Chapter 24

Twenty-Four

CALLUM

I was finally able to let out a relieved sigh when I closed the front door behind me.

I settled Alice in front of the TV with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on. She'd clung to Mouse like a limpet since we'd left Doc's and even demanded that Doc tell her what she should do to help Mouse.

"Mouse and I are just going to go into the kitchen, petal." I brushed her dark hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. She relaxed a little bit, hugging the new, pink elephant she'd won at the sideshow with Rhys and Mouse.

"I'm fine, Dad. Just make sure Mouse takes his pain pills like Doctor Cullen said he should," Alice huffed out softly in a tone way older than her years, shooting Mouse a worried frown.

"I promise I will, and I'm sure Mouse won't mind you keeping an extra eye on him." I looked over at Mouse who was sitting on the sofa next to Alice, smiling.

"Why don't we make tomorrow a pyjama party day, eat all the junk food, watch all the TV and build Lego?" Mouse suggested.

"Don't you and Dad have to work tomorrow?"

"No, petal. We're going to shut the shop for a couple of days, give it a big clean-up, and maybe finally repaint and freshen the place up like we've been wanting to do for ages."

Mouse's brows rose, but then he nodded and smiled. Simon and I had already discussed it while Mouse was in seeing Doc, and now the idea had germinated, I liked the thought of giving the old place a freshen up, especially with Mouse buying into the partnership.

Looking down at Mouse, my heart gave a painful lurch. The fresh bruises on his beautiful face filled me with a cold, quiet rage. At least watching Ziggy being hauled off and knowing he'd face charges had helped cool the murderous impulses. Mouse sure hadn't held back when he fought him off, and Ziggy had looked worse off than Mouse. For that I was damn thankful.

Alice reached out and touched Mouse's bruised cheek. "I'm sorry he hurt you, but I'm glad you stopped him wrecking the shop."

"I'm glad I stopped him too. Your dad and Simon spent a long time getting the shop to where it is, and I wasn't going to let some di—er, bad person wreck it for them."

"It's okay, Mouse. You can call him a dickhead, because that's what he is." Alice turned and smirked at me.

"Alice Abigaile Harris," I muttered, trying my hardest not to smile .

"Dad, it's not like I don't hear Gran say worse. You should have heard what she called Mr Tompson."

"I don't want to know. Now, how about I make us some toasted cheese sandwiches and soup, then we can all watch something on the telly." They both called out their choices, but I held the final vote. And to be honest, a man could only watch Frozen or The Hobbit so many times before he was ready to murder a halfling or strangle a princess, so I picked a Godzilla film I knew we all liked.

Alice ran up to her room to get changed and Mouse followed me through to the kitchen. Before he had a chance to hop up onto his usual stool, I pulled him against me and hugged him tightly.

"You're squashing me," Mouse mumbled, but he didn't try to pull away.

"Too bad. You can suffer through it till I've had my fill."

Mouse reached around and patted my bum. "I'm okay, Daddy, I promise. I'm going to have some stuff to talk through with Declan, but I'm okay."

"I'm so sorry, baby. I should have been there."

"If you had been, he would have hurt you. That was his twisted little plan. He wanted to hurt you and burn the shop."

I froze. "What the hell? "

"He blames you and Simon for me leaving him." Mouse sighed. "It wasn't like that. I tried with Ziggy, even made myself believe I loved him. But the cheating, the beatings, it all got too much. I didn't leave him because I thought I had a chance with you. All I knew was that I had to get away. He was killing me, in here." Mouse tapped his chest.

"The smartest thing I ever did was invite you to live with Alice and me. If you asked me back then I would have said it was because you were my friend and Simon's brother, but honestly, I had feelings for you back then. But—" I stopped, and Mouse smiled knowingly.

"I was Simon's kid brother, and there's a twenty year age gap between us. Yeah, all the same reasons I didn't believe we'd ever be more than friends."

"And yet look at us now," I said, brushing a soft kiss across Mouse's bruised cheek.

"Yeah, Mum would sure get a kick out of it. She was the only one I told back then. She never teased me about crushing on you, just smiled and said that thing about the heart wanting what it wants." Mouse moved over to sit on one of the stools, and I set about getting supper started.

