When I realized I hadn’t been reading but watching Bear sleep for a while instead, I took my phone and started to research where to get some toys for him. Eventually I figured we could go on an Amazon shopping spree tomorrow. The idea of going to a bigger store to hunt for toys ourselves was fine, but I felt like it might overwhelm Bear much more easily right now.
Besides, at home he might be able to stay in or slip back into his little headspace if he felt like he needed it. Out there, I guessed he wouldn’t want to seem different in that way.
Eventually, I put my phone away and turned so I was facing Bear. I had a serious issue. I could see myself falling for him, given time. He was already so perfect in his submission and budding little exploration. I hadn’t thought being a Daddy Dom was for me, but Bear had given me a crash course in where I could stick my preconceived notions of my own identity.
Sighing, I pushed a lock of hair behind his ear and settled into my usual sleeping position, on my stomach with one arm under the pillow and one over it. I fell asleep easier than I had in ages, listening to Bear’s breathing and snuffling.
I woke up to Bear touching my skin, clearly going from one tattoo to another in his gentle exploration.
“What are you up to?” I murmured, not even bothering to open my eyes. His fingers froze, but before he could pull his hand away, I grabbed his arm. “I didn’t say you should stop.”
I heard a small giggle, and his touch became firmer than before.
He got braver and began to feel the texture of the stubble on my jaw. When he got to the corner of my mouth, I quickly made as if I was going to bite his hand. He shriek-giggled and when I opened my eyes, he was on his back, giggling like mad.
Little mode it was, then.
“Good morning, baby boy. How did you sleep?” I reached over to pet his hair and he stopped moving, pressing into the touch like a cat.
Once again it crossed my mind that he’d mentioned that there hadn’t been much physical affection in his childhood, and I could guess how Carl had been with him, too. Bear soaked in every little touch with this innate gratitude that both made me proud of being the one giving him the affection he sorely needed and had me hating on people who hadn’t been kind to him before.
“I slept good, Daddy.” He turned his head to make eye contact and his gaze lost part of the playfulness of his little-side. “I really am a little,” he whispered.
I leaned in to kiss his forehead. “Yes, you are.” I hoped he didn’t find anything wrong with that, but I was realistic enough to know it could take a bit of adjusting. Hell, I had some of my adjustments to do, still. “I guess that makes me a Daddy.”
He smiled slightly. “MyDaddy?” The hope in his gaze and voice almost did me in.
“Looks like that’s the direction we’re going, yes.” But I had to amend my words. “But we have a long way to go together. We can see where this goes, but no big expectations or promises yet, okay? It’s too easy to be swept away with something new, especially when this is new to both of us. Does that make sense?” I pushed back some of his hair again, and he pressed against my hand just like before.
He nodded. “I understand, Daddy.”
“That means no adult stuff either.” I patted his hip to make sure he knew what I meant.
He turned pink, sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, averted his gaze and nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay. If I feel like we get to that point, I’ll let you know. It will still be on your terms though, so don’t worry.” The last thing I wanted was to make him feel pressured into doing something physical with me.
He nodded again, but I caught a flash of something akin to confusion or disgruntlement anyway.
Before I could ask, he looked at me. “Can we have blueberry pancakes and bacon for breakfast, Daddy?”
His eyes were shining with enthusiasm and he was grinning again, and I couldn’t have told him no even if I’d wanted to.
“Absolutely. Let’s take care of bathroom stuff and meet in the kitchen, okay?”
He practically leaped out of bed. “Okay, Daddy!”
No honorific had ever sounded sweeter.
Bear
I really was a little. I wasn’t going to examine it too closely yet; instead, I chose to have breakfast with my Daddy—I still couldn’t believe the happy butterflies that burst into life inside my stomach every time I thought of Luke as my Daddy—and then we sat on the couch and ordered stuffies from Amazon.
“I don’t know which one to choose, Daddy!” I was whining and I knew it, but there just were too many amazing ones.
“How about you choose one and I choose another?” he said after we’d narrowed them down to a handful that were really cute.
I sighed. I guess I could do that.
