Page 5

Chapter Three

Kyler

While the locals we hired to assist with food service cleared away the dinner dishes and leftovers, Mark and I started the firepit.

Dinner was very enlightening as I watched the mommies and daddies interact with their littles.

Littles . I felt like such a fool believing it was children, and my butthead best friend known all along and had even arranged this.

Most of the guests returned to their room to change into warmer clothes while we got the fire going.

Even though it was summer, once the sun set the temperature dropped significantly up in the mountains.

“Why didn’t you tell me about all of this?” Grilling my best friend had waited until prying ears were no longer around, though the wait drove me insane. Combined with the fact he had the audacity to laugh at me, I was really amped up. “It’s not funny. I thought it was children coming.”

“In a sense, you’re correct.”

“I’m so out of my element with this.” How many times have I felt that today.

“No, you’re not. You’re a natural and handled Roen perfectly.”

Roen, sweet, sweet, Roen was a little. Now, to find out exactly what being or having a little entailed.

“Handled? You make him sound like a Ming vase.”

“Littles require a firm, but steady, and loving hand. You’re a natural Daddy, a caretaker, if you will.

Littles and mommies and daddies are a part of the BDSM lifestyle that suits you to a tee.

” He finished stacking the fire and set the kindling aflame.

“Look, all I’m saying is give it a try. I’m sorry I sprung this on you but if I left you on your own you’d grow old—alone.

You’re my best friend and I love you but more than anything I want you to be happy.

I believe Roen can be that person for you. ”

“I have so much research to do.”

“Yes, but you didn’t discount what I said which is a good sign.

I’ll help you with your research. I’ll send you viable links to some excellent websites.

First and foremost, though remember this—no two relationships are the same and consent is everything.

What works best for you and hopefully, Roen, is what matters most. Communication is key. ”

Roen was the only reason I was willing to give this a try, but I didn’t dare say that aloud or Mark would be off planning our wedding. Cheeky bastard. He was far too proud of himself right now.

As each of our guests met us fireside, we handed them make your own s’more packages we put together along with skewers for roasting the marshmallows. We made sure they extended far enough to keep their bodies well away from the flames.

“Ohhh, Daddy, look, it’s the tiny candy bars. They’re so cute.” One of the littles, I believe his name was Ralphie excitedly danced.

“Yes, and sugar free. Well done, Kyler.” His daddy Marcel was pleased with the selection.

“Took a bit of research to find the sugar free marshmallows but my diligence paid off in the end.” Thank fuck. If kids on a sugar high were bad I could only image how this lot would be. Rounding up and winding down adult-sized sugar-filled maniacs would be a nightmare.

“Here,” Mark handed me the last bag and a skewer. “Go join your boy on his log. I’ve got this.”

Was it possible that my best friend knew me better than I did?

When I glanced over at Roen, his head popped up and he grinned and waved.

Yeah, it’s quite possible Mark did.

Sneaky fucker.

“Mind if I join you for s’mores?” Wow, talk about out of practice. Jeez, how long has it been since my last date?

“I’d like that.” The shy smile Roen flashed wound the butterflies up. I was so much…cooler during dinner. Now to channel that side of me again.

I settled in beside him and loaded up his skewer. “Don’t get too close to the flames.”

“’Kay. Can you hold Gnomey, please?”

“Absolutely.” He gave his stuffie a kiss and handed him over, then joined his friend’s closer to the fire.

I sat and watched, more like stared, as he interacted with the others. Occasionally Roen and I had chatted while they worked on the cabins but how was it I never really noticed this side of him before nor his interest in me? I truly did go through life with blinders on.

“Eye opening, isn’t it?” A couple of daddies joined me though Timothy, the one I’d met at dinner, was the first to speak.

“And then some.” Overwhelming was more like it. My thoughts and emotions were all over the place.

“The first time I realized I was a daddy was sophomore year at vet school. We’d just finished finals, and my dorm mate invited me to a party.

Imagine my surprise when I walked into a kink show,” he chuckled though right now I felt the same way.

“I had been obsessed with animals from a young age, but when I met my first little that night, I swear, it smacked me upside the head.

The deep desire to care and nurture extended to humans, just not in the traditional way. After that, I never looked back.

