Page 2 of Pretty Princess

“Not to get upset if something happens outside my control.” Okay, so they’d already had this conversation several times that day.

“If you feel yourself getting upset, what are you supposed to do?”

“Find you.”

“That’s right.” Grant kissed his forehead. “Now, do you want all your friends to arrive before you’re ready?”

“No!” Caleb grabbed Grant’s hand tugging him back inside. He had a brand-new princess dress to change into. And stockings, and new ballet shoes, and make-up. Damn, there was so much to do. He should have started to get ready earlier. Like the first or second time, Grant had told him to. Instead, Caleb had waited and tried to get everything else done first.

Now he wasn’t going to be pretty and the entire night was going to be ruined.

Walking through the living room, seeing all his hard work didn’t help. What kind of party was it going to be if Caleb couldn’t even be the pretty princess he wanted? Tears started to fill his eyes. Caleb furiously scrubbed at his eyes. The night would be ruined-

“That’s enough.”

“Wha-“

Grant whirled him around and had him lifted off his feet before Caleb knew what was happening. “I just told you to find me if you start to get upset. It hasn’t been two minutes,” Grant scolded.

Whimpering Caleb wrapped his arms around Grant’s neck and buried his face. His Daddy was right. And Caleb was the one screwing everything up. Being carried down the hall in his Daddy’s arms made him feel marginally better.

Except his Daddy shut the bedroom door with the fur babies on the outside. That meant Grant wasn’t messing around and wanted to have a serious talk.

In the middle of the room, Grant set Caleb down on his own feet.

“Don’t move a muscle.”

“K.”

“Nope, I don’t want to hear any talking. Thumb in the mouth now.”

Caleb didn’t bother to sigh. That would just get him in more trouble. Instead, he slipped his thumb into his mouth while watching what Grant was doing. As crazy as it was, sucking his thumb relaxed him.

The first time Caleb had gotten into real trouble putting his thumb in his mouth had saved Caleb from saying things he wouldn’t have meant. Now, when he was ordered to suck his thumb Caleb knew it was because his Daddy knew exactly what Caleb was thinking. Grant helped Calebnotto be his own worst enemy.

Grant strode across the room to the bed and picked up Caleb’s new purple princess dress. It was so beautiful. Grant had helped him find it online and get it custom-fitted.

“Who does this dress belong to?” Grant questioned.

Since he hadn’t been permitted to speak again Caleb pointed to himself.

“Good boy.” Next Grant picked up the matching stockings. “And who do I like to strip these off of.”

Caleb grinned around the thumb in his mouth. Grant loved peeling the stockings from Caleb’s legs. He pointed at himself again.

“No one else Caleb. I have never felt this way about anyone but you. You are my boy.” Grant sat on the bed. “I love you so much. I chose you, remember?”

Caleb nodded. Grant had chosen him. Grant had seen something in him that no one else at the club had even tried to see.

“I’m just lucky that you wanted me back,” Grant said. He laid the dress and stockings back on the bed. “You’ve come so far, and I know that you realize it. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. It’s not okay to keep it to yourself. I’m your Daddy and you aren’t letting me take proper care of you.”

Double damn, that hadn’t been Caleb’s intention. He made a sound of distress behind his thumb.

“Are you ready to talk?”

Caleb nodded.

“Come here.” Grant held out his arms.

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