Page 18 of Love Me, Daddy
And when Nathan had asked for a kiss, Loren would have done anything to fulfil his wish at that moment.
“Daddy?” A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. He glanced up to see Nathan stood near him, wringing his hands and stepping from foot to foot.
“What do you need, Nate?”
“Would you like a drink?”
Loren tilted his head, scrutinising Nathan as he turned the question over and over in his mind. There was an underlying meaning behind the words, but Loren wasn’t sure what they were. Not knowing where Nathan was going with the question had Loren thinking about the correct way to answer.
Being a boy didn’t necessarily stop Nathan from doing adult jobs, like helping with meals or making a drink, but Nathan had proved he enjoyed colouring and doing jigsaws, putting him on the lower age limit of being a boy. It was something they had not properly talked about, which Loren would have to rectify that evening.
Taking a chance, he went with his gut instinct. “Yes, please. A cup of tea would be great.”
The answering beam was enough of a reply, at least for the moment. Loren watched as Nathan sashayed to the counter, a bounce in his step, settling into his task. He tried to concentrate on the work he’d been completing but found himself watching Nathan’s movements instead.
When Nathan turned with a mug in his hand and began drifting towards Loren, his gaze on the mug, Loren saw the tip of his tongue peek out between his lips in concentration. He grinned and thanked Nathan when it was placed next to him.
“You’re welcome, Daddy.” Nathan twisted to leave the room, but Loren called him back. “Yes, Daddy?”
“Come here, sweet boy.”
Nathan returned to him without hesitation, and his heart felt full to bursting.
“I’d love to reward you.” Loren crooked a finger at Nathan, enticing him to come closer, which Nathan did. Loren reached a hand up to Nathan’s neck and pulled him in for a kiss. As their lips touched, Loren felt a fire begin in the pit of his stomach, which flamed higher when Nathan moaned into his mouth. Keeping it chaste was hard work, but Loren pulled away after a few minutes, keeping hold of Nathan’s neck until he opened his eyes and regained his balance.
“Thank you, Daddy,” Nathan whispered.
“You’re welcome. Now, go have fun while I get some more work done.”
Nathan grinned. “I will, Daddy.” He skipped to the doorway, pausing when Loren called his name again.
“You don’t have to call me Daddy all the time if you don’t want to, you know.” Loren had been curious about that since Nathan had started saying the word; it seemed to be in every sentence he spoke. He didn’t want Nathan to think he had to call him Daddy in every interaction. Loren watched as a flush tinted Nathan’s cheeks as he ducked his head and mumbled his response. “I didn’t hear you, Nate.”
Nathan inhaled and peered at Loren. “I love saying it, Daddy.”
Loren’s mouth curled up. “Okay, then.”
Nathan beamed and exited the kitchen. A few minutes later, Loren heard the TV, and he relaxed back into his seat. He was concerned Nathan accepted their…relationship…because Loren had helped him, and he didn’t want that to be the reason.
Turning back to his accounts, Loren got to work, promising himself they would have a discussion after their meal that evening.
****
Loren stirred the chicken together with the sauce, mentally creating bullet points of the things he needed to talk to Nathan about, a conversation they should have had yesterday. It wasn’t a conversation he’d had more than a few times so trying to cover everything was pointless, and some of it they would have to work out as they went along. If Nathan decided to stay. And there was the crux of the matter. Loren wanted Nathan to stay and be his boy, but he needed Nathan to want to stay.
He recalled his earlier conversation with Ben on the phone. Loren had called him to tell him about having found his boy, and, while they were overjoyed about it, Ben cautioned him about jumping in with both feet. He understood Ben’s reservations, but Loren needed to speak to Nathan before anything was agreed.
“Nate?”
A few seconds later, Nathan poked his head through the kitchen doorway. “Yes, Daddy?”
“Could you set the table, please?”
Nathan, wearing the same clothes Loren had dressed him in that morning, reached up for the plates and glasses and placed them on the table, then returned for cutlery.
Loren emptied the pan contents into a serving bowl and carried it to the table. “Thank you, Nate. Enjoy your food.” Loren spooned some of the chicken pasta onto Nathan’s plate, passing it to him, offering him the salad bowl as well.
“This looks and smells delicious. Thank you, Daddy.”
