Page 12 of Enforcer’s Little Warrior (Little Paws Haven #3)

Bash

Bash cuddled him tighter and rubbed noses with him, then kissed his forehead for good measure.

“Of course it is,” Bash said. “In fact, Daddy should have thought to arrange it for you so you wouldn’t be home alone. I’m sorry I didn’t think of it, but you never have to apologize for going to visit one of your friends.”

“So, you’re not upset with me?” Romy asked, his tiny brow furrowing.

“Absolutely not. I’m proud of you,” Bash reassured, seeing Romy needed it.

Romy snuggled with him more at hearing that and Bash knew it was time to have a talk with his mate about the things he needed and wanted, so Bash could make sure he got them.

“Did you have fun playing with Cosmo in his playroom?” Bash questioned softly.

“So much fun, Daddy,” Romy answered, giving Bash a beautiful, shy smile. “We built a fort out of stuffies and we was gonna watch movies but then I heard you and that was okay ‘cause I’d played so much I got reallyyyy tired.” He yawned widely.

“Awe, I bet you two wore each other out,” Bash said as he tugged Romy over the top of him to lie against his chest while he reclined against the headboard.

Comfy, cozy and absolutely perfect with the way Romy fit in his arms, Bash took a moment to inhale their mingled scents, sigh and let his eyes drift shut for a moment to enjoy the start to his day.

“We did.” He ran his fingers over Bash’s chest, almost absently.

“Good.” He kissed the top of Romy’s head. “I want Cosmo to be able to come play with you in your playroom too, but first we have to create your perfect space,” Bash explained, feeling his own excitement at giving Romy a safe place to play. “So, Little Bumper, tell Daddy what you’d want for features.”

He felt as well as heard Romy gasp, then their eyes met, and Bash could see the bright smile on his mate’s face and his heart did its best to trip in his chest.

“Even if I wants lots of light?”

Seeing Romy slip towards Little space, Bash gave his boy a kiss on the tip of his nose, thinking about what it was Romy wanted. “Like a sunroom?” Bash questioned and got an eager nod. “That can be done. I’ll insist upon the glass being bulletproof and shatterproof for our protection, but if my boy wishes to have a space where he can enjoy more of the sun, then we’ll make it happen. We can even add an addition of a small indoor pool and splashpad where you can play in the water safely, even when I’m not home.” Bash warmed to the ideas as he spoke, thinking about logistics.

Romy wiggled. “Can we pick out fun swim shorts with cartoon characters and have water toys, too?”

“We sure can.” Bash’s grin widened. “And I think we should add something else to the remodel.”

The top of his nose wrinkled as he eyed Bash. “What’s that?”

“A whirlpool bathtub for two in the master bathroom for big boy playtime with Daddy.”

Joyous giggles filled the room. “Yey!”

“Yey indeed,” Bash replied, loving how eager his boy was. “We can start looking at styles later today, but we’ll also want to have a dry play space for you too, including a special naptime area.”

“Can I have clouds on the ceiling and grass painted along the edges of the wall, I want it to looks like I’s playing outside.”

“We can even paint a sun in a corner or on the wall between the windows and get a soft green carpet to complete the look,” Bash suggested, watching as Romy got deeper into Little space with his excitement.

“And draw in some cartoon animals watching me?” His smile was a little lopsided and wistful.

“You tell me which ones you want, and I’ll make sure they’re added by someone far more talented at creating artwork than Daddy.” Bash’s thoughts were already way ahead with who in the crash could do that for him. “We’ll create you a little jungle play space and some massive beanbag boulders you can climb in and lay on when you’d like to watch something on your television or color.”

“I gets a television?” Romy asked in wonder.

“Yes, you do, and a smart speaker with playlists just for when you want music to sing along with.”

“Can I have glow in the dark stars too, please?” Romy blurted out, looking like he would burst if he didn’t say it fast so Bash could give it to him.

He was as eager as Romy, and nothing would prevent him giving his boy the stars—fuck the moon too if it came to that. “Stars, planets and comets,” Bash added before continuing as ideas popped into his head, “we can even get the holographic nightlight, so you’ll have the comets on the wall too.”

Romy squirmed on top of him, doing a little happy dance that rapidly brought Bash’s cock to life.

“I get stars, I get stars!” Romy sang, while Bash groaned and finally gripped Romy’s hips, stilling him even while he attempted to wrestle his arousal back under control.

When that didn’t work, he groaned. “You’ll get something else if you don’t quit squirming on top of Daddy like that, Little Bumper,” Bash tried to add enough of a warning, giving his rear a little swat when he felt more than a little out of control. Because, of course, that just caused Romy to rock forward a little, rubbing right over Bash’s cock and drawing a rumbling huff from him.

“You did that on purpose,” Bash grumble-groaned, heating enough to make him sweat.

“Nos I didn’t, Daddy, you did it when you swatted my bottom.” Romy’s guileless smile wasn’t helping.

And okay, Bash couldn’t argue with that or anything with the way his balls were aching at Romy having fun on his lap. There were only so many squirms he could take before his rhino side burst forth and demanded the part of the claim they hadn’t completed yet .

Fuck!

