Page 57 of Dear Daddy, Please Want Me

Saul smiled as he turned onto the next street, just behind a bus. Even though this part of the city was on a grid, he’d be taking an unusual way home through the winding streets of Portland Heights, so he was depending on his GPS. It was probably nice for walking, but right now he was getting tangled up in one-way streets and rush hour.

When he finally glanced back at Levi, he was looking pensive.

“You OK, babe?”

“Is this too much?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just… you didn’t seem excited to see me.”

“Oh, babe.” Saul put a hand out toward him, but then had to grab it back to swerve in front of a car that stopped just in front of him. “Fuck!”

He finally stopped at a traffic light and gave him his full attention. “I have been thinking of nothing but you all day. I missed you, too. I’m just focusing on traffic because I want to get you back to my place and I need to keep you safe.” He pressed his fingers to Levi’s lips.

“So I’m not too much?”

“Nope. Never.”

“Are you sure?”

Saul would never have guessed that Levi would need so much reassurance. He was so bright and excited so much of the time. At work, of course, he was completely responsible. He’d never struck Saul as someone who was innately insecure or unpredictable.

He just wished they could have this conversation somewhere else. “Babe, I am certain. Is there a reason you’re worried so much about this?”

“I had an ex who thought I was over the top when I said things like that. I mean, at first he thought it was cute. But then I guess the honeymoon period was over. He got annoyed when I said I missed him after a few hours, and stuff like that. And you sounded kind of annoyed when you said it.”

Saul reached over to find Levi’s hand and brought it up to his lips for a kiss. “I meant it as a joke. I was annoyed that cars were honking at me. Never at you. And if I were ever annoyed with you, I would bring it up respectfully so we could discuss it.”

“OK. And you really want me to come over tonight? It’s not too many times? Do you, like, need a break?”

Saul kissed Levi’s fingers again, then pressed Levi’s hand to his own thigh so that he could make a turn. “I invited you, remember? Daddy doesn’t need a break from his boy.” He hoped Levi could hear how sincerely he meant it.

It was still a bit odd referring to himself in the third person, but it was really growing on him. “And I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of your enthusiasm. It’s one of the things that I enjoy most about you.”

“OK.” Levi still sounded a bit wary.

“OK, what?”

“OK, Daddy.” He could hear the smile returning to Levi’s voice.

“Now tell me, darling boy. What would make tonight special for you?”

“Daddy,” he replied promptly. Apparently that was the answer to the question.

“Thank you, sweetheart. But you need to be more specific.” He had a few ideas, but he could be flexible. The central theme was just giving Levi what he needed.

“Just being with you, Daddy.”

That still wasn’t very helpful, but he was getting a feel for how his enthusiastic little monster liked to communicate. When he was being responsible, he was pretty direct and concise. But there was something about the Daddy/boy dynamic that made him a little squirrely about asking for what he wanted until he got too distracted or excited to realize he was saying it.

Since Levi wasn’t innately shy, it was probably due to those assholes who he’d dated over the years. Saul wasn’t going to let it rest, though. Levi just needed a little coaxing.

“Does being with Daddy mean that I make all the decisions?”

“Mmmm-hmmmm!”

“OK, I think we can arrange that. How about dinner and some cuddling?”