Chapter 10

10

Kiren

I sat with the tablet in my lap, looking at the questions but not seeing them. My attention was on the door to the hall.

There were others sitting in the room on hard chairs, waiting. I didn’t know what they were here for, but the HR officer saw each person privately.

Max and I had agreed to meet here at 10 a.m. on Monday. Max was late.

I had to ask my boss for permission to attend the appointment. He couldn’t say no. Any HR activity could not be denied.

Max was his own boss. Why was he late? He had texted me earlier, saying he would be here to fill out the paperwork for us to officially be dating. I swung my feet, tapping the soles of my shoes on the floor.

The door opened. Finally. Max walked in, surveyed the room and spotted me. He smiled and came to sit beside me.

“What’s that?” The room was deathly quiet, which was probably why he whispered his question.

“The form to fill out.”

“I’ll need one, too.”

I waved toward the desk where a guy sat rapidly typing on his laptop. “I got it from him.”

Max got up, then came back with his own tablet.

Side by side, we went over all the questions, filling out our answers to match.

As we worked, people came in and out. Finally, someone called our name. We walked into the private office and sat before a big desk.

“Hi, I’m Mackenzie.”

“I’m Kiren,” I said.

“I’m Max.”

“I’m aware. I was getting all your information across my screen as you filled out the forms. Everything looks in order. Except—” She looked directly at me.

“What?”

“Your last name is Dobbs. I did look up your paperwork. You’re the son of Mike and Angie Dobbs.”

I nodded. “Is that a problem?”

“No, but if you are keeping this private, you should know they have access to these records.”

“It’s okay. They’ll be happy for me.”

“But maybe not so much that your partner is someone who works for them.”

Suddenly, I was irritated. “You don’t know that.”

“No.” Mackenzie stared at her screen as she spoke. “But I’m obligated to point out possible conflicts of interest. It’s just a statement and now I’ve made it.”

Max looked at me, eyebrow raised. “Should we be worried?”

“No. My parents want the best for me. They know I’m gay. They know I have been alone for some time, so they’ll be happy.”

Mackenzie finally looked away from her screen, smiling. “That’s good to hear, Kiren.” She turned to Max. “Max, you were informed of this beforehand, I assume?”

“That Kiren is the son of the corporation’s owners? Yes.”

“The rules are that you’re approved unless it appears that this relationship affects your work, for either of you, or you are found somehow to be using the relationship for favors and such.”

“Favors?” Max asked. “Like what?”

“Inside lines to promotions, that sort of thing.” Her hand waved through the air as if her words weren’t a big deal.

“Wait, that doesn’t mean either of us can’t be promoted at all, does it?” I asked.

“No. I just have to say all of that so you understand.”

I understood very little except that if my parents saw my form they would now know I was dating someone from the office.

I turned to Max. “Are you good with all of this?”

He smiled at me. “I already signed and dated.”

He was the greatest daddy that ever lived. I signed my name, dated it and stood.

Mackenzie spoke. “You’re both good to go. If the relationship ends, please report it for the updated files.”

We walked into the hall. “It seems so stupid. I know the company has to cover its ass but it’s none of their business, too. Maybe I should complain to my parents.”

“Your parents have experts running this place the proper way. They probably wouldn’t interfere with something like this.”

“You’re right. But still… it’s like people are watching your every step when you work for a corporation.”

“You don’t like it?” Max asked.

I didn’t reply. We came to the break room and ducked inside. Max went to the counter and poured himself a coffee.

“Kiren, why do you work here if you don’t like it?”

“I didn’t say that, did I?”

“But I could tell by the way you avoided my question just now.”

I grabbed a water from the fridge. “It pays well, and I can do it well. Also, I needed a job and my parents provided it. To say no to them after—after everything they’ve done for me seemed rude.”

“They didn’t make you take the job, did they?” Max sat in a chair at the table.

I joined him. “No. Not at all. It was them doing something for me.” I glanced around to make sure we were alone. I didn’t like talking about my parents at work.

Max sipped his hot coffee. “Got it. But working a job you don’t like is tough.”

I stared at my water. “Hardly anyone loves their job.”

“I do.”

