by Xenia Melzer
When Richard woke, he pulled Dean next to him so they could have their breakfast together. He didn’t attempt to feed Dean, though. It was Richard’s subtle way of telling his boy how sorry he was about the previous day and that he wasn’t quite sure how to fix it. Dean snuggled closer to Richard’s bulky frame, pleading with his eyes for a spoonful of the yogurt Richard was eating. Dean was too afraid of all the things he’d have to deal with over the coming days to hold a grudge over something as petty as his Dom’s initial reaction to the bombshell that had been dropped on him. When Richard scooped up a generous amount of yogurt and strawberry to feed to him, Dean moaned happily. At least on the D/s front, things seemed to be back to normal.
DEAN HAD just finished clearing breakfast when the doorbell rang. He hurried to open it. A man in his forties, with sleek, shoulder-length black hair tamed in a ponytail, almond-shaped hazel eyes surrounded by a web of lines that deepened when he smiled, and blinding white teeth held out his hand. “Hello, I’m Julio O’Dell, from Precious Care.”
Dean took the hand and returned the smile. Julio was smaller than him, about five foot six, with a stocky build. He radiated confidence. “Nice to meet you, Mr. O’Dell.”
Julio must have heard the puzzlement in Dean’s voice. His smile broadened. “My mother is Mexican, my father Irish. Makes for an interesting genetic mix and an even more interesting name.”
Dean blushed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… it’s just, the combination….”
“I know. You might think parents would take such things into consideration when naming their offspring, but, no. All parents are selfish. My middle name is Andrew, by the way.”
Julio winked and Dean couldn’t help but laugh. He already felt at ease with this man, which was a good thing, since he would be spending a lot of time there. Dean realized that Julio was looking over his shoulder and turned. Richard had come out of the bathroom. He was dressed in one of his expensive, no nonsense or I’m going to eat you alive and still look sophisticated business suits and stared at Julio as if he was still deciding what to do with him. Dean knew that tactic. He had seen Richard use it countless times on unsuspecting business opponents and even on him. Dean secretly called it the “scary Dom face.” In combination with a stern command, that expression terrified those who wanted to make business deals with Richard and sent Dean directly into his submissive headspace while his cock instantly perked up at the idea of playing. Julio, though, appeared completely unfazed by this display of alpha manliness. His smile deepened, revealing two cute dimples.
“Hello. I’m Julio, the new nanny.”
Richard gave Julio his most scary stare before he took the man’s hand. “I’m Richard Miller, and if you are the new nanny has yet to be seen.”
Julio didn’t seem to take offense. His voice stayed smooth, professional. Every bit a man who was used to dealing with intimidating rich people. “Of course, Mr. Miller. The decision whether you wish to employ my services is entirely up to you.”
Richard’s lips twitched. He had a soft spot for people with courage. “You’re pretty good at handling difficult customers, aren’t you?”
Julio grinned broadly. “Ever tried to reason with a new mom so high on hormones she’s laughing one moment and crying the next without even a change of subject? It’s impossible, believe me. Straightforward, cocky males are kind of a relief now and then.”
Richard guffawed. Julio had managed to win him over, which made Dean breathe a little easier. “I’m glad I made your day. I must go to work now. Dean will fill you in on everything. Goodbye.”
Julio waved. “Have a nice day.” It almost sounded sincere, and Richard flipped him off as if they had been friends for years. He gave Dean a kiss on the mouth.
“I’ll be back early. Promise.”
Dean smiled into the kiss. He appreciated the effort Richard was making. “Thank you. See you then. I love you, Master.”
“And I love you, boy.”
Then Richard was gone. Dean felt a little awkward but didn’t know how to get over it. Luckily Julio had mercy on him. “So, why don’t you show me the nursery for a start?”
“Of course. I have to warn you, though. The interior designer was here yesterday and he kind of tore the place down. The workers will arrive in about two hours and start renovating it.”
