Waited So Long

by J. M. Dabney

  "Going for a younger man, Devon? Isn't that a little cliched for a middle-aged man?"

  "No, you have that backward. You see, when I found out he was free I wasn't letting him get away. I waited a long time for you to get stupid."

  I shot a glance at Tiff just in time to see water come out of her nose and Ted was patting her back, wiping her face.

  "Why don't you join us for a drink, Lawrence? There's a free chair you can pull up."

  Oh, my Daddy was good, his guttural voice all polite. I almost thought Lawrence was going to refuse. Then we had two more people sitting at the table. A beautiful, elegant man with expertly styled hair, maybe in his late thirties.

  "I'm Bern, and this is my boyfriend, Devon." Bern offered his hand to the stranger, but his free hand slipped beneath my t-shirt to stroke my lower back in soothing circles. They shared a quick shake, and then Bern was back. He'd shifted and turned slightly until his shoulder rested on my chest, and my chin naturally came to rest on his shoulder. He was putting himself between me and possible threats of any kind.

  Lawrence's date was paying a bit too much attention to Bern. I felt a tinge of jealousy, but I trusted Daddy and knew I was it for him. I turned just enough to kiss the side of his neck and inhale his subtle cologne. He was gorgeous, anyone would look, but he nuzzled my smooth cheek with his bearded one. I knew what that beard felt like on every inch of me.

  "I'm Jeff, it's a pleasure to meet you. I thought it was just Lawrence and myself tonight."

  "I invited him to join us, at least for a drink or two. For old times’ sake."

  The server came back at that moment with food. Bern set up my food, made sure I had everything I needed before he even looked at his plate. "Please bring him a water with lemon. He's done drinking for tonight."

  I smiled as I stared at my plate. He had a way of anticipating my needs before I even knew what I wanted.

  "I wish we were at home so I could have my boy sitting on my lap," he whispered in my ear before he checked on everyone else. The meals we shared at home he had me sit on his thigh and fed me each bite. He found enjoyment in taking care of me. Comforting me when I needed it. I even saw the caring in the times he punished me.

  He asked the server to bring the new couple drinks and menus.

  At first, I felt awkward hearing Lawrence's voice. Yes, I was a bit uncomfortable, but it was seeing my husband who'd asked for a divorce and seemed to go on with his life. I felt my reaction was normal. That didn't mean I didn't feel his glare as it bore into me. We were divorced, and I wasn't doing anything wrong.

  "Did you tell Lawrence you got a promotion?" Tiff asked as she delicately picked at her own salad.

  "No, Mr. Hatcher said that I showed real assertiveness and exemplary work ethic."

  "I still think you should quit and open your own firm, just a small place. Maybe we can find a house where you can have a home office."

  "I know, but I cut down on my hours, and I can turn down projects." After I'd stood up for myself, my boss had decided that a pain in the ass client wasn't worth losing me. I'd been there almost since day one. But I appreciated my Daddy's faith in me.

  "Whatever makes you happy, baby. Now eat, it's past your dinner time."

  "What the fuck is this?" Lawrence demanded. "When did you start fuck—"

  "Listen, asshole, I offered you a seat at the table out of politeness, but you will not speak to Devon in that tone. We can continue to purport ourselves like adults with good manners, or you can take your embarrassed date to another table. Show some respect for the gentleman you came with, or you can leave. Your date can stay and enjoy a friendly meal with us."

  "Why should I be polite when I just realized you were fucking my husband before you disappeared?"

  "Devon showed you respect, and I showed him the same when I didn't put him in that position before I left. You didn't deserve him, and I waited years for him to be free. Now get your ass up before I don't care about making a scene. Devon and I will make sure your date gets home safely."

  I held my breath as I waited for Lawrence to lose his mind and start shouting, but in his usual fashion, he left without even giving his date a second glance. I felt sorry for the other man. Jeff was looking everywhere but at us. I'd known Lawrence could be bitchy and cruel, but to leave without offering Jeff a ride home showed shitty behavior.

