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I swear I haven’t been ghosting you. I’ve mostly just been thinking.

“Aww,” I murmur out loud, smiling to myself as I delete my message draft and start again.

Me

I completely understand. You left your comfort zone and tried something new and kinky when you weren’t expecting to. Whether you liked it or not, it can take a while to process those feelings. But I am happy to answer any new questions you have, too.

I sprawl out on the couch in the apartment I share with Izzy on campus. He’s out with some of his football buddies, so I have the place to myself. It means I can relax and focus on this conversation, which suddenly has my complete attention. Even more so when he texts again.

Justin

Can I call you?

I can’t reply fast enough.

Me

Yes, of course.

I stare at my phone after the message sends, willing him to read it and act on the invitation. Then I curse myself because I’m the Daddy here. I should be taking the indecision out of his hands, whether he’s a Little or not.

So, not overthinking it, I bring up his contact page on my phone screen and press the green handset icon.

“Gabe, hi,” he answers after three rings, sounding a little breathless. Even though it’s not a sex sound, it makes my cock twitch with sudden interest. “Sorry, I…I was going to call, but I…”

“Got nervous?”

“Yeah,” Justin sighs. “Sorry. I’m just…well, this is all new to me.”

“Just the kink?” I ask him, careful to keep my tone neutral. “Or having a guy express interest in more than just hook-ups?”

After our impromptu scenes in the club, and the resulting orgasms, I took him to the old twenty-four seven diner in town.

There, we had coffees (or, rather, he had a hot chocolate and I had a coffee), and he peppered me with questions about the age play, my rules for my Littles, how I had gotten into it, and how long I had been a Daddy .

I’d answered everything honestly, and then I had asked him to think about whether he had enjoyed his Little time while also gently asserting that I’d be interested in more —in taking him out on dates— whether he wanted to continue exploring the kink or not.

He’d asked for time to think it all over, and I’d agreed to let him.

Until today, apparently, because after not hearing from him in almost a week, I couldn’t take it any longer.

I sent that first message because I just needed to know he was okay, but now my Daddy instincts are telling me that I need to be a little more assertive with him if there’s any hope of us becoming more than just friends or a one-time hook-up.

“…All of it,” he answers quietly. Then he clears his throat. “I mean, I’ve known I was bi since I was in my teens, and I’m not…I mean, I have experience with guys. But, yeah, that’s all been very…casual. Grindr and club stuff.”

I nod even though he can’t see me. I’d assumed as much. “And there’s nothing wrong with that,” I assure him. “If you’d prefer that—”

“No!” His interruption is loud and vehement. I smile and imagine him blushing as he stammers a much quieter, “N-no. I think I want…”

Oh, God, I wish he would finish his sentence.

“You think you want…?”

“More.” Justin’s confession is soft and sounds vulnerable.

“I…I really liked what we did the other night. Not just jerking off and blow jobs…but…I liked being held. Feeling cared for. Being able to just relax completely without having to be the person in charge. And, um, when you said you’d like to…

to maybe date me…well, I really like the thought of that, too. ”

I pump my fist into the air and barely refrain from crowing in delight. The smile on my face grows wider, stretching my cheeks until they ache. “Yeah? Can I take you out tonight?”

“Oh,” the regret in that single word has my smile slipping, “I’m sorry, but I have Owen and no sitter. I—”

“What if I come to your place? I can cook for you both, and after we — you — put him to bed, you and I can hang out.” I wince over my slip up, and I hope he doesn’t think I’m moving too fast or insinuating myself where I don’t belong.

I’m just really good with kids, and I’ve got night time routines down pat.

Plus, I feel like, since his ex died, he hasn’t had much of a support system when it comes to his kid, and being a single dad at his age —close to my age— can’t be easy.

In fact, I assume that’s why he’s moved all this way, so Owen’s maternal grandparents can help out and spend more time with their grandson.

Even so, I like the idea of helping him myself. It ticks all of my boxes and then some.

“I don’t think I’ll be comfortable, y’know…”

“Oh, sweetheart, I’m not inviting myself over for sex.”

His laughter bubbles over the phone line. “Good to know,” he tells me, then says, “but I meant the… Little stuff.” The last two words are whispered. Before I can react, he rushes to explain, “It’s not that I don’t want to explore more, because I do, but…not with Owen around, you know?”

“Hey, that’s totally fair,” I assure him. “To be honest, I’ve never dated a Little with a kid before. Not that they don’t exist. I’m sure they do. But—”

“Most guys in our age bracket don’t have kids,” he finishes easily. “Or, if they do, they’re usually in relationships. I mean, I would probably still be with Lauren, so…” Justin trails off, then sn orts. “Shit, sorry. It’s probably not great dating etiquette to mention my ex-girlfriend, right?”

“She’s your son’s mother and she passed away. I totally get you talking about her.” My grin sneaks back onto my face again. “So…dating etiquette, huh? Does this mean we’re dating? Like…officially?”

“Well, you haven’t actually given me a proper date yet,” he teases, pausing for only a moment before adding, “Daddy.”

I groan, my dick even more interested now. “Sweetheart, that’s cruel.”

He laughs and I want to record the sound and set it as the alert tone for his messages…and wow , that escalated fast. I need to reel myself in a bit before I scare him off with my creepy stalker vibes.

Then Justin asks “So…what are you making us for dinner tonight?” and my plan to maintain my chill flies right out the window.

“Do you and Owen like spaghetti and meatballs?”