Page 1 of Pretty in Pink

Prologue

Ford

“Nope; can’t do it,” I muttered as I pulled into a gas station parking lot. It was the third time I’d stopped already. My drive should have taken around twenty five minutes, but I was already an hour in, and still several miles from my destination.

But that was nothing compared to the time it took me to decide to make the drive in the first place. It had been months since the notion first entered my mind. And it all started with an internet search.

Actually, it wasn’t even a search; it was an accidental discovery. Until recently, my son Henley lived at home with me. He shared my space and also my computer. He wasn’t the best at clearing his browser history, so I accidentally ran across several things; blogs, internet searches, online stores. All of which highlighted his interest in age play.

At first, I wasn’t even sure what those words meant. But after stumbling across the articles and information he’d left pulled up, I gained a better understanding of the lifestyle, and why Henley was drawn to it.

My son was a bit nervous and unsure by nature. He craved a guiding hand and kind spirit to help him through life; someone who would make him feel cared for and protected, and could nurture his playful little side. Henley found that person in his Daddy Amir.

Amir was everything I hoped Henley would someday find. He was protective, honest, and loyal in both his professional life as a police officer, and as a partner to my son. It was a pleasure to watch him care for Henley, both in everyday life and during his ‘little time’. I had only seen those moments on a few occasions, but they were beautiful. I saw Henley’s playful spirit shine through while Amir supported and loved him - every part of him.

Watching their interactions (along with the extended internet searches) stirred something within me; a longing for the type of connection they shared. The happiest times in my life were spent caring for Henley; supporting him and watching him grow into a wonderful young man. If it weren’t for witnessing his and Amir’s relationship, I may have thought my desire was to father another child. But I felt way too fucking old for that. I was forty-three and the thought of starting over with a newborn gave me a headache.

Besides, I now understood I didn’t want to be a father again. What I actually wanted was to be aDaddy. I wanted to care for my special someone in a special way; to meet their needs how only a Daddy could. I wanted to give snuggles and advice. I wanted to prepare dinners and warm baths, and buy fun toys for playtime.

Once the realization sunk in, it was relentless. It became a persistent thought that demanded attention; an itch that desperately needed to be scratched. One evening when Henley and Amir were visiting, my son fell asleep on the couch. Amir and I were sharing random conversations when I looked him in the eyes and blurted out, “I think I’m a Daddy.”

The words surprised me; not just because of the way they flew out of my mouth, but the fact I saidI aminstead ofI want to be.Maybe deep down and subconsciously I already knew. The words didn’t seem to shock Amir, though; he simply smiled and nodded.

With that, the floodgates opened. I told him all about the things I was feeling, and what exactly I was interested in. It wasn’t awkward at all; Amir was kind and easy to talk to. I also knew without a doubt that he was a permanent part of my son’s life, and that made him my family.

Amirdidappear somewhat surprised when I told him about my sexuality. I’d been “out” as bisexual for over a decade. It wasn’t something I tried to hide, but it also wasn’t something that came up in conversation often. Plus, I had a son, so I could see why he’d assume I was straight.

But, I had been with both men and women in the past, though I hadn’t been with anyone for quite some time. And when I did, it was more of a fling or hookup. I hadn’t been in a real relationship intwodecades. My attention had been on Henley and my career instead.

When Amir asked me how I envisioned my little, I answered with: playful, loyal, and a little sassy. I’d been blessed with a son who was sweet as pie, which made raising him a breeze. But when it came to my little, I craved a touch of spice. Gender didn’t matter to me. What I craved was connection. I wanted to guide and care. And I needed to be needed.

Amir told me about a gay fetish club on the far side of town that hosted ‘open nights’ once a month. He said he’d visited on a few occasions, long before he met Henley. The club was open to men who were looking to explore the lifestyle, but weren’t ready to apply for membership.

All they had to do was go online, fill out a questionnaire and waiver, pay a fee, and that entitled them to one night access to dip their toes into the water, so to speak. It was a great opportunity for anyone who was in search of a partner for playtime, sexual encounters, or relationships. Though everyone may be looking for something different,nobodywould judge. He said it would be a good chance for me to meet some new people and experience the lifestyle firsthand.

It was a great idea in theory, but in practice, I was struggling. Because there I was, sitting in my third gas station parking lot, questioning my ability to make the rest of the drive. I wanted to. Oh, how I wanted to.So what’s the problem?I wasn’t a shy person. I could talk to anyone. I knew what I wanted, and I was excited to experience this new world.

Maybethatwas the problem; I had high hopes and expectations, so they could come crashing down hard. What if I finally took the leap, only to fall? What if I put myself out there, but no one was interested? If I didn’t go, I could keep the fantasy alive without the fear of rejection.

But a fantasy is all it would ever be. Without taking the risk, there would be no reward. A little wasn’t going to just fall in my lap while I sat at home. I’d waited forty three years to figure out what I was missing, and I wasn’t going to miss out on a moment more. I took a deep breath and shifted into reverse.I can do this.

Chapter One

Ford

I made it this far; I can’t punk out now.I took a few deep breaths and stepped out of my truck, where I was parked in the lot in front of The Playground, the club Amir told me about. If I didn’t know what it held inside, I’d think it was any other building in the strip of businesses that surrounded it. It was unassuming, with no flashing signs, bright lights, or anything else to draw attention to it.

“First time?” a deep voice asked from behind me. I turned towards the sound to find a man who was several inches taller than my five foot eleven inch frame.

“Is it that obvious?”

“I had that nervous look once; pretty sure we all have,” he answered with a kind smile, helping to settle my anxiety. “But trust me; get settled in, and those nerves all disappear. But you gotta get in there.” It was as if he heard my unspoken struggles, and was giving me the push I needed. I had no doubt in my mind he was a Daddy…or Dom. Whichever he was, he was a good one, because when he clapped my shoulder and motioned with his head for me to follow him, I did so without question.

Just inside the entrance was an employee of the club. He nodded his head towards the man, who must have been a known regular, but held up his hand to stop me. I showed him the barcode on my phone that showed I’d filled out the necessary paperwork and paid my fee, and he gave me the nod to continue on. I once again followed the man, who was kindly waiting for me.

We entered through a windowless door and stepped into a room full of lockers. “You’ll need to leave your phone here,” the man explained, “They’re not allowed inside the club.” I’d read that information online, and it made sense; that way nobody would have to worry about unsolicited photos.

I nodded and slipped my cell phone out of my pocket before placing it into an open locker. I noticed that none of them had locks on them; the foundation of this whole place was trust, which also brought me some peace.

---