Dean led Julio through the apartment toward the former guest room. When he opened the door, Julio whistled. “Wow. That’s quite spacious. A good place.”
“You think? Peyton says he can make it the perfect nursery. He has some very distinct ideas.”
“If you feel better, I can talk to him. He’s coming over too?”
“Yes. He’s always there when Mike and Jeff start a new project. For last-minute changes.”
“Then let’s start shopping online for the basics you’re going to need. At the same time, tell me about your situation.”
For a moment, Dean felt tears gathering in his eyes. He fought them back. Now was not the time to ponder on his grief. While he fired his laptop up, he quickly explained what had happened in the last twenty-four hours and why he needed professional help. Julio listened with just the right number of sympathetic comments to not send Dean into crying again. He definitely knew what he was doing. When Dean finished his story, Julio summed it up in regard to Emily. “You’re stuck with a three-month-old baby you didn’t even know existed a day ago. You have no clue how to handle her or the situation, but you want to keep her because she’s all the family you have left.”
Dean heaved a sigh. “That’s it. As you can see, I need you badly.”
“Your worries are over, cariño. Money has bought you the best help you can find, and I’ll make sure you get to keep your princess. First we’re going on a little shopping spree. If you don’t mind, there’s a pretty good shop not far from here. We can order everything online and it will be delivered today. Let’s start with the clothes.”
Julio rattled off the address of a website and for the next two hours, they were busy shopping baby stuff. Just when they had narrowed the choice of strollers down to three, the doorbell rang again.
When Dean opened, Peyton strode past him with Mike, Jeff, and three workers in tow who were carrying all the items necessary to turn the guest room into a child’s wonderland. They made two more trips back to their cars before they had everything stacked in the hallway. Peyton grabbed Julio to discuss some of the details of the room. When he finally released Julio from his grasp, the man was grateful for the coffee Dean offered him.
“Your friend is very energetic. He has some good ideas, though. I can’t wait to see the room when it’s finished.”
“Peyton is a genius. Not that I would tell him that to his face—he’s already too fond of himself—but when it comes to interior design, there’s nobody who can rival him.”
Julio chuckled. “That’s the impression I got. Let’s get back to the laptop. We still have to decide on a stroller. And didn’t you say the Child Welfare lady is bringing Emily over later?”
“Yes! I can’t wait to see her again.”
RICHARD ARRIVED in time with the delivery from the children’s store and only half an hour before Meredith Denton brought Emily. After she had quizzed Julio about childcare until she was satisfied about his proficiency, she agreed to let Emily stay overnight if he spent the night as well. She handed the baby to Dean, who took her with an awed smile on his face, and then left the apartment. The three men were alone with the baby.
Chapter 12
RICHARD DIDN’T know what to think. Meredith had really left them alone with the little intruder, as he thought of Emily. How could she do that? He turned away from the door to see Dean cooing over the baby, his face almost splitting in half from his grin. Richard felt jealousy wash over him in an all-consuming wave. That look of pure adoration was reserved solely for him! Dean had no right showing it to anybody else. The knowledge that it was utterly ridiculous for him to feel threatened by an infant did nothing to improve
his mood.
Julio beckoned him closer. “Come here, Mr. Miller. I know it’s scary in the beginning, but she doesn’t bite, and even if she did, she has no teeth yet.”
Richard clamped down on his sharp answer and forced a smile on his lips. It was better if Julio thought he was just shy. He came close enough to show willingness but kept enough distance that he could bolt as soon as things became unpleasant. Dean was holding Emily close to his chest with an expression Richard had never seen before. It was a mixture of pure love, awe, and underlying panic.
Julio leaned in to fuss with the blanket Emily was wrapped in. “How about I show you how to bathe her? Then you can feed her and hopefully, she’ll sleep afterward.”
“What do you mean, hopefully?” Richard couldn’t ban the dread from his voice.
