Page 26 of Brighton

“Just because you could have a child doesn’t mean you should have.”

Sheila ignored Brighton and continued with herI am the second comingtirade. “We fed and clothed you, gave you everything you needed.”

“Everything but love and time. And what you did give me you held over my head, dangled it like a guilt-riddled carrot and all for what? So you could control me? Use me as some sort of sick ass puppet?” Brighton’s face was red with anger, fists clenched at his sides.

“Brighton, watch your language,” Joe spat.

“Father, kiss my ass as it leaves your door for the last time.” Brighton stood. “Come on, Daddy, let’s go home.” And with that, we left. Brighton grabbed his coat and stormed ahead of me to the truck. I unlocked the door remotely, and he slipped inside before I could help him. He needed time to gather his thoughts, but we still needed to eat.

Once we were on the road, I broke the silence. “Would you like to stop and eat or pick something up and take it home?”

“Home, please, and can we go to your house? I need to play with Simon.”

“Absolutely, sweet boy. And just for the record, I’m proud of you, Brighton.”

“I wish I could say their actions surprised me, but they didn’t, and their words are still sharp as knives. I’m done being their…whatever I was to them.” He sighed, I reached over and took his hand in mine. Before I could control it, laughter bubbled over. “What’s so funny?”

“Did you see the look on your father’s face when you told him to kiss your ass?” I nearly died. Joe turned every shade of red and his head looked like a tomato on the verge of explosion.

Finally, Brighton smiled. “Yeah, sorry about that.”

“Oh, love, I said it before, and I’ll say it again. Do not apologize for those people, they don’t deserve it and they don’t deserve you. Besides, it was funny as hell and more than deserved. Just because they’re your parents it doesn’t give them the right to treat you like shit. Respect is earned, not freely given.”

“But you do, Daddy, deserve me that is.” He spoke in such a little voice that I wasn’t sure if Brighton was still in there. As of late, his little emerged more and more.

“If I don’t now, I’ll spend the rest of my life earning that right. I love you with all my heart, Brighton.” I’d do everything in my power to make this boy happy, until I drew my last breath.

“I love you, too, Daddy. Can I get a kid’s meal? I think a toy might cheer me up.” It would take a lot more than a toy but the fact he asked for that was more than enough reason for me to pull into the drive-through and order it for him. The achy gut I’d have later after eating fast food would be more than worth it to see my boy’s smile again.

“Simon, we’re home!” Brighton cheerfully sang as we walked inside and there Simon sat, wagging his tail. I bet he heard the garage door open and ran right for the door. Brighton knelt and rubbed his face against Simon. “I missed you, boy, and I needed a hug from you.”

“What about my hugs?” I asked, clearly perplexed where I ranked in this relationship. It appeared Simon outranked me.

Brighton bolted up and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Right here, Daddy. You give the bestest hugs of anybody.”

I kissed the top of his head. “And don’t you forget it, sweet boy. Now let’s eat.” I patted his butt in a mock spank as he passed me. His laughter was like blood pumping through my veins. Fuel my body desired to press onward. He sat down at the table with his kid’s meal, and I fed Simon before I joined Brighton. This food would not last long with my digestive system. Ahh, to have the stomach of a twenty-year-old again. Once you hit your forties it was all downhill from there.

“Look, Daddy, I got the sloth.” He hugged it to his chest. It was a cute tiny stuffy and my boy smiled.Well played, fast food team, well played.

Brighton had amassed a few toys, including the bathtub ones I got him for Christmas, since we started dating. Not sure if he noticed or not, but I slid in a new one here and there. Most stayed at my house since we spent more time here than at his apartment. I’d cleared a drawer in the dresser for him earlier this week and he left extra clothes for our sleepovers as he called them. At least that way he wasn’t carting a bag back and forth. I kept his favorite foods stocked and he preferred my bodywash to his so that was easy. He claimed he liked smelling like Daddy at work all day, it made him happy. Soon enough, I’d ask him to move in and after this week when we’d not slept apart, I knew come Monday night I’d have a hell of a time alone in that king-sized bed again.

Whether Brighton realized it or not, he was a hybrid little. He loved his toys, stuffies, and cartoons when it was just the two of us. About the only thing he hadn’t asked for were coloring books and crayons. I’d be certain to add them to the next shopping trip and see how they went over. Having Brighton was like having the best things in all my past lives and past boys rolled into one sweet package. If he didn’t want a label, then he didn’t need one. He was who he was and that was perfect for me.

“Daddy, can we watch the New Year’s countdown?”

“Absolutely, baby boy. Let’s shower and put on our jams. I’ll make some popcorn later. Sound good?”

“Yes, sir.” Brighton saluted me and marched down the hall, shucking his clothes along the way. By the time he got to the bedroom, he was naked as the day he was born. I shot off after him and met him in the bathroom. “You’re fast, Daddy.”

I started the water and got undressed while Brighton stepped inside. My poor boy had been put to the test today and while he was okay right now, there was no way what happened with his parents didn’t bother him. I’d wait for him to bring it up again, but I was glad he stood his ground and cut ties. Whether it was temporary or not was left to be seen, but from the sounds of it, it likely could be the end. Their loss was our win, my mother adored Brighton and he’d never feel unloved again.

I washed us both then dropped to my knees. “Daddy,” he gasped as I drew his cock inside my mouth. Brighton gripped my shoulders for balance. My boy needed this, not only the release but for his Daddy to take care of him. As I’d suspected, it didn’t take long before he cried out my name and his warm seed trickled down my throat. Brighton sighed and slumped as some of the tension left his tired body.

“Let’s get dried off, cuddle up and ring the new year in. Together.” I reached for the towels on the heated rack and dried Brighton first.

“Together, Daddy.”

“Always.”

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