by R. Phoenix
He was already dozing by the time I got back in bed, and he smiled sleepily at me before snuggling up in my arms.
Today could not possibly have been more perfect.
Chapter Nine
Micah
What had I been thinking? Better yet, had I been thinking at all? I’d obviously been caught up in the afterglow of sexting with Carter to really comprehend what I was saying yes to. How else would I have agreed to go out with Finn? It couldn’t even be anything normal, either. He’d had to pick bowling, of all things.
I had to have been completely nuts to have agreed, but then, I also wasn’t even sure if I could say no to a force of nature like Finn. He hadn’t really asked me so much as he’d told me — even though he’d been nice about it.
It wasn’t like I had a better suggestion, though. The only place I went other than home, school, and the shelter was the bar for kink night. I sure as hell wasn’t bringing Finn there.
The thought sent a pang through me. I was so afraid this would end up like the last time I’d tried to hang out with “friends.” I’d ended up in the middle of a bar, surrounded by daddies and handlers and others in the lifestyle I was now a part of.
Damn, there went my excuse. That night had led to me finding the love of my life, so I couldn’t say that going out was all bad.
Maybe I needed to take the leap and put myself out there. Worst case scenario, I had a horrible evening but then I’d never have to do that again. Then I could tell Carter to go out and have fun with Rick without feeling pressure to do the same. Best case scenario, maybe I’d even enjoy my time with Finn. I wouldn’t know if I didn’t try.
I checked my outfit in the mirror, still not sure exactly what to think about it. I wasn’t really going out-out. I was just hanging out with a friend. That didn’t mean I should look like a slob, but I didn’t need to get dressed up either. The t-shirt was nice enough, wasn’t it? It wasn’t exactly form-fitting, and my jeans weren’t tight, but I didn’t look nearly as uptight as I had before… before I’d met Carter, when he’d showed me it was okay to wear what I was comfortable in.
Well, not completely. I wouldn’t be caught dead in public in a onesie or nightgown, but at least I’d gained enough confidence to pick clothes I liked instead of clothes I thought I should wear.
Carter sat on the bed, watching me through the mirror with an expression I couldn’t read at all. I looked over my shoulder, meeting his eyes.
“Is this okay, Daddy?” I asked, tugging at my shirt’s hem.
“You look great, baby. Not as good as when I dress you up, but close enough.” He grinned at me, a sparkle in his eyes.
“Yeah, well, this isn’t something to wear for an evening of cuddling.” I smiled at him. “Besides, not going to leave the house with makeup and pink nails.” I held up my hands, where my fingernails were painted a subdued shade of silver that was more shine than color.
“Hopefully, that’ll change over time. I’d love to make you pretty and show you off.”
I made a face. “I’m not sure about that, to be honest. I mean, I love it when you do my makeup and all, but going out in public like that? I have no idea if I can do that for you.”
“I didn’t mean you have to, baby. Not now, and not ever if you’re never comfortable with it. I meant that I’d like to try it one day, since I think it’s absolutely sexy and beautiful and stunning, but it’s completely up to you. I want you to enjoy it too.” His words rang with sincerity, but they were still hard to hear.
“I’m sorry. I wish I was more confident and could give you more.” Even though he said it was okay, it had to bother him sometimes that I couldn’t give him what he wanted.
“Oh, baby, you give me more than I could ever dream of. You should know that by now.” He got up and stood behind me. “I love you beyond anything, and whatever we do is perfect for me. Think about it this way: if I didn’t mention things I’d like to try, would you think to bring it up?” He kissed my neck. “You wouldn’t suggest going out with makeup, right?”
I smiled weakly at the thought. He had a point. I might try it if he suggested it, but on my own? I’d never have the nerve to bring it up.
“See? That’s why I bring things like this up, to give you ideas. Whatever we do is up to you then.” His lips brushed my throat again, this time rubbing his groin against my ass.
Why exactly was I supposed to go out again?