Julio grinned at him. “Babies are on a different schedule than us adults. They usually can’t sleep for more than five or six hours in a row. This ability builds slowly. Because Emily’s stomach is so small, she gets hungry after a while. You have to get used to having your night interrupted at least once.”
“How long does it take until she sleeps through the night?” Richard had a sinking feeling.
“Depends. Some babies do it as early as six months, others take until after their second birthday. You never know. You can introduce them to a certain rhythm, though. It probably still won’t come close to your normal sleeping patterns, but at least you can sort of program her. That way you can plan your schedule a little more efficiently.”
When he saw Richard’s expression, Julio quickly went on. “I promise, you’ll get used to it. I know it’s overwhelming in the beginning, and the lack of sleep is going to wear you down. Adding the fact that you haven’t expected to be responsible for a child doesn’t make it easier. I’m not going to lie to you, the coming weeks are going to be hard. You basically have to reshape your life to accommodate the needs of a baby. For the next two years, at least, Emily’s going to dictate your entire schedule. And every time you think things are finally settled, something will happen. Teething, various child illnesses, and growth spurts that mess everything up.”
“This sounds like hell. If you’re trying to sell me on having a baby, you’re doing a poor job.”
Julio chuckled. “I’m just trying to be honest. This way you can’t sue me for lying to you.”
Dean looked up with a horrified expression. “Who would do such a thing?”
“I’m only joking, Dean.” Julio winked at him. “Mostly, at least. As I said, hormones are a scary thing.”
“I’m still not sold on this whole staying the night idea. Shouldn’t we get to know her better before jumping right in?” Richard tried not to sound too desperate. The baby freight train was taking on speed, and he felt helpless to stop it.
Julio’s soothing tone didn’t help at all. “That might be a good idea if Emily were older, but with her three months, the only real connection she had was with her mother, and that was based mostly on scent. Of course, she has to get used to you. That will happen more quickly if you spend as much time as possible together. Don’t worry. I’m here to help you with this. Now let me show you how to bathe Emily.”
Unable to find another reason why they should hand Emily back to Meredith for the night, Richard followed an eager Dean and Julio to the bathroom. Julio showed them how to hold Emily while she was floating in the small baby tub that was among the things Dean had ordered from the baby shop. Soon the room was filled with Emily’s happy coos as she thrashed her arms and legs in the warm water.
Richard had to admit, it sounded kind of cute and looked adorable. That gummy grin, the thin, wet strands of baby hair clinging to the round skull, and the look of pure wonder in Emily’s eyes when Dean trickled water down on her belly were nice. Richard almost felt something warm spreading in his belly. Almost.
Unfortunately Emily didn’t like leaving the tub. Her wails of protest rang loud and clear, and for somebody so small, she had a powerful voice. As well as perfectly functioning lungs. On and on she wailed while Julio helped Dean to towel her dry, put some soothing baby lotion on her skin, adjust the diaper, and put on fresh clothes.
She only stopped her crying when Julio offered her a baby bottle with her dinner. The preparation of the damn thing had been accompanied by a whirlwind of instructions, starting with how the bottles had to be kept clean—apparently, it was enough to put them in the dishwasher—that the recipe of the formula had to be followed exactly, and how to determine the temperature of the milk by putting some drops on the back of your hand between thumb and index finger where the skin was most sensitive. Julio mentioned a fancy thing called a bottle warmer, and Richard could tell by Dean’s exasperated look that it was going on the to-buy list. All that information came to the background of endless wailing. All three men breathed a sigh of relief when Emily latched on to the bottle and silence descended.
Dean had the baby in the crook of his left arm, supporting the bottle with his right hand, Emily grabbing it with her small hands as best as she could. He looked exhausted. “Will she always be so persistent?”
Julio shook his head. “No. Sometimes it will be worse. At this age she’s driven purely by instinct. When she’s uncomfortable for a reason, she will announce it. As she grows older, you’ll find that she will also start reacting to other things despite her basic needs. That’s when the horrible monster called upbringing comes into play. How much she will be able to manipulate you is entirely up to you.”
