Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

SEBASTIAN

T he main floor of the club room was full of people, all excited and ready to play. The excitement in the room was palpable. Rhys had gone with his daddy to get changed. He had somehow worn most of his tomato sauce and then his Eton mess. I had tried unsuccessfully not to laugh at the shocked face on Rhys when his Daddy had pointed out just how much food he had worn. It seemed Rhys was like me. He got excited about things and swung his hands about, even when he happened to be holding food when it happened.

Before I headed to the playroom, I was going to have to head back to Daddy’s office. I’d forgotten Mama Cass and I wanted to take her with me.

The hallway leading to Daddy’s office was empty, everyone having moved inside the club proper. I was surprised to see the door to the office slightly ajar. I swore Daddy had pulled it closed when we had left. But then, I knew Rhys was coming to get his teddy bear before his Daddy took him to get changed. Maybe they had forgotten to pull the door to.

I wasn’t expecting to find the chair empty, or for Devon to be standing there smirking.

“What did you do with Mama Cass?”

Devon smiled at me coldly before looking down at his nails, pretending to study the gaudy pink polish. “Do you mean that horrible looking bird thing?”

“She’s not horrible. She is a majestic cassowary.”

“She’s fucking ugly, and a child’s toy. I did you a favour and got rid of it.” He looked over his shoulder, and I saw one of the glass doors that led out onto the back yard from Daddies office was open. Fine flakes of snow dusted the rug, as well as wet footprints. Had Devon left Mama Cass outside in the snow?

I balled my fist and the urge to punch him in the face rose. I hated violence, but right now nothing would make me feel as good as popping him on the nose.

But as good as it would feel, the first thing I had to do was find Mama Cass.

“Tell me where she is and I won’t tell my Daddies.” I tried to keep my voice firm and not let the anger I was feeling take over. I couldn’t believe he would do something so mean. I didn’t even know him that well, and he was being such a dick.

“See, that’s not going to work for me. I’ll tell you what. You leave now and don’t come back, forget about Marco and Roman, and I’ll tell you where your stupid toy is.”

I took a step forward, my fists still balled and my anger rising. “You’re doing this because you’re jealous? What the fuck? If Roman and Marco had any interest in you they would have acted long before now. But they don’t.”

“They just don’t know what they want,” Devon said quickly, and I almost laughed at his answer.

“Oh, I am pretty certain they know what they want—and it’s not you.” I stepped closer to Daddy’s desk. “Look, I don’t want to play your stupid game. Where is my stuffie?”

Devon, for the first time, looked hesitant, as if he realised what he’d done.

“Please, Devon, don’t be an arsehole. I’ve not done anything to you.”

Devon chewed on the corner of his thumbnail, looking at me then back towards the door. “I threw your stupid stuffie over into the hedge maze. The wind caught it, so I have no idea where it landed.”

“You colossal dickwad!” I stormed out to the hallway and then through to the cubby holes where Daddy had put our shoes and socks. I grabbed the pair of snow boots Daddy had given me and a thick coat before I stomped back to Daddy’s office. I probably should have gone and told them where I was going, but all I could think of was poor Mama Cass stuck out in that dark hedge maze.

The large open area at the back of the house was lit by garden lights, and I followed the paved path down towards the hedge. It was darker down here. There were lights that lit the hedge every hundred metres or so, but they weren’t very bright.

Once I entered the hedge it was even darker.

I patted my jacket and realised my phone was still sitting on the bedside table. I couldn’t call my Daddies if I got lost, or use my phone as a light source. The smart thing to do would be to head back inside. I glanced back at the entrance of the maze, then back at the house.

I hated the thought of Mama Cass being stuck out here all night, getting buried in snow. I was big and brave. I could do this.

I just had to remember the rules for being in a maze. I had to keep my left hand on the maze wall, and remember landmarks. I knew there was a granite gazebo at the centre of the maze with a bench. Papa had shown me a photo, and promised to take me into the maze tomorrow.

The deeper I walked into the maze, the more I wished I’d told Marco or Roman what I was doing, or waited until the morning to find Mama Cass. But I was here now, and I wasn’t going to give up. I would find her, then I could head back inside and cuddle with my Daddies.

The snow had started coming down a little heavier, and I could see my breath plume out in the faint moonlight. A little further in, I saw a familiar black and blue fluffy shape on the ground and I ran towards her.

“Oh, thank goodness I found you.” I brushed the snow off Mama Cass and cuddled her to my chest.

I could head back inside now, which was a good thing. My hands were starting to hurt. I’d forgotten to wear gloves and I knew Papa would tell me off, because he was very adamant on dressing properly when going out in the snow. But I thought he would forgive me this time.

I stood up and started to backtrack the way I thought I’d come. Only I must have turned myself around at some point. I wasn’t sure where I was. I wandered aimlessly until a dark stone structure reared up before me.

It was the gazebo.

The gazebo at least offered a little shelter, and I sat down on the bench. I needed to get back out of the maze, but I was really cold now and my hands were hurting. I shoved them deeper into my pockets and stuffed Mama Cass inside my jacket while I tried to figure out how to find my way back.

I wasn’t sure how long I sat there shivering in the darkness, but then I thought I saw lights.

Then I imagined I heard Papa’s voice calling me. Suddenly Marco was striding across the snowy ground towards me. He looked worried and wild, his hair spilling down around his shoulders, his chest heaving as if he’d run a mile.

