7. Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Jobe

How was it that being around Stanley relaxed me when nothing and no one in my life besides Beck ever had?

Nor had I ever shared so much of me with anyone—including Beck.

“This wine is delightfully elegant. I’ll have to get a picture of the label and buy a couple bottles.” Honestly, it tasted like the one Stanley ordered at dinner the other night.

“No need, I brought an extra one for you. See, further proof I don’t think you’re a little because I’d never give one alcohol.”

Good to know.

“But you still believe I’m a boy?”

“I do but more in the form of guidance and having a Daddy you know is there to emotionally support you no matter what.”

“I guess I’ve misunderstood that and took it as more of a means to control.”

“No, sweet boy,” Stanley took my free hand in his. “It’s a means to nurture and love. Help ease worries and show you how much we Daddies care. For me being a Daddy is everything from packing a boy’s lunch for work to making love to him after a tough day. Taking away the fears and worries and replacing them with happy memories. Doing whatever it takes, within reason, of course, to make my boy happy and know he is loved.”

When had I teared up? Before I could wipe them away, Stanley reached up and did it for me.

“Have I said something wrong?”

“No, you’ve said everything right. I guess I’ve just never known love.” Was I capable of reciprocating or would I remain cold and standoffish? Even cuddling after sex was a hard no for me. I’d always refused aftercare. How many nights had I cried myself to sleep after a scene?

Far too many…

“Let’s eat.” I appreciated Stanley’s abrupt turn in conversation. He’d given me much to mull over later.

Stanley unpacked multiple containers. “How did these stay hot?”

“Insulated packs. Half the basket is cold, and half is hot. The lid holds all the serving ware.”

I peeked inside at the silvery linings. “What a cool concept.”

He smiled and got to work filling the two plates he’d brought with. “There’s plenty more if you wish. Just wanted to give you a few samples of some of my favorites.”

“What’s this with the noodles in it?”

“Cold noodle salad. There’s a specialty grocer near my place with the most fantastic deli in it. I find myself ordering takeout from there far too often.”

Each dish I tasted was better than the last. How that was possible I had no clue, but this feast was fit to tantalize and tease every tastebud.

“Wow, I’m stuffed. Everything was wonderful.”

“Plenty of leftovers for you to reheat later.” Stanley rose and began cleaning up. As he put the food into the fridge, I reassembled the basket.

“Would you like to watch a movie?”

“A movie sounds wonderful. Choose whatever you’d like. I’m going to the restroom first.” As Stanley disappeared down the hall, it hit me that I hadn’t once flirted with him. So unlike me.

“What did you pick?” Stanley’s voice surprised me as he took a seat beside me. “Sorry, didn’t meant to startle you.”

“No worries, I just got lost inside my own head.”

“If you’re tired, I can go. I don’t want to keep you up.”

“No!” At my harsh word Stanley paused. “Sorry, please stay. I promise I’m not tired.”

I settled back as the movie started. Stanley slid his arm around my shoulder and gently tugged me against him. Warm, safe . Feelings I’d not felt while in the presence of anyone other than Beck. Midway through the movie, he covered us with the new blanket which I had to admit was ridiculously soft and beyond thoughtful.

That was the last thing I remembered before Stanley carried me to bed.

“Sweet dreams, dear boy,” he kissed my forehead. “Call me tomorrow.”

“Night, Daddy.” I rolled over and curled up. Somehow my new teddy bear ended up in my arms. I snuggled it tight and drifted back to sleep.

“Tell me everything!”

I woke to Beck bouncing on my bed.

“Turn in your key and your best friend card. You’re fired.”

“I brought coffee and donuts.”

“You’re unfired but on probation so tread lightly, mi amigo .”

Beck hopped off and ran toward the kitchen. Morning person, I was not, but clearly my overzealous BFF was.

“Coffee,” I stumbled into the kitchen much as the zombie I sounded like. Beck thrust a warm cup into my hand. “Goddess, I love you.”

“Right back at cha, babe. Now get caffeinated and fess up.”

I shoved half a donut in my mouth and washed it down with a gulp of hot coffee. “Hot. Hot.” Probably should’ve gone slower. “Not much to tell. He came over, set up a picnic dinner in the living room and gave me a present.”

“Not much? Not much?” Beck repeated and I wondered if his internal record got stuck. “That was only the single most moving, beyond sweet event of your life.”

“It was nice. Then I fell asleep, and Stanley tucked me in and left.”

“Oh. My. Freaking. Gawd. How do you not see it?” Beck mock-swooned. “He’s the one.”

“There’s no such thing.” Beck had watched one too many romance movies.

“Watch, I bet if you look at your phone you’ve already got a message from Stanley checking on you.”

Just to appeases my overzealous bestie, I grabbed my near dead phone from where I’d left it on the coffee table last night. Sure as shit, the biatch was right.

“Ha! I can tell by the look on your face I called it.” He did some ridiculous I told you so dance.

“Ugh.” I fired off a text thanking Stanley for last night. “I don’t know how to do this, Beck.”

“Yes you do and obviously he likes the real you, not the sex-crazed maniac begging to be whipped so he forgets how lonely he is.”

“Gee, thanks for that not so friendly reminder of how freaking sad my life was. Jackass.”

The butthead giggled. “You know what this gives me?”

“Scabies?”

Beck stuck his tongue out at me. “Hope. This gives me hope. Maybe someday I’ll finally have a Daddy of my own.”

How had I not known how much that meant to Beck? Fuck, my shallow ran deep.

“I’m sorry. Do you want him?” Did I want to give up Stanley? No, actually, I did not and the idea stirred unfriendly waves through me. “Maybe he has a friend.”

“Do you really think so?” The hope that filled his eyes in turn filled me with a fierce determination to see Beck get his forever.

Forever.

Did I even have mine and better yet, did I want one?

“Let me ask.”

Me: Hey, Beck is over here going on about finding a Daddy of his own. Do you have any Daddy friends with a want ad like yours?

Stanley: You know, I just might. Let me make a couple of calls.

Me: Thank you. Dinner tonight at your place? My turn to buy?

Stanley: You’re on. Here’s my address.

“Okay, don’t get too whackadoodle but…he may have a Daddy friend for you.”

Beck danced around the kitchen again, not as well as he did on stage given he was an erotic dancer by trade. This was more of a joyous boy emerging in the form of self-expression. Shimmy, shimmy, arm wave, shimmy, shimmy. Not methodical but adorkable just the same.

“When can I meet him?” He spun around. “Just not tonight, I have to work.”

“I’ll let you know. I’m going to Stanley’s for dinner tonight.”

“Ooh la, la. Do tell,” Beck batted his lashes. “How is the sex?”

“I wouldn’t know,” I sighed as I sat. “We haven’t even kissed.”

“Um, exsqueeze me?”

“I’ve literally not had sex since the last time we did.”

The blank look on his face and lack of movement gave me pause and I almost smacked him to ensure he still breathed.

“Whoa.”

“Whoa is right.” Stanley had googled me so he had to know about the scars. He’d seen me naked and tied up probably more times than he cared for. So, what was the hold up?

“Well, maybe tonight’s the night.”

I hoped Beck was right and just in case, I’d pack an overnight bag.

“ Ciao, babe, I’m off.” Beck blew air kisses as he breezed out of the condo.

Meanwhile, I got back to work on the latest ‘Scantables’ lingerie while a load of laundry washed. I’d come up with the name for my business venture a couple days ago. Hopefully, my sexy goodies would one day be in adult stores everywhere.