Page 35 of Matthias’s Protective Embrace (Cardinal Falls #3)

“Come, sit. We want to hear all about you.” My mom pats the spot on the couch next to her. Frank looks back at me for a second before taking the seat. “Now, Frank, tell me all about your life.”

“There’s not much to tell.” He picks at a non-existent piece of fuzz on his grey dress pants. I told him he didn’t need to wear anything special, but he insisted on dressing up. His forest green sweater is a little loose on his body, the opposite of what I’m used to seeing him in.

“Oh, I don’t believe that for a minute. What do you do for work?”

“Um… construction and landscaping.” Frank’s voice drips with embarrassment. I’d step in, but I know my mom well enough to know she has the situation under control. It’s one of her superpowers—making people feel seen and appreciated.

“I’ve always admired people who are good at working with their hands. It must be satisfying to see something you’re working on come together. ”

Frank beams. “It is. I love seeing a place come to life, completely changed.”

“It’s nice when you like your work. Now, what else should I know about you?”

I nod at Frank, and he gives me a timid smile. Satisfied that he’ll be okay for a few moments, I head for the kitchen to put the pies in the fridge and grab a drink.

“He seems like a good guy.” My father leans against the doorframe, giving me one of his knowing looks.

“Frank’s the best. He’s got a lot of stuff going on, but he has a great attitude and keeps moving forward.” I don’t pretend to know what that’s like. I’ve worked hard my whole life, but things have been relatively easy.

“I think he’s good for you.”

“What does that mean?” I pause, hand halfway to a glass. My father doesn’t typically weigh in on my personal life. Professionally? He has an opinion on everything, but when I bring someone home, he tends to smile politely and keep his thoughts to himself.

“It means you look happy. I don’t think I’ve seen you smile this much in a long time. Not just this morning, but for the last couple months at work, too. It’s like he’s brought back something in you that disappeared.”

I let my father’s words sink in. I wasn’t unhappy before.

At least I don’t think so. It’s been a long time since I had this much fun and felt this free in my life.

Frank brings out all the best parts of me, and he even appreciates the things that were sticking points in my past relationships. “We’ve only been dating for a month.”

“Technicalities,” he says, waving me off.

Everything feels a little bit lighter now that I have Frank in my life. It’s been that way since I first met him, that first day when he got under my skin and refused to leave.

“Now, your mother’s hoping the two of us are in here preparing mimosas for everyone.”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “It’s ten-thirty.”

“And that’s why we’re adding orange juice.

Don’t give me that look. I’m following orders.

She’s taken with that man of yours and wants to make a good impression.

” Apparently, everyone but me was in on this.

They met Frank five minutes ago and are ready to adopt him.

Why wouldn’t they want to? Frank’s incredible, so full of joy and resilience.

I help my dad fill the champagne flutes with orange juice and prosecco—making sure to go light on the prosecco. It’s too early for Doris to get tipsy.

“Drinks are served,” my dad announces when we walk back in. I’m precariously balancing five glasses on a small tray. There’s a fifty-fifty chance I get this to the couch without there being some sort of disaster. My father hands out his tray full with ease, always a gracious and thoughtful host.

Frank gives me a bit of a look, but he takes one of the glasses.

I want him to have the perfect day. I know holidays are hard for people.

I like to think of our home as a place where people can get away from that.

When I asked if he’d consider spending Christmas with my family, he leaped into my lap and said yes immediately.

Of course, the mood sobered a bit when I mentioned needing to make sure it was okay with his family.

“These are perfect, dear,” my mother says. “Though, I think you might’ve been a little stingy with the prosecco.”

“So, what are we talking about out here?” I’m not taking the bait.

“Frank was telling me all about his schoolwork.” I cock my head and look at him.

“Really?” I know he’s self-conscious about being back in school.

He hasn’t even told his own parents. My chest constricts thinking about how quickly he warmed up to my family, how much he trusts them, and how welcoming they are to him.

I knew they would be, but knowing it and seeing it are two different things.

“Did you know that he got a three-point-five GPA this term?” I snap my head to look at Frank, who’s gone beet red. “Made the Dean’s List, too.”

“My grades were posted a couple of days ago. It’s really one A and a B.”

“Frank, that’s incredible.” It’s all I can say at the moment.

Anything else is too personal, too private for this setting.

I wish he’d told me back home. That way, I could’ve rewarded all his hard work properly.

Show him how proud I am of everything he’s done.

Not of the scores, but the dedication it’s taken to get to them.

The willingness to try again after what he deems a failure.

“I agree. Most people aren’t juggling everything you are. You must be very smart.”

“Thank you.” Frank scans the room nervously. “Um, can I use your restroom?”

“I’ll show you where it is,” I offer, wanting a minute alone with my boyfriend.

Frank trails silently behind me as we head down the hall to what’s now a guest bathroom.

It was mine when I was growing up. Thankfully, they’ve updated it a little since then.

There’s a closer one, but I want a minute alone with him.

“You okay?” I ask when we get to the door.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Guessing isn’t good enough. Talk to me.”

“I don’t think anyone’s ever called me smart before.”

It’s enough to tear my heart out. “Frank, look at me.” It takes him a moment to obey, taking a few deep breaths before he tilts his head up to me.

His watery green eyes stare back at me with an intensity I can’t describe.

“You have always been smart, whether someone told you or not. Whatever else they said, they were wrong. You don’t have to prove it to me or anyone else.

The only thing that matters is that you know it.

” A tear slides down his face, and I pull him into a tight hug.

