Chapter 24

Rowan's dad called him around two hours later, after they'd finished the slow-cooked chicken that Daddy had declared delicious. Apparently, the cops had rearrested his mother because she'd used one of the credit cards to book a flight to Europe. He didn't know any more but would keep them updated.

"But isn't it just my word against hers?" Rowan asked after they'd finished speaking. The thought of going to court was absolutely terrifying. It would be humiliating because he absolutely knew she'd blame him.

"Let's wait and see what happens, baby boy. I'm pretty sure her phone records or her IP address will prove only she had access. Between Eric's family and me, we can say for certain where you were when she bought the ticket." Daddy nuzzled the top of his head. "I doubt if you even have a banking app on your phone." Rowan looked up. "That isn't a criticism, baby."

But he still wasn't a hundred percent sure.

"I also forgot to say Daddy Patrick has made you a therapist appointment for tomorrow, and I will take you. He's kink-friendly."

"You can go?" Rowan's mood lifted a little.

"I will go in with you, then wait in the reception once you're comfortable, while you talk."

Rowan tried not to appear doubtful, but he must not have done such a good job, because Daddy pulled him in so he was on his lap. Rowan opened his mouth to say he was too heavy, but caught the stern look Daddy gave him, and winced a little at his tender ass. Daddy smiled, clearly knowing what he'd been about to say.

"I'm not going into the office tomorrow. I have to be on hand if I'm needed remotely in the morning, but now that the boss has gotten my job covered with a transfer from another office who knows the company, he's not being such a hard-ass about everything. So," Daddy moved a little under him and Rowan took a hurried breath in because Daddy was getting hard again. "I want to go look at a house tomorrow. It's a rental, but it's not too far. I'm going to email and get my deposit back from the builders. When we're ready I want us to choose something together."

Rowan gazed up at Daddy wondering if it was possible to love him any more. "I was going to offer you my money but I can't now."

"Brave boy for telling me, sweetheart, but I want you to keep any money from your dad until you decide what you want to do. It's not any hardship to wait another year. I actually wondered when we got settled how you felt about us getting a dog?"

Rowan's heart seemed to stop, then beat really fast. "Really? You're definitely getting a dog?" He'd always wanted a dog, any pet really, but a dog would be great.

"We're getting a dog, baby boy," Daddy corrected him. "I thought we'd visit a couple of local rescues." Rowan beamed and lunged forward to kiss Daddy, which Daddy seemed to thoroughly enjoy. "How about you go get your PJs on? Get comfy. I know you took a shower earlier." Rowan beamed and carefully climbed off Daddy's lap. "Oh, and there's something for you on the bed."

Rowan glanced back at Daddy, but then rushed into the room and stared at the huge box on the floor.

"It was delivered this afternoon and was outside when I got home." Rowan turned to see Daddy leaning on the door frame.

"For me?" he said in awe. But Daddy waved a hand as if to say have at it, so Rowan got his jammies on as fast as he could without even thinking about a pad, then practically fell on the box to unwrap it. He gaped when he opened it.

"If you don't like it, we can send it back."

But Rowan was entranced. It was a huge wildlife park, complete with animals, pens, and different habitats to construct, with buildings like feed stores and animal nurseries. Each animal had a special card that gave living and feeding instructions. There was even a large veterinary hospital, all the equipment plus all the information on possible problems for each animal. He got out the instruction cards on the Giant Pandas and before long, Daddy had helped him unpack everything and Rowan was sitting on a big cushion assembling their habitat. They needed bamboo trees and access to shade, and he didn't know that they spent twelve hours a day eating because they only digested about five percent of what they ate.

Wow.

He glanced up when Daddy put down his water bottle with the special top, which meant it wouldn't spill if it was knocked over, and fished about in the bag because that reminded him his pandas needed water access, and…

Gabriel had trouble swallowing his own water past the annoying lump in his throat as he watched Rowan become completely absorbed in the toy. He remembered Rowan's reaction to the Toy Story figures and knew his clever boy needed more stimulation than that, and then a safe-space to cuddle Bear. Many littles were fluid in their ages, and Gabriel couldn't wait to see Rowan really relax and be who he wanted. He'd talked to Patrick before, and they'd wondered if Rowan's little side was older than Dash and more Charlie's age of around nine or ten, or even older. The zoo hadn't been cheap, but it had all these expansion packs you could get, and one of the houses they were going to look at in the morning had two bedrooms plus an office feature. He had every intention of making Rowan a playroom. If or when he had to get another job, he intended it to be a remote position so he could spend a large part of his day with Rowan, even if he was working.

And it couldn't have come at a better time. If there was ever a day Rowan needed to be taken out of his head, it was this one. His phone rang. "I'm just going in the kitchen," but he doubted if Rowan even heard him.

It was Philip. "Gabriel, can you talk in private?"

He walked into the kitchen. He doubted Rowan could hear while he was so caught up in the animals, but he could see him if he came out of the bedroom. "Yes, Rowan's grabbing a shower." It was a lie, but he wasn't about to say what he was actually doing. He wasn't ashamed, but he knew Rowan was sensitive after the way Janice had ridiculed him constantly.

"Good, look I don't know a lot more, but if they prosecute, the defense could easily call Rowan even if the prosecution doesn't, and I'm just not sure how that will go. Any attorney she has will obviously try to blame Rowan."

"But phone records, surely?" That seemed obvious.

"It's the evidence to prosecute certainly, but it's the trial I'm worried about. It's a class C felony which, for no priors, is likely to be a sentence of four years but not much higher. The detectives are going to interview the neighbor tomorrow and we both know she's a piece of work."