“Stop that, Daddy.” I laughed, making no move to actually step away from him.
Carter held me close. “I like it, you like it… Is there a reason for me to stop?”
“Well, if you put it that way…” It really was a pleasant thought. I sighed, though. “But I think you wanted me to go out too. Or maybe I could just stay home?” I asked hopefully. If Carter ordered me to stay, I couldn’t disobey, right?
He stepped away, chuckling. “Later, baby.”
Damn.
With a sigh, I tugged at my shirt again, trying to decide whether I was ready. I guessed it wouldn’t get any easier, especially with the way Carter watched me with hungry eyes.
I wiggled my butt, trying — and probably failing — to look seductive.
His eyes met mine in the mirror. “Tell you what. You go be my good boy now and have fun with Finn, and when you get back, you’ll get a reward. How does that sound?”
I pouted. The way he’d rubbed against me hadn’t made me want to stay home any less. “But I want to stay home and watch TV with you. And do other—”
“You want to go out, baby. You need to go out. And if I may remind you, you forced me to go out with Rick, too. So don’t think you’re going to get out of it now. You definitely won’t.” Now his voice took on his daddy tone, and I shivered. He didn’t usually go stern with me, because we both liked it if he cuddled and pampered me, but there was something about that voice that held some appeal, too.
I fanned myself as my cock started to harden. “Daddy, stop talking to me like that or we’ll need to have a quickie before I go. I’m definitely not going out in public with a boner, not again.” I glared at him. “The texting in class was enough, thank you very much.”
And it had led to this bowling alley visit with Finn.
Again, Carter got up, stepping up to me and drawing me against his chest. Hadn’t we been in this position less than two minutes before? At this rate, I wouldn’t even make it out of the house in the next half hour, let alone to my car.
But I also didn’t object at all. He was already hard too, and he ground against me. “So if I talk to you like this… you’ll get horny? Is my baby already that hot for his daddy?” His voice was low, retaining that stern tone.
I shivered again, my cock tenting my trousers already. Did he even have to ask? “I’m hot for you all the time. But yeah, this is kind of nice…” I leaned back to kiss his jaw. “So don’t use it to try to get me to do anything that doesn’t involve both of us and the bedroom. If I remember right, you just said something about me needing to go out with Finn. You’re not doing a great job of motivating me.”
He squeezed my hips. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to distract you again, but I also didn’t know you were into me being bossy.”
“Believe me, I didn’t either. But now I do, and you’re my daddy, so you have to be the responsible one.”
Carter laughed then kissed my ear. “I’ll try to remember that. So how about you’re my good boy now, you go have fun with Finn, then when you get back home, I’ll be your stern daddy?” He still held me tight, but at least he didn’t rub against my ass anymore.
I turned around to face him, resting my cheek against his shoulder. A smile played on his lips.
My heart soared with love for this man who’d given me the world… and continued to do so. “I’m on it.” I fiddled with the hem of my shirt, checked my hair in the mirror, then turned around. I was ready — or at least, as ready as I’d ever be. “All right, Daddy. Love you.”
I kissed him goodbye, and after gra
bbing my ass again and kissing me deeply, Carter managed to let go of me — or maybe I let go of him. I wasn’t really sure. But I made it to the front door without getting sidetracked again, and I was in my car before I could second guess anything.
Or before I just went back inside, grabbed Carter, and demanded that he get stern with me.
He’d do that later, when I’d been a good boy, I reminded myself. So I had no other choice but to make good on my word. I drove to Finn’s apartment. It didn’t take long, and within twenty minutes, I was pulling up in the parking lot in front of his apartment complex.
I found his door and rang the doorbell. Just as I was starting to think I’d been set up again, the door opened. He was right there, larger than life, sparkling and glittering and grinning from ear to ear.
He hugged me tightly, swathing me in a cloud of perfume and chatter.
Oh my god.
What had I gotten myself into?
