Page 51 of Wrestling with Daddy

It took a minute to realize the blows weren’t coming anymore, that he could breathe again and Ken was pulling him upwards to lie against his chest. Another minute to wrap his arms around Ken’s neck and hide his head there.

Another one to hear the reassurances in Ken’s gravelly voice, the promises that it was all over and he was all right. That Ken wasn’t going anywhere.

CHAPTER13

ken

Nathan might as well have beena koala instead of a small pup. Despite the encouragements and reminders about the incredible smelling food and the chocolate fountain Ken had no plans of gorging on, Nathan wouldn’t bulge. His arms wrapped tightly around his neck while his legs somehow managed to trap his waist in place.

“Let me wrap you up before I feed you,” Ken whispered as he ran a hand through Nathan’s slightly dampened hair.

There was no surprise when Nathan didn’t let go of him, but Ken was rather grateful for all the times he’d helped friends move. That extra bout of strength came in handy to lift up boys and position them how he wanted.

The bathroom had a couple of towels that could work, but they weren’t the most fluffy. The robes, however, looked good.

“Okay, it’s not going to be the same, but do you want to get your shirt off and put this on?”

There was no answer—not a surprise, either—but Nathan’s head shifted back to the bed. It was a silent message that was easy enough to decipher.

“Yeah, we’ll get you changed in the bed.”

Ken made quick work of it, trying not to linger too much as he realized this was the first time he saw Nathan completely naked. The pink nipples and small moles draped across his stomach were too enticing not to bite.

Aftercare would always take precedence, though.

Predicting Nathan was going to return to that koala position as soon as he was able to, Ken moved the food cart closer to the bed so he could easily reach it one-armed.

Feeding him in that position—or himself—wasn’t the most comfortable, but Ken didn’t have the heart to ask Nathan to sit up.

Besides, a part of him had feared how Nathan would handle impact after the last time that had him dropping. He looked calm, though. At peace, albeit a bit shy, and out of sorts.

Ken liked him like that, burrowing against him and grabbing comfort out of it. Whatever he needed.

By the time he’d fed him all the pasta and a few prawns—with even a bit of the greens—Ken thought maybe Nathan was feeling readier to engage and sit up.

They’d given them a couple of wooden skewers to pierce the strawberries with, but Ken wasn’t confident they wouldn’t make a mess if Nathan wasn’t moving.

Perhaps his timing hadn’t been the best.

There were more reasons, too. Ken wanted Nathan to dip the strawberries in the chocolate himself, sure that his whole body would light up like Christmas had come early with the simple action.

“Hey, baby boy, you ready for dessert?”

Nathan whined, rubbed his face against Ken’s neck. His grip on him softened after a few seconds, though. Scooting back, it took him a while to get back into a sitting position, only leaning against Ken’s side.

Ken couldn’t say he didn’t miss the warmth, but he liked the pliancy in Nathan’s features as he looked at him for guidance.

“You’re so fucking beautiful, my boy.”

He was.

Ken knew it was a matter of time before he completely lost that battle where he wanted to keep a million walls up.

“Whatever,” Nathan grumbled.

There was no hiding the color staining his cheeks, though.

Ken let it go for now, instead passing him one of the skewers. “Go on.”