How was it that this was real and integrating into my life? I knew Mark enjoyed much spicier sex than I did but never in a million years could I have conjured all of this up nor did I know my bestie was indeed a Daddy.

“I know that look,” Jensen clapped my shoulder. “It’s overwhelming at first but trust me, once your heart is in it’s all in and I promise you they’re more than worth it. To have their complete trust and know you’ll be there to take care of them. It’s a heady feeling.”

More than worth it.

Those words rang through my head as I watched Roen with his friends, giggling and wiggling to whatever silly songs they were singing.

Their faces were covered in their gooey treat.

I guess most marshmallows weren’t making it back to their mommies and daddies to assemble the s’mores with.

But they were having fun and that’s what this was all about.

“Can I get more marshmallows please? I ate the other ones.” Roen’s adorably messy face appeared before me.

“Yes but will we be making s’mores with this batch?”

“Maybe?” he chewed on his bottom lip though his eyes were alight with mischief.

How do you not smile at such adorable honesty?

“You are too cute.” The words came of their own volition though we both froze.

Roen was the first to break the silence. “I’m glad you think so. I’ll share them with you.”

“That’s okay. I just want you to have fun. Are you enjoying yourself?”

“I am,” he bounced on his heels. “Will you tuck me in tonight and read me a story?”

“I’d love to, but I don’t have any books.” I did, but nothing that was appropriate.

“No problem, I brought some.” He bounded off toward his friends after I slid two more onto his skewer.

“He came prepared for this,” Mark sat beside me. “He’s been so excited. Roen is a great guy, I hope you give him a chance.”

“I will. I just don’t enjoy feeling out of my element. What if I do something wrong?”

“Then you’ll learn together. Just like I told you before, this will be what the two of you make of it. Keep in mind, Roen has a job so he’s not a full time little.”

“Some of them are full time?” Good lord, how did their mommies and daddies do it? How could you work if you had someone to take care of twenty-four-seven? Hell, as an adult I never even had a pet.

“Orion over there,” he pointed to the exuberant blond. “He’s a full time little with a nanny and he wears diapers.”

“Wait, what?”

“Some littles regress to a very young age and prefer diapers or training pants.”

That was beyond my comprehension. But could I manage it if that was Roen’s preference? I might need to ease my way into that.

“How would this work? He doesn’t even live in Arizona let alone up here. Does he?” There were conversations to be had for sure. I knew very little about him and I only had myself to blame for that.

“Technically, he lives in Vegas, but he works for me now, so he goes wherever I send him. We’ve been bidding on quite a few jobs in this area.

Seems word got around about the great job Ramsey did with the cabins.

You wouldn’t have had anything to do with all that free publicity would you?

” The smirk on Mark’s face alluded to the fact he already knew the answer to that.

“When I met with our fellow business owners in town I shared all the work you guys did and handed out both our cards. So, maybe?” Word of mouth was a great thing, especially in rural small-town America.

“I think he’ll have plenty of work up here then, thanks to you.”

One by one, the mommies and daddies bid us goodnight and took their yawning littles back to their cabins. Roen helped me pick up the trash while Mark put out the fire.

“I’ll see you upstairs,” Mark winked. “Goodnight, Roen.”

“Night Daddy Mark.”

Would I ever get used to hearing Mark called Daddy? Hell, would I get used to the moniker being used on me?

Roen slid his hand into mine as we made the short walk to his cabin.

How was it that I felt like I was on a date, waiting to see if the night would end with a hug or a gentle press of lips?

Do I ask for a second date? Was this a date?

My mind whirled with far too many questions and not enough answers.

“I’m gonna take a quick shower. Gnomey will keep you company.”

Roen skipped over to the bed, he was staying in one of the two studio suites we offered. Until he mentioned his stuffie, I’d forgotten I still had it. Probably a good thing or the poor toy would be covered in marshmallow too.

I loved how Roen had made the space his. A stuffed bear was on the bed, tucked in with a colorful blanket and a suitcase full of toys sat wide open on the luggage rack. There. sticking out of the corner, was a handful of children’s picture books.

“All clean.” Roen came out in a clean pair of footie pj’s. This set had teddy bears all over it.

“Where do you find those in adult sizes?” Oh shoot, should I have asked that? “I love them.” Okay, quick, honest save.