Standing next to the couch, James held out his hand.
Jacob allowed the boy to pull him up and was more than a little impressed by the strength that James showed. He must have shown his surprise as James looked quite pleased with himself.
“You like that?” James asked as Jacob stared down at him.
There were only a few inches of height difference. But over the last year, James had filled out. Widened. Bulked up. Being long and lean himself, Jacob found James’s muscles sexy. Not that he planned to act on his attraction. He’d promised. “I do.” He still needed to be honest. To show James that he never needed to change himself.
James’s eyes widened. “Really?”
He licked his lips again. Damn, he wanted to kiss the boy. That wasn’t the relationship they had though. They weren’t boyfriends. Jacob was just being a safe person for James. “I like your muscles. They show all the hard work you’ve put into your training.”
“I thought you’d prefer a slimmer boy. You know, someone that was smaller than you.”
“Baby.” Jacob couldn’t stop using the pet name. He needed to. Jacob didn’t want to send mixed messages to the boy. James wasn’t his boyfriend. Wouldn’t be his boyfriend. Jacob grabbed the back of James’s neck and squeezed. “What did I tell you about assuming?” There were a ton of assumptions in James’s text questions.
James sighed. “Every Daddy and boy relationship is unique and geared toward that specific couple. What works for one couple might not for another.”
“Exactly,” Jacob praised. He was pleased that James recited that statement almost word for word. “You are perfect just the way you are. The right partner for you would never want you to change.”
James scowled. “The right partner.”
“Whether you decide to explore your interests or not,” Jacob clarified. “Your partner should be proud of you and the way you look.”
Slowly James nodded. “Right.”
Jacob released the boy. “You have the afternoon shift at the coffee shop?”
That question brought a smile to James’s face. “You really do keep up with my schedule.”
He was going to ignore that. The answer was obvious. “Let me clean up and I’ll make us breakfast. You can use the bathroom around the corner. There are extra toothbrushes under the sink.” Jacob walked James toward the open bathroom door.
“Of course you have extra toothbrushes. That is such a Daddy thing,” James muttered.
Jacob chuckled. “If you say so. I just happen to buy them in bulk.”
“Okay.” James rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say.”
The boy needed a butt smack and Jacob’s hand itched to serve it but he resisted. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
Heading down the other hall, Jacob moved to the back of the house. He passed the open door to his office and the playroom. He considered calling James over to show him the newly decorated space but the bathroom door closed.
Another time.
It would be better if James actually agreed to exploring age regression before he learned about the playroom. Jacob didn’t want to pressure him. He went about taking care of his morning routine, skipping a shower until later. By the time he was refreshed, Jacob was ready for breakfast himself. He had an appointment to meet with the contractor that Jesse had lined up for the affordable housing project. Jacob was excited to get another opinion.
Leaving his room, Jacob strolled down the hall but stopped as he spotted James hovering just inside the playroom.
Damn! He should have closed the door.
Jacob stepped into the room behind the boy. He placed his hands gently on James’s shoulders as the boy stood frozen. “It’s just a room,” Jacob said gently. “There is no pressure. You never have to come inside here again.”
James turned toward him. “I didn’t know you had this here.”
“It’s new,” he admitted. “Something that I just started working on.” James didn’t have to know it was all because of him.
“Because of me?” James asked point-blank.
Jacob pressed his lips together. He didn’t want to lie.
