Page 84 of Learning to Change

“Does that sound reasonable?” Hmm. “Okay, Joel reasonable not us reasonable.”

Those were two very different standards.

Dean’s snicker said he realized that too. “Yes, I think that sounds Joel reasonable and like something that he’ll like.”

“Oh yeah.” He was more than ready to be spankable. “I think we need to work through a bigger limits and interests list later this week. What do you think about doing it this weekend after we’ve had a chance to talk to him about the age play stuff?”

There was only so long we could talk around that without it getting to be ridiculous. Dean knew it too and amazingly enough, he managed to hold back most of his drama. “I think that’s a good idea.”

It was slightly painful for him to say, but it wasn’t too difficult.

“But one thing at a time.” So he could put that off for a while yet. “Dinner. Playtime. Acknowledge he’s a little and you’re Daddy.”

I thought we’d gotten past the hard part, but Dean had a light bulb moment about a whole new worry. His eyes flashed with something and he frowned before starting to nibble at his lower lip. I gave him about five seconds, but when nothing came out, I raised one eyebrow. “Let’s hear it. No hiding a new worry.”

He didn’t even bother trying, thank fuck.

“You…you don’t mind that I’d be Daddy? It’s not something we really talked about and we were co-Doms before.” He paused, maybe waiting for me to start worrying too, but I just shook my head.

“No, you’re Daddy. That caretaking type of domination comes naturally to you and it’s not even something you always notice you’re doing.” The more I thought about it, the more I realized they’d been falling into that dynamic for a while.

“I’m something else, but not that.” And while I didn’t mind playing support Daddy, it wasn’t where that side of me came out naturally. “We’ll figure that part out. I’m not worried about it.”

I wasn’t worried about any of it really.

Mostly because Dean would do that for me and then I’d figure out how I felt…and right now, I felt really good and I was pretty sure the rest of the night would get even better.

Chapter 24

Joel

They were going to have to keep me better so people stopped being weird. I was going to tell them too. They needed to make people leave me alone so I didn’t have to be rude. I marched right in the apartment but Dean popped my mad bubble. He was right there at the door and just ignored it.

“Once you’re done with your homework, do you want to watch cartoons with me?” Dean didn’t say anything about my bubble or my frown, but he did look down at my tummy when it rumbled. “Do you need a snack?”

“Yes.” He was good to have noticed even though it was his job to notice. That was how it worked. My online friends had said so. “I accidentally smiled at someone and had to miss my lunch.”

People were weird.

Dean went still and just blinked for a moment before pulling me into a big hug. “I’m sorry. That sounds stressful.”

“It was.” Being happy was dangerous. “And girls are weird.”

That made him laugh but I couldn’t blame him. Even Dean knew how weird they were and it was just funny. But he was a good something and hugged me tighter before kissing my head. “Do you want to vent about that or just leave it outside and relax at home?”

Hmm.

“Leave it outside. I’ll pick it up tomorrow when I leave for class.” Maybe if I frowned more then that would keep people from being frustrating.

“Sounds like a good plan for the time being.” Rubbing my back, Dean kissed my head again before taking my bag. “How much work do you have to do?”

“Reading and stuff.” I was going to pout over that too. “I’m—”

“Gonna let me help?” Dean kissed my forehead and took my hand. “I think that’s a great idea. Come sit down and I’ll get you a drink and a snack.”

Well, I could have a snack before I pouted.

“How about cookies? I made some.” Dean’s answer made me take a deep inhale and he laughed. “So now you noticed, huh?”

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