“Firecracker, why didn’t you tell me you got your grades?

We could’ve celebrated.” I use his nickname to lighten the moment.

“I—” He sniffles a little. “I didn’t know how to bring it up. Anything I thought sounded like bragging.”

“ This is absolutely the kind of thing you should brag about. But”—I pull back a little so I can see his face again—“I want you to feel comfortable bringing all of it to me. The good things that we can celebrate, but also the not-so-good things. It’s my job to help you problem-solve and feel better about those issues.

I don’t care what grades you get, but I do care about helping you celebrate or commiserate at the end of the term. ”

“Okay.”

“Okay, what?” I want to hear him repeat some of that back to me to make sure we’re on the same page. Trust takes time to build, and while it often feels like I’ve known Frank forever, I remind myself that we’ve only been dating a little while, and we’re building it slowly. He inhales sharply.

“Okay… Daddy.”

The honorific is so strange to hear coming out of his mouth that it makes me dizzy. “Come here, Firecracker.” I pull him into the bathroom and lock the door. “You know I said you don’t have to call me that if it doesn’t feel right to you.”

“I know, but recently, it started to feel like the right thing to say.”

“Well, I love you saying it, so you’re more than welcome to continue.”

“Thanks… Daddy.”

I can’t help the groan that escapes from my lips.

I meant it when I said he never had to say those words.

The feelings that come with that kind of relationship are far more important to me than any honorific.

I can feel the way he relies on me, the way he gives himself over to me, let’s me make rules that help him become a better version of himself.

But I won’t lie and say that hearing the word Daddy come off his lips doesn’t do something to me.

“Firecracker…” I push myself up against him, backing him into the wall.

“Hearing you say that makes me so happy.” I meant it when I said he never had to use it.

I can hear it in the silences between sentences, in the way he kisses me, in the blush that spreads across his face when I tell him how good he is for me.

But hearing the word Daddy fall out of his mouth, especially on it’s own, is intoxicating. “Makes me feel so good.”

“Ngh…”

“Why don’t you let me show you how good?” I reach for his belt, not wanting to wait to get my hands on him.

“Here?” He squeaks. Looking around as though an audience might suddenly appear in the bathroom.

“You’ll have to be good and be very quiet. Do you think you can do that for Daddy?”

“Oh, fuck,” he says, letting his head drop back against the wall.

That’s all the permission I need. I drop to my knees in front of him and make quick work of his fly.

In a perfect world, I’d be able to take my time and edge him until he begs me to let him come.

Really show him how much he means to me, how proud I am of his accomplishments this semester.

As it is, people will be looking for us shortly, so I only have a few minutes. That’s all I need, though.

His hard cock slaps against his stomach as I pull down his briefs, giving myself enough room to work. I lean in, licking a bead of precum from his slit.

“Oh fuck, please.”

“Shhh, you have to be quiet and let me take care of you.”

Frank whimpers but nods at me. I hope he can keep quiet enough not to draw attention from anyone in the living room. While my parents would politely ignore anything they hear, our next-door neighbor would not be so kind. Doris is blunt to an extreme.

Given my limited time, I get to work. I swirl my tongue over his head a few times, making sure to spend a few extra seconds in places where I know he’s extra sensitive.

There’s a few strangled noises, but Frank keeps from making any loud noises.

Luckily, he’s able to keep up that streak when I swallow him down.

I love the weight of him against my tongue, the tangy taste as he leaks precum.

One good thing about the time we’ve spent in bed together is that I know exactly how to press his buttons.

I use every trick I know, everything I’ve learned about him, to rush toward his orgasm.

When his breathing grows ragged and muscles tense, I know Frank’s getting close.

It’s my cue to double my efforts, hollowing my cheeks and bobbing over him quickly.

A quick gasp is all the warning I get before he shoots down my throat. I back off slightly so I can capture every drop.

When he’s spent, I lick him clean before tucking his dick back in his pants.

My Firecracker looks absolutely wrecked.

His fist is in his mouth to muffle his cries, face bright red.

“You okay?” I brace myself against the wall to get back to my feet.

I’m not young enough to kneel on hard tile floors anymore.

We need to get home where I have a very comfortable bed to use for stuff like this.

“Shit,” he says, sinking back against the wall.

I put a hand on his waist to help steady him.

“I mean, yes.” I can’t help it. I lean in and kiss him, perhaps with a little more heat than I originally intended.

It’s easy to lose track of time when we’re this close, when our tongues are tangling, the taste of his cum still on my lips.

“We gotta get back,” I mumble, pulling away. I’d give almost anything to be in the privacy of my home right now. Sadly, we still have several hours of holiday festivities with my family.

“What about you?” He places his palm against my erection.

“Later,” I say, despite my throbbing cock.

This moment was about Frank and his accomplishments—both scholarly and otherwise.

Frank pouts a bit at my statement, his lips swollen and inviting.

“Now, why don’t you head back?” I need a moment to get myself under control before I face my family and colleagues.

As he leaves, I give his ass a bit of a smack. He squeaks and jumps a little, but then his face turns a pretty pale pink color before he scurries away.

It takes way too many thoughts of baseball and math equations before I’m ready to step foot out of the bathroom.

From down the hall, I hear muffled chatter and laughter.

When I reach the edge of the room, I can see Frank, sitting by my mom again, sipping his mimosa and listening intently.

When he spots me, he lowers his glass and gives me a shy smile, that blush I love spreading over his cheeks like he’s remembering what we did in the bathroom.

It’s going to be a long day.