Chapter Thirteen - Ryan

A fter the amazing week we spent together, I'm on cloud nine. Sez teases me every time I smile down at my phone, and I can't deny that I probably look like a kid with his first crush. My heart certainly gives a flutter with every text and phone call Oscar and I exchange.

I still can't quite believe I've gotten so lucky. Not only did I find a Dom who isn't at all concerned by my body's limitations, but he's also a Daddy who wants to take care of me as well.

I'm well and truly beyond attached at this point. Which is why, during one of our evening phone calls, I get brave enough to ask, "Can I tell my kids about us?"

"Darlin'," I can hear the surprise in his voice, but I can also hear his smile, "you don't need my permission for that. You can tell them as much or as little as you're comfortable with. But," he clears his throat, "I'm real honoured that you want to tell them. I mean…" Oscar's tone turns cautious, "I'm the first person you've dated since their dad died, right?"

"You are," I answer him honestly and cross my feet at the ankle over the top of my coffee table. "But they're adults. They're not going to get upset because I'm dating again."

Mak and Trev know more about my private life than most parents would be comfortable with, even considering their ages. But I've always been open and honest with them, and I've never been ashamed of being a Sub.

That said, I wouldn't know where to start in explaining that I call my new Dom ‘Daddy'. That is something I might keep to myself for a while.

"That's not what I…" Oscar starts and then sighs. "I just…I know I've got big shoes to fill. Not that I'm replacin' Maddox. I don't ever want you to feel like I'm tryin' to do that."

I love how much thicker and more pronounced his accent gets when he's flustered.

"I know," I'm smiling as I assure him. "I'm not trying to replace him with you, either. Yeah, sometimes you remind me of him with the way you think, or the way you dom me, but…you're very different people and I love that you respect his place in my heart."

My eyes water and my nose tingles, but I manage to keep my voice steady. The last thing I want is for Oscar to think I'm upset. If anything, I'm getting emotional because of how happy Oscar makes me: something I honestly never thought I'd feel again.

"Well, fuck," he replies gruffly, clearing his throat, "now you got me tearin' up."

I burst into laughter, because I should have guessed he'd be on the same wavelength as me. Wiping away my own tears with the back of my hand, I thank him. Then I add, "So, I'm going to tell them about you."

"You gonna tell 'em how sexy I am?" he teases, and I can picture his cocky smirk so vividly that my heart squeezes.

"I'll tell them I've gotten myself a real cowboy toyboy." I scrunch my nose. "Try saying that ten times fast."

He snorts before his voice dips into a low, seductive sort of growl, "There's only one Boy in this relationship, sweetheart, and it ain't me."

The reminder of how he sees me makes goosebumps erupt over my skin. Biting my lip even though he can't see me, I reply coyly, "Yes, Daddy."

"Fuck," he draws the curse out, curling his delicious accent around it in the way that's guaranteed to get me hard instantly.

I palm my cock over my pj pants. "Are you alone, Daddy?"

"I am," he answers. The cocky smirk is back in his voice. "Do you wanna have some fun on the phone, honey?"

Jerking off at his instruction isn't as good as having him here with me, but I agree enthusiastically anyway, and soon enough we're panting into each other's ears, egging each other on with a litany of ‘yes's and ‘that's it's and ‘stroke harder's.

For once, he reaches the finish line before I do, and the sound of his raspy declaration that he's coming pushes me over the edge, too, until I collapse against the back of the couch bonelessly, not caring about the sticky mess inside my pants.

I laugh as I catch my breath, shaking my head at how ridiculous it is that our conversation derailed into sex so easily. I almost feel like a teenager again. I honestly can't complain about that.

"What?" he asks, sounding just as breathless and light.

"Just thinking about how good you are for me," I answer without any further explanation. Closing my eyes, I add, "I can't wait to tell Mak and Trev."

* * *

The kids take the news just as well as I'd anticipated. I had originally told them when I was going back out to the clubs again, brutally honest about my needs and my fears that I wouldn't feel right scratching my itches with someone who wasn't Maddy. Since then, they've both encouraged me to put myself out there, to find happiness and companionship, and they're both supportive when I tell them that I've met someone.

"I want to know all about him," Mak declares during the conference video chat we've established between the three of us. "What's his name? How did you meet?"

"Well," I lick my lips and watch as Trev's eyes narrow on the screen of my laptop. I prefer talking to them both this way, with a bigger screen than my phone can provide. I get to see their faces properly, which is nice because I miss them both terribly. "You remember how I said a Dom stepped in to help me when another Dom was…not treating me well?"

Yeah, I told them about that experience, too. Initially, it was because I'd still been reeling and had wanted Trev's perspective as someone familiar with criminal law. But, as I had rehashed it with them, I realised that I'd also wanted to tell them because I would want them to feel comfortable telling me such things if the tables were turned. As uncomfortable —and even upsetting— as it was to talk about, I'm glad I have such a close, open relationship with them. Their support also went a long way in helping me process what I'd gone through.

Trev blinks. "But…that happened in Brissie. Did you keep in touch with him? Your white knight?"

"He's more a cowboy than a knight…" I mutter before my brain can properly engage, and Mak laughs.

"So, that's a yes, then?"

"Actually, no." I really do enjoy telling this part of the story. It's like something out of a romcom. "By pure coincidence, we met again out at a cattle station in Yalardy. Turns out, he was just passing through Brissie in the end. Weird, right?"

Trev's gaze turns distant and there's the distinct clacking of keys from his end of the call. I watch him scrunch his nose. "Yalardy's like three hours from Denham," he says. "Isn't that a pain in the arse? Plus, he's a stationhand?" He looks at the camera with a frown. "Don't they work stupidly long hours and for weeks on end? How do you even date someone with that kind of schedule?"

"I swear to God, Trev," Mak sighs. "Can you not try to be positive? Papa's happy and you're being all—"

"It's fine," I cut in before they can squabble like children. I have the feeling they'll still bicker like five-year-olds even when they're in their eighties. "It's not like he's wrong. But," I smile, thinking about the amazing week I spent with Oscar, "his boss runs things a bit differently to most stations and we get to see each other for a week at a time every few weeks. It's working for us."

"Good," Mak's tone suggests that Trev had better agree with her or else. Then she smiles. "So…he's a stationhand. Does he have a name?"

Getting comfy in my seat, I sit back and prepare to babble happily about my boyfriend.

It's been a long time since I've felt this way, and I can only hope that it's a good indication of times to come.