Page 22 of Lance & Clayton

"But I don't wanna." He stuck his lower lip out in a pout. "I want to play some more with my new friend. But I'll take a bath if Clayton is with me."

I gaped in shock at his invitation. Bathing was a very private thing and it was reserved for a boy and his Daddy. I had just met Michael and he was already inviting me to do such a private thing together. Little boys were so friendly, honest, and innocent.

"Do you want to join Michael, bright eyes?" Daddy rubbed my back as if he could read my thoughts. "We'll be right outside if you boys need us."

When I nodded, he scooped me up in his arms while John did the same with his boy. Together they carried us to the bathroom where uncle John ran a bath while we waited patiently.

I turned around to face Daddy when Michael was being undressed. Daddy kissed my hand before pulling down my jammies and briefs in one swift motion. Then he pulled my shirt over my head and I stood there stark naked. When I turned around, Michael was naked too.

Taking my hand, Michael helped me into the bathtub while our Daddies watched on. Once we lay in the water, our Daddies waved us goodbye and left. I wondered why I hadn't felt as shy as I expected myself to be. Maybe because I didn't fear being judged when there was another boy around.

"So," Michael said after he squeaked a squeaky duck. "You're in love with your Daddy, huh? I saw the way you two kept stealing glances whenever you could. I know because that's how it was between us when Daddy and I began falling in love."

"I do love him, yes." I shrugged and looked at him. "We haven't said it out loud, so I don't know how he feels. I guess it's too soon to use the L-word. We only met a few weeks ago."

He waved a hand in the air nonchalantly. "A few weeks, a few months. Love is love, and when you know, you know. Sometimes you need to listen to your heart. What does your heart say?"

I looked up at the ceiling to think before looking at him. "I know it's silly, but he told me he'd marry me on our first date. I believed him and that's how I felt too. I know in my gut that I'm going to spend the rest of my life with him. I don't know how I'll live with myself if I fuck it up."

"Yes, yes," he said, playing with water now. "Sometimes you feel your Daddy deserves someone far better than you. I've been there, but I've learned to accept that I too deserve nice things. You do too, Clayton. You do too. You deserve all the things you've dreamt about, and more."

I smiled at his kind words. "Thank you for saying that. I've had such a hard time lately, it's hard to believe I deserve anything at all, let alone the best Daddy in the world."

"Yes, I heard from Daddy." He scooted closer and put a hand around my neck to give me a quick hug. "It's hard when someone you love asks you to leave. I should know. I got kicked out by my mother for the same reason."

"Oh," I said with a frown. "I'm sorry to hear that. Looks like we have a lot in common apart from our love for animals."

"Yeah, I meant what I said." He looked at me sternly before looking down at the water. "I want you to be my friend. I need a friend now more than ever. Things between Daddy and I have always been great, but lately, he's been talking on the phone with someone. He walks out of the room when he talks to that person, and I don't know what to think. Maybe I'm just the jealous type and overthinking it, or maybe he's seeing another boy."

My eyes widened when I realized what he was saying. "You mean you think your Daddy's cheating on you? But that's impossible. Daddy talks about uncle John a lot, and your Daddy always tells mine on the phone how much he loves his boy. You just told me to listen to your heart, so what does your heart tell you? That your Daddy's not a one-boy man?"

He sighed and smiled at me. "That he wants to marry me one day. You're right. I’m truly overthinking things. Whoever Daddy is talking to on the phone, he'll tell me about them when he's ready. Daddies always know what's best for their boy. You know how protective Daddies get about their boys. Maybe he's just hiding something that he thinks will hurt me. Only time will tell."

"You know what," I said. "My advice as your friend is this. Relationships are built on trust, and as a boy, we trust our Daddies with everything. Why don't you open up to him and have an honest talk about how you feel?"

"Well," he said, narrowing his eyes. "It sounds like a simple solution, but I think that's the best thing to do. I've been worrying myself to death and I think it's time I tell Daddy about my worry, even if the worry concerns him."

"That's the spirit!" I patted his back. "I'm sure when you find out what he's been hiding, you'll think how silly you were for over nothing."

He giggled and went under water for a moment before coming back up. "You're probably right. I do worry too much."

"So, marriage, huh?" I said after the silence that followed. "You want to get married to Daddy too? I better get an invite."

After some time our Daddies came back to check up on us, and when we were ready, they helped us out. As I watched them dry us thoroughly, I smiled at how lucky us boys were for having such loving Daddies.

Chapter 12: Lance

Watching my boy happy on a playdate was one of the happiest moments of my life. I knew he'd get along with Michael, and as Clayton's Daddy, I was proud of how well-behaved and polite Clayton had been. Even John told me that Clayton was a positive influence on his boy's life, asking us to drop by for a playdate whenever Clayton felt like it. The problem now was that we lived too far away from John's house. Our cabin in the woods was big, but not big enough for the world's best boy.

"Where are we going, Daddy?" Clayton wiggled in the car seat next to me as I drove us. "You're driving us into the city, which can only mean one thing. You're taking me on another playdate with Michael."

I chuckled and shook my head, turning to look at his excitement before turning back to the road. "But you had your playdate just four days ago, bright eyes. We're going somewhere else."

"I'm excited." He bounced a bit in his seat before he calmed down. "I love it when you drive me around and take me to places, but I love surprises the most. But while we're talking about Michael, I need to ask you something. Do you think his Daddy loves him? You know uncle John better than anyone."

"Sure," I said with a frown, a bit confused as to why he had brought it up. "A boy couldn't imagine the love a Daddy has for his boy. It is unlike any other relationship. A Daddy spends all of his free time taking care of his boy, and that means they get so attached that they become one. It truly is beautiful. And when you're close and have chemistry like your uncle John and Michael have? You know it's going to last forever."

"Hm." He nodded, looking cute as he put on a serious face. "That's what I thought. So, are we there yet?"

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