Page 45 of Step Daddy

“I prefer the term playful.”

“Don’t desecrate the awesomeness of Middle Earth and all its inhabitants.”

Gareth shoulders shook as he continued his lunch preparations. “Okay,” He snorted. “Go on. So, Hobbits and wizards are the subject of your fanfic?”

Kit tilted his head and tapped his chin. Since Gareth wasn’t into fanfic, he might not totally get it.

“Not really. In my story, I shipped Pippin and Gandalf, but they’re not Hobbit and wizard. It’s a sci-fi adventure, and the Fellowship are crewmembers on a spaceship exploring the galaxy. Then, they’re all captured by a hostile alien race. Gandalf’s character is a mystical warrior, who enlists the aid of…”

Kit continued with the synopsis of his story, something he’d been working on for years. The followers on the site he posted to who’d suggested he start publishing books for real were awesome, but he didn’t have the confidence yet to do that. Maybe once he took more classes in college he’d be brave enough to try.

“Wow.” Gareth turned around, holding one big plate filled with two sandwiches on French rolls cut into sections, plus raw veggies and apple slices. “That’s quite a saga. You should publish it for sale. How many books are there all together?”

Kit was momentarily distracted by the fact that there was only one dish of food, but he gave himself a mental shake once Gareth set it down on the kitchen table.

“Oh. Uh, actually, it’s not really like that. I post chapters. The last time I put anything up I was on chapter one hundred and forty-two.”

Gareth made a low whistle as he pulled out his chair. “Damn. You should definitely do something with your story.” He took a seat and gave Kit a warm smile. “You always were so creative.” Gareth patted his knee. “Come to Daddy so I can feed you.”

Kit almost swallowed his tongue. “What?” He blinked several times. “I don’t understand.”

He can’t possibly mean…?

Gareth patted his lap again. “Yes, you do. Come on, baby boy. Let Daddy take care of you. If you honestly can’t stand it, there’s always your safeword.”

Kit licked his lips. Now that Gareth had clarified his intent, heat was pooling low in Kit’s belly. He had to know, had to experience what allowing a man to feed him would be like. Would this be the kind of life he’d want to share with Gareth?

After wiping off the beads of sweat forming at his hairline, Kit rose on shaky legs. He closed the short distance between him and Gareth, then stood before him—at a loss over what to do next. His quandary was ridiculous. He’d sat in Gareth’s lap several times already. Why did this time feel so awkward?

Gareth smiled up at him with a reassuring expression as he reached for Kit’s waist, turning his body slightly before giving him a gentle tug. Kit grabbed the chairback in a flash of unexpected panic. But the moment he allowed himself to relax against Gareth’s solid frame, he let out a whoosh of air.

“Comfortable?”

Gareth had one arm around Kit’s waist and had positioned them both so they were angled toward the table, which would leave Gareth one hand free. Kit supposed he was comfortable enough physically, but mentally? Not so much. However, the stirrings of desire and something else he couldn’t quite name were also there, too.

“I-I’m fine.” He bit the inside of his cheek. “What do you want me to do?”

Gareth gave him a small squeeze. “Nothing, except eat what I give you. Now, fold your hands in your lap and keep them there. All right, baby?”

Kit did as he was told, nodding shakily. Then he remembered he was supposed to answer his Daddy out loud.

“Yes. All right.”

Kit hated how fearful he sounded. He didn’t want Gareth to decide it was too much for him to handle and stop. He locked eyes with Gareth.

“It’s only that it’s such a new idea for me, that’s all. I really do want to give it a try.”

“That’s my good boy.” Gareth placed a soft kiss on his lips. “Let’s start with the sandwich.”

Kit tracked Gareth’s movements as he picked up one section of the sub. He spotted the deli turkey and ham nestled inside the bread—along with the tomato and lettuce—that they’d picked out the night before. Kit’s heartrate ticked up a notch. Even the easy domesticity of shopping for groceries together had given Kit a thrill.

Of course, he’d kept that observation to himself, but perhaps he shouldn’t have. Perhaps making Kit feel as if he belonged and was cared for was why Gareth was a Daddy. Gareth had already explained that he enjoyed being the caregiver. Still, such ordinary interactions weren’t what Kit had been thinking about at the time.

Right as the sandwich reached his mouth, his automatic response was to grab it but Gareth pulled it away, clucking his tongue.

“Remember, hands folded. Let Daddy feed his precious boy.”

Kit drew in a sharp breath. Precious. Was that truly how Gareth viewed him? Never had Kit believed anyone saw him as being all that special. He sniffed. Not even his Mom.

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