I loved looking over and seeing Mouse smiling at me from the counter. I loved that it was becoming as normal as breathing to walk past and kiss him for no other reason than I could.

"Hey, lamb?"

Mouse looked up from where he was doodling and smiled. "Hmm?"

"Love you," I said, grinning like a goblin. It felt so damn good each time I got to say it.

"Aww. Love you too, Daddy. Now get with the toasted sandwiches. I plan to burn off some calories tonight."

I laughed hard enough that I nearly sliced my damn finger off with the knife I was holding. "Am I going to need a gag? "

Mouse winked slowly. "A boy can hope."

I suspected I'd discovered the best feeling in the world. Sprawled out on the sofa, Mouse curled up against one side, and Alice sprawled over the rest of the sectional, snoring her sweet little head off.

"Should we be worried about that?" Mouse's brows had risen the louder Alice's snores had gotten.

"Ear, nose and throat doc said she's fine. We should let her sleep here tonight. She's got her blanket and stuffie. If I wake her, she's likely to give me a right royal bollocking."

"Gee, I wonder where she gets that from?" Mouse stretched his arms up, reminding me of a smug house cat, before he wrapped his arms back around me. "Want to head upstairs?"

"You feeling needy, lamb?" I slipped my hand under his hooded sweatshirt, caressing the naked skin underneath.

"For you, always." Mouse's smile was like sunshine, even with the kaleidoscope of bruises that covered his face.

"Get the shower running. I'll get little miss settled down here."

Mouse sat up, leaning in to brush his lips against mine. I could taste the Fry's chocolate bar he'd snuck and thought I hadn't noticed.

"Don't keep me waiting, or I'll start without you." Mouse's smirk was devilish, and I knew he damn well would.

He shivered as I gripped his thigh tighter, my lips brushing his ear. "You do, little lamb, and I might have to punish you."

"Promise, Daddy?" Mouse hopped up from the sofa but didn't dash upstairs like I thought he would. Instead, he grabbed the thick throw rug he knew Alice loved and tucked it around her. Smoothing her hair back, he kissed her forehead and told her he loved her before moving past me and up the stairs.

I didn't fail to notice the strut in his step or the flick of his hair when he glanced at me, his dark eyes dancing with mischief.

Challenge fucking accepted.

T o say the sounds that greeted me when I stepped into the bathroom were pornographic would be seriously understating it. Stripping down quietly, I pushed aside the shower curtain. Mouse was the picture of debauchery as he rocked his arse against the dildo stuck to the shower wall. I'd been less than ten minutes, but my boy was already in the throes of bliss.

"Boy, what did I tell you?" My eyes locked onto his hard cock, already wet with precome. My hand went out instinctively to wrap around his slender throat, my thumb pressing against his carotid. Mouse moaned in answer, rocking his hips slowly.

"I was going to take it easy on you tonight, lamb, but I don't think that's what you need."

Mouse shook his head, moaning. His hand had come up to stroke my chest. "I need you, Daddy. Need you to remind me I'm yours." The teasing lilt in Mouse's voice had been replaced by desperation.

I kissed him savagely then, forcing him against the wall while I tasted the sweetness of his mouth. His tongue danced against mine, stroking and teasing, before I took control. He whimpered when I bit down on his plump bottom lip, the taste of copper between our lips.

"Turn around and show me that hungry hole." My voice had dropped to a harsh whisper as I stepped back from him. Mouse slid off the dildo with a breathy moan, turning himself to face the wall, his perfect arse thrust out.

His hole was already slick with waterproof lube, and his rim parted easily for my fingers as I roughly shoved two inside him.

A third finger had him rocking against my hand, only stilling when I slapped him harshly across his pale arse. "So fucking hungry. I bet I could fit my entire hand in there and you'd still cry for more." My left hand slid down Mouse's belly, finding his cock. I could tell him not to come, deny him that, or I could let him have his fill tonight and then cage him for the week. The idea appealed to me as much as the thought of sliding my entire hand into that superb arse.

