Page 23 of Slippery When Wet

Calvin let out a slow breath. Okay, so he hadn’t put his foot in it after all. “I do too, sweetheart. But I didn’t mean to imply that I expect you to stay with me, to pressure you.” Calvin squeezed Ellery’s fingers. “As I told you from the start, I don’t play games and tend to lay it on the line and go with my instincts. However, I’ll confess that this is the quickest I’ve ever felt so sure about someone. So, forgive me, Ellery. I’ll do my best not to overwhelm you.”

Judging from Ellery’s fallen expression, Calvin hadn’t helped ease his boy’s worries at all. If anything, he’d only added to them.

“Why did you call me Ellery? Is it because you’re holding back now?” Ellery’s bottom lip trembled. “If you’re worried I’ll change my mind about age play, I won’t. I can’t promise I’ll go as far as the diapers, but…” Ellery glanced around the room before meeting Calvin’s eyes again. “But this is beyond what I could’ve imagined.You’rebeyond what I imagined it would be like to have a Daddy. Even our conversations and video chats this week have helped settle me.

Ellery smiled. “I’ve never felt so light and free. Why would I want to let that go? Letyougo?” He bit his lip. “I mean, unless you change your mind about me.”

Calvin’s heart soared and he drew Ellery into an embrace. So what if they were moving fast? Six months after Tony moved in, Calvin still hadn’t felt this sure about them as a couple.

And look how that turned out.

“I haven’t changed my mind about you in the slightest.” Calvin held Ellery at arm’s length so he could lock eyes with him. “I consider myself your Daddy right now, so let’s quit second-guessing ourselves and move forward.” Calvin stroked his knuckles along Ellery’s cheek. “Will you be my baby boy?”

Ellery’s eyes glimmered. “Yes, Daddy. I want that more than I’ve ever wanted anything.”

Calvin grinned, his heart thundering as he allowed the significance of the moment to wash over him.

“Then what would my baby boy like to wear while he plays with his new toys?”

Ellery launched himself into Calvin’s arms again and cried quietly, Calvin rubbing his back in slow circles, letting Ellery release what he’d been holding inside for so long.

At last, Ellery’s crying slowed and became light hitches of breath along with a hefty round of sniffing.

“I’m letting you go for just a moment, sweetheart.”

Calvin made his way back to the changing table in a few short strides, then plucked some tissues from the box that was decorated on the sides with dancing elephants.

“Come on, baby. Blow.”

Calvin held up the tissue to Ellery’s nose and after a short hesitation, Ellery did as he was told. Calvin repeated the action again, then finished wiping away Ellery’s tears with the rest of the tissues.

Calvin tossed the used ones away then wrapped an arm around Ellery’s shoulders. “Feel better?”

“Much.” Ellery smiled. “Can I play now, Daddy?”

Once again, Calvin’s heart soared. They were meant to be, he could feel it. He gave Ellery’s shoulder a squeeze.

“Yes, sweet boy. You certainly can.”

“Oh wait! I have to show you what I made you. Ooh, and you still have to meet Honey Bunny.” Ellery tugged on Calvin’s hand. “Come on, Daddy. Let’s go!”

Calvin had clearly died and gone to heaven. His boy was off and running.

Chapter Nine

“Vroom, vroom, vroom!”

The high-speed car chase through Ellery’s town wreaked havoc on Main Street.

“Oh no!” He made a crashing noise followed by a siren wail. “The grocery store has been destroyed! Who can stop this maniac?” Ellery pinched his eyebrows together in a scowl then deepened his voice. “Bwahahaha…I’ll destroy you all, this town is mine!”

“My goodness. That sounds scary.”

Ellery glanced over his shoulder. “It is, Daddy. The bad dinosaur is ruining everything, but Superman won’t let him, so everything will be okay.”

Daddy made a serious face. “That’s a relief. You have such a nice town, too.”

Ellery was lying on his stomach on the mat, half of it taken up with the town he’d spent most of the afternoon putting together. Daddy had brought him a snack and his sippy cup earlier, but his tummy was starting to rumble again.

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