Page 62 of Awakening His Daddy

“With peanut butter?”

“Sure.”

“Will you peel and cut it?”

“If that’s what you want.”

“Yes, please.”

He nods and leaves the room, so I take this time to move around the room and place all the other decorations. There’s lots of garland, so I wrap it around a strand of white lights before I drape it across the fireplace mantle. I find six stocking in a box and pull out the three that I think match the best and hang themin front of the fire. There’s a nativity scene that I set up on the end table by the couch. I find a bunch of ornaments in a box, and then I wonder about a tree.

“Daddy?”

“Yeah, baby,” he calls from the kitchen.

“We don’t have a tree.”

“No worries. When the snow stops, hopefully soon, we can take the chainsaw out and cut one down.”

“We can cut your trees down?”

“Sure, they’re mine.” He brings me my snack. “You can even pick out which one.”

“Really!” I run into him and give him a big hug. “Ouch.” My shoulder pulls, and I let go.

“Oh, here you go.” I take the pills with a glass of water. “Now I know you’re excited, but you need to remember that you’re still healing, and it’s only been two days.”

“I’m fine.”

“I know, but we should take a little break.” He pulls me down onto the couch and into his lap.

“Do you need a little break?” I rub his chest.

“I’m fine, baby. I think I can make it until bedtime.”

“Well, if you can’t make it, let me know, and I’d be happy to help.” I try to scoop the peanut butter up onto an apple slice, but it’s slippery.

“I’m sure you would.”

“Is it weird for you? I don’t want to talk about it if it makes you feel weird.”

“Yes and no.” He sighs and feeds me an apple with a big glob of peanut butter on it. “I’ve been hiding it my whole life, and when Leo found out —”

“Leo knows! Why didn’t he tell me?” Joe just stares at me until I figure it out. “Right, because it’s your secret.”

“And?”

“And…” He feeds me another apple. I’m not sure what else.

“You said liking suckling was private, and you didn’t want him to know.”

“Oh, right. I didn’t, because people think it’s weird. Even when I just wanted to pretend, they didn’t like that game.”

“I can understand. I think it’s annoying, but it’s nice that you know and aren’t grossed out.”

“I’m willing.” Hell, desperate. Two times was not enough.

“My eager boy.”

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