19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Parents were invited to the last weekend of camp, so Dex blended in, watching as Prince smiled the entire time.

He loved the kids, loved the camp, and the smile was as wonderful as it was weird. The man had cried most of the previous night after he'd been escorted to the cabin across the lake.

"I'm going to miss everyone so much, and, hic , I don't want you to hate me."

"Why would I hate you, ever?"

He was hiccupping from the crying. "Be- hic -cause. If, if, hic , I am so sad about the, hic , camp closing, it, hic , might mean I'm not excited, hic , to move with you."

Dex fetched him a glass of water before commenting, "I know you love them too, Prince. I'm not jealous."

"You're, hic , sure?"

"I'm sure. I'm very sure."

The weekend went well, and each night he sneaked back over to the cabin, later than he used to, but he was busy making memories. That last night before the busses and parents would come and take their kids, Prince lay in his arms, contented and tired from the long day. "The kids were so cute today. Monnie told me I was her favorite. Did I tell you that?"

"You did. She did too. Did I tell you she's now allowing me to call her Monnie?"

"No! Really?"

Dex laughed as he nodded. "And Nat actually talks in front of me now."

"Aren't they the best?"

"Yeah. They are. And…I can see that being around them and the other kids, you might have been thinking about having some kids of your own."

Prince struggled to sit up and once he did, he stared at Dex like he was insane. "Me? A dad? You're kidding, right?"

"Why the hell not? You'd make a great dad."

"Me?"

After rolling his eyes and growling, Dex pulled him back down to lie next to him. "Stop that."

"I guess I've thought about it."

Dex smiled and whispered, "Yeah?"

"We did everything fast. Maybe we'll take that discussion a lot longer to have. Please?"

"You got it."

Monnie hugged them both that morning and gave a piece of paper to Prince. "That's my mom's number. Call me once a week! You said!"

"I will," he said to Monnie. Dex had to keep himself from crying. Nat hugged him next and then he and Prince watched, then hug each other as the tears flowed. Monnie held him like a little mother, promising to call all the time and they'd talk online too.

Nat was taken to the bus while Monnie was taken by her mother, and once the camp was empty of children, only the counselors remained. Sabrina gathered them all in the dining hall to do the announcements, and Dex was invited to stay for that.

Sabrina stood on the short stage, looking out at everyone, tears welling in her eyes. "This year has been a hell of a year." The applause was loud, and sniffles were coming from all over the hall. "We've had some drama, some fun, and some pain. I have watched these kids this year bloom. They took everything this summer handed them with strength, and I'd like to think that all of you were a big part of that.

"When those…two guys hurt our friend, Prince, it hit us all hard. We've never had that kind of violence here, and I was worried everyone would fall apart. Instead, it brought us all together. The kids, too, they didn't fall down with sorrow or fear. They were energized to help, and for the first time in camp history, I think, we had a full week where everyone was where they were supposed to be and not one case of discipline was needed."

Laughter came from all around, but Sabrina wasn't finished. She let everyone talk amongst themselves for a minute, then called everyone to hush.

Then her eyes met Dex's, and he knew it was time. She'd let him in on it while Prince was still in the hospital. Dex took in a long breath as Sabrina went on, "one reason everyone pulled together was our love for one person.

"He came here this summer for the first time. So, few of us thought he'd fit in, being some rich guy who'd never been to a summer camp before, but we were all proven wrong."

Prince looked over at Dex, tears welling in his eyes, and he'd never looked more beautiful.

"Bringing us all together, Prince Rose, that is what you've done for this place. We hereby invite you to come back again next year."

Prince was openly crying as the applause thundered, and Dex slung an arm around him quickly, whispering, "Go up there. They have a gift for you."

"What? What is it?"

Sabrina waved him on as Silvio and Anton got up on the stage and headed behind the wooden Sunnyside sign that took up a good five feet from the stage.

In fact, Prince wondered why the sign was on the stage and not out front, like it had always been since he'd arrived.

