It was a sound I wanted to hear from him for the rest of my life.
The only thing that mattered was keeping my boy happy.Not that it would be difficult to accomplish, but my life was…complicated. And I knew if he ever found out the mountain of secrets I kept from him, it would be over in a heartbeat.
Leaning down, I kissed his nose and the smile he gave me almost broke me.
He was so soft and open. A flash of fear shot through me at how I almost opened this sweet boy up all the way, had his insides on the outside as he showed me everything he was.
My thumb swept over his cheekbone as our eyes locked.
“Why do you suddenly look so serious, Daddy?” He bit his lip and averted his gaze, as though he were afraid he had done something wrong.
But then his gaze snagged on the outfit I’d dressed him in and he frowned. He looked up at me, confused. “I thought we were going to go out for dinner? Why am I dressed down like this if we’re going out?”
His pout was so fucking adorable that I couldn’t help but lean down and steal a kiss. I knew I shouldn’t have done it. There was still too much we needed to discuss.
Do we, though? He’s my little bird and I’m his Daddy. Can’t it just be that simple and we forget all the bullshit?
I swept him up in my arms and he gave a startled laugh. Grinning, I carried him out of the bedroom and down the hall until we got to the living room. Once we got there, I gently placed him on the couch and bundled him up in one of the fuzzy blankets on the back of the couch.
“We can still do that later if you want. But, for now, I can make you lunch. And then we can have an early dessert between meals.” I threw him a wink over my shoulder on the way to the kitchen and he blushed before looking down at his hands, pulling the blanket tighter around him.
“Umm… I’m not sure what all I have as far as groceries go. I need to go to the stores.”
Turning, I gave him a stern look and wagged a finger at him. “I noticed. But, you happen to be in luck, because I went to the store and picked up some essentials before I came over.”
His cheeks heated even more and he couldn’t meet my eyes.
Good.
I didn’t like embarrassing him, but it wasn’t acceptable that he didn’t take care of himself. Even if he was proving the point that he needed a Daddy.
“Not like I can do much good with cooking, anyway.”
Sighing, I shook my head. He had a point. He was a disaster in the kitchen. But there were a lot of things he could make himself to eat that didn’t involve almost burning his house down.
“Menace,” I muttered affectionately.
I got to work making some sandwiches. They weren’t anything fancy, just a couple BLTs and some fresh cut up fruit. But judging from the contents of his fridge, it was a gourmet meal for him.
The smile that spread across my face as I saw my boy all bundled up on the couch warmed my heart, but also made me…sad. He looked miserable and I never wanted him to be anything but happy and full of light.
He took his plate with a tentative smile and I couldn’t help but lean down and steal another kiss from him. Anything to ease the tension radiating from his body. “Relax, little bird. Daddy’s right here.”
I ran my finger down his cheek and my heart thudded against my ribs at the way he leaned into the touch.
His eyes were big and brimming with tears as he looked up at me.
“I missed you, Daddy.” He practically choked on the words as he shoved his plate to the cushion next to him and threw himself onto my lap.
My arms wrapped around him, and I leaned forward to put my own plate on the table. The food could wait, but Aidencouldn’t. He would always be the most important thing in my life.
It should have scared me, knowing someone else held so much power over me. Especially acop. It could all come crashing down so easily. But none of that mattered. He was worth it.
He wiggled in my lap and my hands flexed against his hips. His hands trailed up my arms until he reached my shoulders and the shy, almost tentative touch sent sparks through my system. I wanted to claim him, ruin him, bury myself in him. But I also wanted to make sure I gave him everything he needed, so I let him set the pace and sit in the driver’s seat for once.
“Take what you need, little bird. I’m yours.” My words were soft as I licked at the soft shell of his ear, eliciting the most delicious moan.
When his hips rocked forward, sliding his hard cock over my own aching erection, I let out a hiss. Before I even knew he was moving, his lips crashed against mine in a hungry kiss. It was full of teeth and tongue, and want and need. It was beautiful and glorious to see him unravel for me.