"He's got his first therapist appointment tomorrow afternoon," Gabriel said. "His new family doctor appointment to recommend a new urology specialist next week and prosecutions and trials take time. Hopefully, by the time it kicks off, he'll be more settled. We're going to see a different rental tomorrow morning. Something with a yard so he can get a dog." Philip was quiet for a couple of beats and Gabriel winced. Too much?

"I think that's an excellent suggestion. I've set up a different account for Rowan, and—"

"He doesn't need one," Gabriel interrupted. "I mean, he needs one for himself, obviously, but I'm quite capable of paying rent."

Philip chuckled down the phone. "I didn't mean to imply otherwise, I'm simply hoping you will allow me to make up for lost time." He fell silent for a moment. "Gabriel, I know full well I've messed up with Rowan, and I can't alter history. I just wanted to say that I"m sure it will make Rowan feel better if he knows he can contribute to household expenses without rushing out to get a job. Rowan has an innate need to please and hates confrontation, which is how Janice got away with everything." Gabriel's eyebrows shot up. Did Philip know Rowan was a submissive? "He has zero self-confidence, but if you allow him to help with at least the rent it will take the pressure off him. I don't want him to rush into a decision about tutoring because he thinks he needs to pay his way."

"Tutoring? One on one would be perfect for him."

"He told me while when we spoke this afternoon." Which explained why he hadn't shared with Gabriel. He hadn't had the chance.

"Very well," Gabriel reluctantly agreed, the Daddy in him screaming that he and only he wanted to provide for his boy, but practically, if Rowan did help with the rent they could get a nicer place and Gabriel didn't need to feel so damned guilty about taking some time off. It would also boost Rowan's confidence, which he sorely needed. He told Philip he would be with Rowan all day and if he needed to speak to either Rowan or Gabriel in private, just to text him and he would call him back.

He went back into the bedroom and grinned. Rowan had sat Bear, Baby Bear, and Frog next to him on the floor as if they were joining in. Gabriel collected his e-reader and Rowan's notes from next to the sofa and decided to work and keep an eye on Rowan at the same time.

The next morning, he hugged a boneless Rowan and decided that waking up and coaxing mutual orgasms from each other was a perfect way to start the day.

They'd gone to bed quite late, as Rowan had been absorbed in his game and Gabe had been absorbed in his story. Rowan was sprawled nearly on top of him, and Gabriel pressed an affectionate kiss to his hair. "Good morning baby boy." Words hadn't happened earlier.

Rowan mumbled something inarticulate, and Gabe eased out from under him and went to the bathroom. After taking care of himself, he set the bath running. He had plans for Rowan this morning before they went out and he needed him warm and relaxed. He didn't doubt he was an anal virgin, and it would take a lot of talking and a lot of prep before they were at the stage where Gabriel could top him. It was a huge responsibility, because again, Gabriel knew Rowan would simply agree to anything.

Rowan had gone back to sleep when Gabriel came back in and he walked into the bathroom and set off the bath.

He returned and scooped Rowan up and as he came awake, giggling, Gabe's heart simply stopped. Fuck, but he loved him. He carried him into the bathroom and deposited him by the toilet and gave him a few minutes privacy while he set out the towel, lube, and a small butt plug. He waited until he'd heard Rowan flush the toilet and the faucet come on, then walked back in. He didn't think a half-asleep Rowan had noticed they were both naked, but as he saw his boy's eyes widen, he knew Rowan was fully awake now.

Gabriel simply held out his hand and Rowan clasped it. He helped his boy into the tub. "Scoot forward." He caught the delighted smile as Gabriel stepped in behind Rowan, then drew him back so he sat nestled over Gabriel's groin. If he hadn't just come, it would have been interesting, and if they were in there long enough, it might become so.

"Baby boy, can I assume you've never had anal sex?"

A gasp left Rowan's lips and Gabriel resisted a chuckle. "Baby?" he prompted.

"No, Daddy," Rowan whispered, and Gabriel imagined the heat on Rowan's face matched that of the water they were sitting in.

And here was the question. "Do you trust me?" He couldn't ask Rowan if he was willing, because Rowan didn't have enough, or any, experience with it, and again, back to the position of power Gabriel was in.

Rowan was quiet for a very long, or what seemed to be a long time to Gabriel, but he lifted his head and met his gaze. "I trust you."

When Gabriel had cleared his throat, he explained how over the course of many days he would prep Rowan and stressed that Rowan could ask him questions or safe-word at any time. Rowan nodded, but he didn't seem afraid.

Gabriel leaned back. "Spankings are particularly good with a plug in." The way Rowan let out a breathy moan would have had Gabriel rubbing his hands if his arms weren't firmly around his boy. Gabriel got out first, dried himself, and then helped his boy.

He led him to the bed with the towel covering it. "I want to check that you don't need any cream, and then I would like you to wear the smallest plug before we go out. I'll take it out before we leave." For the first time, anyway.

Gabriel watched every reaction from Rowan. He was so expressive, but after the spanking revelation last night, Gabriel wasn't sure Rowan was as fazed as he'd expected. He got Rowan settled on his back and checked his skin, pressing a kiss to the inside of one of Rowan's thighs. "Beautiful. I don't think you need any cream on." Then he showed Rowan the tiny butt plug and lubed it up. He tried really hard not to let his fingers wander, but Rowan seemed to enjoy it as much as he did. "It will feel a bit odd when you first sit down."

"A bit like last night," Rowan said, then slapped a hand over his mouth as if he wished he could unsay it. Gabriel grinned and rewarded the honesty with a kiss. He broke away.

"I'm going to wash my hands, clear up, and start breakfast. Then we can go look at properties." He chuckled when Rowan moved, then stopped abruptly. Yep, it would take some getting used to.