Chapter Seven

Brandon

Everything had to be perfect. The playroom was clean. All the toys were in their place. His surprise for Lake under a sheet. And there were snacks and juice boxes. Brandon just knew he was missing something though.

“Baby boy!” Dane called from the door.

“Are they here?” Brandon scrambled to his feet.

“No, but they’re on their way,” Dane told him. “We need to get you dressed.”

He glanced down. Oh! Yeah, that was what he had forgotten.

“Come here, baby.”

He shuffled his feet until he was across the room and standing in front of his Daddy. He was nervous but excited.

“Stay,” he told Maverick as he passed his furry friend. Maverick was set up on the biggest pillow ever. He needed to relax since he would be worn-out by the end of the day, running after all of them. Dane said that it was good exercise for the doggo.

“Remember you can change your mind. I won’t be mad, baby. I promise.”

Brandon knew that. Dane was so patient and loving toward them. It had barely been over a week since they’d made the decision to be together and already Dane treated Brandon better than any other boyfriend that Brandon had ever had. This was a big step though.

Dane didn’t rush him. He pulled Brandon into his arms and gently rubbed down Brandon’s back. Soothing away the fears that Brandon knew were silly. He took several long, deep breaths before he was ready. Brandon pulled back slightly before he held up his arms. “Uppies!”

“Of course, baby boy. Why would you need to walk when Daddy is here to carry you around.”

Brandon patted Daddy’s cheek. His Daddy just understood.

Dane sighed. “Eric is getting Ezra ready. We need to hurry, or you’ll miss when your friends arrive.”

He didn’t want that. “Hurry, Daddy!”

“Oh, now it’s hurry, Daddy,” Dane grumbled.

That was okay. Dane might grumble and mutter, but he always knew exactly what Brandon needed. Playing before Brandon went to work. A cuddle session and long bath after a long shift. Morning blow jobs and being fucked out of his mind. It had been the best week ever.

Dane didn’t have any trouble carrying him up the basement stairs and to the main part of the house. Brandon didn’t hear anything. Eric’s door was closed as they passed. Annabelle was at daycare for the afternoon to give them their little time. She loved going to school so much that when they’d kept her out for a few days, she’d grown upset. The little girl was growing into her voice and stating what she wanted. Like going to school to be with her friends.

It had been harder to convince Eric and Ezra that Annabelle would be safe at daycare. The program was one for all of Jesse Lambert’s employees and Jesse had spared no expense when it came to the safety of the kids.

Brandon still feared that Ezra wouldn’t have fun if he was worried about his little girl.

The program had cameras that parents could check throughout the day and Brandon had just finished putting the app on the big screen in the playroom. Now their Daddies could watch over them and their little girl. Because she was all of theirs now.

Dane finished carrying Brandon into their bedroom, closing the door behind them. On top of the bed was everything that Brandon needed.

“One step at a time,” Dane said as he placed Brandon on the bed.

Brandon peered up at his Daddy. He wanted things to be easy. For his trauma to be behind him. But that wasn’t realistic.

“I got you something.” Dane smiled and kissed his forehead. “Stay right there.”

Brandon nodded but didn’t say anything. He waited. That was all he needed to do. Daddy would tell Brandon when he needed to move. Or whatever.

Dane returned and held up a bright pink pacifier with a cute little unicorn in the middle.

“For me?” Brandon reached out for his gift.

“I noticed that the one you had was ripped. I want the best for my brave boy.”

He accepted the paci and placed it in his mouth. He’d had his old one for so long that he worried holes in the rubber with his teeth. Brandon suckled his paci while grinning around it. “Tank you, Dada!”

“Of course, my sweet boy. And good job using your manners,” Dane praised.

Brandon loved making his Daddy happy.

“Now let’s get you ready for some fun,” Daddy said.

He was ready now. Brandon could do this. He was a brave boy.

Dane undressed him slowly. Checking in with him to make sure that Brandon was still on board. He was. Being undressed wasn’t the issue. They did this often enough over the last week.

Daddy picked up the diaper and showed it to him.

Brandon sucked harder on his paci.

“I’m proud of you. I know you’re scared. But I want this too,” Dane said.

It was hard not to remember how wrong this had gone in the past. That his ex had enjoyed doing this for Brandon until he’d suddenly been disgusted by Brandon’s need to wear the diaper.

