Page 29 of Matteo's Mettle
Even though I know this is supposed to happen, it hurts my heart to hear him upset. But this is just another facet of the Daddy role and, while it’s not fun, I’ll do what Matt needs me to.
I spank him a little longer and, once he’s practically boneless and sobbing properly, I stop to rub gently over the heated flesh.
“That’s it, sweetheart. Let it out.” I pull him back up for a cuddle, holding him tightly as he cries into the crook of my neck. “You’re such a good boy for Daddy, Matty.”
He clutches at me and sobs harder. I’m not stupid enough to think that this is just about his conflicted feelings over not disclosing our relationship to his friends. He hasn’t had a Daddy in years, and I have my suspicions that his last long-term relationship wasn’t as balanced as it should have been. He’s been deprived of proper care and nurture for too long, and I can only hope that I’m starting to fill that void for him.
As he starts to calm, I kiss his temple. “Let’s get some lotion on that perfect ass of yours, get dressed and snuggle, yeah?”
Matt takes a shuddering breath before he nods. He’s quiet through the aftercare - contemplative and boneless. But the tension he was carrying is gone and he seems genuinely relaxed, so I’m convinced I made the right decision.
Once we’re in bed and he’s clinging to me like a spider monkey, he finally breaks his silence. “Thank you, Daddy,” he murmurs into my chest. I rub my hand up and down his back soothingly. “I needed that. More than I realized.”
“Mmm,” I acknowledge sleepily. “Did you wanna talk about it?”
“Not really,” he answers a few beats later. “I just…I…” A guttural sound of frustration travels up his chest and out of his throat. I wait, knowing that he’s struggling to express himself. “It’s been a while. A long while. I’ve always known that it helps me to work through my issues, in my own twisted way-”
“It’s not twisted,” I cut in, frowning. “It’s a proven technique. I mean, I’ve read a bunch about spanking therapy online, and heaps of people find that it’s useful to help process negative thoughts and emotions and stuff.”
There’s actually a whole lot of psychology behind it, which I found fascinating, but I don’t bother going into that with Matt. That would derail the conversation and I can’t risk that happening right now. Clearing my throat, I urge, “Anyway, you were saying?”
“I just didn’t think it was going to feel like that,” he admits. “Like…like I was drowning and finally coming up for air.”
I card my fingers through his hair. “You probably had more stress to work through than you thought,” I suggest slowly. “And maybe…maybe we need to talk about regular spankings to deal with that build up. Like…once a month?”
His index finger teases my nipple through the thin cotton of my t-shirt. “Could I still have sexy spankings, too?”
A smile stretches my face. That sounds much more enjoyable for both of us. “Of course, babe.”
* * *
“So, you met the friends, huh?” Cherie grins at me from across the table. We’re grabbing a bite to eat at a local café on our lunch breaks, which have miraculously aligned for once. She takes a delicate sip from her soda through the straw and then cocks her head. “Does this mean things are getting serious?”
Around us, there’s a general buzz of conversations. The café itself is small, but bustling. We’ve nabbed a booth in the back of the space, and there are two others along this same wall, and three matching booths on the opposite side of the café. In the space in the middle, there are a few small, round tables and chair settings that barely seat two people each. It’s busy enough that our conversation won’t carry.
“Things have felt pretty serious since the start,” I answer, scratching the back of my neck. “Which is new for me, I’ll admit.”
“It comes with the lifestyle.” There’s no teasing in her voice now. “Sure, there are some people who just enjoy the odd scene or two to scratch an itch, but most of us…” Bobbing her head from side to side, she searches for the best way to phrase her thoughts. “What we’re doing is being really quite vulnerable with each other, right? We get that our kinks aren’t exactly socially accepted, so to trust someone else to explore them with in depth is usually a serious thing.”
Having taken the opportunity while she spoke to bite down into my chicken sandwich, I chew and swallow while I nod. “Yeah, that all makes a lot of sense. I mean, it’s probably more acceptable for me, as a Daddy, to explore my kinks than for Matt, or even for you and Kate, but it’s still one of those taboo things.” I think of the chat I’ve been invited into (which I’ve had to mute because the guys talk a lot of shit) and smile. “But Matt’s friends have welcomed me into their group and that’s kinda’ nice. I mean, we’re all the same, y’know? So nothing’s really taboo with them. We can justbe.” Then I realize who I’m talking to, and add, “Which we get when we hang out with you and Kate, too.”
Cherie lifts her glass again, holding the straw in place between her index and middle fingers before she moves to wrap her bright red lips around it. “But it’s different because they’re Daddies and boys. They’re more relatable.”
“Well, Spencer’s bi -his last relationship was with a woman- but…yeah.” I frown down at my half-eaten meal. “It shouldn’t make a difference, but it’s still nice to talk to other men about this stuff.”
“Hon, I get it. I’m not hurt that you want to talk to other Daddies for their perspective, too.”
I really lucked out to have this woman as my best friend and I tell her so. “So, anyway,” I shift the subject back, away from the unusual exchange of warm and fuzzy feelings, “Matt asked me to set up a playdate for him, Ash and Kate. You in?”
“Kate would love that,” Cherie’s face falls, “but with my schedule so up in the air, I’ve given up on trying to make plans.”
“Seriously, you need to find another job.”
She pushes her plate away and folds her arms over the Formica tabletop, then drops her forehead on top of them. Her voice is muffled when she laments, “I’ve been applying formonths, London. Months, and not one interview.”
It’s rough seeing her like this, but I’d prefer her to vent her frustrations and reach out for help than bottle it all up inside. Unfortunately, I don’t know what help I can offer her. “I know you don’t have a lot of free time or personal time, but maybe you really should try to get your own business off the ground as a side hustle for now?” I suggest. “I still think there’s a niche market for clothes and accessories for littles who don’t fit the standard mold.” Kate and Matt are both great examples. “And I’d still happily be your partner in that sort of endeavor.” I just have no idea where to start to try and get something like that off the ground.
Cherie sighs heavily and sits up, toying with the corner of her paper napkin. “It’s a great idea in theory,” she says, “but think of all the startup costs.”
