Page 38 of Spencer's Satisfaction
“Ugh. Fucking Chance,” I love my best friend, but sometimes I wish he’d keep his nose out of things. He can be a bit melodramatic and make mountains out of mole hills. For a guy who seems shy, he certainly likes to stir the pot.
London rolls his eyes. “He said Tony was already ass over tit when you met.” He breathes heavily as we start to make our way up a hill. Ahead of us, Josh is already cresting the top. “So, just be careful that he’s not pushing himself out of his comfort zone to keep you happy.”
“Fuck…” I pant, “you. He’s…not.” This is my least favorite part of our route, and I can barely breathe enough to tell London how wrong he is. My calves burn as we hit the steep incline at the midway point of the hill.
By unspoken agreement, we table the subject until we’ve reached the top of the hill. When we get there, Josh is leaning against a tree in the park to our right. It’s the same park where Charlie and Asher got married last year, and further into the area there’s a spot overlooking the city. On a clear day, you can see mountains in the distance.
“You two slackers need to pick up the pace,” Josh taunts as we slow our pace to meet him. He shakes his head with a teasing grin. “Letting a boy like me whoop your asses. Disgraceful.”
“I am not ashamed to be outrun by anyone, least of all you,” I tell him as I catch my breath. “The fact I can manage to kind of keep up with you at all is a miracle.” I turn to face London again and wait as he wipes sweat from his forehead and face. “And I swear, I’m letting Tony set the pace for our scenes. I mean, he’s twenty-eight. He knows his own limits. I’m trusting that he will safe word if it’s not working for him, and I’ll respect that.”
With his hands up in surrender, London nods. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that you wouldn’t. I was just…” he flounders for an explanation.
“Looking out for a Little, I get it.” I let him off the hook because Idoget it. He’s a good guy, and if Chance has been filling his head with embellished stories of Tony’sfanboying, I can’t really blame him for his concern.
Josh swings his dark brown gaze between us, arching an eyebrow. “Well,” he draws the word out, “sounds like you two have kissed and made up. Are we okay to keep going? I’d like to make it home sometime today?”
“Shut up, brat,” I laugh, stretching out my legs and giving myself a quick shake. I jump up and down to get the blood flowing, “now let’s get going before you earn yourself some corner time.”
I take off at a sprint that I know I won’t be able to keep up, Josh’s laughter at my back.
For the first time in a long time, I’m genuinely invigorated and looking forward to what lies ahead.
* * *
Excitement simmers in my veins today. It’s a Sunday, and Tony and I are going to attempt our first real scenes as Daddy and Boy when he finishes work for the afternoon. We’ve talked through our expectations and rules, gone back over safe words, and have decided on easing into our evening with some matchbox cars, coloring, and, if he gets little enough, stuffies.
But, when I pull up outside the diner and I’m greeted by his red, puffy eyes, my excitement is overridden by concern. I’m out of the driver’s seat and wrapping him in a hug on the sidewalk before he can even open the car door.
“What happened?” I ask him, not unaware of how he’s clinging to me.
“Just…just a rough shift, that’s all.” He sounds exhausted and has obviously reached breaking point. It hurts me to see him this way, and all I want to do is storm into that diner and tear into whoever’s responsible.
But I don’t do that. Instead, I open the car door and gently usher him into the passenger seat, then lean over to clasp his seatbelt for him.
His lips twitch into the ghost of a smile. “Thanks, Daddy.”
I let him relax on the drive back to my place and after he greets Frank, he seems more his usual self, if somewhat subdued.
“If you’d rather leave our plans for another night…” I start to offer, but he holds up a hand and shakes his head.
“I think I need it more now, to be honest,” he says. “But, um, could we…could we do something different than we were going to? Same rules, but…um, never mind.”
Stepping into his personal space, I lift his chin gently. “Tell me what you want, sweetheart.”
“Can you, um, dress me and then, if it’s okay with you, give me a bottle and a binky and just…just cuddle with me? Actually, no, that’s boring and stupid, so-”
“Anthony,” he stops at my tone, big, wet brown eyes blinking up at me. “It’s not boring or stupid to want comfort after a shitty day. I’m proud of you for knowing what will help you, and I’m honored that you’ve asked me.”
My poor boy sniffles a little and nods, and I take him by the hand to lead him upstairs. I take him into what was once a guest room but was converted into a nursery years ago.
It’s equipped with an adult sized change table, a sturdy set of dresser drawers, a twin bed with removable side rails, and a toy chest. Tony had been amazed the first time I showed him this room, and I’ve since decorated it to his tastes and in his favorite colors. I’m glad for having done so now, because it seems to help relax him some more.
“Arms up, angel,” I instruct, and then help pull his shirt over his head. Then I help him with his pants and underwear, until he’s standing naked in front of me. “Traffic light?” I prompt.
“Green,” he says quietly, but without hesitation.
I have him hold my hand as I help him up the painted timber steps at the base of the oversized change table, then guide him to lie back onto its padded surface.