The change had happened so fast it had made his head spin.

That had been the first time he’d been beaten.

Brandon gasped as he remembered the pain. The fear. He’d not understood what he’d done wrong.

“No, no, baby boy. Don’t go back to that dark place.”

The diaper fell beside him as Dane gathered Brandon into his arms. Tears soaked the shoulder of Dane’s shirt while Brandon wept. He knew that Dane would never hurt him like that. It was not knowing why that haunted him. He was a good boy. Brandon hadn’t deserved to be hit.

“I got you.” Dane rocked him slowly. “You are such a good boy.”

“I am a good boy,” he repeated.

“That’s right.” Dane held him tight. “My good boy. So brave.”

“Don’t stop,” Brandon whispered. “He can’t have this. This is for me and you.”

“I have an idea,” Dane said. “Just breathe for me.”

“K, Daddy.”

Dane laid him back down. “So cute. Do you like your new paci?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Good. I’m glad.” Dane kissed his chest. “And we picked out a super cute outfit for today, didn’t we?” He kissed Brandon’s stomach.

“Uh-huh.”

Dane helped him lift his hips off the bed and the diaper was slid under him.

“I think Lake especially will like your onesie.” Dane kissed his inner thigh.

That was why Brandon had picked the pink unicorn onesie with a ruffle skirt. He wanted Lake to be comfortable with them.

The diaper was wrapped around him and secured.

“I like the blue teddy bear shorts set too. We’ll have to dress you in that this week.”

He had three new outfits that Dane and he had ordered together. Brandon had a hard time deciding what to wear for the play party. He’d settled on the pink after Ezra had said he would wear pink too. His outfit was lounging pants though. Not the onesie that Brandon’s Daddy was sliding up his legs.

That was okay. Brandon liked his onesies. So did his Daddy.

He was dressed before Brandon realized that they were over the scary part.

“Up you go.” Dane lifted Brandon off the bed so he could straighten the outfit and check the fit. “Perfect!” Dane declared. He kissed the tip of Brandon’s nose. “Why don’t you check it out in the mirror.”

Brandon danced over to the full-length mirror mounted on the back of the door. He had to admit that he looked the perfect little. The pink was soft, the onesie making his pampered bottom stick out, and the paci matched perfectly.

“I cute!” he declared.

“The cutest,” Dane agreed.

He twirled. “Uppies!”

“Uppies.” Dane lifted Brandon off his feet.

Brandon wrapped his arms and legs around his Daddy before he rested his head on Dane’s shoulder. They’d done it. Brandon had managed to allow Dane to dress him in a diaper and even though there had been a small hesitation, they’d done it.

It felt like a win.

He couldn’t wait until his next therapy session so he could tell Rebecca. She would be proud of him too.

Dane opened the door and they were exiting the room at the same time as Eric’s door opened.

His brother led Ezra from the bedroom by the hand.

Ezra jumped up and down when he spotted Brandon. “Yay! You did it!” He let go of Eric’s hand and raced over.

With one arm still around Dane’s back, Brandon opened the other to welcome his friend. He held Ezra close as Eric joined them.

“So damn proud of you,” Eric whispered in his ear before kissing his cheek. “Now, who’s ready for fun?”

“Me!” Brandon and Ezra shouted.

The doorbell rang.

“And the gang is all here,” Eric declared.

* * * * *

Dane

Lake blushed but the bigger boy was absolutely adorable in his long ruffled skirt and lace camisole. Brandon was working so hard on Lake’s makeup that Dane didn’t even mind the teasing he’d gotten from Eric and Remy when they’d seen the pictures.

He didn’t mind being the guinea pig, not when Lake had been happy enough to squeal when the boys had started the playdate by applying makeup. For all of them. Lake wouldn’t be the only one with a pretty face.

Ezra had gone first. Once Dom realized that Brandon did know what he was doing, he’d quickly agreed. Dom was done and now Lake was getting his turn.

Lake’s smile was huge and while the boys gushed over how pretty Lake was, Dane and Eric stood, providing snacks and drinks. He’d thought about offering to give the boys time on their own in case Lake or Dom were uncomfortable with them around but had quickly been vetoed with that suggestion.