Romy was in the wrong headspace for what Bash wanted to do with him. The end result, his nuts were throbbing worse than when Arlo had gotten in a sly kick while training.

All the while Romy sang a stars song. “Stars, stars, stars, twinkly stars, all the stars for me. Stars, stars, stars, shooting stars, stars are all I’ll see.”

Every damned ‘ stars’ got punctuated by a wiggle or a squirm and Bash growled and let his head loll back to thunk against the headboard. It wasn’t enough pain to distract him from the throbbing onset of blue balls, so he did it a second and a third time, until he gave up on distracting himself from the squirmy menace that was his Little Bumper.

Romy

Everything sounded like the most special, magical place in the world, which was why Romy felt a little cautious about asking for one more thing, only it was a little, itty bitty thing compared to everything Bash was offering, so he thought it would be okay. He stopped singing and eyed Daddy, trying to figure out why he’d bang his head on the bed. That has to hurt?

He screwed up his face. “Daddy use’sll hurt yourself like that.”

“Something is hurting,” he muttered, and Romy tilted his head, trying to work out what could hurt worse.

“Do you want me to kiss it better?” he offered, giving Daddy his bestest supportive look, ‘cause that’s what he’d been told was a good thing. Getting a hurt kissed had worked when he hurt himself when he played at Little Paws Haven in day care.

Daddy shut his eyes, and he breathed so hard it hit Romy’s face like a big wind. He giggled and rubbed his face. “That tickles, Daddy.” When Daddy didn’t open his eyes, he wiggled, and moved closer to cup Daddy’s cheeks so he could reach his lips, ‘cause maybe they were what hurt.

Daddy made more grunty noises, so Romy quickly kissed Daddy’s lips to see if that would help.

“To the God’s save me,” Daddy muttered against his lips, his eyes still shut.

Not sure what the Gods had to do with it, Romy tried again, grinding his bottom down to get a better purchase to try kissing somewhere else.

Loud giggles erupted out of him as he dangled in the air above Daddy, all arms and legs dangling. “Fly me, Daddy,” he cooed in excitement. “I wanna be a plane.” He spread his arm and legs wide, rocking his body. “Come on, Daddy.”

Another growly noise came from Daddy, but he was flying right over his head, tipping and diving. He giggled until his chest hurt and he couldn’t catch his breath. “S-stop D-Daddy,” he called out breathlessly.

Plonked on the bed on his back, he stared up at Daddy. His little nose wrinkled. “Nose kisses Daddy, I want nose kisses,” he demanded.

The second Daddy came closer, Romy wrapped his arms around his neck and lifted his head in eager anticipation. “Kiss me, Daddy.”

“You’re a menace.”

Daddy kissed his nose three times so Romy didn’t think Daddy meant it, but just in case, he rubbed his cheek against Daddy’s whiskers, giving him a neck hug.

He sighed happily when Daddy scooped him up and rolled them off the bed. “Breakfast, then a shower.” There was a pause, and Romy got a funny feeling in his tummy. “Then Daddy is going to have to get ready to go work.”

Those words jerked Romy right out of his happy place. It was jarring, and he sucked back a sob that came at the reality of being left alone once more. He clung a little tighter, not wanting yet to let go.

“I’m sorry, Little Bumper,” Bash murmured, sounding upset. “That was thoughtless of Daddy.”

“It’s okay,” he mumbled, despite it wasn’t. Being alone sucked. He rested his head on Bash’s wide shoulder and inhaled their combined scent. Needing a moment to regroup. To put back in place the barriers.

Bash moved, and then they were back on the bed with Romy facing Bash. He cupped his cheeks and angled his head, so they were looking at each other. “Little Bumper, Daddy can hear your thoughts, feel your upset.”

Romy wanted to sag and shy away at that, but Bash was holding him, keeping their gazes locked. “Talk to Daddy, tell me how to make it better.”

Problem was, Romy wasn’t exactly sure what would help. Spending time with Cosmo had been great, but he wasn’t sure that was the answer, not really. “I feel lost,” he murmured, knowing that was the crux of the matter. He had purpose with the boys and now that was gone.

A look came into Bash’s eyes that hurt Romy’s heart, but he couldn’t lie to Bash—Daddy—he couldn’t.

“I have to work… but maybe you could come with me?” As if warming to the idea, Bash’s eyes narrowed. “What about helping at the community center with the day care? They need someone as good as you at managing all the children in their wallow. Or we could ask Nomad and Harley if there’s a job at the day care at the club on the days Daddy has to work. Those would be fun things to do, right?”

Romy listened and got a little worm of excitement in his belly at the thought of helping at the community center with the children. He’d never had a job before and hadn’t thought it possible to have one now. But one at the community center with the other rhinos playing sounded exciting. “Do you think they’d let me help at the community center?”

“Of course they will, you’re amazing with children. They’d be very silly not to want you.” He brushed back Romy’s hair from his cheeks and rubbed noses with him. “I think Sasha mentioned they needed an extra pair of hands.”

Romy got the impression that Bash was just saying that, but it didn’t stop the hope that came with the thought of having a job with children where he got to play—all the time. What could be more fun than that while he waited for Bash to finish his day?