"Do you want that, lamb? Do you want Daddy to lay you out on our bed and fingerfuck you, stretch your walls out until I can slide my entire hand inside?" My own cock was an iron bar right now, but I could wait. This was about giving my boy exactly what he needed.

"I am so fucking green, Daddy. I need that—need you." Mouse rocked down onto my fingers as I reached down and squeezed his balls hard.

The walls of Mouse's channel clamped down on my fingers, his release painting the shower wall.

"Daddy, yes, fuck, fuck. " Mouse's cock jerked weakly in my hand as I slid my fingers from his hole.

"Wash me, boy, then I'll give you your wish." I stood under the spray, pleased I'd coughed up the money for a decent shower when I had this bathroom refitted. The large rainfall showerhead felt amazing, but not quite as amazing as Mouse's hands lathering soap over my chest. I relaxed and enjoyed Mouse's ministrations. The gentle touch of his hands on my body was as arousing as it was comforting, and looking at his smiling face I was stunned by how much I loved this man.

"Lamb, are you sure you want this?" I cupped his face, looking deep into his dark eyes. I wasn't sure if I was asking about my plan to fist him, or us as a whole. I was in so deep now that I wanted to give him everything.

Mouse tipped his head and smiled. Turning his face, he kissed my palm as if he could read my mind. "I want everything you have to give me."

"I want you to get dry, take a towel into the bedroom and lay it on the bed. I want you to wait for me. I'll be out soon." I gently pushed Mouse out of the shower, unashamedly watching him as he dried himself. I loved looking at his body. Each piece of ink told a story about him, and I remembered doing every piercing myself. I finished washing myself down, mentally checking I had the supplies to do this scene with Mouse tonight.

I'd fisted partners in the past and I found the whole scene erotic, but with Mouse it had an incredible intimacy, a new level of trust. Stepping out of the shower, I took my time drying off. I wanted to savour the feeling of excitement that grew in my stomach, the same excitement I knew Mouse would be feeling.

The bedroom lamps were on, casting a warm glow around the room, and Mouse lay in the centre of the bed, stretched out, looking every inch the desirable boy he was. I went to my dresser and pulled out a fresh bottle of lube and a pair of latex gloves, and moved towards the bed. I threw the gloves and lube onto the towel and crawled between Mouse's thighs, running my fingertips along the pale skin as I did. Mouse tensed as my fingers skated over the old burn scars. I knew even after all these years he still viewed them as an ugly reminder of what had happened. To me, though, they showed his strength and tenacity, to continue to live through the pain he'd endured. I pressed a kiss to the flesh, and again heard a quiet gasp.

"You are beautiful. Your scars are beautiful, because they are part of you," I murmured, kissing my way up his abs, his tattooed chest, and finally his lips. I gently smoothed my hand over his hair, running the fine strands through my fingers. "How are you feeling, lamb?"

"Nervous, excited, unbelievably horny, a little scared. I've-I've never had this done to me before."

I kissed him softly. "It's intense, and incredibly intimate. But I promise I'll take care of you, little Mouse."

Mouse gave a nervous chuckle, then lifted one of my hands. "I know, and I want this, but you've got huge fucking hands." He giggled, slightly breathless.

I wiggled my fingers. "And just think how good they're going to feel inside you." I burst out laughing when Mouse went cross-eyed. "Are you freaking out? "

"No, but I might have just had an out-of-body experience." His soft laugh turned into a moan as I wrapped my fingers around his shaft and stroked slowly.

"You ready for this?"

"Fuck yes, Daddy. I need it, please."

"Alright, lamb, on your hands and knees for me." I knelt back, watching Mouse roll to his front. I was pleased to see the wounds Ziggy had inflicted were healing nicely.

I got up from the bed and walked to where the standing mirror stood off to one side. I carried it over and placed it where Mouse could look at it and see me behind him, and I could watch all the emotions that would cross his face.