The boys wanted them there.

Dane was thrilled.

The part of him that loved to spoil Brandon was happy that he could offer Dom and Lake what they needed as well.

Lake was a quiet little. He didn’t seem to have the same energy as Brandon and Ezra. Dom worried Dane. The boy was paler than usual and his laugh just a little louder than it needed to be. As if he was forcing it.

Eric was paying special attention to Dom, with Ezra’s help, so that allowed Dane to concentrate on Brandon and Lake. He wished that Jesse and Remi could have made it but they both had work things that were keeping them away. Glancing at the screen, he spotted Annabelle through the daycare’s program as she used finger paints under the watchful eye of her teacher.

The little girl was growing so fast. She was a happy little one, making him proud that Dane had a part in making sure she was being well taken care of. The tip of Brandon’s tongue was sticking out from his mouth as he finished lining Lake’s eyes.

Where was his boy’s paci now?

Dane had no idea how much he would be tracking that little thing down when he’d bought it. He’d already found it in a pile of ranch on the snack tray, buried under the purple bean bag chair, and now… Huh, there it was. Sitting on its side in the middle of the carpet.

How did Brandon keep losing it?

He snagged the paci and put it in his pocket so he could wash it, again, as he took Lake a new juice box.

“How’re you doing, Lake?” he asked gently.

Lake didn’t move his head as Brandon added more eye shadow. “This is so fun,” he replied quietly. “I can’t believe you all did this for me.”

“We’re happy to do anything to make you smile like that,” Dane responded.

“This is the best playdate ever,” Lake told him.

“Good.” He patted Lake’s shoulder. The boy was bigger than he was and that was saying something. Dane worked hard to keep up his muscles and Lake had to spend just as much time in the gym as he did. Lake was an attractive man. Well-built. Had muscles that bodybuilders would kill for. That didn’t seem to match Lake’s insides. Dane might not know the man well, but Lake had such a gentle soul. He was kind and soft. All of Dane’s Daddy Dom instincts screamed that Lake needed a protector even if he could probably take down anyone intent on messing with him.

He’d have to pay close attention to Lake and Dom until they had Daddies of their own. When Dane became Brandon’s Daddy, he also picked up the responsibility for the other boys as well.

For his entire life, Dane had been on his own and his only responsibility had been himself. Brandon was giving him so much more than Dane had ever expected.

Brandon declared Lake all done.

Dom and Ezra immediately came over to drag Lake and Brandon into a game they wanted to play. Dane picked up the makeup area as the boys abandoned the space. Eric sidled up to him.

“You are going to have to make him clean up or you’ll be doing it forever.”

He laughed. “I know.” And he did. Maybe it was the newness of the relationship but there were bigger concerns than a few messes. The two of them had so much going against having a successful relationship that small things just didn’t matter. Dane caught Brandon wiggling around and grinned.

They’d taken a huge first step this morning when Brandon had allowed Dane to dress him in a diaper. Now that Brandon was fully immersed in his little mindset, Dane hoped that they could continue making progress.

Dane waited until Brandon had stopped squirming before he approached the boys.

“Everyone doing okay?” he asked.

Ezra grinned with a mouthful of grapes. “Yep.”

“Manners,” Eric barked to his boy.

Ezra smiled after he swallowed. “Sorry, Daddy.”

Dane crouched behind Brandon. He patted his boy’s bottom. “Wet?”

“Uh-huh,” Brandon said around his last bite of peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Cards were laid out in front of all the boys and Dane winced when he saw that they hadn’t been careful with their dirty hands. Brandon’s cards had peanut butter on them, Dom had spilled ranch, and Ezra… Dane wasn’t even sure what Ezra had gotten all over the place. Lake was the only little that seemed to be wiping his fingers clean before he played a card.

“Want to come with Daddy?” Dane asked quietly. He didn’t want to embarrass the boy. Brandon could say no.

Turning his head, Brandon buried his face in Dane’s chest before he nodded.

“Excuse us, boys. We’ll be right back,” Dane told the others. He helped Brandon stand before lifting him into his arms.

Brandon clung to Dane’s neck. “My paci?”

“Needs to be washed off,” Dane responded. “How do you keep losing it?”

“Not my fault!” Brandon said. “Silly paci.”

