Page 54 of A Daddy to Love

Just then, Sorel poked his head in the doorway. “Apologies, sir. Uh… sirs. Hello, Kairo. I didn’t know you had a guest.” He paused and I could feel him assessing us. “Are you all right, sir?”

Good question.

Daddy stood back. Now I could see how uncomfortable he was. The most popular man in the gay community. The most handsome. My dream lover. Now he stood away from me looking confused and unsure.

I needed sureness right now. I needed to go back to Daddy’s house where everything was cozy, safe and made sense.

But I’d hurt my daddy today. I’d lied to him. I’d kept this whopper of a secret. How could he ever love me now?

Sorel asked again. “Sir? Are you all right?”

Nothing made sense.

I couldn’t contain it all. It was too much. My heart was breaking. Sparkles appeared in the corners of my vision. Next thing I knew my knees gave way. Someone caught me under one arm.

18

Truce

In the kink club Kairo had become over-stimulated, the tears of pleasure leaking out because he couldn’t hold it in any longer. Now it was the opposite. There was no pleasure, no daddy holding him through this.

That’s what I was here for, though. To be Daddy through good or bad times. To care for him was what I wanted most in the world. This little had gotten into my blood. My mind. My soul.

I lurched toward him but a strong arm stopped me. Sorel.

Kairo had mentioned his name. I’d seen it over his shoulder on his text window several times. Other than that, I never snooped. I’d already put two and two together. This was that man standing before us. A man who had known Kairo all his life.

Together, we caught Kairo as he collapsed to the floor. He hadn’t completely fainted because he was strong enough to pull away from us.

“No, no, no, no.” He bent over on his knees and clutched his stomach.

“Baby, it’s okay.”

“No.”

Sorel looked at me perplexed as Kairo inched away.

“Leave me alone!”

“Baby.”

But it was as if he couldn’t hear me.

We watched him for a few seconds.

Then Sorel rose. “Sometimes he has moments like this when he needs his time alone,” he said. “It was more prevalent in his childhood. But maybe you should go.”

I stood back. How could I explain? It was obvious Kairo had never told him about me. And it wasn’t my place to out him in his own house. But what he really needed was me and Sorel didn’t yet know that.

I blurted, “I can help.”

“Yes, I’m sure. But not now. I heard him ask about you leaving as I approached the doorway. I think you should.”

Sorel had heard wrong. I glanced at Kairo. He was curled into himself sobbing, stuttering the same words. “Leave me alone.”

“Please, sir.” Sorel took a protective step toward me. “He’ll call you later?”

Kairo was wrong about me being angry or upset. But he wouldn’t hear me. Not right now.