He makes his way over to the kitchen sink and stands there. Waiting. Swaying side to side. And waiting. Then it dawns on me that he’s waiting for me to help him, and I want to kick my own ass for not already jumping in.
“Here you go, Flower.” I turn on the water and test the temperature before squirting a little hand soap into his palms.“Okay, rub them together and get in between your digits to get all the germs off.”
Ben giggles at the word digits.
Once his hands are clean and dry, I sit him at the table before preparing our plates. Since I wasn’t sure what kind of Little Ben was, I didn’t stock up on supplies for tonight. I have a basket with some generic little-things, but nothing specific for him.
That needs to change.
I plate my food, then cut a slice of pizza into smaller pieces for Ben and plate them on a plastic yellow plate with bears on it. “Would you like something to drink? I have milk, water, and juice. I also have Sprite.” I usually don’t keep soda in the house, but I have it on hand when I get an upset stomach.
“Milk peas.”
I smile fondly at him and pour his milk into a sippy cup. If he doesn’t care for that type of cup, I can easily remove the lid. It matches the bear plate and is a see-through yellow with one bear on the side.
I take the plates to the table first. Ben is adorable as he waits patiently for me to bring the food over. It’s only been a few minutes, or I would have offered him some blocks or coloring books to keep him occupied.
Ben’s overalls, a charming shade of faded denim, and the bright red of his long-sleeved t-shirt are the perfect counterpoint to the room's soft hues. I find myself momentarily speechless, my gaze lingering on Ben’s easy smile and the playful crinkle at the corner of his eyes. He looks so utterly…Ben.
“You look pretty adorable, Flower,” I tell him as I set his plate in front of him. Ben giggles, a warm, rich sound that fills the room.
“Tanks.”
I’m not sure whether he’s thanking me for the compliment or for the food. Either way, I offer him a smile and kiss the top of his head before taking my seat next to him.
Picking up his slice of pizza, Ben swings his legs and bounces a little while taking a large bite. The noises he makes go straight to my dick. Ignoring the sudden growth, I pick up my pizza and enjoy the sight in front of me.
Setting our uniquely decorated cookies and a refill of milk on the coffee table, we settle onto the sofa, sinking into the plush cushions that I had so carefully arranged. Ben immediately snuggles into the fuzzy blanket, pulling it up to his chin and holding one side open for me. I climb in next to him after grabbing the remote.
“So, what sounds interesting? Something cheesy and dramatic, or something that’ll make us laugh until we cry?” I asked, handing Ben a cookie. The feeling of comfort settled between us.
As I scroll through the movie options, the cinnamon scent from the candles weave through the air, and I steal a glance at Ben. The fairy lights cast a gentle glow on his face, highlighting his genuine contentment. This was exactly what I’d hoped for – a quiet, shared space where we could simply be, surrounded by little tokens of affection and the promise of an evening filled with easy conversation and shared laughter. My chest blooms in warmth with each passing moment.
Ben's child-like voice cuts into my thoughts when he asks for Cinderella. “It's my fav-rit. I loves GusGus.”
I glance at the screen and realize I'd paused my scrolling and was staring at Ben.
"Cinderella?" I repeat his request, a pleased smile spreading across my face when Ben nods enthusiastically. I’d anticipated something more contemporary, perhaps a crowd-pleasing action flick or a laugh-out-loud comedy. But Cinderella? It isundeniably sweet, a gentle whisper of childhood wonder that feels perfectly in sync with the cozy, heartfelt atmosphere I’d so carefully crafted. “You got it,”
With a flick of my thumb, I select the classic animated fairy tale. As the familiar opening notes began to play, Ben settles against my side, his eyes already fixed on the screen, a small, happy sigh escaping him. The thought of choosing something that brings Ben such simple, unadulterated joy sends a fresh wave of warmth through me.
The movie plays a familiar tapestry of magic and melody. I find myself stealing glances at Ben, who is completely engrossed, his head tilted slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
I lean over and picked up another cookie, offering it to Ben. He gives me a smile and snuggles in closer under the blanket while birds and mice help Cinderella make a beautiful pink gown with ruffles and found beads.
As the final credits roll, casting long shadows across the room, Ben stretches with a contented groan. “That was perfect, Jason,” he says, his voice still carrying that sweet, childlike tone, but he’s clearly out of little-space. He turns to face me, the earlier blush on his cheeks now a soft glow from the fairy lights. “Honestly, this whole night has been…I don’t even know. Amazing. Thank you.” The sincerity in his voice and the genuine appreciation he radiates make my heart swell.
This quiet, comfortable understanding, this shared laughter and gentle affection, is exactly the kind of beginning I’d dreamed of.
Chapter Fourteen
__________
Ben
The wind gently rocking the van, like a lullaby, is the first thing to truly register as I wake from my slumber. Buried in a pile of warm blankets, reminding me of the lingering warmth of Jason’s embrace last night. A comforting weight against my skin. I can still feel the ghost of Jason’s hand stroking my hair, the soft murmur of his voice promising me the world.
It’s a little frightening how close we’ve become in such a short time, but so far we’re on the same page. The sincerity in his voice has me believing every word he tells me.
