Caged In

by Luna, David

  “You realize what time it is, right?”

  Reed snorted at Camden’s smart-ass remark. “Yeah, I realize. I actually thought of not calling you because it’s so late, but I’d promised, and if there’s one thing I never do, it’s break my promises to those I care about.”

  “I’m glad you called.”

  “I know. Me too. I’d make sure you take days off to relax and destress. You rarely do that for yourself.”

  “How do you know?”

  “It’s an educated guess, Cam. When you take a break at work, nine times out of ten you’re studying, not eating. I would imagine you aren’t much different at home. I hope you at least spend some personal time with your friends. I imagine you wouldn’t have such a good group of people surrounding you if you didn’t, so that makes me happy. But that’s not enough.”

  “I’m not that bad.”

  “Camden, if anyone is in need of a keeper, you are.”

  A gasp came through the phone, and Reed smiled, picturing the expression that would be on Camden’s face. “I am not!”

  “Cam, you have bags under your eyes too often to count. You’re too thin. When I suggest eating something, you often say you forgot but you’re fine. You go go go at the restaurant, taking care of your whole section and sometimes other people’s.”

  “Sometimes people need help.”

  “And sometimes people take advantage of your help and expect it.”

  Camden sighed. “Yeah. I know.”

  “I want you to be healthy and happy, and as your Daddy, those are some of the steps I’d take. I want you to call me Daddy when you’re ready. It’s important you know what that means to me, to us. I’ll also be dominant in many ways about other things in your life. When it comes to sex, I’ll be in charge. From what we talked about last night, it sounds like that would make you happy.”

  “It would. I crave that, from you. And I’ve wanted a Daddy of my own for a long time now. I think it’s always been you, even though I didn’t know it. When I finally realized what it was, it sounded amazing, and I’ve been hoping I’d find one.” Camden’s voice was soft when he whispered, “And now I have.”

  “God, boy, yes. You have.”

  “That makes me happy.”

  “Me too. More than you know. My goal for you is to destress your life. I want to take care of things for you, make sure you’re not constantly worried about things and overanalyzing everything.”

  “How do you know me so well?”

  “I paid attention.”

  “Well, it’s a little bit annoying.”

  Reed couldn’t keep from laughing at Camden’s grumpy voice and honest response. “I bet it is. But would you like to be able to just leave your stress at the door when you get home from work and allow me to see to it that you’re healthy and happy, mentally and physically? Would you like me to take care of you in those ways?”

  There was a deep, heavy silence on the other end of the line, and Reed worried he’d said too much. But, finally, he heard Cam take a deep breath. “I don’t know what that would feel like, to be honest. I’ve been taking care of myself since I was old enough to microwave dinners, do my own laundry, and clean up after myself. Spoiler alert, I was really young when I was competent at doing all of those things.”

  Reed’s heart hurt for him. “Where were your parents? Why didn’t they fill that role?”

  “My parents are two of the best people I know. Neither one of them had much of an education to speak of, blue collar through and through. They did the best with what they had, and I did everything I could to help them. I’m from a small town in rural Ohio. The biggest employer there is a semi-truck manufacturer.”

  Reed remained quiet, not wanting to interrupt. “Dad had to bust his ass at that factory to bring in enough to pay our mortgage. Mom was a checker at our local grocery store, and she was doing everything she could do to help. I’ve always felt like a burden.”

  “I’m sure your parents never thought that.”

  “No. I know for sure they didn’t. But I wanted to help, so I got a job during high school to help with the bills. I remember the embarrassment they always had on their faces when I’d hand over money to cover the water or electricity bills.”

  Camden paused, and Reed wished he was there to hug him.

  “I guess I kinda raised myself. They are the hardest workers I’ve ever known. If there was any overtime to be had, they did it. Night shifts were regular in our house, and that’s when I was home alone. That’s how I learned to take care of myself so young. But I’m grateful. It toughened me up and made me serious about my future.”

  “How did you decide what you wanted to do?”