“I think you’re a silly boy,” Dane corrected.

“Me silly,” Brandon agreed.

Dane wasn’t going to have to go into the gym after a few days of carrying Brandon up and down the basement stairs. They made it to the bedroom and Dane was glad that he’d left out everything he needed beside the bed. It was impossible to miss.

Brandon didn’t seem to be too concerned.

Placing his boy on the end of the mattress, Dane started to unsnap the onesie. “It seems like the other boys are having fun.”

“I’m so glad Lake let me make up his face. He’s so pretty!”

“He is a very pretty boy,” Dane agreed. He bent and kissed Brandon’s belly. “Not as pretty as mine, but you don’t tell him that.”

Brandon laughed as he wiggled around. “Daddy! Tickles!”

“I know!” Dane teased. He ran his fingers lightly down Brandon’s ribs before yanking the tabs from the diaper.

Brandon sucked his bottom lip into his mouth as he peered up at Dane.

“Okay?” Dane asked, checking in.

“Good, Daddy.”

Dane nodded as he removed the wet diaper. His boy was clean-shaven, something that Dane hoped he could help with in the future. There was so much that they had to look forward to sharing.

Using one of the wet wipes from the tub, Dane made sure that his boy’s skin was clean. He picked up the powder next.

“Smell good,” Brandon said softly.

“You like the smell of the powder?” Dane questioned.

Brandon blushed but nodded.

Dane lifted the container to his nose. He excepted the usual baby powder smell that he remembered from his childhood. This powder didn’t have a scent that Dane could place. Brandon was right though. It did smell good. “Huh, I like that too.”

“Yay!” Brandon clapped. “Buy special.”

He would make sure that he got the info on where Brandon bought the powder. Dane sprinkled a liberal amount before rubbing the powder into Brandon’s soft skin. No rashes for his special boy. Not a thought that Dane considered he’d ever have but life was turning out to be much more interesting nowadays.

“Up,” he murmured.

Brandon lifted his hips, letting Dane slip the new diaper under him.

The difference between now and before the playdate was noticeable. Brandon was much more in the right headspace. Being little with his friends helped Brandon relax into his safe space.

Dane had known that interacting with the other boys was important for Brandon, but he hadn’t actually understood. Not until he saw the four littles together.

A Daddy might be an important piece that all littles craved, but having friends that naturally got what age regression really meant. Why being little felt good. That made all the difference.

Brandon would be okay if he never found a Daddy.

Dane had no doubt.

He was there to enhance the experience. Dane was there because Brandon wanted him.

Dane pulled the onesie back down Brandon’s stomach then snapped the outfit.

“Tank you, Daddy!” Brandon told him.

“Such a good boy using your manners,” Dane praised. “How about we wash your paci clean and get you back to your friends?”

“K, Daddy!”

He picked Brandon up from the bed. Yes, he could totally skip a few days at the gym. Dane would rather spend time with his boy anyway.

They made a stop in the bathroom and washed the pacifier Dane had given his boy. He slipped the rubber into Brandon’s mouth and his boy began to suckle.

Dane’s entire body reacted to seeing his boy with something to suck on. Oral fixation? It was quite possible. And Dane was becoming addicted to putting things in Brandon’s mouth.

They returned to madness in the playroom.

Lake was sitting in a chair, blowing bubbles for Ezra and Dom, who were going crazy trying catch them.

“Bubbies!” Brandon cried, kicking his legs.

The paci slipped from his mouth, but Dane managed to catch the little thing before it fell to the floor once again. He set Brandon on his feet and patted his butt. “Go play.”

Brandon started to waddle away but quickly returned. He rose to his tiptoes and kissed Dane’s cheek. “Tank you, Daddy.”

“Welcome, baby boy.” Running his hand over the back of Brandon’s head, Dane held the boy to him for a second before letting go. “How many bubbles can you catch?”

“A hundred!” Brandon claimed, racing to where the other boys were playing.

Loud laughter filled the little space, making Dane smile.

They’d done it. Made a place for Brandon, Ezra, and even Dom and Lake to be themselves. They were safe there. In a world that could be so scary at times. With people who hated for no reason. The boys didn’t have to worry about that when they were in the new playroom.

Dane had never felt better about anything that he’d ever done than in that moment.