Chapter 12

Colin

Idrove home feeling drunk. Just being around the boy! Wow. It got me all muddled.

Maddy. Cute name. Was it a nickname?

Good thing I didn't have to drive too far to get home. That boy had distracted my brain. And parts elsewhere. Every mannerism, every move, every look had me thinking, "Damn, so much my type."

But it was more than that. It had a lot to do with my feelings of protectiveness. He'd been hurt and it brought out something deep inside me that wanted to help, fix, comfort. I was a big guy and I knew how to fight. But I also had a fantasy of wrapping a boy in my arms and holding him close and tight, warming him when he was cold, feeding him when he was hungry, reassuring away all his fears, kissing away all his boo-boos.

It was a daddy thing. Of course. I wasn't ignorant to that deep need to be a daddy. It went beyond sex, though, and some boys just wanted to play a scene and be done. I wanted to take care of everything.

Maybe I was alone because I was too controlling. But it was more about feelings. Emotions. People didn't always understand, even people in the kink community.

Maddy, though. He was the real deal. Not playing. Not pretending. He seemed eager for a second date.

As I was getting ready for bed, the pre-dawn light turned the sky a dark violet. I closed the blinds and set my phone on the nightstand. It chimed.

I knew it was my stalker, but I had to be sure. I scrolled to my texts and yep, there he was. Insulting and rude and intrusive. Again. I got slightly paranoid that the text came right after I'd closed my blinds. But I let that thought go. This person was a nuisance, but they hadn't actually threatened violence.

It was nice that Trent was taking the text stalking seriously, though. Using professional investigators had to cost a lot.

As I lay back in the darkness, I saw Maddy's face in my mind. Bright. Young. Glowing. A knot formed in my stomach.

Was I being fair to the kid? With my job and the stalker, was it even safe to bring him into my life?

My muscles bunched. My chest rose with a deep breath. Everything inside me surged with a protective instinct. With me he would be safe. It wasn't arrogance. I was quite able to take care of myself in dire situations. I had no fear for myself in that capacity.

But Maddy. He was small, young. Sweet.

He hadn't balked when I told him about my stalker, which was a credit to his own strength. Another reason I was drawn to him. He was a brave boy.

I took deep, even breaths to calm myself from an abnormally busy night. Exhaustion took over and I was quickly asleep.

I woke around noon.Even my thick blinds didn't keep the sunlight out. Not completely. The room was bathed in a warm, golden glow. I basked in the just waking feeling, then remembered. I had a sweet boy to text!

I sat up and picked up my phone. A text sat waiting for me.

Unknown:New day, but you're the same asshole, aren't you. Did you fuck him yet?

My heart rateimmediately sped up. Him? Who? Was he referring to my actions last night? To Maddy? My stalker had never included someone else in his texts. He only taunted me.

Well, fuck.

Maddy said he worked noon to six. He'd be working right now. He was probably fine. Safe. I wanted to text him just to be sure. But I couldn't let him know I was even a tiny bit nervous.

Colin:I enjoyed last night and would love to do that again. My shift is six to two a.m. Our work hours leave no time in between. Can I see you late again?

I staredat my phone as if Maddy might jump through it at any time. There was no response. But of course, he was working. He couldn't just drop everything to text me back.

I took my phone with me into the bathroom and kept opening the shower door every ten seconds to check it. It wasn't like me to be paranoid. Not like this. My stalker was my stalker. Whoever he was, he was mad at me. He didn't even know Maddy's name or who he was.

But then darker thoughts came. I'd taken Maddy home. Had he followed me? Did he now know where Maddy lived?

I couldn't think like that. I wouldn't allow the stalker to get into my thoughts. Text stalkers were cowards. That was why they used texts to harass others. They didn't have the guts to face them.

I really hoped Trent's investigators got an answer soon.

I fixed myself eggs and toast and sat eating. And staring. At my phone. I turned on the TV for a distraction. The news was on, droning about dark things.

I began to channel surf when my phone went off. I checked the texts. Stalker or Maddy? I smiled as I read.

Maddy:After your shift would be great. If I came to the club again, would it be bad? I would go to the littles room and color and not interfere with your shift.