  “I talked to my guidance counselor about what careers might fit my test scores and my Myers-Briggs results and paid well. She knew my family’s struggles. Hell, everyone knew. I didn’t get new clothes often. I was lucky I wasn’t targeted by bullies. I tutored math, and it just so happened that the people I tutored were the most popular jocks in the school. I helped them a lot, so they liked me enough that it gave me a layer of protection I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

  Reed wanted to hug him and hated they weren’t together. “I’m glad you had that protection.”

  Camden snorted. “Me too. Anyway, I pushed myself to excel in school. Straight A’s all through junior high and high school. I love my parents. They did the best they could. But I knew I didn’t want to live that type of life, and if I wanted to make a good living, I’d have to pick a career that would provide a good salary.”

  “But is it what you want to do?”

  Camden’s chuckle did something to Reed’s insides. “You’re such a Daddy. And yes, it’s perfect because I enjoy numbers and that type of work is fun for me.”

  Reed sighed, happy to hear that. “I bet your mom and dad are happy about that.”

  Camden hummed. “Yeah. My parents have supported me in everything I’ve done, and they’re very proud to have a son who is graduating from college.”

  Jesus, Camden needed a Daddy more than even Reed knew. His past said so much about Camden’s character. But it also broke Reed’s heart a little. Hearing about his supportive parents who seemed to be ridiculously proud of their son made it a little easier to bear. But only just.

  They’d talked a while longer about Camden’s past and a bit about his own. Reed finally admitted what he’d come to realize. “The men I’ve dated have been shallow. Sweet, but vapid. They wanted someone to take care of them financially and to be given gifts. They were boys, Camden. Not men. You’re a man, and you don’t expect those things from me, which is why I want to provide them.”

  Camden sighed as if put out. “I can take care of myself.”

  “You can, baby, but you no longer have to. Let me be the one who carries your burdens.”

  “I like it when you call me boy, but I love it when you call me baby.”

  “I’ll call you both, but if you prefer baby, I’m happy to call you that. So, will you think hard on allowing me to be that person for you? Allowing yourself to finally let go and be carefree while someone else carries the load?”

  “You’ll have to ease me into it. It’s going to feel weird, and I’ll probably push back.”

  “We’ll take things slow; I promise.”

  “Well, not too slow I hope.”

  He chuckled and agreed, “Not too slow, baby. So tell me, are you in bed under the covers?”

  Camden sucked in a breath. “Jesus, Sir. Just that shift in your voice, your hot, sexy Daddy voice is enough to bring me to my knees.”

  Reed couldn’t help but grin at his use of words. “And just hearing you saying anything about being on your knees for me, for any reason, does the same for me. Tell me something. Are you hard?”

  Camden’s breathy, “Yes,” had Reed’s cock leaking precum. But Camden wasn’t going to like what Reed was about to say. “Are you touching your cock?”

  “Yes.”

  “Camden?”
/>   “Yes?”

  “Stop.”

  Camden whined. Legit whined before he grumbled, “I’ve read about this.”

  Reed snorted out a laugh. “About what?”

  “You’re doing that torturous, orgasm-denial thing. Not a fan, Sir.”

  “You will be on Friday when I can take care of you properly.”

  The whimper Reed heard on the line nearly made him come. Jesus, when he got Camden in bed, he was going to have a field day with him.

  “That’s so not fair.”

  “Fair or not, I don’t want you to come this week. I want you to hold off until I can do it for you.”

  “Reed, you’re killing me. You’re saying all week I can’t use Big D?”

  He almost choked on his own spit. “What?!”

  There was a definite snicker on the other end of the line. “Oops.”

  “No, no. There’s no oops, Cam. What are you talking about?”

  “Well, remember how I got the ‘Bottom Boys’ kit?”

  He growled. “How could I forget?”

  “Well, it wasn’t until my sophomore year that I could take the biggest one. And, umm… Well, I mean, I liked it so much, I might have named it Big D.”

  Reed’s body was doing all sorts of things. He was amused, so he let out a laugh; he was turned on, so his cock got harder and he had to grab it; and he was shocked, so his heart started beating out of his chest. He tried to speak, but he had to clear his throat and try again. “Well, it can’t be the restaurant. So what, you named it Big Dick or Big Daddy?”

