Page 14 of Sandcastles & Sunburns (DKAG Summer Shorts #6)

Jude

For the first time in over nine years, Jude considered skipping his morning swim.

The night before he slathered cold aloe over Liam’s face, neck, shoulders, and arms before forcing the boy to drink three bottles of water. They’d relaxed on the couch until Jude had applied more aloe and coaxed Liam to bed.

Jude had even tucked the boy in, leaving with just a soft forehead kiss.

It killed him to not be with Liam, but they had a lot to talk about before Jude made that much of a nuisance out of himself. Whether Jude was ready or not, Liam had become his boy. Liam, his sweet little neighbor, deserved to be taken care of like the little prince he was.

Jude hoped by Liam’s reaction to the soft kiss that the boy was going to be onboard with the plan to explore their relationship. At least try.

Jude completed his morning swim, although he might have shaved off a few minutes from his regular routine. He showered quickly and gathered up what he needed for the day then made his way next door.

Tapping on the sliding glass door, he was pleased to see Liam shuffling toward him.

At least the boy was up and out of bed.

“How are you feeling?” Jude asked as Liam let him inside.

“Sore,” Liam admitted quietly.

“I know, baby.” Jude gathered Liam close although he was careful where he touched.

“I’m so stupid!” Liam whined.

“No, you’re not,” Jude told him. “You made a mistake. It won’t happen again. I won’t let it happen again.”

“Okay.” Liam leaned heavily against him.

“I brought over some tea that I think you’ll like. It’s very soothing,” Jude told him. “And I checked last night. There’s plenty of food to make you a good breakfast. Even lunch.”

“Thanks.” Liam didn’t try to move away though. “I’m not hungry yet.”

Jude wasn’t surprised. Liam wasn’t really a morning person. He turned his head at a hiss close to his side. “Your fat cat is hissing at me.”

“You keep calling him fat,” Liam reminded him. He rubbed his face against Jude’s chest.

“He’s not small.” Jude eyed the beast. “You aren’t small at all, are you, murder kitty?”

“Hades,” Liam corrected. “His name is Hades.”

“Murder kitty,” Jude hissed back at the cat.

The murder kitty huffed then flopped onto his back. Huh, the little beast was kind of cute.

“He only likes Nicky,” Liam told him. “He’s a traitor.”

Jude chuckled. “I’m sure he loves you just as much.”

“Only because I give him the best treats.”

Which explained why Hades was a big boy. Jude knew better than saying anything out loud. “If you’re not hungry now, I thought it might make you feel better if we spent some time in your playroom. That is, if you want?”

That got Liam’s attention. “Play?”

Jude drew Liam over to the couch so they could sit together. “I’m not going to pretend that I have all the answers.” It was important to be honest from the start. Jude owed Liam that. “I do know that I am very interested in a relationship with you. A Daddy and boy relationship.”

“Really?” Liam sounded so hopeful.

“I want to try again. With you. Only with you.”

Liam smiled wide. His poor chapped lips cracking. They had gotten worse overnight. “I want that too.”

“You aren’t a replacement for Sam,” Jude explained quietly. Well, he hoped he was explaining. “You are nothing like Sam for one. You are unique. Sweet. Wonderful. I want you, Liam. It’s important that you know that.”

“Thank you for telling me that. I might have wondered.”

“You can ask me questions,” Jude said. “Ask me anything. At any time.”

“Will you still talk about Sam?” Liam questioned. “Tell me about the two of you? If it doesn’t hurt too much. I would like to hear more about him.”

That surprised Jude. Made all the pieces inside him click together in the right order.

He’d never wanted to go after another relationship because he didn’t want to forget Sam.

To have to shove down the memories of Sam to make someone else more comfortable.

“Do you really mean it?” He had to make sure.

“I do.” Liam clung to Jude’s hand. “You loved him. I don’t want to take that away from you. You can share him with me. I want you to share him with me. We can keep his memory alive together.”

Jude once again drew Liam closer. “Law wants to meet you.”

Liam giggled. “Really?”

“He’s quite insistent on it, actually. I told him that I’d ask if you wanted to join us for dinner this week,” Jude told him.

“I would love to!”

Jude knew that Liam was dying to meet Law. The two of them together? That was a recipe for trouble. He’d known that they were going to meet eventually, but maybe if he got ahead of it then he could pretend he had any sort of control.

