Page 4 of Now and Forever

“Such a brave boy.” Daddy caressed his back. “Let me rub this into your skin, then we’ll talk.”

“While holding me?”

Daddy brushed his lips across Seth’s shoulder. “While holding you.”

As Daddy spread the pungent cream on his ass, Seth’s mind drifted to the purpose behind the unexpected spanking. Not only the fact that it was off schedule, but why it had been so harsh. The worry that he’d done something bad, something to deserve being smacked so hard, still lingered.

“All done. Let me wash my hands and put this away.”

Seth was surprised by how soothing the cream was that Daddy had applied to his skin. It sort of made it numb. He found himself getting worried about that. What had been the point of the spanking if he couldn’t feel it? His bottom didn’t even hurt as much as it did with a regular spanking.

Daddy lifted the covers and climbed into bed. The moment he pulled Seth close and their naked flesh met, Seth let out a sigh. Their skin warmed where it touched, and Seth realized he’d stopped shivering. He probably already had but hadn’t noticed. The floaty feeling was dissipating, but for a while, he hadn’t been all that coherent.

“Can you share with me now why you were upset?”

Seth couldn’t remember what the reason for him being so reluctant to just come out with his concerns when Daddy had first asked. Somehow, he’d managed to get himself so worked up in his mind, he hadn’t been able to think straight.

Oh.

Thatwas why Daddy had spanked him so hard and so long. His mind and nerves had been so jumbled, it was like Daddy had needed to knock the confusion right out of him.

“Yeah. I can.” Seth was no expert on everything Daddies did, so he needed to make sure his guess was right. “So, was the reason you spanked me tonight because I couldn’t get my thoughts and feelings out? Not because I made you mad?”

Daddy gave him a squeeze. “That’s exactly why. See how smart you are?”

Seth tucked his head beneath Daddy’s chin. Never once had Daddy called him stupid, or even hinted that he was bad or not worthy of love. Just the opposite. His own damn fears were the real culprit behind the night’s events.

“Thank you, Daddy. For everything.”

Daddy hummed, the sound vibrating in his chest, traveling through Seth’s body as if they were physically one person.

“Anything for you, baby. Always.” Daddy stroked his back and made the gentle circles Seth loved so much. “Please talk to me. You became so agitated when I suggested we postpone the trip. Yet, getting ready to leave was clearly upsetting you, too. Can you tell me why?”

“I don’t want to mess things up with your parents, do something that makes them not like me.”

“But when we met with Dr. Clay—”

“Please, Daddy. Can I finish?”

Daddy chuckled. “You’re right. Sorry for interrupting.”

“I get what Dr. Clay was saying, and what you said about how we can’t control other people’s perceptions and that you’re behind me no matter what. I understand. But you’re my Daddy. Your parents don’t know anything about the way things are with us or the way it was with Everett. I’ll screw it up. I know I will.” Seth hugged Daddy tighter. “But at the same time, I’m so excited about meeting them. Your mom has been so nice to me and I feel like we’ve gotten close. And even though I haven’t spoken with your dad all that much, I hear the way you joke around with him on the phone. They accept us, accept me. That means so damn much.

Seth sucked in a shuddering breath. “But what if they find out about our lifestyle and… I don’t know. I just… It scares me.”

Daddy rubbed his back in silence before he spoke. “All right. Those are all legitimate concerns. Let me ask you something else. What was so bad about postponing the trip? Having them come here instead?”

Seth let out a sigh. “Because your mom has that big listing coming up in a few weeks. She’s in-between house sales right now, so it’s the best time to go. She can’t leave. And who knows when that listing will sell? It could be months!”

Daddy chuckled. “Oh, okay. Now I understand.” He continued stroking his back. “How about this. We’ll go as planned, but we’ll also discuss beforehand how we’ll handle things if you ‘mess up’ as you call it. Which is not how I’d describe it at all.”

Seth ran his fingers through Daddy’s chest hair. “How else would it be described? I mean, messing up is messing up, right?”

“Hmm.” Daddy paused as if considering Seth’s remark. “I guess you’re right. I think it’s that I cringe every time I hear you say that you’re making a mistake ormightmake a mistake. After all you went through…” He sighed. “It’s all so unfair. I want to keep you from ever feeling that way again.”

“Daddy…” Seth angled his head back so he could lock eyes with him. Only one of the bedside lamps was on, but it was enough to see the shine in Daddy’s eyes. “You can’t protect me from something like that. All that matters is that you’re here, that you believe in me.”

Daddy grinned. “See? Smart.” He rubbed their noses together. “And you never have to worry about me not believing in you. That’ll never happen.”

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