Chapter Five

Aiden

Aiden waited anxiously for Rocky's reaction. He fidgeted in his seat and tapped his finger on the countertop in a steady pattern. What Aiden really wanted to do was pace but he didn't want to give away how scared he was for the rejection he was sure was coming. Aiden had never had both parts of himself accepted at once by a single person in his life. He wasn't expecting Rocky to be any different.

Aiden wasn't even sure why he'd blurted it out to Rocky except he was tired of hiding. His mask was wearing thin and he needed one person, just one that he could be himself with. Authentically and completely himself, like his friend Jane. He just wanted one person he could relax around. Rocky was in the lifestyle and everyone talked about how Rocky was gay himself, so if anyone in this world would accept the whole of him, Aiden figured Rocky was his best hope.

When Rocky finally relaxed again and said in a choked voice, "Me too," as if Aiden hadn't just taken his largest leap of faith and that being a gay Middle was the very definition of normal, the breath that Aiden had been holding escaped with a gale force and he sucked in new oxygen to counteract the lightness in his head.

It was no big deal. He wasn't a Daddy and he was gay and Rocky treated it as no big deal. Aiden felt he'd stepped into an alternate universe but if he had, he never wanted to leave.

Rocky had given Aiden a snack of grapes with cheese while he cooked dinner. He'd initially tried feeding Aiden some black olives but just the thought of those nasty black balls of ickiness had made Aiden gag. So, Rocky had eaten the olives and given Aiden some juicy purple grapes instead. Aiden still hadn't figured out why they were called red grapes. They weren't red, they were purple and no matter how hard Aiden tried, his brain absolutely would not allow him to call the grapes a color that they weren't, so to Aiden they were purple grapes, no matter what the packaging said.

When the food was finished, Rocky plated it up and set the table. Aiden noticed that Rocky kept everything on his plate separate, using a compartmented plate to be sure nothing touched. Aiden wasn't sure how Rocky was aware of his quirk about food touching but somehow, he knew that Aiden couldn't even put sauce on his noodles. Something about it seemed to cause a twitchy feeling in him and unsettled him.

Aiden sat in his spot and reached for his fork. He was silently reciting in his mind so he almost missed the fact that Rocky was speaking his exact thoughts out loud.

"God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands, we are fed. Thank you for our daily bread. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen."

Aiden's heart skipped a beat as he gawked at Rocky, noticing him pressing a finger to his forehead, his chest and each shoulder. Rocky was Catholic? Seeming to realize Aiden was staring, Rocky actually blushed and apologized.

"Sorry, baby. It's a habit. I do it for every meal."

Aiden rushed to assure Rocky, "Don't apologize. I'm Catholic, too. I say it every meal as well, even if it is just in my head."

Rocky smiled at Aiden. A full genuine smile that almost completely masked the lingering grief in his eyes. That smile took Rocky from hot as hell to absolutely glorious. Aiden marveled at the beauty before him. A gentle giant with a heart of gold and a physique meant to be chiseled in stone.

As Aiden's mind ran rampant and turned into areas that were completely inappropriate and making his cock so hard he wondered if he'd have indentations from his zipper, Rocky used his fork to cut off a piece of a meatball and held it up to Aiden's lips. His command of, "open," pulled Aiden from his head and he automatically parted his lips.

The meat hit his taste buds and Aiden couldn't have stopped the moan of pleasure if he'd been told to at gunpoint. Garlic and oregano and basil blended with a flavor he couldn't place but it was honestly the best thing he'd ever tasted. His eyes rolled back, and he slumped in his chair as he chewed slowly savoring every nuance.

When Aiden regained control of himself, he found Rocky wincing as he adjusted the front of his pants. Aiden did his best to stop the blush and pretend he hadn't seen anything, but it was nearly impossible. He knew Rocky had caught him staring but he couldn't help it. Apparently, everything about Rocky D'Angelo was proportionately massive.

Suddenly, Aiden's mouth was watering again. This time it was for something other than food.

