Page 37 of Wishes and Research

“Then I think we’re going to need to do another experiment to see what you like.” Given how labor intensive his job was, I couldn’t imagine why he’d only had a half-assed massage before. “Food first, though.”

Then he could take a nap after I’d given him a massage and an orgasm.

“And a drink.” Not quite as big as he’d been before, Paxton looked earnest and stubborn. “You said I could pick out a drink too.”

Food was definitely his little spot.

“I did.” Kissing his forehead, I took his hand and started leading us back toward the trail. I knew it like I knew the back of my hand, so I only had to keep half my mind on it. “Do you remember the cooler I put in the car?”

Digging a bottle of water out of the side of my pack, I released his hand long enough to open it and hand it back to him. “Drink this first, but in the cooler, I have Gatorade, more water, some orange juice, and some lemonade.”

Paxton made a thoughtful hum as he started drinking the water. If he’d worked much longer without coming back to the real world, I’d have made him take a break, but he’d had plenty to drink before we’d started.

When he was done, he handed me back the empty bottle and frowned. “I don’t know. They all sound good.”

Definitely not the grown-up answer he would’ve given in the diner.

“If we were playing restaurant, what would you tell the waiter you wanted to drink?” My silly response had him snickering.

“I’d have told him to come back in a few minutes because I had to use the bathroom.” Still giggling like he was a kid who’d told a fart joke, he did a tiny potty dance wiggle. “I think I have to find a tree, Daddy.”

And I was Daddy again.

He bounced between using it and not, but I could see he was ready for Daddy to make the decisions.

“Then let’s get that taken care of before we get back on the trail.” My senses were better than a human’s and I knew there was no one around us, but he wouldn’t understand that. “Do you remember the important words?”

His enthusiastic nod said he didn’t have to guess what I meant. “Red and yellow. Stop and pause. Yes.”

“Good boy, little bug.” With that out of the way, I stepped closer and steered him toward a tree that would give him privacy if he wanted it. “Let’s get you all fixed up so you don’t pop.”

Instead of being embarrassed, he giggled. “I’m not a balloon, Daddy.”

“I don’t know.” Shaking my head, I gestured toward his groin. “Let’s not find out.”

That got me more silly laughter and he tried to turn around for a hug. “Still not a balloon.”

Still getting distracted.

“I think you are technically a big balloon with smaller ones inside of you.” That had Paxton going between snickering and trying to think through my statement logically.

He thought I was ridiculous but entertaining based on his reactions, and I was also highly distracting because he tried to turn around again. “But, Daddy, I’m—”

Going to pop, based on how he was wiggling.

“Around again, cutie.” He looked a bit like he’d been possessed as his face stayed focused on me and his body turned around. “Oh, no, that’s creepy. Head and body in the same direction, please.”

No.

That was a no and I didn’t care how flexible he was.

Thankfully, Paxton obeyed but he was back to laughing. “Found Daddy’s first red.”

He wasn’t wrong, so I nodded. “Yes, we did. That was an unexpected one too.”

Who knew my mother was right and I shouldn’t have watched that stupid horror movie as a kid.

“That happens. The internet said so.” Paxton shrugged and seemed like he was trying to look serious even though he was barely holding back giggles. “Sometimes that happens and it’s okay. We don’t know what will make us uncomfortable or sad until it happens.”

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