  “No.”

  “No?”

  Did his boy just snicker when he growled? “No, Sir. You’re Big D to me. I named it after you.”

  “Goddamn, baby, you’re going to be the death of me. And no, you can’t use Big D. Not until I can use Big D on you.”

  Camden laughed, exactly like Reed wanted him to. “Sir, are you talking about my Big D or yours?”

  He groaned. “Both.”

  There was a sad sigh on the other end of the line. “This is going to be a long week.”

  He couldn’t help but sigh along with Camden. “It will be, but I’ll make it worth it in the end.”

  “You better, Sir.”

  “It’s a promise, baby. Now, it’s really late, so I want you to go to bed. Understood?”

  “I don’t think that word was supposed to turn me on like it did, but yeah. I understand.”

  Reed chuckled at that admission. “Good boy. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, Sir.”

  He looked down at his phone when he heard the ding of Camden’s fourth incoming message coming through.

  Camden: It says it’s for long term use.

  Jesus. Then a picture came through of what Reed presumed to be Big D: a large dildo he had to admit was similar in size to his own cock, making him happy Camden would be ready to take him.

  Camden: I figure if I’m going to have blue balls all week, you get to as well.

  Oh damn, he was being bratty. Why on earth did that turn him on? It never had before. In fact, his previous boys hadn’t ever posed much of a challenge, and he thought he liked it that way. That had him wondering if it was just a matter of him not putting as much into those relationships, so choosing a bratty boy wasn’t smart. He’d have to think on the whys of all that. And obviously, devise a proper punishment. Maybe…

  Reed: Put the cock cage on.

  He waited. Saw the bubbles pop up and then disappear. Pop up and then disappear. He couldn’t keep the smirk from his face. You weren’t expecting that, were you, Cam? Still silence and the occasional bubble. Then nothing again. Hmm. And finally…

  Camden: I don’t know what to do, Sir. I’m nervous.

  His poor boy. He knew this would require a phone call, not a text, so he dialed. “Baby.”

  “I’m sorry, Sir.”

  “Why are you sorry?”

  “I just wanted to tease you, and now I feel stupid.”

  “Camden, don’t feel stupid.”

  “I can’t help it. I was trying to be funny, and now I’m so nervous my hands are shaking.”

  Fuck.

  He’d stressed him out. That was the last thing Reed had wanted to do. “Baby, can you be patient for fifteen minutes? Just take some deep breaths for me, all right? I’m hanging up but I’ll call you back in fifteen.”

  “You don’t have to. I know you’re busy.”

  “Never too busy for you. That’s not how this works. Do what I say now. Hang up the phone, sit down if you’re not already, and take deep breaths for me.”

  “Yes, Sir. Sorry.”

  “No more apologies, is that understood? I’ll take care of you. You just have to be patient and give me fifteen minutes. Can you do that for me, Cam?”

  “Yes, Sir. I’ll wait for you to call.”

  “That’s my good boy.” He heard Camden whimper and cussed himself out six ways from Sunday for doing this to him. “Bye, baby.”

  When they hung up, he jogged out to the front and found Ben. “Hey. Something has come up and I need to take my lunch hour early. You got this?”

  “Yeah, of course, man, that’s kinda what you pay me for.”

  He clapped Ben on the back. “It is and you do a damn good job of it. Let’s talk about that later, okay?”

  The nod, combined with the confused look on Ben’s face, had Reed squeezing the man’s shoulder. “See you in a bit.”

  “Okay.”

  Camden’s house was ten minutes away. He’d be cutting it close, but he’d make it just in time. When he got there in only nine, he dialed his number.

  “Hi, Sir. I’m okay, really. I feel ridiculous. I don’t want you to be worried.”

  “Come and let me in, baby.” Camden gasped and then Reed heard footsteps pounding down the stairs.

  The door was thrown open and then he had an armful of shaking boy, arms and legs wrapped around him, Cam’s voice clear as day when he said, “Daddy.”

