Hal thrust out his unicorn-emblazoned chest. “I’m a big boy. I can go by myself.”
So. Adorable.
“Or, you can come with me? I’m interested to get a look too.”
His smile in response was everything, and he even slipped his hand into mine as we set off to explore the goods. I wasdetermined to find something to buy for Hal as a souvenir of our first time together at the club, so as we passed each table, I kept an eye on his reactions. A club-wide event, there were many things not geared to daddies and mommies and littles, but far more than I expected.
Of course, leather dominated at least a third of the tables. Garments, bondage gear, quirts, and floggers. One craftsman was personalizing wooden paddles with names and sayings or other decorations. He had at least a dozen people crowded around him, but I was not the kind of daddy who liked impact play, physical punishments, or anything like that, so I was happy that Hal never slowed his steps in the vicinity.
A dungeon furniture purveyor had some home-sized pieces that a number of dominants seemed to like. In addition to the spanking bench and St. Andrew’s cross, that I could see over the shoppers’ heads, he had a whole catalogue on a side table and was busily taking orders.
Rarely spending much time in the part of the club, I was much more interested when I spotted a whole aisle geared to our kink.
Hal sucked in a breath and released my hand, darting over to the first booth, a jeweler. He held up his wrist and showed the craftsman. “I got this from you.”
“I remember. It was one of my favorites, and I was happy to have it get a good home.” They spoke for a few minutes, and Hal took a card to show his friends who might want something too. One after another, we admired the various items for sale. Divided dishes and sippy cups. Adult-sized diapers with all the adorableness that the bright, cheerful patterns could provide. Onesies and shorts and knee socks. Nursery furniture every bit as cute as anyone could imagine and the linens and towels to stock it.
At each stop, I pictured Hal wearing clothes, sleeping in the crib…sucking on the bottle or the paci… There was so much we didn’t know about one another yet, and I made mental notes of his comments, trying to fill in the blanks.
But when he saw the handmade bear stuffie wearing the rainbow sweater, Hal reached for his wallet. “I want this. It’s so cute!”
“It is adorable.” But I stilled his hand. “But I want to buy it for you. To remember our first evening here. together.”
At first, I thought he might protest, but then he let his hand fall. “Thank you. But even if I didn’t get him, I’d never forget tonight.
Chapter Nine
Hal
I was holding my unicorn, the one I named Prince Snugglebug, when August messaged me about going to Chained together. It was the first time he acknowledged I was little, although after seeing the onesie, he knew.
That felt like a big step. Without meeting someone at a club, it was difficult to pinpoint the best time to let him in on my “little” secret. It shouldn’t be a secret. There was nothing wrong with it. But in our society, people judged, and it could cause rifts, or, in the case of dating, violence.
Despite not going there just the two of us, and not intending to play, I was still excited to go. Chain had held an event that was basically the equivalent of sex club meets vendor fair. It had been a great opportunity to be in that space together and learn a bit about what we each liked without the pressure a play scene would hold. August had the best ideas.
And now, here I was, holding my new bear stuffie, Huggles, in one hand, Prince Snugglebug in my other, telling them my itinerary for the night. “I’m going to August’s house to eat dinner. It’ll be so much fun. Daddy’s going to cook.”
He never stayed August for long. I probably shouldn’t be calling him Daddy yet, or maybe ever. It wasn’t a conversation we’d had, but I couldn’t help but think of him like that in my head. From that very first day, he personified what a Daddy was to me.
“It’s gonna be no pressure.” I looked at my two stuffies and wondered how full my room was gonna get if he was already spoiling me this much.
“I need you to sit on the bed. Be good because I’m leaving.”
August offered to pick me up, but I told him I’d get there myself. He insisted I at least take a ride-share instead of the bus. I agreed. If I had replaced my tire, I would have driven, but that still wasn’t on the horizon.
The driver regaled me with stories of his kid’s dance competitions, including nationals that were coming up, and I got distracted from the surrounding scenery. He surprised me when he pulled up in front of a beautiful house in an older neighborhood.
“This is you,” he said.
I got out and thanked him.
The door opened before I was even on the steps.
“Your house is gorgeous.” I held out the box of pastries I had picked up earlier that day. “I brought dessert.”
“Thank you,” he said, kissing my cheek. Butterflies swarmed. It didn’t take much with him.
He took me on a tour of the house. It was old and had all the character intact. In some older homes I’d visited, they had completely modernized the interiors, with only exterior elements keeping their character. This was so much better. He had projects started here, there, and everywhere. It was like my apartment, in that way, just on a larger scale.