Well,now. The little one was eager and smart. I loved the idea of him being where I could know where he was at all times. Did he understand that already? That I was somewhat controlling? I gave him credit for figuring it out. If Maddy didn't like it, I would encourage him to tell me. We could talk tonight over another very late dinner.

Colin:It would be my pleasure to have you come to the club any time. I will have a pass waiting for you. I look forward to seeing you again.

It all sounded a bit formal,but we were still in that stage. Feeling each other out.

Maddy:Can I head over there when I get off work? Or would that be too early?

Colin:I'll be there at six. Any time you'd like, not-a-baby. Bring your stuffie. Unicorns get in free.

Maddy:His name is Kornie.

Then he senta bunch of laughing/smiling emojis. Such a baby.

Before the doorsto Club 99 opened, I conferred with Cuddles.

"I have a friend coming any minute. You might remember him from last night. He's the boy who was hit in the head."

Cuddles smiled. "You mean the one you had sitting by the wall and went out with after your shift?"

"His name is Maddy. He's my guest tonight."

"If he's got his unicorn with him, he won't be hard to miss."

Within ten minutes, Maddy showed up, Kornie in hand. He grinned when he saw me, his whole face lighting up.

My heart started to pound just to look at him. I was already getting attached. I reached out, grasped him by the shoulders and leaned down to kiss his forehead.

"Hi, Colin." He spoke softly, his cheeks growing pink.

"Hey, not-a-baby."

"Thanks for inviting me tonight. It makes me super happy."

I took his hand in mine. "Glad to hear it. I'm sorry I'm working. I want to spend more time with you."

"It's okay. Just being here and knowing you're here is nice."

"All right then." I gently tugged his hand. "Cuddles, I'm taking my boy to the littles room."

"Okay."

I usually didn't leave the front unoccupied unless called to an emergency. Stewart wasn't coming on shift for another hour. But Maddy took top priority for me right now. My stalker could be anyone inside the club. The littles room would be safe because it always had so many boys around and most of the time they were peaceful, unless they got mad and threw metal cars.

I opened the door and led Maddy inside. It was still early. Only two daddies and two littles had arrived. But everything looked peaceful.

Maddy looked around the room, then went straight to the coloring book shelf. I went with him.

"See anything you like?" I asked.

He pulled out a coloring book filled with animals. "I like this."

"Great."

He grabbed a box of crayons and went to one of the low, round tables and made himself comfortable with a pillow under his ass.

I went to the fridge and got him a juice box. When I set it in front of him, he looked up at me as if I'd given him a pot of gold.

"Thank you. Um. Daddy."

"Go ahead and call me that all you want. I like it."

"Thank you, Daddy."

"Will you be fine here for a while?"

"Very."

"Text me if you need anything, all right?"

"I love it here. I might even make some new friends."

I frowned. "Not the daddies. Just the boys."

"Of course, Daddy." He opened the book and smoothed out the page before reaching for the crayons.

It made me sick that I had to leave him. But I couldn't let myself become ridiculously over-protective. He lived with a roommate. He had a job. He was fine. It was just the nasty texts that had gotten me paranoid, and I wouldn't allow that. I wouldn't allow my stalker to win.

When I returned to the front doors to my usual position, I checked in with Cuddles.

"It's a slow start tonight," he said.

"Yeah, the club's a little empty. But it always picks up."

Cuddles held up his tablet. "Looks like a huge number of prepaid tickets."

I nodded. It would be a busy night. Everyone just needed to finish their dinners first and then they'd be here.

I itched to text Maddy. I wanted him to come out here and be in my sight. I wanted him sitting in the chair by the wall again. But I couldn't ask that. It would be so boring for him. As it was, he was going to be waiting eight hours for me to get off my shift. That seemed unfair to him, as well.

Guilt began to edge my thoughts.

When I was nervous, I fiddled with the silver band on my middle finger. Tonight, I was going to wear away the skin. I was constantly twisting it.

I could no longer resist my urges. I picked up my phone and texted him.

Colin:If you get tired, come to me and I'll escort you home on my break.

I knewhe'd driven here, but I could at least follow him home and give him a goodnight kiss, couldn't I?

Maddy:I won't get tired. I promise!

Already loyal.Already mine.

Well, I could hope.