“That’s fine with me. I’m too sick to care, especially if he brings that ice cream I heard about. He can stay as long as he wants.” I groaned weakly at how miserable I sounded.
Moaning in misery, I flopped back onto the blankets and burrowed deeper. Being sick sucked, but at least Tristan and I were with Daniel. Being alone and ill was the worst. My body ached, but my heart felt incredibly full.
Chapter three
David
The colors before me were bright and cheerful, and music played over the room’s sound system as I swayed to the beat. Despite my dancing, my arm moved effortlessly as I used my paintbrush to apply paint to the canvas with precision.
Jack, the owner of The Naughty Nook, our town’s BDSM club, had hired me to paint a mural for the new pet playroom.
For the longest time, the little room was intended for both littles and pets to play. But in recent months, the club had become more popular, and many of the new patrons were into pet play, so Jack had decided it was well past time for them to have their own space.
We’d chosen a landscape of a lush green field and beautiful blue sky. Once I was done laying the background, I’d add birds in the sky and place various types of animals among the grass. Puppy play was the most common, but we wanted to create a mural that made everyone in the pet-play lifestyle feel included and welcome.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to include everything, but I would do my best to make sure everyone felt seen. As a gay trans man, there were lots of times in my forty-four years of life that I’d gone unseen. I wanted to do anything I could to help others know they weren’t alone... that they belonged.
I’d always known I was different than most girls my age, but I could never put a name to it. Then when I was in my late teens, I’d realized I was trans. My parents were easy-going and always supportive. While I didn’t believe the length of your hair or the clothes you wore decided your gender, I had always preferred more masculine clothes and had been asking to get my hair cut short since I was five. Let’s just say my parents weren’t entirely shocked when I came out to them.
It’d been twenty-five years since I started my transition. The journey wasn’t easy, but there was so much beauty and joy to be found in it. I was thankful for every day I got to experience the world’s wonders as the person I was meant to be. If only I had a little to spoil.
“Holy shit, it looks fantastic, David.” Jack spoke behind me, making me startle.
“Shit, man, you scared me. Thanks, I’m pleased with it so far. It’s definitely a ‘trust the process’ kind of painting, but once it all comes together, it’ll be stunning.”
“I expect nothing less from you.” I put down my brush and looked back at Jack. His arm was outstretched toward me, holding an ice-cold water bottle. I suddenly realized how thirsty I was and smiled in appreciation. “Thanks.”
“Not to sound like a broken record, but have you talked to Daniel about those toys?”
The water was ice-cold and blissful as it coated my parched throat. “No worries, man. I talked to him about it, but he was pretty swamped preparing for the craft fair a few weeks ago. He said he planned to talk to you about it, though.”
My mind conjured images of Tristan and his adorable face, and the not-so-adorable lovestruck face my best friend wore anytime he even thought about his boy. I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped me. “But then he had to go and meet his forever boy at said craft fair, and he’s been too busy. You know how the start of dynamics like ours goes... I’m sure they’ll both come up for air soon.”
Jack’s eyes went wide with shock. “Daniel just found his boy out in the wild?” His face scrunched up in confusion. “At a craft fair?”
I took another swig of my water and damn near choked from laughter.
“Right? That bastard. You know how Daniel’s little room is dragon-themed?” Jack shook his head and motioned for me to keep going.
“Well, Tristan was also at the fair selling crocheted stuffed animals. Daniel had been at his table and bought a stuffed dragon, and he was all mopey and whining about how perfect Tristan was and how he forgot to get his number. Then the cutie walks right up to us and starts playing with the blocks we had for sale.”
My chest ached at the memory. I had no romantic desire for Tristan. Even so, he was a sub and a little, and as a Daddy myself, I couldn’t help but feel protective toward him. Now he was my best friend’s boy, and that meant I would always look out for him.
“The sweet boy was exhausted, and his little side was barely containable. He asked me if we had dragon blocks, and I nearly lost it. Daniel had already had me make a dragon set and he’d decided to keep it. I knew those two were meant to be, so I took a chance and told Tristan Daniel was a Daddy.”
Jack growled and cocked his eyebrow at me.
“Oh, don’t worry, I’d silently asked him if it was okay, and he’d nodded. I wouldn’t out my best friend like that without at least asking first. Obviously, I didn’t know for sure he was a little, but all the signs were there, and I was right.”
Jack shook his head, holding back a laugh. “Well, I’ll be damned. He’s a lucky bastard.”
A laugh broke free, and I smacked my thigh. “I said the same thing.”
“You’re a good man, David. Your methods seem a bit... unorthodox, but you helped two people come together.” My chest felt tight, and my smile turned weary. “You’ll find someone special soon, don’t worry.” I just hoped he was right.
“Thanks, man, that means a lot. And you’re pretty great yourself. A lot of puppies, kittens, and ponies are going to have their own space because of you.”
Jack sighed longingly and stared at the unfinished mural. Jack was a Daddy, but he didn’t want a boy; he wanted a pet. I couldn’t imagine how hard it must be for him to design such a space without anyone special to share it with. Until then, I hoped he would find pride in providing safety and community for others. “Hey, if I have to have hope, then so do you.”
