Page 7

It isn't even a question if Orion is crashing at my house after that.

I finish washing his body with the soap the gym supplies from the individual dispensers and grab us each a towel to dry off. We barely worked up a sweat, until the shower, so he dresses back into his clothes, but I grab a new pair of sweats and a shirt from my duffel bag. The silence between us is on the verge of becoming awkward. I'm not sure what there is to say after that. I wasn't planning on hooking up in the shower when I asked him if he wanted to join a workout. I wasn't even thinking of hooking up in general. I just wanted any excuse to see him. I'd been tossing and turning in bed for several hours until I saw his text come through. After that, there was no chance of sleeping.

"I'm not familiar with a gym or anything," Orion says as we walk out of the changing room. There is still no one in the room and I make sure to turn the lights off on our way to the elevator. "But I think people tend to stay a little longer than this when they work out."

"I came to relax. I just got that in a different form." I press the button for the elevator and Orion snickers beside me. "What?"

"I can't believe we just did that," he says. I look over at him, studying his face for any sign of regret. His lips are quirked in a half-smile. I let my muscles relax again.

"Which part? The public place or you calling me Daddy again after I told you not to unless you're serious?"

Orion's eyes glance my way and then the elevator doors open. We step inside and I wait for his answer. "Both of them."

"Which one would you like to talk about first?" I turn my body to face him. We have at least a minute before the doors open again.

"I lied, before." He turns his soulful brown eyes toward me and I wait for him to continue. I see him swallow, his Adam's apple bob. "I've been curious about the whole Daddy dynamic before. I've watched videos and going to the club, seeing how happy everyone was in that room, it definitely piqued my interest. Then you came up to talk and I got nervous."

The doors open and we walk to my car. I unlock it and open his door for him, standing there until he buckles his seatbelt, and then walking around to get behind the wheel. The car hums quietly, but I don't drive away. I'd rather us clear the air and talk now. The silence drags for a long minute. I see him bite his bottom lip.

"I want to set the record straight," I start. "I just want you to know where I'm coming from. Yes, I was in the room at the club, but that was mostly because I was catching up with friends and I helped decorate. When I say I'm a Daddy, my experience lies more in the Daddy Dom aspect than the age play. I've only recently become… curious about that aspect for myself. I've never been in a relationship with a Boy that regressed." I stop talking and look at him closely. I hope I explained that right. "When I told you earlier that I might like the dynamic, but it isn't a dealbreaker, I meant that. I've never dabbled in the age play kink before, so I can't miss it." He finally turns to look at me. "Have you?"

He shakes his head. "Nothing outside of watching videos and a mild curiosity."

"What did you like about the videos?" I'm trying to keep this as casual as possible. I know he's nervous about this. I am, too. Admitting that to him was the right thing, to be completely truthful. If he's serious about wanting to try, he deserves to know that I'm going to be new to parts of this as well.

He shrugs and glances over at me briefly before looking out the windshield. There is nothing to look at but the cement wall. I wait him out. He can take all the time he needs. I want to reach over and grab his hand or something, but refrain. I can practically see the gears in his brain turning.

"I like submission," he says. "Or aspects of it, in the bedroom. I don't know how to describe it. Never been asked, really. It's just been implied in my few hookups. I have been on my own for years, making the decisions, making sure I have food and shelter, clothes. It's been hard and I'm not in the best financial situation, but I'm proud of where I am and what I've done. I guess, sometimes, I think about how it'd be nice to have someone else take the reins so I didn't have to worry or make any decisions. The carefree nature that comes with the dynamic is probably the biggest reason. I don't get a lot of downtime in my life."

"Would you be interested in trying it?" I ask. "We can start out slow, or if it's just something that you like in the bedroom, we can discuss that as well."

Orion looks at me. His eyes are telling me everything. He's interested, but hesitant. "I'm kind of worried that if I try, I might not like it."

"And that's completely fine, Orion. That's what negotiating and scenes are for. It's a chance to explore different things to find what you do like." I watch his lips, those still slightly swollen lips, purse for a few seconds as he contemplates. I want, more than anything, for him to say yes and to jump into this, to let me guide him into experimenting. I might not have a lot of experience myself, but I have this feeling deep down that I’ll just know. We’ll learn together, but I want to help him with all the things he mentioned. I could definitely help him with the money side, but giving him that carefree, worry free time to just relax… I can help with that too.

I want that, but I won't force it on him. I keep my face neutral and my hands to myself as I wait. Fuck, I feel like a teenager with their first crush, desperately wishing that the other person feels the same.

"How would we go about that?" Orion asks the question so quietly, I have to lean forward to hear him better.

"Go about what?" I ask, genuinely, for clarification. 'That' is a broad term for what we're talking about. Negotiations start with being specific.