I pulled on a latex glove and used copious amounts of lube on my fingers. "We're going to go slow, Mouse. There's no rushing this. If it starts to feel uncomfortable or too much, you tell me straight away. Got it?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Good boy," I purred, as I slipped two fingers into his pucker, not pressing deep but playing and stretching his rim. The cute little sounds Mouse was making made my cock ache, but this wasn't about me tonight. This was all for my sexy boy.

Watching Mouse's hole suck greedily at my fingers was something I would never grow tired of, and the soft keening sound he made as I added in a third was beautiful. By the time I slipped in a fourth, his rim was stretched and puffy, and Mouse had begun to babble.

"So full, Daddy. Am I really going to be able to take your whole hand?" His voice caught as I pushed my fingers deeper, curling them and pressing them against that magic spot inside him.

"Oh, Jesus, fuck." Mouse moaned.

"No, baby boy, just Daddy."

Time passed like in a dream. By the time Mouse's body opened to accept my fingers, his constant sweet babble had died down to desperate mewls and soft, panting breaths. He cried out softly, and I praised him while I watched, transfixed, as the cone of my fingers slid deep inside his body.

His cock, which had gone down as I'd worked my hand inside him, began to grow hard again. His skin was covered in a fine sheen of perspiration that made him glow in the lamplight.

I had never felt more connected to a person than I did right now. The level of intimacy and connection would have brought me to my knees had I not already been kneeling.

"Are you ready for me, baby? Are you ready to take my hand?" I stretched my fingers out, and Mouse let out a single, breathless sob.

"Fuck yes, do it."

"So bossy," I chided, as I slowly pushed my entire hand inside him.

I looked down in awe at his sweet hole clutching around my wrist, the heat of his channel engulfing my hand.

Looking up, I saw the same look of wonder in his reflection in the mirror, which morphed into a silent wail as I twisted my hand, his channel convulsing and clutching at my hand while creamy ropes of come dripped from his cock.

I continued to move my arm gently, fucking him through his orgasm just to watch the way his rim gripped at my skin. The sensation of his muscles bearing down on me was going to live in my head rent-free for quite some time.

"That's it, beautiful. Look how you've come for Daddy. Fuck, you've made me so proud." I couldn't stop touching Mouse's skin with my free hand. I couldn't wait to hold him, to tell him how precious and amazing he was.

Looking back up to the mirror, I saw we were both crying, the emotions rolling through me echoed in Mouse's expression.

"I love you, my little Mouse." My voice came out as a rasp, I was so overwhelmed by the moment.

"Love you." Mouse looked ready to pass out. I slowly pulled my hand from him. I quickly discarded the glove and took myself in hand, aiming the head of my cock at his stretched opening that was already fighting to contract to its normal, tight pucker. I knee-walked forwards so the head of my cock kissed his abused hole. I stroked myself roughly. Glancing up at our reflection, I saw Mouse staring back at me hungrily.

"Come, Daddy, mark my skin." Mouse's voice was husky with need and sinfully sweet. The gorgeous smile he gave me was enough to have my balls clench and empty, painting Mouse's hole and arse with my come. I gave a low moan as I pushed it into Mouse's tender hole, his whole body shuddering as I fingerfucked his hole. Satisfied, I pulled my fingers out and laid a gentle slap on his arse.

"Daddy, I think you've broken me." Mouse gave a breathless laugh, flopping forwards onto the bed, not caring about the damp spot beneath him.

"Hold still, baby, got to get some of this lube off you or you're going to slide right out of bed."

Mouse gave a tired giggle, letting me clean him and then fuss until I had us both under the covers. "Thank you, Daddy. Though I think my arse is going to hate your guts in the morning." He snickered against my chest.

"My pleasure, little Mouse. I'll always give you what you need. And I promise this is not going to be the last time your arse hates me."

Mouse wiggled around until he had his entire body plastered to mine. "I know we don't know what's going to happen in the future, but just throwing it out there that I'm probably never going to want to let you go," he whispered.

"Right back at you, little Mouse. I might just tattoo a mouse over my heart next to Alice's picture. You own my heart, Mouse."

I meant every word of it. It was too soon to think of forevers and weddings and shit, but the thought didn't horrify me like it had years ago.

One day, I was going to marry the fuck out of my little Mouse.