Control was important to Jude.

When he hadn’t had any control, he’d lost his boy. Jude couldn’t have that happen ever again. At least he needed to believe that. That he had any semblance of control.

“Dinner at my house then,” Jude said. “I’ll cook. Is there anything in particular that you want?”

“Everything you make is so good!” Liam said.

“I have a few ideas,” Jude said. More than a few. It was more about narrowing it down.

“Did you take the aspirin I left for you?” Jude questioned.

“Yes.”

“And drank the water?”

“I had water and juice this morning,” Liam replied.

“Good boy.”

Liam shivered.

“Cold?” Jude asked.

“No.”

Jude ran his hand down Liam’s back, making sure to avoid his shoulders. “Does this mean you might be ready to spend some time in your playroom?”

Liam closed his eyes for a brief moment.

“Liam?”

“I want that.” Liam peered up at him. “I would love to spend time in my playroom.”

“With me?” Jude clarified. “Taking care of you?”

Liam teared up. “As my Daddy?”

Jude cupped his face. “Yes, baby boy, as your Daddy.”

“Please,” Liam said. “Please, Daddy.”

“Good boy.” Jude kissed the tip of Liam’s sunburned nose. His small bag was still over his shoulder. He drew Liam to his feet before guiding him across the room and down the hall. The playroom, from what Jude had gathered from overhearing Liam and Nicky, was the second door on the right.

The first door was obviously an office. A messy office. Jude ignored that for now.

He continued along until they reached the second door. “This the playroom?”

Liam nodded.

“Is it okay if I open the door?”

“Yes.”

Jude turned the knob and pushed open the door. The light switch was to the right, and he flicked it on.

He smiled at the room in front of him.

The carpet was thick and new. Jude’s house had ceramic tile throughout. A playroom needed carpet just like this. He was also surprised by the thick sturdy furniture. A twin bed with a wood frame, a changing table, bookcase, and a rocking chair in the corner.

Above the changing table were shelves that held an array of diapers, wipes, powder, and lotions.

“Do you need me to help you change your clothes?” Jude asked.

“Yes, please.” Liam followed Jude’s gaze to the shelf.

“And maybe a diaper?” Jude asked.

Liam sucked in a breath.

“I think that’s a yes, but I need for you to use words,” Jude said gently.

“I want a diaper,” Liam whispered.

“Good boy. Such a brave little one for me.”

Liam smiled shyly.

“Come over here with Daddy.” Jude held out his hand.

Liam shuddered hard. Just like he’d done on the couch. Liam really liked the dynamic. Needed it. Jude knew how he felt. He’d missed this. There was an intimacy between a Daddy and a little that exceeded more than even sex. How had he lived without this?

His boy was obviously nervous but there was also excitement in those big blue eyes.

“All you have to say is stop,” Jude said as he turned Liam to face him, Liam’s back to the changing table. “You say stop and everything stops. We’ll talk and cuddle. I won’t be mad.”

“Okay.” Liam nodded. “If I say stop, then everything will stop.”

“Good boy,” Jude praised. He set his bag on the end of the changing table. “Shirt first?”

Liam held up his arms. The boy could only raise them up to his shoulders.

Jude carefully pulled the loose shirt off him. He hissed, making note of the red skin. Liam would start to peel soon. To heal. The poor baby. It was not going to be comfortable.

He had to push down the guilt of knowing if he’d been there, this wouldn’t have happened. Jude would have made sure that Liam had been drinking water, getting slathered with sunscreen, and hadn’t spent too much time in the sun.

Next came the lounge pants that Liam wore.

Jude knelt before slipping the cotton down Liam’s legs. That left Liam in only a pair of boxers.

“I’m going to take these off now,” Jude warned.

Liam nodded.

“Hey.” Jude looked up at Liam. Made sure Liam’s gaze met his. “We don’t have to do this.”

“I want to!” Liam said loudly. Maybe a little too loudly.

“It’s okay to be nervous,” Jude told him.

“I know.” Liam huffed. “I know this. I’ve done this before. I don’t know why—”

“You haven’t done this with me.” Jude winked. “I’m nervous too.”

“No, you’re not!” Liam replied. There was a small smile on his face. Just the start of one.

“I am,” Jude assured him. “Swear.”