Orion sighs loud enough to not be mistaken. He turns his whole body in the seat to face me, unbuckling his seat belt to get more comfortable. I roll my lips inward to keep from smiling triumphantly. I'm not going to get my hopes up too early.

"What scenes or things would I be trying?"

"First off, do you know how negotiations work?" I'm in the business of them as an accountant. Well, I'm in the business of dealing with the financial sides of negotiations. Orion shrugs instead of answering. "Negotiations are not a one sided conversation. It's a discussion of what both parties like."

"I know that," Orion cuts in. "I just meant— I don't know what I like, so maybe starting with what you like would be smart."

"Me just telling you what I like or want is going to set an expectation in your brain that if you don't like it, you've failed. I'm not going to put you in that position. We will talk things out, plan a scene in its entirety. We'll talk about hard limits, things that you definitely do not want to do. Things that you would like to do and things you are willing to try."

"Do you have any hard limits?" Orion asks. "I think that might be the easiest place to start."

If we were having this conversation two months ago, I would have had a much longer list. I never minded the age play, hanging out with my friends and their Middles or Littles. Hell, I even joined in and helped out from time-to-time. Being a Daddy full time in that aspect was never really my thing.

Not until Austin and that damned weekend at the camp. Having Austin in near breakdown mode, crawling into my lap, and apologizing in that soft voice of his broke something in me. Released something, I should say. I could see myself comforting my own Little, being there in that way to offer comfort like rocking him back and forth, feeling his weight against my chest. Seeing how Austin’s whole demeanor changed the second that door opened and he saw Remington… I'd never been jealous in my life, but I was then. Not because of Austin, but because of that love and trust.

"Garrett?" Orion's voice brings me out of my thoughts and I offer him a half smile.

"Sorry, I got lost there for a second." I run my hands over the steering wheel and think. "I don't do non-con. Consent is absolutely everything to me."

"That's good to know," he says. "What's your stance on revoking the consent mid-way through a scene… or sex?"

"You use your safeword whenever you need to," I say quickly. I turn my head to look at him, locking eyes. I watch him nod once and can see something behind his expression. I don't want to pry, but I need to know. "What happened, Orion?"

"Nothing, really. I was just in a situation where this guy wouldn't take no for an answer when I decided I didn't want to leave with him. Nothing happened, but he got a bit pushy. It's always in the back of my mind now."

I reach a hand over the console and lay it on his wrist. "If you use your safeword, I will stop. No questions. I don't care what we're doing or what we discussed beforehand. I need communication."

"I appreciate it," Orion says.

I glance at the clock on the dash and groan. It's almost four in the morning. I see Orion lift his hand to his mouth, trying to hide a yawn. “We’ll talk more tomorrow… Today. Let’s get you to bed, okay?”

"We can talk while you drive," Orion says.

I know that I said there was no question that he was coming home with me, but I still ask. And still secretly hope he agrees. "Do you want to come to the house?"

"Yes, please. I want your bed again. Your guest bed, I mean."

"My bed is also open," I say as I put the car in reverse. I don't look at him as I back out and he doesn't say anything to that.

"So, hard stops." I smile at his attempt to backtrack the conversation.

"Can I ask you one?" I drive slowly toward the exit of the parking garage, pressing the button to open the door. It's raining again, but being three in the morning, there is no one on this street. It's kind of eerie.

"Go for it," he says. He sounds way more comfortable now, which I'm happy for.

"Are you okay with pet names? Any that you don't like? Baby, sweetheart, that sort of thing?"

He's silent for a moment as I slow down at a red light. I glance over at him. His face is illuminated by the multitude of lights around us. Just because there isn't anyone around, doesn't mean it's ever dark in the city. It accentuates the shadows below his cheek bones and the outline of his nose from where I'm sitting.

"I don't mind them," he finally says just before the light turns green. "I don't really have experience with being called more than my name, so we might have to play some of them by ear. I don't mind nicknames either."

"Sounds good." I settle more into my seat and smile to myself. This is going well, I think.

"You said you don't fuck bare," Orion says out of the blue. I whip my head over to him and my expression must be something comical because the car fills with laughter. "I'm sorry, I probably could have led into that a little more. But my question is, is that always a rule? Or is that just a hookup with a practical stranger rule?"

I'm surprised. I mean, I know everyone is different and I'm not judging him for his past or preferences. It does mean one thing in particular though. "I'm not against it with the right person," I say honestly. "But it takes a lot for me to trust someone like that and we would get tested before any further discussion was had. We would also agree to be exclusive."

"Sounds logical," he says. "I'll just put it out there that I'm a fan of… messy, if you know what I mean."

My cock definitely knows what he means, but I try to ignore it. I nod, licking my lips for something to do. I need to steer this conversation away from sex. At least while I'm driving. "As far as the age regression, do you have any no-go's?"

