Page 36 of Hiding From Laughter

I wasn’t sure if his good behavior wasbecause he didn’t know what he’d say or if he actually liked cuddling up andgetting his bottle, but he closed his eyes and relaxed as he sucked down hismilk. “I’m so glad you’re trying to make me happy. I’m glad I get to reward youlater.”

He gave a tiny wiggle, snuggling tighteragainst me and sucking faster to show me what a good boy he was. It was clearlya bid for more information, so I played along. “I can’t tell you too much oryou’ll guess my first reward. But you’re going to like it.”

Even with the mitts on where I had to feedhim.

“That’s the reward you’ve already earnedfrom being such a good boy.” Kissing the top of his head, I nuzzled against himas he continued to suck on his bottle. “You made me so happy when you werecoloring, but I’m sure you already saw how happy I was.”

Maybe…he’d been very focused on hispicture.

“And you made me very happy by looking socute.” He really did look adorable and we were definitely getting a few moreonesies. Ashton didn’t seem to mind them and I thought the way they pushed thediaper tighter against his body gave him a fun reason to wiggle. “Lots ofhappies for me, so lots of rewards for you.”

Yep, I wasn’t going to let him forget thedirect connection between relaxing into the little headspace and gettingrewards.

It wasn’t a bribe if it was for his owngood.

“The more happies…the more rewards.”Ashton’s little wiggle said he loved that logic even if the grown-up part ofhim knew I was manipulating him. “Silly rewards. Yummy rewards. Ticklyrewards.”

His blush said he was imagining some adultkinds of silly things, or maybe just how our first tickling scene had ended,and he made me wonder what was going through his head. “There are lots of waysI can have special fun with my boy.”

And he had an open-minded caretaker Dom whodidn’t have too many preconceived notions about how little time should look.

If Ashton never fully got into thatheadspace, it would be understandable. But whatever he was thinking was happy andrelaxed and he was having fun being so helpless. All that indicated a scene wecould do again, especially if I reinforced it with positive associations.

“Bubble baths can end in special fun.” Whatelse? “Bottle time can end in special fun.”

He’d already experienced that one so Ichuckled when he shivered. “Yes, that can be a lot of fun.”

“Naptimes can start with special fun.” We’dhave to try that over the weekend to see if it helped him get more sleep.Ashton seemed to think running on fumes was perfectly reasonable and he hadn’tgotten a lot of recharge time over the last couple of weeks.

Getting him to sit still on his own washard unless there was a book involved, but he’d been so distracted he hadn’tstarted reading anything new lately either.

“So far getting you dressed up and havingbottle time have been my favorite, but we’ll have to see what happens when it’stime to get into pajamas later.” Ashton’s happy sound as he sucked said heapproved of that plan. “I should probably find some enjoyable ways to help yourelax…if you’re a good boy, of course.”

And to make sure there wasn’t amiscommunication on that part, I shifted the bottle so I could hold it with mychin for a moment and gave the front of his diaper a pat. “Good boys get goodrewards.”

Yes, positive reinforcement was going to bean important part of our new special time together.

Chapter 11

Ashton

Cheater.

Cheater.

Cheater.

He made me wiggly.

He made me think of fun things.

He made me think about how happy he was.

He wasn’t Micha anymore or even Master…hewas…he was something naughtier…something sneakier…he was Michy.

Mikey.

Something.

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