“Oh, thank fuck we found you.” Papa wrapped me up in his large arms before I could move. He was so perfectly warm. “We were worried about you then we saw the office door was open and Devon was close by looking more than a little guilty.”

“He threw Mama Cass in here. I couldn’t leave her out all night, and I was so angry. I’m sorry. I should have come to tell you or Roman, but I was just so mad with him. He tried to blackmail me, saying he wouldn’t tell me where she was unless I promised to leave Crimson House and never come back. I told him that if you hadn’t picked him to be your boy by now, making me leave wasn’t going to change anything.”

I heard a deep laugh and saw Rhys’s Daddy standing nearby… with Santa Claus.

I blinked twice then rubbed my eyes.

“Your boy has got some fire in him. That’s a good thing.” Rhys’s Daddy said, but I was more focused on the man in red.

“Papa, did you enlist Santa to help find me?” I gaped as Santa came closer and knelt down in front of me.

He had kind blue eyes, and his beard was very soft looking and real not the horrible fake ones the town centre Santa’s had. “You gave us a bit of a fright, little one. Are you hurt anywhere?” I noticed Santa had tattoos on his arm when he reached out to look at my hands. I was pretty sure Santa Claus didn’t have tattoos, but what did I know?

“Lets get him inside and then you can check him over, Doc. Sy, did you want to run ahead and let Roman know we’ve found him?”

Papa picked me up in a bridal carry and hugged me tight to him. I snuggled against his chest, soaking up his warmth. I wanted to sleep, but Papa kept talking to me and asking me questions as we made our way back to the house.

“Don’t be surprised if Roman makes you have a warm shower and get straight into bed, sprite. He wanted to come search but he was having a stern word with Devon.” Papa frowning angrily. I shivered, not ever wanting him to be that angry with me. He hugged me tighter, as if sensing how I felt, and kissed my head.

“We’re not angry with you, sprite. You were very brave standing up to Devon, and we’re just sorry we let such a bully in the club.” Papa gave a tired sigh.

“Don’t be too mad with him. I think he’s very lonely, and he wanted you and Daddy very much.” I always tried to find the good in people, even when they hurt me.

“I can be mad, sweetheart. His actions could have resulted in you being hurt.”

“He didn’t make me go out in the snow. I should have come to find you or Daddy, but I didn’t. So I think maybe you should be a little bit cross with me.” I hated to admit it, but I could have gotten Daddy or Papa to come with me to search for Mama Cass, or I could have waited until morning. But I hadn’t.

Papa didn’t say anything in response, he just held me tighter and carried me through to the small sitting room off Daddy’s office.

I could hear the sounds of the party going on, and I didn’t want to miss out, but I also needed to sit and cuddle with my Daddies for a little bit.

There was a small fire burning happily in the fireplace and a comfy looking lounge. Papa moved us straight over to it, sitting down and not letting go of me. Santa Claus, or Doc as I’d heard Papa call him, had followed us in. Daddy came in not long after carrying a small black bag that he handed to Doctor Santa.

“Sebastian, we were so worried.” Daddy sat down next to Papa and took hold of my face to kiss my cheeks and forehead, before Doctor Santa made him stop so he could check me over.

Doctor Santa, who I learned was Doc Cullen, a long term member of the club and one of Rhys’s bestest friends, made me hold my hands out so he could check on them, and then he asked if anything hurt. I nodded and ummed and ahhed as he looked me over, and answered his questions. He sat back on his heels and looked to my Daddies. “I would say he’s in good health, but a warm shower wouldn’t be a bad thing. Not hot, mind you, and then something warm to drink. His fingers look a little pink, but I don’t think there is any risk of frostbite.”

Frostbite?

Oh my god, I hadn’t even thought of that when I ran outside, so intent on finding Mama Cass. I looked up and saw Papa giving me a look, and I knew I was going to be reminded quite sternly about rugging up before going out in the snow.

“I’m sorry, Papa, but Mama Cass was out there all alone.”

Papa and Daddy shared a smile, but it was Daddy who spoke. “We know baby, and we also know you have spent the last year and half looking out for yourself. You just need a gentle reminder that you have us now, to help carry that load.”

I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt. I really did have them now, and everything that had happened tonight reinforced how much I cared for them already. With a bravery I didn’t normally possess, I leaned up and whispered into both of their ears, aware there were others in the room but not caring.

“I need you to take me upstairs, Daddy and Papa.” Thankfully they both seemed to catch the message. Papa cleared his throat and looked around the room.

“Thank you all for helping us find our boy. It means the world to us, and in the new year I think we need to have another get together with a chase through the maze. But next time, the weather will be warmer and clothes optional.” The people gathered around all laughed and cheered.

Daddy spoke up then as he stroked a hand through my hair. “As you can see we’ve had a bit of a scare tonight, and I’m sure you’ll understand if we leave you to celebrate downstairs while I take my husband and boy upstairs for some much needed private time.”

Again, those in the room cheered, and Doc gave me a saucy wink. I knew I was blushing again. I swore, that was all I did around my Daddies. Papa stood, and then picked me up. I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist like a tiny, red-haired spider monkey. I watched as Daddy spoke to Sam and then turned to follow us up the stairs.

Nervous butterflies were dancing in my belly as we entered their bedroom, but as soon as Papa set me down on my feet and pulled me against him to kiss me solidly, those nervous butterflies turned into horny ones.

Tonight, I was going to give myself completely over to my Daddies. My heart, my body, it all belonged to them.

And that thought made me the happiest man in the world.