Finn plopped down into the passenger seat of my car, never pausing for even one moment. He rambled about his clothes, the new makeup he’d bought, his classes, and his week until my head was spinning. Somehow, in between all of that, he managed to direct me to the bowling alley.
I needed all of my focus to pick up on his directions, since he tended to drop a “left up here” in the middle of a sentence about clothes, which sometimes made it hard to follow them. But I managed, even though I wasn’t sure how it had happened even as I pulled up to the front of the bowling alley.
I followed him inside, where he dealt with the mundane. He paid for the bowling lane, shushing my offer to pay or at least split it with him, and we got our ugly shoes. I tried not to think of how many feet had been in them as I trailed behind him like a good dog to the lane.
It wasn’t until we ordered our drinks that he finally stopped talking long enough to breathe — and to finally give me the chance to respond to what he’d been saying.
But he’d covered so many topics that I didn’t even know where to start. There was a brief, awkward pause before I asked, “Have you been here before?” It was a safe enough question, right?
“Yeah, a couple of times. I like it here. The food’s decent, and sometimes there are really sexy guys bowling. Not that I think I’m gonna meet my man here, but looking doesn’t hurt at all. It’s even a little better than porn, because this is real.” He winked at me, his perfectly manicured brows slightly raised. “Not that there’s anything wrong with porn, is it? That’s hot enough too, but I kind of prefer real guys…”
It was hard to keep up with what he was saying. I was quiet, especially in comparison to him, but I didn’t mind his chatter. It wasn’t annoying at all, just entertaining, and it saved me from more awkward moments.
I took the time to look at Finn again. I could see his makeup better, and it was clear he definitely knew what he was doing. I’d thought Carter did well when he made me up, but he had nothing on Finn.
“Oh, over there. That might get interesting,” Finn said, catching my arm. He nodded to a group of guys a few lanes over, who were just getting ready to play. “They’re looking delicious.” He was practically drooling, not at all hiding his interest.
I didn’t reply, mostly because I didn’t want to get caught staring. Besides, I was more into the daddy type. I snorted, since I was into exactly one daddy, but still, looking wasn’t interesting at all. I could touch mine when I got home later that evening.
Finn jumped up, grabbed my hand, and pulled me to my feet. “Let’s go play now!”
I shook my head. Hadn’t he been ogling the guys just a second ago? He moved at the speed of light, and he seemed to have forgotten all about the guys just that quickly as we went to pick our balls.
I threw it, kind of. It went sideways, but I managed to hit at least a couple of bowling pins. I sighed. Well, this wasn’t going to be my future career or hardcore hobby. I didn’t have any innate talent here.
“We seriously need to work on your aim, darling.” Finn threw his ball down, which immediately went to the side without even getting close to one pin.
I raised an eyebrow, looking at him. “I’m not sure you can teach me anything, Mr. Gutter Ball.”
Finn threw his head to the side, flipping his bangs to the side. “Oh, honey, not meee.” He looked down at his painted fingernails. “I shouldn’t have done these before coming here.” With that comment, he strutted back a few steps, giving me room again.
I rolled the ball down the lane again, and I didn’t even have to look to know it wasn’t going to hit anything. I turned to Finn. “We need to pick something else next time,” I said, a little shyly. “This is embarrassing.” At least, if there was a next time.
He laughed. “We’re both bad, so no. Embarrassing would be if you were great and I sucked.” He paused. “Well, I do suck, just not like this.”
I snorted and shook my head. He didn’t have trouble dropping innuendos.
I shouldn’t have been surprised. He wore skin tight jeans, ripped in just the right places to show off without displaying anything important but while still teased at what might be there.
Or not, because I wasn’t sure what kind of underwear would even fit beneath that ensemble. His t-shirt even had some sparkling stones on it, drawing attention to his lean body. He oozed sex… and self-confidence. I’d never have that, no matter how much I tried, but then, I was happy the way I was. I didn’t need to sparkle and shine to draw the attention of the man I actually cared about. Carter gave me his no matter what.
