“Fine. I’ll do it myself.”
Kai reached below him, but Nolan grabbed his wrist. He pulled both hands above Kai’s head, holding him against the wall with just his hips.
“I see what’s happening. My baby boy wants to brat.”
“Is that okay” Kai asked a little breathlessly.
“You think you can handle the consequences?”
“I think so,” Kai said, biting his lip and grinding his hips into Nolan’s. Nolan swallowed a groan.
“If you want to play, we can play, but there’s limits,” he warned. Kai nodded. “I’ll tolerate disobedience but not disrespect. Tell me your safe word.”
“Onions. Wait, you never told me yours.” A wave of affection had Nolan pressing a light kiss on his mouth.Brat. Kai could pretend, but he was mostly just a sweetheart. Nolan was willing to let him figure it out himself though.
“It’s cantaloupe.”
“Cantaloupe,” Kai whispered to himself, like he was committing it to memory. “Got it.”
Nolan untangled them and set Kai back onto the stall floor.
“Alright, baby, let’s see what you got.” Nolan reached for the soap, scrubbing down his body to the astonished look on Kai’s face.
“Wha—?” He pointed to the erection he was still sporting.
“Oh, brats don’t get sexy fun time, baby.” Nolan closed his jaw with a soapy hand and dropped a kiss on his mouth. “But I want you to know you can change your mind at any time.”
“Fine. I can wash myself then.” Kai glared at him, grabbing the soap and scrubbing it across his body as Nolan rinsed off. Nolan saw his slight hesitation as he reached for his cock.
“Careful, sweetheart. Remember there will be a punishment for every transgression.” The threat seemed to work, because he kept his touch to what was strictly necessary to get clean. Nolan suppressed a smile. He was fairly sure he wouldn’t be as lucky for whatever else Kai had in store, but breaking that particular rule seemed like it wasn’t worth the risk.
Nolan exited the shower first, drying himself off and grabbing his discarded clothes to drop into the hamper.
“Hey, are you forgetting something?” he asked Kai as he brushed past him, motioning to his clothes scattered on the ground.
“I’ll do it after,” Kai said blithely.
“Okay.”That was one.When he followed him into the bedroom, Kai had thrown himself across the bed, his phone in his hand. Nolan got dressed, willing to see how this played out.
“I’m going to get dinner started. After you finish picking up those clothes, remember to pick up your backpack from the office.” No response.That was two.
An hour and a half later, Kai was at seven transgressions. The clothes were still on the ground, as was his backpack, and so was the new Lego set that had been Kai’s treat for meeting with Landon. He’d refused to answer the call to dinner and had refused to eat his brussels sprouts, which were still sitting on his plate at the table. He was also becoming increasingly riled by Nolan’s refusal to react to any of his shenanigans, but Nolan could tell he was getting close to the end of his tether. Nolan just had to wait him out.
And he would. It wasn’t lost on him that Kai, who had never shown any desire to brat in a significant way, had chosen the evening before Nolan was to drive him home for the first time todecide to try his hand. He was determined to win this battle of wills, because he knew a lot more was riding on it than at face value.
“Can I help you with something?” Nolan asked, walking into the room to see Kai on Nolan’s phone.
“I want to watch a movie.”
Nolan raised his eyebrows at him, and this time Kai’s shoulders drooped. It was the first sign of defeat.
“Will you please watch a movie with me, Daddy?”
“Sure, baby, why don’t you put something on for us.” Nolan took a seat on the couch, leaving some space between them asHow to Train Your Dragonappeared on the screen. Nolan tried not to show amusement at the choice, or at the slick way Kai inched closer until he was pressed into Nolan’s side. After a moment, Nolan lifted his arm and draped it around his shoulders without saying anything. Kai immediately fell against him as though he’d expected to be rejected. Nolan was fairly sure this was it. This was the moment that Kai either remembered that he preferred to be a good boy or he would double down on his brat, so he said nothing. He wasn’t going to make it easy on him or pretend that all was forgiven, but he wanted him just a little incentivized.
They sat in a silent stalemate.
Nolan felt the exact moment that Kai gave in, when he slumped low and then got to his feet.