  "I should call a—"

  "No, you'll have a nice dinner and drinks, on me, and then we'll get you home. No reason for your night to be ruined." Bern announced and got up, moving the chair Lawrence had used back to the other table.

  I observed as Jeff scooted his seat over a bit to get more comfortable and out of the way.

  "I could really use a strong drink."

  "Then have all the drinks you want, honey, you have a designated driver. We'll take you home or Bern and Devon will. I think you deserve it." Ted waved the server over as she started to pass the table.

  I tried not to snort at the look on the elegant man's face by being called honey by a scary biker. Jeff ordered his food and a mixed drink instead of the original wine.

  "What is it you do, Jeff?" I asked to include him in the conversation.

  "I'm a photographer and journalist. I do a lot of travel articles and the occasional freelance piece."

  "I'm sorry for Lawrence, that was rude."

  "Devon, don't apologize, it was a blind date. My friends swore they had the nicest guy. To be honest, I'd almost called to cancel, but I don't like doing that last minute even if I've never met the person before. This seems like a better evening. I had an odd feeling since he picked me up."

  The rest of the night was very much how it started, laidback conversation, too much to drink, and when I refused dessert, Bern ordered me my favorite for later. On an unconscious level, I think I'd started comparing Bern and Lawrence's treatment of me. Even in the honeymoon phase of my relationship and marriage to Lawrence, I'd sensed something wasn't right. Bern was respectful of my limits, listened to me complain, offered his opinion, but never guilted me into complying. While the sex was amazing, it was more than that.

  I sometimes had a fleeting thought about what would've happened if he'd told me before he left for the Marines. Yet, I could admit I wouldn't have accepted it. Everything happened at the time it's supposed to, and in analyzing Lawrence's role as my husband, after the divorce, I started to realize what I wanted and needed. I gave Bern my weight, and he automatically shifted until he could cuddle me to his side with his arm tightly around me. I just needed to work a bit more on my insecurities. He didn't hesitate to say he loved me, but I had to learn what it was like to truly love in return before I could say it.

  12

  Bern

  "Hey, baby boy, you're home early," I called out as I closed the door behind me. "I thought you had a business dinner." I tossed my phone on the table along with my keys and strode through the house to the kitchen. I had a surprise for my boy. I froze in the doorway as I caught sight of my boy coming toward me. He was naked per my rules, but if it was up to me, he'd be home waiting for me naked every night.

  And what I loved the most, was the small smile as he approached. His confidence grew every day, and I was so proud of him. As soon as he was close enough, I grabbed his hips and jerked him against me. I lowered my mouth to his and brought my hands up to sink into his soft hair. A rumbling sound worked its way up from my chest as he shoved his hands under my shirt to get to my hairy stomach and higher to my chest. My boy loved his hairy Daddy.

  I reluctantly broke the kiss. "I missed you today, boy."

  "I missed you too. Daddy, will you go to my work dinner with me tonight?"

  "Do you want me there?"

  He nodded as I placed gentle kisses to his lips. I could spend hours just kissing and holding him.

  "Then, yes, I'll go. What do I need to wear?"

  "I bought you something to wear."

  "Baby, you don't have to buy me things."

  "I know, but I want
ed to. And to be honest, I wanted to see you in a suit."

  "Ulterior motives. When do we have to leave?"

  "We have to be at the restaurant in a few hours."

  "Then, I have time to discuss something with you first." I backed up to the kitchen table, sat down onto a chair, and drew him down onto my lap. "Were you a good boy today?"

  "Yes, Daddy."

  His shy tone made my cock harden, but we didn't have time for me to take care of my boy as I liked. He liked to be played with and teased—loved on as he deserved. I wanted him constantly, and we were coming up on three months since he agreed to be mine. He'd taken a few business trips, and even though I hated it, I knew since the arrangement changed at work, he loved his job. Video calls and texts throughout the day helped, but a week or two without him hadn't set right with me.

