Page 18 of A Little Bit Naughty

“Me, too. It means I like to laugh.”

That was interesting. Remi wanted to ask him more about choosing the name, but now wasn’t the time. “Then it sounds like it’s just right for you. Do you want to stay here or go play with toys?”

“Here, Daddy! There’s another contest!” Isaac pulled him to his feet.

Well, that was that. If his boy wanted to stay, they were staying.

Before the next contest started though, Remi got to put in two votes for Isaac as the cutest, sexiest boy in the line-up. The voting was supposed to be anonymous, but he might have whispered his plans to Isaac. Not that anyone would be surprised.

“I know you voted for me, Daddy,” his boy said confidently. “It’s because of my claws.” Then he held out two curved fingers on each hand and made the most adorable little roar.

And fuck, it was because of Isaac’s claws, and because he was so uninhibited and playful. Because he never hesitated to call Remi Daddy like he’d been doing it for years.

“Cutest claws ever,” he told him. “That’s definitely your secret advantage.”

He could feel something settling inside himself, a well of contentment and pleasure that he only experienced when he had a little to take care of. When, in fact, Isaac was the only thing he had to think about, so he could block out the rest of the world to make sure his baby was happy.

If Isaac wanted to play silly party games, he was more than happy to play along, just to see him laugh. Next it was the Daddies’ turn to compete, and Remi only half listened to the rules. It sounded like he was supposed to tie up a chair to show off his non-existent bondage skills.

“I hope your expectations aren’t very high,” he whispered to Isaac, trying not to interrupt the instructions.

“I believe in you, Daddy,” Isaac told him, pressing a soft kiss to the edge of his jaw.

Just that little touch burned through him. He almost wanted to touch the place after Isaac’s lips were gone to hold it close for longer.

It was too bad that Isaac’s faith in him was going to be completely misplaced. On the other hand, Isaac truly didn’t seem to care that someone else had won the first competition, so perhaps it didn’t matter.

Remi grabbed a chair and set it up in front of Isaac. Some of the other men were sizing up the wooden chairs like they were about to pounce on their prey. It was clear from the way that a few of them were handling the ropes that they knew exactly what they were doing. It honestly wasn’t a skill that he’d ever desired to learn.

So he would just have fun. That’s what he was here for. “This isn’t going to be pretty,” he warned Isaac again, making it loud enough to bring the room in on his mock dismay. “There’s a reason why I like handcuffs or velcro. Snap and you’re done.” That got the chuckle he was looking for.

Isaac smiled at him prettily. “I like handcuffs, Daddy.”

“God, I just bet you do,” he murmured under his breath, but apparently loudly enough for the guy next to him to hear.

“Looks like you’ve got your hands full with that one.”

“Very,” he grinned, feeling like the luckiest man in the room.

The competition felt friendly but intense, with Jamie encouraging the audience—all of the boys—-to cheer for each of the Daddies in turn. Isaac played along gamely, cheering for everyone, but when it was Remi’s turn he jumped in his little claw-footed suit, shouting “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!” over Remi’s name.

Remi, of course, wasn’t even trying to do anything sexy with the rope. He kind of threw it every which way, like a cat playing with a ball of yarn. “What do you think, baby? Is it a work of art?” he asked.

“The very best one, Daddy,” Isaac encouraged him. “It looks like a jungle gym.”

“Ah, that’s exactly what it is,” he improvised. “A jungle gym for Roarasaurus. You guys will have to test it out when I’m done.”

Isaac held up the stuffed toy. “Roary likes it. We’re both going to vote for you.”

There was an eruption of cheers when the first contestant finished. Was there a timing component? Well, hell. Remi tied off the chair with a giant bow, and stepped back with his hands up.

Jamie stepped behind him and announced to the room, “Second to finish with one bonus point to Remi!”

One of the other Daddies shot him a glare, but Remi didn’t care. All he needed was Isaac bouncing into his arms for a celebratory squeeze. “Give it a try,” he encouraged his boy. “See what Roary thinks.”

That was all the invitation that Isaac needed. With a little hop, he and the dinosaur were exploring the chair.

Remi felt like his heart was melting. The chair was ridiculous—nothing like some of the elegant patterns and symmetrical ties on the others—but he’d made something that made his boy happy.