Page 4 of Daddy’s Little Chaos Gremlin (The Lactin Brotherhood)

4

ROWAN

Zephyr’s meager array of possessions barely filled the cargo space in the back of the SUV, and according to him, the majority were his costumes. I’d seen the way his eyes had lit up when Tristan had gotten down on the grass with him and I could already tell that this one would delight in the playtime they’d get to share.

All work and no play made Tristan anxious and too critical of his own work. If left unchecked he’d pick at each concave of a piece until he saw cracks where there was nothing but a smooth expanse of metal and worry himself to tears in the process.

It was never a good feeling to hold my crying boy in my arms and not be able to soothe him until he’d sobbed himself into a fit of exhaustion after bombarding himself with criticism. I did my best to lessen the instances of that, though I was ashamed to admit that there were times when I still missed the signs or got so bogged down with some mess with my firm that I neglected to see them until it was too late.

Having a playmate would help, especially one who’d need breaks and time to relax between project sessions.

All the rooms in the apartment were sparsely furnished, but there was a bed in the room beside ours and that’s where we directed him so he could get settled. As we guided him through the apartment, I wondered what our attempts to add a few touches from home looked like from his point of view. Would he think it strange that there were only a few scattered photographs, some throw blankets and an assortment of kitchen odds and ends to rival a small eatery?

Those were the only amenities I refused to do without. We’d stocked the fridge before his interview, and I fully intended to be up bright and early in the morning to make crepes stuffed with bananas and brown sugar and served with a side of sliced andouille sausage sauteed in maple syrup. Tristan loved them and I was hopeful that Zephyr would, too. I could already hear him laughing with Tristan as they looked through his collection of costumes to pick the perfect ensemble for the sunrise session they had planned.

I’d allow it, despite it beginning before Tristan’s usual start time, but I’d insist upon some fun activities before lunch so I could see how they played together. Before we’d parted ways at the Honey Hearth, Curtis had wished us luck, which I appreciated. My every instinct screamed that we’d found our boy at last, but I knew better than to get ahead of myself. Brenner and Bruce had assured me that they hadn’t told him anything about where we truly lived or my standing within the community but that didn’t mean he’d be happy sharing this cramped space with us. It was already a logistical nightmare just trying to find a space to comfortably sit with my laptop without having to hunch over to reach the keys. Tristan’s workstation occupied the only thing resembling a desk, and there was barely room for him to work at it with everything set up the way it was.

It was only temporary, I reminded myself as I banged my elbow on the edge of the coffee table.

Just fuckin’ temporary.

Another surge of laughter drifted from the room, distracting me from the injury I’d done myself. I looked up in time to see Zephyr spring through the doorway and twirl on one foot before tipping himself upside down into a handstand and walking across the floor toward me. He dropping into a graceful split at my feet and waved.

I applauded, much to his delight, because his tanned face lit up with a brilliant grin. This close, it was easy to see how much he enjoyed being outdoors. His skin had a healthy glow to it and yet I couldn’t help noticing that he looked a bit underweight. I hoped he wasn’t deliberately depriving himself of food in order to be able to perform the stunts he did. If I discovered that to be the case, there would be an immediate call placed to my personal physician so that he could ensure that Zephyr’s health wasn’t in any danger. I did not know what the physical requirements were for him to do what he did on a continuous basis, but I would certainly be learning all that I could if he became a permanent member of my household.

Now that I thought about it, I had noticed the amount of food on his plate tonight didn’t come close to the portions everyone else took. Even Tristan, who didn’t pack away a great deal in a sitting, still ate more than double the amount that Zephyr consumed, plus several morsels I’d fed him from my plate.

When I thought back to what the boy had said, about being willing to nurse if given the opportunity, I was eager to see how he reacted to our nighttime routine. I was curious to see if he’d display any interest in joining in and if so, I’d gleefully invite him to drink his fill.

The outfit he’d chosen was made of tiny, soft feathers that swayed whenever he moved, giving added motion to every movement. I knew Tristan would love capturing it on film as well as canvas.

“Is this what you’ll be wearing in the morning?” I asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“I think it’s perfect, don’t you, Daddy?” Tristan asked as he perched on one of my knees the moment I sat.

He usually took up the entire lap, but when I went to shift him, it dawned on me that he’d taken that spot deliberately, like he was trying to show Zephyr that there was room for him, too.

“I do, indeed, and I already have breakfast planned for the two of you when you finish your photo session,” I replied. “Though if that is the outfit you’d like him in for tomorrow, then I think it’s time to let him change and get settled in, don’t you? Sunrise will come soon enough and you’ll both need time to prepare before you start shooting.”

“Ohh, Daddy, you’re right,” Tristan replied as he pressed his head to my shoulder. “You usually are.”

“Just usually?” I replied, letting the hint of a growl creep into my voice.

His shoulders lifted a little as he gave a little shrug. “Mostly?”

I knew from his sassy tone that he was giving me crap, one of the many things I loved about him. He also knew just what was going to happen and almost got away before I started ticking him.

“Okay, okay,” he squealed, squirming and trying to slide onto the floor to escape my grasp. “Daddy’s mostly always right. Mostly, mostly always!”

