Page 13 of Myths and Shifts

That was just how it worked.

Wiggle. Wiggle. Wiggle.

As I tried to decide what he’d do if I took off my shoe and wiggled my toes on him, the man stopped thinking about safewords and got curious again.

He looked under the table.

Oops.

Daddy cocked his head and focused on the man, who didn’t look mad or like he was going to say naughty words but was very curious.

The man wasn’t local but he was diner curious.

I stopped being silly, and the man frowned as he straightened. “I apologize if this is an inappropriate topic of conversation. I am from a very small town and social norms are hard to understand here.”

He knew just how to make Daddy like him.

Daddy scoffed and almost smiled. “You’re not kidding. Not much internet access, huh? I know some areas are still much further behind than the average American on either coast seems to understand. Let me know if you need information on satellite internet. We had to install that out at the ranch.”

Oh, horsies?

Cows?

Daddy was a cowboy?

The man was still confused and maybe embarrassed too, but he nodded. “Yes. It’s prevented me from educating myself on…on topics that are considered appropriate here.”

I giggled.

Oops.

Daddy chuckled. “I don’t know how much you’ve traveled, but I promise the locals are not a good example of reasonable or appropriate. But in this case, please ask your question and I will let you know if it’s too personal for me to answer.”

What would Daddy find personal?

I liked learning new things about Daddy.

He had a name and a ranch and a job and patience when people didn’t make him crazy.

“Thank you for your understanding.” The man talked like his mother always made him use big words to talk to her. “I have noticed a significant number of relationships that I think are unconventional.”

No giggles.

No giggles.

The men at the diner got him too.

Daddy managed to be good and didn’t roll his eyes or anything. “Yes, you’re seeing a lot of nontraditional relationships around town. I don’t know why but people around here are more open than other areas. It’s probably the number of dragons. We don’t always make…well, let’s say we don’t always think before we act.”

The man chuckled, nodding and smiling at Daddy and me. “I’ve seen that as well.”

Dragons were just dragons everywhere.

“But as far as Merritt and I go, we’re just getting to know one another because he’s my mate and I met him about ten minutes ago.” Daddy thought that was funny but the man smiled so big I thought his mouth would just keep going. “So we’re still figuring out our relationship, but I’m what’s called a caretaker Dom and in most cases I’d be called a Daddy. The title is about caretaking and not about pretending we’re related.”

“Caretaking.” The man looked at Daddy and then me and then back to Daddy and then back to me. Then he nodded. “The caretaking role in a relationship can be met with other labels? I was asked about wanting a pony earlier in the week?”

“The men at the diner have no common sense.” Eventually, Daddy was going to tell them they were naughty. “Use the safewords on them and they’ll leave you alone. You can always ignore them. If you’re curious, though, I would suggest finding information online. They’re…they’re confused sometimes.”

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