Page 15

“You can, but it’ll be cold as shit since it’s mountain runoff and it’s only March.” I hadn’t even finished speaking before Ellie collapsed onto the ground, stripping off his shoes and socks and rolling up his pants legs.

“It’s going to be freezing,” I warned one more time.

Ellie gingerly walked to the edge of the pond, took a breath, and then stepped into the water. He took about three more steps before he jumped back out.

“Gaaah, why didn’t you tell me it was so cold?” Ellie looked at me accusingly.

“Me? I warned you! Maybe next time you’ll listen to your Daddy.”

Ellie’s soft smile at my reference reassured me that we’d made the right call. I couldn’t predict the future, but I truly hoped we had one together. Ellie was everything I knew I needed. He was quiet and shy, but also kind and sweet. And, on top of all that, sexy and smart.

“Maybe next time I should.”

“Come here and I’ll warm you up.”

Ellie hopped his way back over to the blanket and collapsed next to me. I immediately pulled him into my arms. I lay on my side and tucked him close so his face could be buried in my neck and my legs could cover his lower half.

“Oh my god, kiddo, your feet are freezing.”

“I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I really thought it would be warmer.”

“We’d better get you warmed up.” I nuzzled the column of his throat and nosed the sensitive crease on his earlobe. I took it between my teeth and nibbled softly. His sharp gasp spurred me on, and I moved my hand to trail along his chest.

“I’m not asking for a body count, but how much experience do you have?” I forced my hand to remain still on his waist.

“I’d give myself a one out of ten.”

“What’s the one for?”

“Because I got my first kiss the other day.”

I pulled back and looked at him incredulously.

“Your first kiss?” My tone unintentionally spooked Ellie, and he pushed on my shoulder to get out from under me.

“There’s nothing wrong with it.”

“Listen to me,” I said sternly and held him still against me.

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.

I suspected it was, but I wasn’t sure. And I know it’s dumb, but I fucking love that.

I’m the only guy who’s kissed you. I’m a little surprised because you’re fucking hot as hell, but I still fucking love it. ”

Ellie studied the buttons on my shirt intensely.

“So, yeah, I’m pretty shy. Plus, my dad loves me, and I know it, but I didn’t really wanna push my luck when I lived at home.

It’s silly because I know he’d never toss me out, but I was never able to get the intrusive thought out of my head.

After I got here, I didn’t know how to talk to anyone, and you can’t hook up if you don’t talk to people. ”

I kept the fact that that was wholly untrue to myself. Ellie was too innocent for glory holes and bathhouses.

“Apps not for you?”

“This is so dumb… Like seriously dumb.”

“Whatever you’re about to say is not dumb.”

“I really wanted my first whatever to be with someone who actually was interested in me and not just a hookup, not that there’s anything wrong with that,” Ellie hastily added.

“I just didn’t want that to be my first time.

If it hasn’t happened by the end of my senior year, I’m going to download Manhole and get it over with. There’s a year before my deadline.”

“Thank you for letting me be your first kiss.”

“But now the seal is broken, and I have a list.”

I drew back to get a better look at his face. Ellie’s eyes dance with mischievousness. Ordinarily, he was quiet and serious, and I’d only seen glimpses of the cheeky boy he kept carefully hidden away.

“Tell me something on your list that you’d like.”

“Bren…”

“Try again, kiddo.”

“Daddy B, this part is embarrassing.”

I kissed the column of Ellie’s neck, and his chest heaved. “Gotta say it if you want it.”

“A hand job,” Ellie blurted out.

“That sounds like a helluva an idea, baby boy.”

I pulled Ellie back underneath me and continued my exploration of his body.

There was little chance anyone would find us since this part of the trail was on private property, but I didn’t want to take Ellie too far outside his comfort zone.

If he lacked experience, easing him into the water was better than dumping him into the deep end and hoping he’d swim.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. It’s practically first base,” Ellie added hastily. The sweet boy, who always put others before himself, was giving me an out. But it wasn’t needed and damn sure wasn’t wanted.

“I. Want. To.” I punctuated my words with firm kisses on his soft lips. “If you change your mind, tell me.”

“That’s not going to happen,” he panted.

I stilled my movements and encouraged him to look directly at me. “If you change your mind, what do you do?” I paused and allowed my words to sink in before I repeated myself.

“Tell you, Daddy B.”

I smiled at him. He was a clever bunny. After a few more kisses to remind me what he tasted like, I moved down his body until I reached the button and zipper of his jeans. His dick strained against them, and I freed his cock.

Damn, he was beautiful. His dick was flushed a pretty pink with a deep-red tip. The base was nestled in a nest of natural and untamed curls. I buried my nose deep and inhaled the musky scent that was all Ellie. Sadly, he hadn’t asked for a blowjob, so I forced myself to draw back.

“Baby boy, your cock is about the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. You know that?”

Ellie flushed red at my praise.

“I doubt that,” he scoffed.

“Are you calling me a liar?” My voice was sterner than intended, and Ellie stiffened. “Why wouldn’t it be the truth?”

“It’s just a dick.”

“It’s your dick, baby boy.” I smeared his precum across the mushroom head until it was shiny. “And that makes it my favorite.”

With a light touch, I fisted his cock and gave a few slow strokes, and he hardened more in my hand. He wasn’t able to fully smother his whimpered response.

“It’s pretty and pink.” I swiped my finger across the slit to capture his precum then sucked on my finger. Ellie watched me with wide eyes.

