Page 58 of Forever Ink

“I know,” I said rubbing our noses together. “But I just want to protect you.”

“You do Daddy, every day. You make me feel so safe and loved, and I don’t know how to describe how amazing it feels. But it’s time I stood up to her. I need to be strong for myself—for us.”

“You already are, boy. You are the strongest man I know,” I murmured.

Rhys’s hands cupped my cheeks. His smile was soft, and when he looked at me like that I would give him anything in the world. “Then let me do this.”

I pulled Rhys close, kissing his hair, his face, breathing in his smell, his weight against me steadying my thoughts. “Okay, baby. I’m still going to worry though.”

“Of course you are. That’s what good boyfriends do.”

“Fiancés,” I said, smiling, and getting a huge grin in return.

“Fiancé. My Simon, the best daddy bear to daddy ever,” Rhys giggled quietly.

“All right, no need to butter me up. Come on, let’s get home. I have some ink to design.” Rhys slid from my lap, but not before pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “Love you.”

“Ditto, baby bear.”

* * *

Stepping into the flat I let out a relieved breath. “Remember to hang your coat up, baby bear, and shoes off.”

Rhys dumped his bag on the floor and quickly untied his laces. He slipped off his sneakers and placed them in the shoe cubby. “Can I go play with my new pencils, Daddy?” Rhys looked up hopefully.

“You need some baby bear time?” We’d not had much time for Rhys to regress while away, and being in a busy, crowded house he hadn’t been able to let himself really let go. Now we were home, I could see he was itching to get some little time.

“Yes, please.”

“All right, sweetheart. First we need to get our gear packed away and have some lunch, then you can get your colouring books out and we can spend the afternoon relaxing.”

Rhys looked up at me from where he sat pulling his shoes off and pouted. “Poop.”

“Come on, faster we get this done sooner you can play.” Rhys jumped up, grabbing his bag before turning to bolt down the hall.“Rhys, no running.”

“Not running, sliding.” Ever since Rhys had realised he could do a sock slide from our tiny sitting room to the bedroom door he’d been a terror, and not even a stubbed toe had stopped him.

“Rhys.” I pinched the bridge of my nose as Rhys let out a muttered curse at the door frame. Sliding my own boots off, I hung Rhys’s scarf, which had found its way on the floor.

Grabbing our other bags, I made to follow Rhys. I’d unpack our stuff once I got us some lunch and Rhys settled down. I stopped at the bedroom door and blinked. Rhys’s duffle bag lay on the floor, its contents spread out like an explosion of fabric had happened. Mr Ted, Mr Huff and my old bear all sat on the bed while Rhys continued to pull things from his bag.

“Baby bear, what did we say about putting our clothes away neatly?”

Rhys didn’t turn from where he was pulling clothes out of his bag. “Daddy, this is an emergency. We have a missing party member.”

I looked over at the bears on the bed, “We have them all. Mr Ted. Mr Huff, and big red.”

Rhys let out a small huff. “Mr Big, Daddy. His name is Mr Big. And it’s not a stuffie missing, it’s Pop.”

“Your pacifier?”

The look Rhys gave me right then was an I cannot believe you’re asking me that. “Yes. Pop, my pop. The first one you gave me.”

“I know who Pop is, baby bear. Don’t panic, love. I’m certain I packed him in my bag.” I moved over to the bed, dropping the two bags down. The bag that held the majority of our clothes I didn’t open. Instead I pulled open my old canvas knapsack that had the bear tags hanging from one of the buckles.

“You say don’t panic, but panic is exactly what we need right now.” Rhys stomped his socked foot down.

“Calm your butt, baby bear. Daddy’s going to find him,” I said. I was trying very hard to keep a stern face, but stompy Rhys was all kinds of adorable.

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