  I raised my left hand and stroked down the center of his body, teasing the curve of his belly and cupped his cock. He rolled his hips, and I circled his pretty dick. I slowly jacked his length. I caught his gaze with mine.

  "Daddy's boy deserves a reward for being good."

  His sexy, breathy moans came faster as he shifted to straddle my thighs with his back to my chest. I played with his right nipple, then the other and bit at his shoulder.

  "When we get home from dinner, I'll let you watch TV while you sit on Daddy's cock."

  "Th-thank you." He gasped as I wrapped my big hand around the front of his throat. He tipped his head back as I squeezed just enough until his pleasure-induced moans turned to rasps and he fucked my fist. "Daddy, please."

  I released the slight pressure as he drew in deep breaths and then did it again. "You like when Daddy controls you. Come for Daddy, boy."

  His movements became desperate, and then his seed covered my hand, and I squeezed my thumb and forefinger just under the head, milking every ounce. I didn't stop until he collapsed against my chest, and I raised my hand to his mouth. "Clean up your mess." I spread my hand across his pelvis and worked his ass against my bulge as he sucked and licked my fingers. When he sucked two past his lips, I pushed in deeper until he gagged for me.

  I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight to me as I pressed my face to his neck. Kissing and inhaling the scent that was all my boy's, I'd never get tired of him being mine.

  "Now, I don't want to go to dinner, Daddy."

  "Well, you have to, it's for work. I want you to move in with me."

  Suddenly he was standing but just as quickly seated himself back on my lap, his inner thighs gripping my hips.

  "You want us to live together?"

  "Of course, I thought maybe we could look at houses. Something that's just ours. What do you think?" I curled my hands around his sides and drew my thumbs over his soft skin, sinking into his belly I loved so much.

  "I'd love that."

  "Then we'll call an agent and start looking at places."

  He giggled and hugged my neck, kissing all over my face. I chuckled at his excitement. I knew he wasn't ready for the question I really wanted to ask, but one day we'd get to that point. While I wanted my ring on his finger, it wasn't a future requirement. Either way, I was planning to spend the rest of my life with him.

  "If that made you happy, what would you say if I reserved us a cabin in the woods for a weekend? That place you always wanted to go."

  "On Henderson Lake?"

  "Yes."

  "You remembered."

  I took his face in my hands and swiped away his tears with my thumbs. I hated thinking about Lawrence, but there were so many things my boy wanted to do and felt he couldn't have because of his ex-husband.

  "Baby, there's not much I don't remember about you, and I have a list of all the trips you wanted to take and never could. We're going to make them all, but I thought the lake was a good starting point. I took off Friday. We can head up there for a long weekend just the two of us."

  "I'd love that."

  "Why don't we go take a shower and get ready so we're not late?" I stood, and he locked his legs around my waist as I made my way upstairs to the master bathroom. I started the water and made sure it was the temperature he preferred then he dropped his legs, and I placed him under the spray.

  I stepped back, and I watched him as he turned to wet his hair. I took in the water that cascaded down his frame. I bent over to untie my work boots. When I straightened, I caught his gaze, and I slowly stripped, he bit his lip as he studied me.

  "Daddy?" he called my name as he poured shampoo in his palm.

  "Yes, boy?"

  "If I had been single before you enlisted, would you have told me how you felt?"

  I pushed my underwear and pants off as I thought about his question, but the answer was simple. "Yes. If you'd been single when I turned eighteen, I would've done everything to make you mine." I entered the stall and took over lathering his hair, working my fingers through the strands, massaging his scalp. "You were and are everything to me, Devon. Whether I was just Bern or Daddy, I'd want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know you're not ready yet, but someday you will be. Until then, I'll be right here."

  I tipped his head back to strip the lather from his hair, and I saw in his eyes how much he wanted to give in, but I wanted him ready. He had years of neglect and shame to work through, and I knew he trusted me, but he didn't trust himself yet. All I could do was continue as I started showing him that he was all I'd ever needed.