His hollering earned us some banging from the other side of the wall, and I instantly quit tormenting him and covered his mouth with my hand until he settled down. After so many years of having the freedom to indulge in whatever type of play we desired at whatever hour we saw fit, this week was going to test my patience. I’d forgotten the inconvenience of having neighbors and wished I’d never concocted this little ruse to ensure that Zephyr’s attitude and behavior were authentic. I hated that so many others had left us jaded enough to feel that we needed to protect ourselves this way, but we’d been bitten more than once and the sting still lingered from the last betrayal.

“I’ll go change,” Zephyr said, hurrying to comply. The smile never left his face, and I could tell that he’d enjoyed witnessing our interaction.

When he emerged again, he was in a tank top and soft looking sleep shorts that I longed to run my fingers over. Tristan had already found a comfortable position sitting on a cushion on the coffee table, one arm resting across my waist as he fed from my left nipple.

“You are welcome to join, if you’d like a taste,” I offered, stunned when he nodded so fast that I didn’t have a moment to feel any nervousness about making the offer so soon.

As carefully as I could without jostling Tristan, I reached for the other accent pillow and passed it to him. Just from how jittery he was, I could tell he was struggling to take the time to get situated properly as he nearly missed the pillow and wound up sitting half on and half off of it as he leaned forward.

I kept my tone gentle as I reached out to rest my hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Breathe,” I encouraged. “I’m not going to change my mind and rescind the offer. I’ll be right here when you’re ready, so take your time and get settled in comfortably. I produce a lot of milk, so this doesn’t have to be a quick lap and suck unless you want it to be.”

The tip of his pink tongue darted out and his pupils dilated as he released the breath he was holding with a long, low hiss. Shifting my hand from his shoulder to the center of his chest, I was shocked to see that my palm nearly spanned from one side to the other. I could feel his heartbeat pounding, but it quickly began to settle the longer we stayed that way.

“There you go, now fix your pillow,” I murmured, drawing my hand away so he could move.

This time he took his time plumping it and making sure his behind was on it completely when he sat back down. Unlike Tristan’s long, wavy strands, Zephyr’s hair only went to his shoulders, but it curled at the end, framing his pixie face beautifully. His hands slid along his thighs as he leaned closer, but I hoped he’d soon realize that he didn’t have to keep them there. He was free to touch me, and I hoped he would once he’d latched on.

When he did, he proved to have the gentlest mouth I’d ever felt, all soft lips smeared with glittery lip gloss that left sparkles on my chest. His tongue stroked over my nipple, then he groaned as I felt the immense relief of my milk flowing. A low moan spilled from my lips as he began sucking, and I couldn’t resist stroking his hair to feel if it was as silky as it looked. It really was. The sound of him sigh-moaning with each little pull vibrated through me. I felt his hesitant fingers sliding across my abs, just below Tristan’s, and I looked down to see their heads almost touching while they nursed from me.

While Tristan fed with the same relaxed ease as he did every night, Zephyr started out gulping, until I started running my fingers up and down the back of his neck, pressing my fingers in more with every pass, until his shoulders relaxed and he leaned more of his weight against me, his pulls slowing as he realized that I’d been serious about not going anywhere.

Why would I want to?

After so many evenings of being engorged and uncomfortable until I’d been free to rush for my pump, my body was finally getting the relief it needed, and I was very happy indeed. Every now and again a little slurp or grunt slipped from one of them, signs that they were fully enjoying the experience.

“That’s it, little one, take all you’d like,” I murmured, not that Zephyr needed any encouragement.

The boy who’d taken so little at the table seemed to be hungry, hungry, hungry. His tongue massaged me, his lips caressed me, while on the other side of my body, Tristan sighed and lapped at my nipple, feeding lazily now as he coaxed it out in steady drops. The motion had a teasing feel that began to set my body on fire, and I tapped him on the nose to remind him that we would not be progressing past this point for the night.

Tomorrow, maybe we’d see how much Zephyr enjoyed being touched by something other than ropes, or maybe we’d save that for the day after, as Tristan had a good chunk of the day and evening already mapped out. I understood his need to capture all he could while he had such an amazing muse on hand, but as Zephyr let out the softest little rumble, I just knew in my soul that he wasn’t going anywhere.

My hands slid down his arms, lightly, just mapping the feel of him beneath my fingers. That crop top had shown off a pierced bellybutton and left me wondering if he had other piercings hidden beneath his shirt.

Those sleep shorts, damn, they really were as soft as they’d looked when he’d stepped into the room, and as my hands settled on the outsides of his thighs, he moaned and sent a vibration through my body that went straight to my cock. Tristan must have sensed it, too, because that adorable little ball of chaos dragged his hand down to rest in my lap, sweeping Zephyr’s right along with it.

One began caressing me, then the other joined in, slow, gentle rubs that weren’t nearly enough to get me off, but more than enough to blot out every thought, leaving me with nothing but pleasure and the soft haze of a mind that didn’t need to be concerned about anything. Time ceased to exist, not that I needed it to. Right now, in this moment, I had everything I needed, wanted and could ever wish for. Holding him, feeling the way he’d trembled at my first touch, so eager for that physical connection, I began to feel like he might need us as much as we needed him. As far as I was concerned, that was the best scenario that could have played out for the three of us.