“I’m being silly,” Liam told him.

“A silly boy.” Jude laughed. “It’s probably good that I know just what to do with a silly boy.” He yanked Liam’s boxers down. “There. Now I’ve seen you naked.”

Liam giggled. The happy sound a balm to Jude’s shriveled heart.

Jude rose before lifting Liam up by his armpits. He carefully laid Liam back on the changing table. “I think we can leave your shirt off for a little bit. Do you have some shorts to wear over your diaper?”

“Second drawer,” Liam mumbled. He lifted his thumb but didn’t put it in his mouth.

Jude wrapped his fingers around Liam’s wrist before pushing the thumb harder against Liam’s mouth. “Open,” he ordered.

Liam opened his mouth.

Jude helped Liam put his thumb in his own mouth. “Good boy. Now lie back and relax. Daddy is going to take good care of you.”

Having his thumb in his mouth appeared to relax Liam. Liam grinned around his thumb as he kicked his heels against the bottom of the changing table.

“Okay, silly boy.” Jude grabbed his bag and pulled out the extra bottle of aloe that he’d brought over. “You are going to get slathered again.”

Liam whined around his thumb.

“I know, I know,” Jude teased. “Sticky is yucky.”

Liam nodded.

Jude set the aloe aside before he grabbed a diaper off the shelf. Placing it beside Liam’s hip, he made sure that Liam saw it. That the boy knew what was coming. This was a major step for any Daddy and boy. Jude felt the tremor in his own hands.

Ten years. It had been ten very long years since he’d diapered a boy.

The diapers had been more of a him thing. Sam hadn’t cared one way or another. He’d worn them because they’d made Jude happy. Jude enjoyed taking care of all his boy’s needs.

Grabbing the package of wipes, Jude had to open them. New. A fresh start. Just like the two of them.

He wiped Liam down, not playing with the boy even though he was tempted.

Liam had a wonderful body. Small and tight. Toned. Just a little pouch over his belly. Bending, he placed a kiss between Liam’s pecs. Then above his belly button.

Liam giggled.

Jude reached for the powder. “I love the smell of this.”

Liam nodded his head enthusiastically.

“Yeah?” Holding the powder up high, he turned it over, dumping far too much over Liam’s crotch. “Oops.”

Liam giggled harder. The thumb fell from his mouth. “Daddy!”

“I better rub this in really good.” This time Jude’s hands were all over the boy. He even stroked Liam with his powdery hands.

Liam started to harden under his touch.

“There you go!” Jude said brightly.

“But—” Liam lifted his hips. His cock standing straight up.

“Diaper time,” Jude announced cheerfully. He used a new wipe to clean his hands.

“Mean!” Liam pushed his bottom lip out.

“You said you wanted a diaper though,” Jude reminded him. He picked up the diaper to wiggle it in front of Liam’s face.

Liam huffed. The thumb went back into his mouth.

“Here we go. Lift your hips.”

Liam planted his feet before lifting. Jude slid the diaper under him.

“Down,” Jude commanded.

Liam plopped his bottom down and gave a wiggle.

“Feel good?”

“Yes, Daddy,” Liam replied around his thumb.

“This will feel even better,” Jude promised. With practiced hands, Jude was able to get Liam wrapped up with the diaper around him. “Just like a hug.”

Liam gave a deep sigh.

Grabbing the handle of the second drawer of the changing table, Jude pulled it open. Inside was a collection of bright shorts and tops. The perfect little clothes for his perfect little boy.

Jude got the shorts up on Liam’s legs before lifting the boy off the changing table. Once Liam was on his feet, Jude pulled them over the diaper. They fit wonderfully, making the diaper that Liam wore noticeable by the padding.

“Alright, now time for the yucky stuff.” Jude picked up the bottle of aloe and shook it.

Liam frowned around the thumb in his mouth but turned and gave Jude his back.

Slathering the aloe, Jude made sure that Liam was covered, then replaced the cap on top. He once again used a wipe to clean his hands. The wipes were always so handy. Jude had always kept a pack with him when on duty.

Jude patted Liam’s bottom. “So, what are we going to play.”

“Cars!” Liam said, jumping up and down. “But no cheating!”

“I would never cheat,” Jude lied.

Liam hummed. “Nicky cheats. You no cheat!”

“Okay, baby. No cheating.”