Like a dumbass, I hadn’t thought to grab any lube and was left to improvise in the middle of nowhere. With no other options, I licked a broad strip across my palm and returned my hand to his dick.

Ellie acted like I was doing him some kind of favor, which was fucking off the chain.

He looked so goddamn hot lying beside me and letting me touch him.

His brown curls caught the sun and the glints of red were more obvious.

His hips squirmed while he sought to establish a rhythm, but I kept him off keel.

Every time Ellie thought we had settled on one, I changed the tempo.

His little sounds were too damned adorable, and I couldn’t stop myself.

But when the whimpers turned to mewls, I knew I needed to help him find release.

My mouth crashed onto his, and I demanded entry.

When my tongue swept inside, something deep in my chest settled.

Whatever thoughts I’d had about my release paled next to making sure Ellie found his.

I settled into a steady rhythm that allowed him to fuck my fist. His muffled moans weren’t going to fucking cut it.

“Baby boy, I want to hear every damn sound. They are mine, and I fucking want them.”

With permission given, Ellie’s keening sounds danced in the surrounding air.

He forgot to care if anyone heard him and turned himself over to the moment.

It took only a few more pumps before he spilled onto my fist. Ropes of cum covered my hand and there was no chance in hell I’d let all that good shit go to waste.

Ellie panted under me in a desperate attempt to catch his breath, but his eyes never left mine. I carefully raised my hand and licked every drop of Ellie off it.

I wanted everything he had to give.

“Daddy B?” The soft knock on the door woke me, and Ellie’s low whisper penetrated the darkness.

“Hey, kiddo. You okay?” I sat up halfway in bed, and the blankets fell to my waist. Ellie was a vision in the doorway, bathed in the hallway light behind him. He waited silently in the doorway, but he nodded. “Do you wanna come sleep with me?” I asked.

Without hesitation, he nodded. Peasebottom dangled from one hand beside him. He looked every bit the little he was.

“Kiddo, you don’t need to ask to get in my bed. You’re always welcome.”

Ellie crossed the short expanse of the floor and crawled underneath the covers I held open for him.

I stuffed one of the pillows behind my head and lay on my back.

Ellie positioned himself so his cheek lay against my chest, his hand coming to rest on my torso.

One of my hands wrapped around his shoulders, which gave me easy reach to twirl his curls.

Once settled, I kissed the top of his head, and he noticeably melted next to me.

It was so quiet in my bedroom that only the sounds of our breathing filled the air.

After our hike, we’d returned home thoroughly exhausted.

After a quick dinner, we’d watched a Disney movie before bed.

For the most part, Ellie had kept his thoughts about what had happened today to himself.

He’d tossed a pillow on the floor, set up his stuffies around him, and colored while the movie played.

Before today, he usually set up his things at the end of the coffee table.

Tonight, he’d settled between my legs on the floor but hadn’t spoken much.

When it’d been time for bed, he’d declined being tucked in but given me a fierce hug at his bedroom door.

As much as I was a fixer, Ellie was a thinker.

“I appreciate that, but…”

“But what? What’s going on in that galaxy brain of yours?”

Ellie plucked at the tuft of hair in the center of my chest while he formulated his answer. The gears in his head were practically audible.

“What if someone’s already in it?”

“What? Who?”

Ellie sighed. “I know what people say about you.”

“Yeah? Tell me what they say.” While we spoke, my fingers played with his dark curls and I gently scratched his skull.

“That you like…um…variety.” I heard the embarrassment in his voice, but I didn’t want to start this between us without complete honesty. “I don’t think I want that.”

“You never have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

“Yeah, but you like it. And…ugh, I don’t have the right to ask you to do anything. Or, well, not do anything.” Ellie fell quiet after his last declaration. “Just forget I said anything. Never mind.”

“Is it a moral objection or something else?”

“Something else.” Ellie sounded miserable when he tried to explain his position.

“Can you explain why?”

“I’ve never told you about my family, right?”

“You’ve mentioned your dad.”

“Yeah, so my parents are divorced, and we live in Pacific Beach. He’s a maintenance man out in Seabrook, but my mom lives in Portland.

” While Ellie spoke, I made only noncommittal noises and kept my questions to myself.

“She ran around on him. A lot. I know it’s not the same thing, but I hated watching it. ”

“When all parties agree and are open, it can work.”

“Yeah, I know it can be done ethically, but, yeah…” Ellie tried pushing himself up and off me.

“Nope, kiddo. You’re staying right here.” I ignored his disgruntled humph. “I’ve always been clear with people that our relationship was uncommitted and open, but I don’t want that right now.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Matty flirts with you, and I get all agro. There’s no damn way I’m going to be down for an open thing with you. I’ve never cared about monogamy, but right now, I do. And before you even ask, I was thinking about it before you even mentioned it.”

“All right, but just so you know, Matty doesn’t mean anything by it. Second, does it go in both directions?”

“How do you know he doesn’t?”

“Because I do.” Ellie shrugged.

“That’s not an answer,” I said and gave Ellie a gentle squeeze. His giggles made me smile in the dark. “What does both directions mean?”

“I get you don’t want me with anyone else, which is funny because I haven’t been doing it with anyone at all. But you won’t either?”

“No, kiddo, we’re keeping this exclusive, and we’re gonna figure it out.”

“But if you change your mind…”

“Then I’ll let you know.”