Richard made a snorting sound. “Just swell. Can we get her to bed before you have any more happy news for us?”
Julio chuckled. “As soon as she’s done with her bottle. After a hot bath, they usually fall asleep fast.”
Just like Julio had predicted, Emily’s eyes started to droop while she was still sucking the last drops of formula. After an impressive burp over Dean’s shoulder, she was out like a light. They took her to the small crib Dean had bought as a substitute until Mike finished her new bed. For the time being, Emily would sleep in the master bedroom until Peyton’s fancy version of a children’s room was done. Richard resented it but couldn’t do anything about. Once Emily was settled, they returned to the living room.
“For your first evening, that went quite well. You’ll get used to everything in no time at all.”
Julio sounded like a motivational trainer. Richard looked at Dean, who didn’t seem to mind. In fact, his boy glowed from the praise. Again, the green-eyed monster reared its ugly head. Dean wasn’t supposed to be so happy about another man’s encouraging words. Only Richard should matter to him. Neither Julio nor Dean seemed to be aware of Richard’s sentiment, though. Dean took Julio’s small overnight bag, which he had brought just in case he was to stay.
“Let me show you to the guest room.”
“I thought the guest room was Emily’s new room?” Julio raised a brow in question.
Dean grinned. “That’s just the one we never use. We have another one. It’s a lot nicer. Please, follow me.”
“Thank you, Dean.” Julio looked at Richard. “My last advice for you today is that you try to get some sleep right now. You never know how long Emily’s going to sleep.”
Richard cursed in his head. He needed to let off some steam after this trying afternoon. Spanking Dean’s ass and then fucking him senseless would have helped. Unfortunately, one glance at his boy told him there wouldn’t be any such activities tonight. Richard mustered all the patience he had left, promising himself a steamy night in the near future for this day’s hardships.
DESPITE BEING so wound up, Richard fell asleep surprisingly fast. It had probably to do with the fact that he didn’t dare move at all in the bed for fear Emily would wake up. Dean obviously felt the same, lying stock-still next to him. Except for a whispered “Good night,” neither of them dared to talk.
Then, suddenly, a wail tore Richard from his sleep. A bleary glance at the bedside clock told him it was only quarter past midnight. Dean was alrea
dy out of bed and at Emily’s side, trying to soothe her. When that didn’t help, he picked her up, looking around with wild eyes. His hair was tousled, and his pajama pants hung low on his hips. If it hadn’t been for Emily’s crying that grew stronger every second, Richard would have definitely taken advantage of the situation. Instead, he sprinted for the door to get Julio. The man was actually worth the ridiculous sum they were paying him, because he was already halfway down the hall. He brushed past Richard to where Dean held Emily, whose face had turned an interesting shade of dark purple.
“What’s the matter with her?”
Dean was close to panicking. Julio took the baby and started for the kitchen. “She’s just hungry. Nothing bad.”
“Just hungry? But we fed her only a few hours ago!”
Richard knew he sounded exasperated. Julio flashed him a knowing grin. “I told you, her stomach is small. She gets hungry more quickly. You didn’t hear her when she woke up because you’re not yet used to listening for the telltale sounds. Otherwise she’d be fed and back to sleep by now.”
While he was talking, Julio prepared another bottle of formula. The moment he offered it to Emily, the wailing abruptly stopped. Instead, the sound of greedy swallowing resounded in the kitchen. They watched as Emily downed the bottle, finishing it with a satisfied burp. As soon as she was done, Julio motioned them back to the bedroom.
“When you have a little more experience, you’ll be able to catch her sooner and feed her in semidarkness. Full-on light is always bad. Chances are she’s awake now. If you keep the lighting low and, ideally, the baby next to the bed, she will not even fully wake when you feed her. That’s for advanced parents, though.”
