Page 48 of Imperfect Skin

“Hey, I’m not judging you. I’m just explaining what I see. With your Middle space, you get to regress back to an age before all the bad shit happened. But also, you can act out, be a brat, or sit and play video games and watch Lord of the Rings for the millionth time.”

“Hobbit,” I interjected, as I started to fiddle with the end of my beard.

I looked up when I heard Callum give an amused huff.

“As I was saying, you can act out or just enjoy yourself and know that I’ll be there looking out for you. But I think me being your Daddy extends past when you’re in your Middle space.”

I watched his nimble fingers as he diced the onions and thought about what he’d said. “What do you mean, exactly?”

“Well, for starters, making sure you eat better meals and sleep, being there to talk to or yell at when your head gets noisy, and helping tame those thorns of yours. While we’re on the subject, I will have one rule. I have no problem giving you pain when you ask or if you need it, but I won’t do it if I think you’re punishing yourself for something that you ought not be blaming yourself for. We’ll find ways to work through that, but I won’t beat your arse bloody because you feel responsible for your mum’s death.”

“That’s—” I shut my mouth at the stern look Cal gave me.

“It’s exactly what you’re doing. We don’t lie to each other. That is the fastest way for a relationship to crash and burn. I want to trust you, lamb, but you have to trust me too. Trust what I do is right for you.”

“I do.” I shocked myself with how honest that felt to say. I did trust Cal. But I wasn’t sure I trusted myself. “But if I ask you for pain, how will you know why I want it?”

“Lamb, I’ve been working alongside you at the studio for years now. I can read your body language like a bloody Barbara Cartland novel.”

“Who’s Barbara Cartland?”

The look Cal gave me sent me off into cackles. “Ask my mum, she’ll give you a couple to read. Right now, though, it seems like a sleep should be on the cards. Your eyes look like a damn bloodhound’s. You need to have a kip and I need to get this stew finished.”

“So, what kind of reward do I get if I do go nap?” Yeah, I was fishing. Spending time in my Middle space had given me a boost, but now I wanted something more, even if I was feeling a little bit tired—which I wasn’t going to admit to. Couldn’t let Daddy Cal get too smug.

“I’ll make you a deal. You have a nap and eat your dinner, and I might have some nasty little clamps that would look gorgeous attached to your balls while I fuck you.” Cal’s voice dipped lower. “They’ve got a real bite to them.”

Oh, dear god. The blood rushed to my cock so fast it felt like I was going to pass out. I slid off the stool in such a hurry I didn’t even notice the sting in my arse, and made for the sitting room. “Going to nap now.”

I could hear Cal laughing as I flopped onto the sofa. Oscar was still where I’d left him, so I pulled him against me and curled up, smiling at the seed of hope that had taken root in my heart.

Sixteen

CALLUM

Watching Mouse eye the turnips in his stew like they were bombs about to blow up in his face was way too amusing. He and Alice thought I didn’t notice their little game of veggie-swapping when Mouse would actually stop for an hour and sit and have dinner with us. I decided to take mercy on the poor man.

“Lamb, I’m still going to fuck you tonight regardless of whether you eat your turnips or not, but I would love it if you tried one. They cooked for ages in the stew, so they’re nice and tender.”

Mouse eyed the offending vegetables before skewering one with his fork and taking a bite. The way his face screwed up as he chewed was a new kind of adorable, though it wouldn’t be worth my balls being yanked off to mention it.

“Okay so they’re not as bad as Brussels sprouts, but I’m still not sold on them.” He scooped up a fluffy suet dumpling, grinning. “These, on the other hand, are amazing.”

“Ever tried them in light treacle?”

His eyes glazed over at the thought. “No, but now I want them.” He scooped up another forkful of stew. “Apart from your incessant need to put vegetables in everything, this is bloody amazing.”

I chuckled, digging into my own meal. “I’ll put it on the list.”

He cocked his head, reminding me very much of his namesake—an inquisitive mouse. “What list?”

I set my fork down and focused on Mouse. “Well, I thought we should have a reward list and a punishment list. Pick some things like special foods or scenes you’d really like to try and add them to the reward list.”

Mouse’s eyes lit up. This seemed to be the right track to take with him. He’d always responded well to praise at work, especially when he’d been struggling with something, so it should be easy to incorporate it into our day to day.

“You really meant it when you said being my Daddy wasn’t just about scenes or when I’m in my Middle space.” He sounded surprised but not upset by the idea.

“I did. I think that this will work well for us, and it’s something we can also work around when Alice is here.”

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