10. Chapter 10

ten

Nathan

P lanning my date with Will was more fun than I’d expected. I’d done a good bit of dating in college and after moving to the city, but it was often shallow and everyone knew the score. We were hooking up but not looking for anything long term.

With Will? I could see more. Talking about our mutual love of pickles and football, and disagreeing on the best holiday movie, I could see late night movie marathons and lazy Sundays watching games.

Getting to let my Daddy side out so soon was a breath of fresh air.

So many queer men said they wanted a Daddy, but they really wanted to do nothing in bed and get away with shitty behavior. I wasn’t into brats. Pushback on differing opinions and an equal in conversation was important, but being rude to get a spanking wasn’t my kink. I had friends who loved the push and pull, but I couldn’t see Will being into it.

He was a sweet man who needed help letting go of his inhibitions, and I was there to facilitate his desires. I had hopes for the bedroom, but first his note told me Will liked to believe in Santa Claus. And I just so happened to have an in with old Saint Nick.

Ironically, the Brick & Mortar Santa went by Nick when he was off-duty. I asked him how he felt about adults sitting on his lap, and he’d given me a jolly laugh. “There’s no age limit on the magic of the holidays, Nathan,” he’d told me with a wink, and I rushed to clarify I meant the man I was seeing and not me. Nick told me the point was the same, and I’d arranged something for Will.

When the moment arrived, I mentally crossed my fingers that I wasn't putting Will in an uncomfortable position. He could look at me in disgust and walk out. Or be too embarrassed to follow through. If I read the situation and his level of comfort wrong, it would be on me. But I didn’t think I had.

“Now you get to meet Santa and make a Christmas wish, sweetheart,” I told him, praying he saw how sincerely I’d planned this for him.

Nathan blinked at me owlishly behind his glasses, and I remembered how they’d fogged up when we kissed. I really hoped I got to kiss him again.

Finally, after seconds that felt like eons, Nathan’s face lit up. “Really? But I’m a grown up.”

“Today you’re my little boy,” I whispered, letting my lips brush the lobe of his ear. A shiver ran through him and I had to mentally shake myself to not get turned on. I was at work, dammit. “And you can sit on Santa’s lap if you want to, sweetheart.”

Will leaned back and I caught him nibbling his lower lip again. He glanced at the short line, since I planned the trip to be after they cut off new people, and I saw him clock a few adults in line without children. Squeezing my hand, he nodded his head once and went to get in line.

“Nope,” I told Will, making the ‘P’ pop for emphasis. “We get to skip the line,” I explained and then raised my voice so no one complained to the manager on shift. “Perks of being Store Manager. Santa knew we were coming.”

The assistant taking pictures opened the velvet rope for us, then went off to talk to the people in line next about what photo package they wanted. Since they had a fluffy little dog, I assumed they wanted more pictures than most. Nick was always a professional, and had the real, full, white beard to pull off the look. This was his second year with my store, and he was in high demand.

Will looked a little embarrassed, judging by his red cheeks, but he couldn’t stop smiling. I had to assume he was happier than any other emotion as I led him towards Santa. Reluctantly, I let go of his hand so he could sit on Santa’s lap.

Stepping back to check in with Jose and make sure the customers were happy, I couldn’t help stealing glances at my sweet boy cupping his hand to whisper in Santa’s ear. When he was done, Will’s eyes found mine and he nodded to Santa. Nick caught my eye and tapped the side of his nose. He wouldn’t tell me what Will asked for, but I already knew.

This date was the first step to helping Will make his wish come true. The second part would come later…Depending on what Will said to my next question.

“That was fun…” Will trailed off as if he almost added Daddy, but I chose to let it go. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, sweetheart.” Taking his hand back in mine, I led Will toward the escalator. “You can say no and we’ll make plans to meet again, but would you like to come over to my place and have dinner?”

“Just dinner?” Will asked, and his lip was being abused again as he looked up at me through his lashes. For a big man, he had the cute and innocent doe-eyed look down pat.

“Dinner and a chat about what we want,” I clarified, reaching out to free his lip. “More after if we’re both on the same page.”

Will nodded and started to drag me towards the door, “I’ll drive.”

Part of being a Daddy to my core was wanting to take worry and stress off my boy, but since my car was safe in the employee parking garage, I was happy to let him, and we were at my place in Bernal Heights in under twenty minutes. There was a duffle bag on the floor of his truck, so I brought it with me so Will didn’t have to wonder whether he was supposed to.

My place came furnished, and had great views of the city, but it didn’t have much personality. Suited me fine for the time, and the important part was privacy for the conversation we needed to have. After another too brief kiss, I ordered Chinese food and sat Will down on my leather couch.

“Let’s talk about our kinks, limits, and what we want.”

“Can I call you Daddy?” Will blurted out and then covered his mouth.

“You absolutely can, and I appreciate the straightforward question,” I laid my hand on his knee where he had it pulled up between us to have a connection. “Never be afraid to ask for what you want or are unsure of, sweetheart.”

“I like when you call me that,” Will started, his fingers drawing patterns on the back of my hand. “And when you said I was your little boy.”

“Good, because that’s exactly how I want to treat you. Like my sweet little boy who deserves everything he asks for.” Will blushed and threaded his fingers with mine, but it wasn’t close enough. “Come sit on my lap.”

“But I’m too big,” Will insisted, his brows furrowed. “I’ll crush you.”

“Here’s our first limit to test. Daddy said you should come sit on my lap,” I repeated. “Are you calling yellow because you want to pause and talk, red to stop altogether, or do you just need to listen and trust that Daddy knows what I can take?”

My words were a mess of talking about myself in the third person, but I saw the second Will got my point. His worry and confusion melted away as he clambered onto my lap. I supported his back with one arm, using the other one to secure his legs. His butt was still on the couch and his feet almost touched the ground, but the point wasn’t that Will would fit on my lap like a cat.

He fit perfectly all the same.

Will rested his head on my shoulder and I felt the tension bleed out of him as I rubbed circles on his back and outer thigh. “That’s right, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”

“This is nice, Daddy,” Will said the title in a voice so soft I almost missed it. I wanted to hear him say the word again in a very different tone.

Which brought me to my next topic. We’d discussed a few important things by text over the week, like recent testing and hard limits, but some things needed to be felt out in person. One thing Will hadn’t mentioned was his love languages, but I had a hunch.

“Do you like a lot of touch, baby boy?” Will nodded against me so I went on, “And do you want to get rewards for being good?” He hesitated then nodded again. I’d come back to that. “Do you enjoy routine and discipline as well?”

Will finally leaned back and looked me in the eyes, “I’ve never had someone to give me rewards or routine, but I want them. And as for discipline…I don’t know, but I think I want that as well.”

“You said you were interested in bondage, submission, and spanking?”

“Yes, Daddy. All of that, please.” Will squirmed in my lap, rubbing against my growing erection. He felt my hardness against his hip and gasped. “Is that what you’re into, Daddy?”

“I’m into earning your submission.” I rubbed my nose against his and earned Will’s smile. “And I get turned on by fulfilling your desires, sweetheart.”

The door camera buzzed with the delivery and Will hopped up, “I’ll get it, Daddy.”

Will rushed off, and I was loving the boyish manner he’d slipped into. When he came back, Will’s hands were empty. “Where’s dinner?”

“Dinner can wait,” Will said by way of explanation, holding out a hand to pull me up from the couch. “I’m hungry for you, Daddy.”

Fuck me. I might have held the key to unlocking his little side, but Will held the key to my Daddy mode just as securely.