  I tenderly washed every inch of him and then let him do the same for me. He didn't touch my cock—he never did without permission. I know our relationship seemed odd to the outside world. He needed my domination and my caring. He depended on me to ground him. It was a part of me I'd never understood until him. Daddy was only ever for him. My gift to him alone.

  We stole kisses until we finished our shower. Because it was my pleasure, I dried him and dressed him. I put on the suit he bought me. He shyly smiled up at me as he expertly knotted my tie. Through it all I touched him; it was an addiction. The thought of being without him now that I'd finally claimed him terrified me. Yearning for something—someone—so long and trying to tell yourself it wasn't meant to be to finally attaining it was hard to accept. As if just one jostle and I'd awaken, it would still be the secret dreams and fantasies I had of a life with him.

  I wanted to hold on tightly and make demands, but I could only continue as I am.

  "Ready?" I asked.

  "Yes, I can't wait to introduce you to everyone. They've all mentioned how happy I've been the last few months."

  "I want you to be happy."

  I gave him one last kiss, and we left the house. I'd prefer to stay home with him all night, but I couldn't lock him away because of my selfishness. Although I didn't care where we were, I loved being with him. This weekend it would just be us in a cabin with no distractions and nothing to do but love on my boy.

  13

  Devon

  The breeze off the lake was chilly, and I wrapped Daddy's sweater around me and sipped my hot tea as he cleaned the kitchen. He'd told me to relax. I still couldn't get over what he'd done. The cabin. He'd made me my favorite meal. It was perfect. It was getting easier to process that he was mine, but it still felt like a dream. My co-workers and boss had loved him when I took him to the work dinner. I'd stood nearby when a lady from another floor asked who he'd come with and the pride when he'd pointed me out shocked me.

  It shouldn't have though. My life was far different—I was different. I no longer looked at myself in shame. I'd accepted the pieces of me I'd kept hidden for thirty years. I stumbled, but Bern was always there to catch me. Some days I waited for my caution to push him away. He didn't fail to assure me that he'd be with me through the good and bad.

  Strong arms encircled me, and I didn't hesitate to rest my weight against him.

  "It's getting cold, boy, come inside, I started a fire for you."

  A shiver worked up my spine as he led me inside without releasing me. He kicked the door closed behind us, and that
's when I noticed he'd moved the coffee table. Blankets and pillows were piled in its place.

  "What's this?"

  He removed the mug from my hands and unwrapped me from his sweater.

  "Lift your arms."

  I complied, and he removed my t-shirt. I glanced over my shoulder to catch him staring at me. His gaze followed the path of his fingertips. Goosebumps popped up on my arms. His intensity astounded me. When we were alone, his focus completely narrowed down to me. As if the world didn't exist beyond being with me. He stepped around me and knelt at my feet. He untied and removed my sneakers. He slipped off my socks and teased my instep, causing my toes to curl.

  "Do you know what I thought the first time I saw you at my Dad's?"

  I steadied myself by placing my hands on his shoulders as he started to undo my jeans.

  "No."

  "I had to ask myself how I could've stayed away from you for so long. That first hug was like coming home."

  If I was supposed to speak, I couldn't have done so if my life depended on it. The truth of it was right there in his eyes as he looked up at me. All I could do was stand there as he stripped me bare physically and emotionally.

  "You were as beautiful as the first time I realized I wanted you. I haven't been happy in the time I was away. I didn't understand that until I saw you waiting for me.

  "Now, I want to ask you something."

  I held my breath as he pulled something from his pocket. A small black bag sat in the palm of his hand.

  "Take it."

  My hands were shaking so badly that it took two tries to pick up the bag. I worked the tiny drawstring loose. I hooked two rings with my finger and pulled them out. I studied them in silence. One had Claimed etched into the black surface of the thinner ring. I turned them to the light to find Daddy inside the band of one and boy in the other.