Page 56 of Wrestling with Daddy
“I can understand that.”
“But I’m still a brat,” Nathan protested, fighting not to nibble on his lip because he’d already caught on to the fact that Ken didn’t like it when he did. “Subs who aren’t brats don’t tease like I do, they don’t enjoy pushing boundaries or retorting when they’re ordered to do something. They don’t have fun riling up their Doms, and I do.”
“Believe me, I’ve seen that.”
“So… you’re not saying I’m not a brat?”
“No.” Ken snorted. “I’m doing a pretty bad job here, though. What I wanted to say is I owe you an apology. I should’ve never laid it out on you because one brat gave me a shit-ton of scars.”
Nathan’s eyes widened.
It was stupid, but he’d never had, never seen, a Dom issue an apology, admit they’d been in the wrong just like that.
“I’m sorry you had to deal with that, too,” he whispered, a pang on his chest hitting him at the thought of this pretty perfect specimen of a man unappreciated and burned out.
“Thank you, baby boy.”
“M-may I kiss you, Daddy?”
“You may.”
Nathan took his time, too, licking and tasting and committing every inch of skin to memory, every tiny inhale and discreet readjustment of Daddy’s body under his.
CHAPTER15
ken
“I need to share something, too.”
Ken leveled himself on one elbow, glancing down at… at his boy, dammit. He’d hear all about it when he drove back home and inevitably told Lee and maybe even Ash about it, but Nathan was his—less than a week after they’d met for real.
“What is it?”
After Ken had done the unthinkable, sharing what he’d locked in a vault and had never wanted to revisit, and Nathan had showered him with the sweetest kisses, they’d somehow ended up taking a short nap.
Ken hadn’t realized Nathan had stirred awake, but he must’ve been up for a bit, mulling over whatever was going on in that head of his.
“It’s not just the thing with the guys not taking me seriously as a brat.” Nathan kept his gaze down as he spoke. “On Valentine’s Day, the community organized this event thing where they were welcoming all kinks and dynamics. I’d been reading and playing online for a few months, so I thought I’d go as a puppy.”
It turned out, it was for the better that Nathan was keeping his eyes down. That way Ken could just let his blood boil with rage. He could just see wherever Nathan’s retelling led, it wasn’t going to paint that community of his in a better light.
“I have this purple rubber suit and tail with little thunderbolts in yellow that matches my muzzle. It’s really cool. Well, I think it’s really cool,” he amended, the words spat faster as his anxiety spiked. Ken placed a hand on his arm, squeezing it gently until Nathan paused to take a slow breath. “Anyway, I went there, and it was… Fuck, it was really bad. I was the only pup there because apparently all gay events have pups except for the ones I go to, and… It felt like everyone was ignoring me or not knowing what to make of me.
“I tried my fucking best, too. I went up to people, barked at them, rolled on my tummy, chased my tail… There was this little who tried to help, and she gave me her balls so I could fetch them but no one would throw them, and…” Nathan shook his head, very clearly holding back tears. “It’s stupid but it hurt so bad, and I haven’t tried to play since then. That’s why I’ve always avoided talking too much about Zeus when you’ve asked.”
Ken shifted, nostrils flaring as he caged him in under his body, one hand clutching the back of his neck. “Those Doms,” he growled, “don’t deserve to wear that title.”
It was more caveman than Ken’s usual style, but there was only so much of a boy’s crying—or urge to cry—he could take while keeping his composure.
“I mean, they just…”
“No,” Ken interrupted. “I don’t care if you’re playing as a pet, a little, or a slave. They’re vulnerable headspaces, and Doms should know you don’t mess with that.”
“But–”
Nathan’s pupils widened, his breaths coming out more frantic.
Ken couldn’t have that.