"You can sleep in here. I should warn you that I'll be in and out as the night goes on, checking on you."

Aiden looked over the room. It was bare other than the simple furnishings. He wondered how long Rocky had lived here. There wasn't anything as far as personal touches. No decorations, no pictures on the walls, no knick knacks or flower arrangements. There was absolutely nothing to reflect who Rocky was. Aiden found that sad.

"You can put your things in here and I'll show you where the bathroom and my room are, in case you need me."

Aiden stepped in and, pulling Octavia from his bag, placed her on the bed tucking her tentacles under the covers and fluffing the pillow beneath her head. His octopus friend had a tendency to get cold easily so he always covered her up when she wasn't on adventures.

"Ready," he said, turning to Rocky and heading out of the room.

Rocky nodded to a door on his left and told Aiden, "That's a full bathroom. There's an extra toothbrush and some new travel toothpastes under the sink. Towels are in that closet," he said, indicating a door right next to the bathroom. "This is my room."

Rocky opened the only door on his right and gestured inside. Aiden peeked in and finally relaxed. Here in this room were at least a few hints of who Rocky was. A writing desk was on one wall near a gorgeous oak dresser. Along the opposite wall was a wingback chair, sitting in its seat a stuffed dolphin that looked well worn and sad to be all alone. A massive bed sat dead-center on the main wall, positioned perfectly under a large window with the heavy curtains pulled open. There still wasn't much but at least this room felt like it was lived in.

"Let me get you a nightshirt. You need to get some sleep." Rocky pulled a large shirt from the second drawer of the dresser and brought it to Aiden. "Do you need any help?"

So much of Aiden wanted to scream " yes!" but did he need help, really? He wanted to get lost inside himself and have someone else take over. He wanted to sit back and know someone else had it handled. He wanted to drown in the security of knowing he could let go of everything and not give it another thought because someone had it all under control. The key word there was wanted . He wanted all of that with every fiber of his being, but he didn't need it. He'd been taking care of himself for years.

As if he could read Aiden's thoughts, Rocky amended, "Let me rephrase, would you like some help?"

Aiden almost whimpered with the strength of his desire to accept and yet, still he remained quiet. He didn't move, hoping Rocky would understand. Aiden had trouble voicing his desires. He had trouble admitting his needs. He wanted something but he didn't know how to make himself admit it.

To Aiden's great relief, Rocky took his hand and led him from the room. "Come on, baby boy. Let's get you ready for bed."

Aiden followed willingly as his heart raced. He couldn't count the times he'd dreamed a similar scenario to this, and here he was about to live it. Rocky D'Angelo taking control and taking care of him.

He first led Aiden back to the bathroom where he found the toothbrush and toothpaste. Rocky wet the brush and added the paste before handing it to Aiden.

"Two full minutes and be sure to get your back teeth."

Why was it so hot that Rocky had reminded him like that? Shrugging off the wondering, he got to work as Rocky started the shower, adjusting the temperature until he was satisfied. After rinsing his mouth and the brush, Aiden expected that Rocky would leave the room and let him shower but that wasn't what happened. Rocky took Aiden by the shoulders and gently turned Aiden to face him. He took the nightshirt from Aiden's grip and slowly, giving Aiden plenty of time to object, Rocky reached for the hem of Aiden's shirt.

"Arms up, baby," he instructed as he slowly raised the shirt up and off of Aiden's body. Aiden couldn't unhear the surprised gasp, or unsee the heat in Rocky's eyes as he took in Aiden's form.

Rocky was much bigger and much stronger, which made Aiden feel Little and protected, but Aiden tried to keep himself in shape as well. He didn't have the massive muscles that many of his brothers had but he wasn't nearly as scrawny as he'd been at one time. Apparently, Rocky liked what he saw and Aiden found himself nervous for the next step. There would be no way to hide his reaction to Rocky once the man removed his pants. He glanced down and encountered a clear outline of an erection. Then again, he obviously wasn't the only one affected. Maybe he didn't want to hide his reaction anymore.