  Jesus, hearing Camden say that sent a sizzling shock throughout Reed’s body. The significance of hearing that from Camden was enormous. He was vulnerable and hearing him voice that showed an amazing amount of trust that Reed would be able to help him. He’d just have to make sure Camden understood how much it meant to him. He walked in the house and shut the door behind them, holding on tight as he whispered, “I’m sorry, baby. I never wanted to scare you like that.”

  Camden shook his head as much as he could with it tucked against his neck. “No. It’s not that. Well, I mean, a little bit, but I just feel like such an idiot. Of course, I could have read the directions; I don’t know why it stressed me out so much.”

  Reed told Camden to take some deep breaths and then rubbed his back and soothed him. “Shhh, you’re okay. I’m here.”

  “Cam? What’s going on? Is everything ok?”

  Camden jolted in his arms and took a deep breath. Reed glanced at the guy that was closer to them than he was expecting. He gave the guy a smile then turned his attention back to Camden. He rubbed his hands up and down his back until Camden pulled back enough to answer. “Yeah, Jacob. Sorry. Um, I just got worked up and stressed about something, but I’m okay. Really. You know how I get.” He tried to wiggle out of Reed’s arms, but Reed held him tight. When Camden looked at him, Reed shook his head. He huffed, but there was a tiny smile Reed guessed was happiness that he was taking charge.

  “I was talking to Reed and he got worried and drove over. We’re going upstairs.”

  Jacob gave them both a smile and a nod and walked back into the family room. Reed headed towards the stairs, Camden still in his arms, and began to climb. “Which room is yours?”

  “Second on the left.”

  He pushed his way through the partially closed door and sat down on Camden’s bed so he could pull away enough to see his face. Apparently, it was too soon though because Camden was latched on tight. Reed held him for a moment more but wasn’t going to allow him to hide any longer. “Come on, let m
e see you.”

  Camden sighed and pulled back. He wasn’t crying—thank god for small favors—but he was red as a lobster and wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Look at me, Camden.”

  His serious tone must have been convincing because Camden’s eyes flew up to his. He got even redder than Reed thought possible and placed his hands over his cheeks, probably to cool them down. His hands were always like ice.

  “I’m such an idiot. I don’t know what I’m doing, and because of that, everything seems stressful. I mean, Jesus, I’m surprised I can find my own asshole for Big D.”

  Reed didn’t mean to. He really didn’t…but a laugh burst out of him before he could stop it and then they were both in stitches. He couldn’t imagine ever wanting to let Camden go. Not if he could help it. “You’re not an idiot. You stress out easily and then your mind makes things seem much more difficult than they actually are.”

  When Camden only nodded and looked at something behind him, Reed turned and saw the item in question. He leaned back on the bed and grabbed it, holding it in his hand. He deftly took the cage apart. “You chose a good brand and style. This one has a pattern that’s sometimes called an exoskeleton cage. It kind of looks like a spine on top of your cock with the ribs hugging all the way around it from base to tip.”

  “Is this Cock Cage 101, Sir?”

  Reed raised his brows. “It is. Keep listening.”

  Camden got serious and nodded. “It’ll be easy to clean yourself and the cage while wearing it. Use a gentle liquid soap and for the hard to reach places, you can use a cotton swab. Then make sure it’s completely dry.”

  Camden bit his lip. “I had no idea it would be this complicated.”

  Reed reached up and cupped Camden’s cheek. “It’s easier than it sounds, I promise. It will become second nature if we both agree this is something we want to continue doing. Just a few more things. The tip has an opening that will allow you to be able to pee without taking it off, but you’ll need to do so sitting down, all right? Otherwise you’ll make a mess of everything around you.”

  Camden snorted and Reed grinned at him and continued his explanation. If he went through everything, it wouldn’t be so intimidating for Camden. “It allows air to pass through the bars, and for long-term use, that’s what you’ll need. It’s hinged, so it’s the easiest type to put on and take off and right at the hinge is where the key locks it.”