I looked up at him. He wasn’t joking. “You said you did, but do you really?”

“I’ve loved numbers all my life. It’s what I do. I understand numbers and how they fit and if something doesn’t work. It’s more of a job description now that I’m in charge of my team, but it’s something I love. The day flies by when there are numbers in front of me.”

“I’m glad you enjoy it here,” I said.

“Me, too.” He put his arm on the table and lowered his voice. “But you, baby… it’s hard not doing what you love.”

“I’m not complaining. I have everything I need.” I sucked my bottom lip. “And now I have you. It’s official because we filled out the forms.”

Max laughed. “It’s about way more than forms for me, baby.”

I was always fumbling over my tongue. “I meant that, too. It’s much more than forms.”

“I know you didn’t mean it any other way,” Max said.

We’d spent the weekend together. The moment I walked into Max’s house, it was official for me. But we still had steps to take. I wanted it all with Max. Baths. Being dressed and undressed. Diapers. Pacifiers. Onesies. The crib. The race car bed. Spankings when I was naughty. Maybe other stuff, too, if he would teach me. He had it all and I wanted it to be me who used those things, who made all that extra special furniture mine.

However, I would never be able to do whippings or anything like that. Would Max see my scars as limitations? What if he wanted that sort of thing and I wasn’t able to give it?

It scared me.

“Sweetheart, I need to get back to work. But we need to talk more. Lunch?”

“Yes, Daddy,” I whispered. “I thought we would do that automatically.”

“Good.”

Max got up. He looked at me, eyebrows narrowed. “I’m sensing something from you. We’re going to talk, okay?”

“I want to.”

The rest of the morning passed by far too slowly.

We got sandwiches and drinks from the deli downstairs, then went up to the roof. The patio there was rarely used, but it was glass enclosed with a heater, so the winter cold didn’t seep in.

As we walked in, the view the city and swirls of big clouds was awesome. Sunlight tried with all its might to push through those clouds, making them glow. I loved a winter sky.

“I missed you,” Max said.

“It’s only been two hours.”

“That’s a long time not to see your beautiful face.”

My body went hot all over. Everything inside me seemed to gush. “I missed you, too, Daddy.”

Abruptly, Max made a statement. “I want you to come over tonight.”

“It’s a work night, though.”

“I don’t care. I hated spending Sunday night alone last night.”

We’d only spent one night together. Saturday. But he was right. Sunday night, even surrounded by my collection of stuffed animals, I had felt lonely.

“Daddy, I like sleeping with you.”

“Whew. Glad to hear it.” He put a hand on his chest, rubbing. “It’s settled. You’ll go home, pack some things, and drive over. No dawdling.”

I laughed. “I wouldn’t want to miss a minute with you.”

He reached across the table and squeezed my hand.

All this happening was amazing. A couple weeks ago, I didn’t even know Max existed. I never thought I’d share my baby fantasies with anyone. At least, not all of them. But Max made me want to share everything. Just open up and let everything pour out. Because he would take care of it all. He would organize, feed, play with and comfort all my built-up longings. It made me think I didn’t have to be afraid because of my scars. He would know how to react, and what to do to make me safe.

When the day ended, I literally ran to my car. Rush hour traffic had me banging on the steering wheel and yelling, “Hurry up. I have a daddy waiting for me!”

I rushed about my house re-packing all the things I’d brought over Saturday night. I added clean work clothes for the next day.

I reached Max’s house less than an hour after getting off work. The December wind had gotten colder. I reached for my bag from the back of my car but suddenly there was another hand. And warmth.

“I’ve got that, baby.” Max grabbed my bag.

I turned into him. With my bag in his hand, he leaned in and kissed me. I closed my hatch and wrapped my arms around him.

Max kept kissing me as he softly laughed, which made my lips tremble. He broke away. “Let’s get you inside where it’s warm.”

I followed Max inside. He headed for the stairs. “Taking this bag up to the bedroom. Do you want to come?”

I hesitated. I wasn’t sure why. Then I thought, fuck it. He’s my daddy now. I’d told him that. I wanted that. We’d signed the HR papers so we could have that.

“I want to get into my jammies now, Daddy.”