Page 40 of Saul

I couldn’t remember enjoying a morning so much in my entire life. I made him soft-boiled eggs and toast soldiers for breakfast and a little fruit cup on the side, then we went into the lounge and opened the boxes we’d missed last night, which included an hour for me to put together a play table and chair.

Adoring Calvin was easy, but I was in awe watching him gradually drop into his Little space. His voice rose a few octaves, and his word choice altered the comfier he became. I desperately wanted him to relax and feel safe to become Little all day if that’s what he needed. I knew the art and craft goodies would be critical and wanted to make the dining room into a playroom for him. A space he could be himself.

I watched as he eagerly busied himself labelling his craft containers and sorting what was going into each. “Baby, Ricky and Chris are going to a local club with a dedicated space for Littles tonight. Would you like to go?”

I saw the worry on his face as he looked up, and I drew him onto my lap. “Daddy wants to show you off. To make all the other Daddies jealous, but if you’re not ready or are still sore, we can go another day.”

Calvin met my gaze, and I saw the slip, the adult come back to the surface. But that was okay. I needed both. I wanted him to be comfortable in either. “What if there’s people there you know?”

I knew what he was asking. Would I be ashamed of him. “I can only hope.”

The club was huge, and Calvin’s eyes grew round as we stepped out and a valet parked the car. It was warm enough for shorts and, much to his delight, he’d found a few new tees in the packages, including the one with the green dragon from a recent film on it that he’d decided to wear. Well, actually, I’d picked his clothes out, but his shy smile at my choices told me I was on the right track. His swelling had gone down quite rapidly and so long as he didn’t knock it, his shoulder was okay with basic pain pills.

We headed for the main door, signed in as Gideon’s guests, and he met us just as we heard a familiar squeal behind us indicating Ricky had arrived. I readied myself to make sure he didn’t fly at Calvin and hurt him accidentally, but Ricky behaved and remained gentle. We all followed Gideon through, and I heard Ricky say the Little room was amazing.

And it was. Ricky started taking his shoes off and I saw the little cubbies for them, but I didn’t want Calvin bending, so I hunkered down and undid the Velcro straps myself, making sure he used my shoulders for balance while I took them off. “Calvin?” I murmured before Ricky dragged him away. “Promise me you’ll say the instant you’ve had enough or if you need to sit quietly for a while.”

I watched the slow smile curve Calvin’s lips, and the wonder shine in his eyes. Fuck, had no one cared for him at all? I bent down and brushed a kiss on his cheek. “Have fun but mind your shoulder.”

Ricky took his hand after being cautioned by Chris, then both boys went to investigate an area where another two Littles were building Lego.

“We don’t have alcohol in here, but I can get you a soda, coffee, water?” Chris asked as we walked over to a couple of couches where Gideon had sat.

“Coffee would be great, thanks. Do you—” But Chris waved off my offer and nodded in Gideon’s direction, so I parked my ass down.

“Tell me what sort of arrangement you’ve established so far with Calvin?”

My eyebrows shot up and Gideon chuckled. “They could be back over here in five minutes. Get your questions in while you can.”

I told him briefly about Calvin’s ex, knowing I could trust Gideon. “I’ve made sure he’s had a very low-key day. Plenty of Little time or as much as he would let me see.”

Gideon tilted his head in a silent query just as Chris put my coffee on the table, but then instead of sitting down, he moved away and stood sipping his own while he watched the boys. Which made me ashamed. He knew I wasn’t okay with him, and it was ridiculous. He’d had my back many times over the years when I could have lost my life.

“Chris,” I called, and he came over and I lowered my voice. “You know Calvin better than I do, so any insight would be appreciated.” Chris seemed to take a breath, then sat down and I repeated that I’d tried to create an environment where Calvin could relax and trust me. “Not that I’m expecting it to happen overnight.”

“No,” Gideon agreed. “But as emotional and physical safety have both been issues, he needs to know you mean what you say. What punishment rules have you established?”

I felt the heat on my face as I remembered the spanking conversation and the list of Daddy questions. “He’s injured.”

“Yes,” Chris said. “But he also disobeyed you when he opened the door to let Steven in.” Gideon’s eyebrows rose, but Chris continued. “Littles will often break rules deliberately to test you, not that that’s what he was doing when he opened the door. But they need the security of knowing how you will respond.” He smirked. “Ricky drove me bat-shit crazy with the stupid stunts he pulled.”

“But he’s injured,” I repeated.

“So, get a whiteboard. Something visible. List his infractions so he knows what will happen when he’s recovered, and you have his consent.” Chris shrugged. “Ricky has a reward list as well.”

“Have you established safe words?” Gideon asked.

I frowned. “Of course.”

And he put up a hand in a surrender gesture. “Then the biggest hurdle you have is winning his trust, and the easiest way to do that is being consistent.” I nodded. I knew I needed patience.

“If it’s any consolation, you’ve found out more in the last month than he’s let Ricky see for ten years.”

I glanced over at Chris. That surprised me. Gideon leaned forward after glancing to both sides to make sure he couldn’t be heard. “Now that you’re not going to be a Rent-A-Daddy, I have a job for you all to look at.” Gideon smirked.

“Like the previous one?”

“Not precisely, but Geoff, one of the owners here, has had a sub go missing. She has no family and no regular Dom. All the previous Doms she’s played with have been cleared, but a friendfrom here insists she was excited because a Dom wanted to see her outside of the club as well.”

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