Page 43 of Wishes and Research

Big, big hungry and I was going to need lots of energy for massage time.

Chapter 12

Fraser

Cut-up veggies to munch on, chicken strips, mac and cheese…yes, Paxton had been big hungry and now looked a bit like a very full tick.

“You had a dragon-sized appetite, cutie.” The teasing slipped out before I could think about the comparison.

“That’s what…” A yawn cut off his words and it took him a second to get back to his thoughts. “A man at the bakery said that. He said…he said I must have dragons in my family tree.”

Oh.

I tried not to react as I picked up our plates and took them over to the sink. Him being able to accuse me of lying later wasn’t my goal, so I responded truthfully even though I wasn’t sure how it’d come across. “I think that’s entirely possible, but you could be a mage. You have a magical touch for finding bugs.”

Another yawn said how tired Paxton was and his exhaustion probably played into how casually he responded. “I don’t know what I’d want to be, Daddy. But…but my mother said we had some disreputable relatives on our family tree. That…that would be fun.”

Interesting.

He was too tired to play tell me about your weird relatives, though.

“You’re going to have to tell me about them later.” Deciding the dishes from lunch could wait, I went back over to Paxton and took his hand. “Come on, little bug. Let’s go do massage time.”

Before he fell asleep at the table.

“I’m not tired, Daddy.” He frowned, looking around like he wasn’t sure why he’d said that. “I’m…I’m fine.”

Not letting my laughter out was one of the hardest things I’d ever done.

“I didn’t say you were tired.” Managing to look confused, I shrugged. “But Daddies need lots of sleep, so I might close my eyes after your massage. Is that okay?”

He wasn’t thinking clearly enough to see the trap, so I knew he was probably more tired than I’d realized. As he slowly nodded, it took him a few seconds to figure out the verbal part of his response. “You…you worked hard today.”

And so had he.

He’d also probably been up half the night looking up everything he could find on what being a little meant.

“Thank you.” Tugging his hand so he would get up, since he hadn’t figured out that step on his own, I finally got him to his feet. “Come on, little dragon.”

He pouted. “I’m gonna be a mage. I’m gonna magic bugs.”

We seemed to have magic bugs, so I wasn’t going to tell him he was wrong. “I think that’s a wonderful plan. You found very special bugs.”

And it seemed like he’d even gotten some of the fucking magic on camera.

Paxton cocked his head as I led him back through the house and upstairs. “I…my bugs are special. They poof.”

“I think that makes them very special.” Not arguing about how special they were seemed to confuse him because he just nodded slowly and frowned at me as I told him he was right. “You’re very smart.”

“I am.” Looking around slightly lost as we made it upstairs, he frowned again. “It’s okay to be confused, though.”

“It is.” But we were quickly getting to the point where confusion would lead to conversations. I’d thought we’d have more time for that but the old farts at the diner were stupid, Paxton was smart, and the bugs were disappearing like magic.

Yep, conversations could not be put off much longer.

“It’s okay to come up with answers on your own or to ask Daddy questions.” Kissing his head as we stopped by the bed, I pulled his T-shirt off. “We’ll think about that later, though.”

He wasn’t nearly awake enough for the dragons are real conversation…especially since that would lead to several other interesting topics.

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