It reminded me of his suggestion of going out with makeup, but I still wasn’t sure about that. It felt wrong somehow to flaunt what I liked at home, but then, given the looks Finn received from a few lanes over, not everyone disapproved of it. Maybe I’d have to try it. Carter could get me made up, and then…
Yeah, who was I kidding? We’d probably never leave the house.
“What the hell are you staring at? Is there some hunk I don’t see? You need to share, you know that?” Finn’s voice brought me back into the moment.
I blinked, trying to get my eyes to focus, then my mouth curved into an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I was totally lost in thought…” I trailed off, not knowing what exactly I wanted to say. It wasn’t like I could tell him I was daydreaming about my Daddy fucking me while I wore makeup.
“Daydreaming about your guy, I guess, hmm? Care to share?” He flashed me a grin.
I shook my head. “Nah, nothing for you. You’d just like it too much.” I grinned back at him so the words didn’t seem harsh, but I didn’t plan on telling him what was going through my mind. “Besides, you know enough about him as it is.”
“That’s still mean. You obviously have a nice specimen at home. Not giving me anything to dream about is just cruel.” He rested his hand with his manicured, brightly painted nails next to me on the table.
I laughed. “Sorry, I don’t kiss and tell. Get yourself your own man so you don’t have to live vicariously through me.”
Finn snorted. “I’m not single by choice, believe me. So give me something.” He leaned closer, like he thought I’d tell him if he gave me puppy eyes.
“Nope. And hey, we can always look to see if there’s another hottie around here, since obviously you’re not satisfied looking at the guys a few lanes over?”
“I need details, not just looking! But you don’t share, which is sooo mean. Here I thought you were a friend.” He clutched his chest like I’d truly wounded him, but his grin made it pretty clear I hadn’t.
“I am, which is why I’m sparing you the details.” I couldn’t even imagine giving him the details. The idea alone made my cheeks fill with color. To stop him from pestering me, I got up again, grabbing my ball and throwing it. It went sideways again, but this time, I managed to hit two of the bowling pins. My aim wasn’t getting any better.
In the next lane over, four guys about our age showed up. Even I had to admit they weren’t bad-looking, and they were boisterous and jostling each other as they set
drinks down on the table.
Finn noticed them too, since his strut got even more pronounced when he came to me to throw. “See that?” he whispered. “Now that’s hot. I wouldn’t even need to be picky about which one could do me as long as I got one.”
I shook my head. “You’re unbelievable. And horny.”
“Guilty.” He winked at me, then raised his hand to wave at the guys on the other lane.
What the hell? Was he trying to get us beaten up? Hadn’t he heard the stories? Looking the way he did, I couldn’t imagine he didn’t know the dangers of being different.
But one of the guys just waved back, though slightly less flirtatiously than Finn. He waved back again then gestured for me to throw.
Then he looked back at the guys, making eye contact with the one who’d waved. Well, it didn’t seem like we were going to get beaten up, but did he have to be quite so obvious?
I immediately felt a little guilty for thinking it. He was who he was, and it wasn’t fair of me to judge him for it. If he wanted to ogle and flirt, that was his prerogative.
Was he trying to get them to come play with us? Or was he going to go over there and ditch me?
Hopefully not, but it was possible he was getting tired of my company already. Should I have talked to him more? Replied more? I hadn’t really been able to get a word in edgewise, but should I have tried harder—
Finn strutted over to the next lane, now definitely screaming to the world in no uncertain terms that he was available. While he’d been over the top before, he threw in even more sex appeal with the sway of his hips and the way he peered at the guys.
I dropped the ball back into the holder, my shoulders slumping. Just when I thought I’d found a friend and could actually have some fun, just when I’d relaxed and started to enjoy the mostly one-sided conversation, he’d up and left without a word.
I obviously wasn’t meant for making friends. It never seemed to go well, and the only person who got me out of my comfort zone with ease was Carter… and he was far more than a friend.
