Page 34 of Screw Me Daddy

‘Maybe,’ I reply, a realization coming over me. ‘But here’s the thing. Tony Ripper is one of a hundred paparazzi in this town. He’s one of tens of thousands all over the world. If we stop him printing a story or taking a photo, he’ll be back. And so will the others.’

‘But we can’t just give up!’ Xander says, his eyes filling with emotion.

‘We’re not giving up,’ I say, a new understanding coming over me. ‘We’re simply deciding that our love will be the winner. LetTony Ripper sell a story about us. We’ve got each other. Let the media go crazy for a week.’

‘But I thought you wanted to live your life in privacy?’ Xander says.

‘I do. But that’s not always realistic for me. What really matters is that I have you in my life,’ I say, a surge of emotion coming over me. ‘When I was feeding you and then put you down for your nap, my heart was full of the purest joy and love. I’m not going to let some corny celebrity magazine or website take that feeling from me. Not today. Notever.’

I can see that this is a lot for Xander to take on board.

One minute I was all set on dropping a nuclear bomb on all paparazzi, and now I’m saying I don’t care. I can see how this might be difficult to digest.

I think I need to explain some more.

‘You’re all I need baby boy,’ I say, taking Xander’s hands. ‘Everything else is background music. Honestly, I’ve known something was different from the day we first met. And each step we’ve taken together has moved things along and my feelings have got deeper and deeper. If you feel the same, I want this to be…forever.’

I can feel each and every beat from my heart right now.

I’ve just laid it all out on the line and all I can do is wait for Xander to respond.

‘Daddy,’ Xander says, his bottom lip wobbling. ‘I love you too. I want you to be my Forever Daddy!’

Without missing a beat, the pair of us lean inward and kiss one another softly, yet full of the truest passion.

Not only have I found my one true baby boy, but I know that my boy feels the exact same about me too.

Tony Ripper and all the others like him can go to hell.

This is mine and Xander’s time now, and we intend on doing one thing, and one thing only – being ourselves and feeling in love!

Chapter 15

Xander

‘Love you, Daddy,’ I say, waving at Reece as he drives away.

‘Love you too!’ Reece calls back, waving his hand out of the window as he turns the corner.

I must have the biggest smile on my face.

Like, literallythebiggest smile ever recorded in the whole of human history.

After what just happened outside Morning Milk, I feel like I could climb the highest mountain purely off the love and happiness that I’m feeling right now.

‘Hey, get your lazy ass down here!’ River calls out, a big smile on his face as he sees me approaching the construction site. ‘Guys! Look who’s decided to join us after all…’

As I walk onto the site, I’m greeted by plenty of good natured banter.

The guys won’t hold back, and neither would I in the same situation.

As a crew, we’ve all been through tough times together and supported each other to the end. But when the time comes for some joshing, then the Blue Collar Boys can do it as well as anyone…

‘So being the client’s Little means you only have to work a half day?’ Lane laughs, the guys laughing along with him with gusto.

‘Yeah, it’s all milkies over mallets from now on…’ Jason adds, playfully punching my arm.

‘You guys!’ I say, my cheeks red but a big smile on my face. ‘Get it all out of your system. Come on, hit me with your best shots. I’m a big boy, I can handle it.’

---