"I won't know a lot of it until I'm in the moment and figure out what feels right and what doesn't," he says easily. "I know that… Pardon my language for this, but shit is off the table. I can handle those bathroom breaks on my own."

"What about pee? And wetting?"

I see his thinking expression again, lips pursed, jaw slightly kilter. He shifts his head back and forth. "I think that might have to be a try it thing? I mean, I know diapers are a thing with some age play, but I'm not sure if that's for me or not. One… video I did watch of the boy being helped while he used the bathroom was interesting."

I store that information for a later scene we can discuss. We're going to start out slow, but picturing me standing behind him, holding him while he uses the bathroom is having almost the same effect as his question a minute ago. How? How have I spent years around my friends, who are almost all Daddies that have partners who regress, and never felt any inkling to dabble myself until now?

It's his turn to speak again while I contemplate why he's so different. Orion definitely has this air about him, a mix of years of independence, but also a layer beneath that I'm drawn to. One that says 'I just want to be taken care of for once'. He shared a bit about his siblings, but nothing about his parents, which makes me believe his childhood wasn't all that great. Moving out at seventeen is another indication and certainly tells me that he had to grow up fast.

"Do you have an idea of a scene that you want to try?" he asks. "I know you said that you're not going to push any of your preferences on me, but I'm going into this almost blind. I don't have any expectations."

I don't have a lot in the way of toys or supplies at my house, as I'm sure he doesn't either. Maybe that will make things easier to just try something simple. "How about we get to the house and get some sleep, and then when you wake up, I can make you breakfast and we can watch some cartoons or something and go from there? Test the waters on that and kind of see what you might be interested in?"

Rachel has told me more times than once how one of her favorite things with Luke, her Boy, is their morning snuggles. Luke works the night shift and Rebecca keeps random hours, so when he comes home, Rebecca has breakfast and cartoons waiting for him most mornings. She is head over heels for him and I know she's planning on proposing to him soon. They've been together for three years now. Austin and Remington, from the few months they've been together, also do movie dates and he raves how it's a simple thing that can allow the Little to regress a bit and relax for a while without a lot of pressure for anything else.

"Can I make a request?" Orion asks. I nod, turning into my neighborhood. I glance his way once more and smile when I see him hiding a yawn. Miserably, because it's a deep yawn and he takes several seconds before he's ready to speak again. "Can we watch one of the Ninja Turtles movies? I have it on DVD, but I haven't been able to watch it since I don't have a TV. Or Wi-Fi. Or any streaming services, for that matter."

"If we can find it, we'll watch it." I smile to myself, hearing how excited his voice got just now. My Boy loves Ninja Turtles. I'll have to remember that. "I have most of the streaming services, plus cable."

"The live action ones are my favorite," he says. "I could never watch them growing up, because they scared my little sister. I think they're cool though."

"I've never seen the movies," I admit. I park the car in my garage and look over at him. His eyes are wide and I smile. "But we'll change that soon enough. Let's get inside."

Riley greets us with a chomp of his teeth. It makes Orion giggle, which I'm sure is partly because he should be asleep. My traitorous dog follows Orion up the stairs as I grab us a couple of water bottles. When I reach the hallway, I see the light for the guest room on, but the door is still open. I peek my head inside and watch as Orion folds his clothes and sets them on top of the dresser. He smiles when he sees me.

"You've already seen me naked," he says, reaching for one of the waters I'm holding outstretched toward him. He's still in the pair of gray briefs that don't leave a lot to the imagination.

"The toothbrush you used last time is still in the bathroom. I'll set my alarm for a few hours from now and come get you when breakfast is ready. Sound good?"

"Yes," he says. I can see he wants to say more. I wait him out once more. "Are you okay if I call you Daddy? To get used to it, I mean?"

"Of course." I step closer to him and cup his face in my hand. His beard is little more than stubble. I remember the feeling of it against my face when we kissed. I lean forward and kiss his cheek instead. "You can call me whatever feels right for you."

"Thank you. Daddy." I drop my hand and step back. His face is so sweet. I can see the years haven't been kind. His eyes hold struggles behind them. I just want to help ease some of that, give him something positive and let him relax. I smile again, because I know that I can't say what I'm feeling without scaring him off. I know I'm falling fast for this sweet guy.

"My door will be open if you need anything," I say. "I'm going to assume that Riley will sleep in here with you. If you need to kick him off the bed, though, don't feel bad. He has a nice bed downstairs and one in my room too."

"Okay." This time, it's my turn to hide a yawn. We say one final goodnight and I kiss him softly on the lips before heading to my own room. I'm much more relaxed now when I climb under the blankets. It has nothing to do with the brief workout or even the shower orgasm. It's knowing that just across the hall is a man that I can't stop thinking about. A man that is trusting me with exploring a whole new side with him.

I make sure my alarm is set for ten AM before I fall asleep within seconds of my head hitting the pillow.