voice like that isn’t meant to sound shy, so it’s ridiculously adorable when it does.
“Did you get something to eat?”
Felton shakes his head.
I set him up in the guest room that I’ve had him in periodically. The one where he’d been gang fucked and came like a stallion. Twice.
That wasn’t at all hot and burned into my memories.
The thing is, I know he’s going to have to move. I have two guest rooms. One I have dedicated to my parents alone. The second, the one I’ve used for Felton, is for anyone else.
But given the option of who’s going to be in my house, the only one I’d like to share a bed with is Felton. I haven’t broached this subject though. In hindsight, it was kind of silly to set him up in the guest room. I just don’t want to put pressure on him.
“I’ll make breakfast.”
“Do you want me to help?” he asks.
I kiss his head again. “No. Relax, okay? We’ll get a workout in after we eat.”
Felton smiles. It’s remarkable how much less stressed he looks than he had last night when I intercepted a call from his father. Turning his phone off entirely must help. Maybe knowing he’s here and safe, somewhere that his father doesn’t have access to him, helps.
As I prepare something to eat, I consider the problem. While I’m not an expert in any kind of mental states, I have a feeling that most of Felton’s biggest obstacles derive from his father. The way he’s been treated and raised to think of himself.
By eliminating his father as a force in his life, I can likely mitigate what’s going on now. I can make sure that his future is as stress free as possible while also working on his confidence and helping him develop a clear view of himself.
This doesn’t help the past damage. The lasting scars. How do I help him with that?
It isn’t until after I prepare a couple bowls of congee and steamed bao buns that I realize this is probably not the breakfastFelton had in mind. I quickly fry up a couple eggs and dig out some sausage links too. Just in case.
I should probably run to the grocery store today to make sure I have the kinds of foods Felton likes.
When I bring in a tray loaded with breakfast, his eyes light up. “I can come out there,” he says, turning off his tablet and setting it aside.
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “I eat here sometimes.”
I sit a little closer than necessary because I enjoy the feeling of him against me, but not so close that it makes eating difficult.
“Is it oatmeal?” Felton asks when I hand him the bowl of congee.
It kind of looks like oatmeal, but whiter. And soupier, depending on who prepared it. “Rice porridge,” I tell him. “It’s more savory than sweet.” I have a few options for garnishes and to change the flavor. It’s considered a plain dish until you add to it.
“These are steamed buns. Again, with a savory filling. But I also made you some eggs and sausage in case these aren’t to your palate.”
Felton looks at me and I swear his eyes sparkle. “You didn’t need to do that. I’m not a picky eater and this smells amazing.”
I gently bump my shoulder into his arm. “Eat.”
He bows his head and does as he’s told. I watch him to gauge whether he likes what he’s eating. I’m amused when he adds the eggs and sausage to the congee as opposed to the other options. But his favorite seems to be the steamed buns.
