Page 48 of Swiped By My Dad's Best Friend
Cooper made a strangled croak. He took a breath and tried again. “Thanks.”
He sounded wrecked.
“How do you feel?”
There was a pause, as if Cooper were taking stock and trying to decide his answer. That was good. He was giving the question careful consideration. “Better.”
He pushed with his arms, and I helped ease him up to standing. He swayed slightly on his feet as he reached to tug up his jeans. I stood, reaching out to stop him. “Wait. You’ll be sore. Strip down, and I’ll apply some lotion.”
His lips quirked. “Should I ask what your original plan was for that?”
I snorted. “Maybe if you’re a good boy, you’ll find out later.”
“Yes, Daddy,” he purred, batting his eyes.
It was a relief to see my boy in better spirits. Cooper had worried me. One spanking wouldn’t resolve all his anxiety. But I could see that it had settled him and provided the emotional release he needed.
“This is unscented, so hopefully it won’t sting,” I said, ignoring his flirtation. It was a little more difficult to ignore his body as he tugged his T-shirt over his head and peeled his jeans and boxer briefs down his legs. “Lie on your stomach.”
Cooper obliged, pillowing his cheek on his folded arms. His eyelids dropped to half-mast. “I feel a little out of it,” he admitted.
“That was a big, emotional drain,” I said as I settled next to his hip to apply the lotion. Even with a light touch, I could feel him tense.
“It was more overwhelming than I expected,” he mumbled, eyes closed now. “Like getting hit by a mack truck of emotion.”
“Is that a good thing?”
His lips curled. “As good as getting run over can be, I guess.” He opened his eyes when I removed my hands from his perfectly curved bottom. Cooper looked good enough to devour, but that appetite would have to wait. “I needed it,” he said simply. “There was a lot…of feelings I didn’t even know I had. Or maybe I did, but…” I didn’t rush him, simply waited for him to find the words he needed. “I didn’t want to acknowledge them. I’d tried to ignore them, you know?”
“Yes.”
“Stuff about my dad, my mom, my life.” He sighed, eyes slipping shut again. “I’m so tired of feeling lost.”
Ah, my poor boy. I leaned over, kissing his shoulder.
“You’ll find your way. But for now, rest. You’ve earned it.”
* * *
COOPER
I woke to Trace sitting beside me in bed, laptop propped on his knees. That reminded me that he came up here to work, not baby-sit stressed-out boys. Italsoreminded me that he’d been coming up here without telling me because he didn’t want this distraction.
I pushed myself upright. “I should go and let you work.”
Trace turned to me. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“I’m not?”
“And this is not my work.”
“It’s not?” I huffed in annoyance at myself. “What is it then?”
“This is the plan we’re going to make for you to meet your goals.”
“Uh, what?” I straightened and leaned over, catching a glimpse of a spreadsheet. I recoiled. “Trace, I’m sure you mean well.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Right now, I’m not Trace. I’m your Daddy. And you worried the hell out of me today.”