Prince made his way up the aisle as everyone turned to smile mischievously at him. Confused, he took the step onto the stage and Sabrina pulled him over to her as everyone got to their feet as the applause started.

Prince looked out at all the folks he'd worked and lived with all summer, including Dex, who was beaming up at him with pride. He whispered loudly to Sabrina, "What's this all about?"

She kissed his cheek and then held up her hand for everyone to be quiet and sit again. "Prince doesn't want us to know how much he's done for this camp, but the secret got out and I'm not apologizing for that."

Prince's jaw dropped as he saw Dex duck his head. When he turned to Sabrina, she was openly crying. "Prince, you came here and opened your heart to all of us. You helped us make this a great summer already, but to know what you did to keep us going for years and years to come, well, it means the world."

"I didn't want anyone to know."

"Like a genuine hero, Prince," Silvio said from the other side of him. "You didn't want the credit but let us say thanks. Don't be a twat."

He barked a laugh and then Sabrina and Silvio turned him around to face the back of the stage. What he saw took his breath away and the silent tears became full-blown sobs. There was a new sign, freshly made and painted, and on it, with a perfect red rose woven through the letters that spelled Sunny Rose Camp .

Silvio's arm was over his shoulder, and he kissed Prince's other cheek. "I know about the scholarship, too. I'll kick your ass later."

Crying openly he went to the sign and ran his fingertips over his name. "This is too much."

Suddenly, he was rushed by all the counselors on the stage, and he was taken from one to the other for gentle hugs that still hurt his cracked ribs.

When he was finished saying goodbye to all his friends, he was taken by Dex to a motel on the way to Montana. They got checked in and laid out by the pool to take in the afternoon's sunshine.

He was exhausted, mostly from the emotion of it all. He cried three times in the car, and yes, his emotions were raw, but he was also exhausted and in pain, too. Dex made him go in and get a shower while he brought up all the bags.

The heat of the shower felt good, the water taking away some aches, and once he got out, he opened the bathroom door to check on his clothes and saw Dex putting clothes in the drawers. "We're only staying a night, right?"

"When we get there, we, like anyone else staying there through the builds, will live in an RV. I thought a few nights here, resting and…playing house would be nice."

Wrapping the towel around his waist, Prince leaned on the door frame. "You think of everything."

"I try. I have food being delivered, and then you and I are going to have a nice, quiet night in bed."

"I like the sound of that."

"I do too," he said as he tossed Prince a pair of briefs. "That's all the clothes you need."

Catching it and being proud of that, he laughed. "I'm surprised I need these."

"I can't see your ass without wanting to do nasty things to it, so…"

"But I like that!"

Dex came to him, holding him close. "But you're still hurting. If your rib finished cracking those ribs, I'd never forgive myself."

So, Dex was perfect. He was sweet, tough, and loving. There was nothing about him that Prince disliked. Dex brought him to the big queen-sized bed, then held him while they waited for their food.

After it came, they ate while watching a movie, Dex fussing over him, making sure he was feeling better. He was. His father had called the night before they'd left the camp, and told him, however tightly, that he was sorry for siding with Toby.

It meant a lot, even as it meant very little. Surely, it was strange for Leonard to do something like that, still he didn't sound altogether sincere. When he found out that Prince was quitting college and following his dream, he raised a fit, but he ended the call wishing him well and asking where to send Prince's things.

That all weighed on him. He was leaving a lot behind, but nothing he would miss. He and Dex could live in a tent forever, and he'd be fine with it. He was fine with anything, as long as Dex was by his side.

Holding him close, gently kissing him, Dex played nurse again, relishing in taking care of Prince. Prince thought he'd always want that, taking care of him, but Prince was excited to do the same. He wanted to make Dex feel as loved and cared for as he made Prince.

"Dex?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"I really do love you."

"I know."

They stayed in the motel for a week. It was like a honeymoon without the sex. At least until the last night. Prince had begged to make love that entire week, but Dex begged off each time, worried over his ribs. Finally, his bruises were faded, his pain was much better, and he couldn't take another second of it. He had to be with Dex.

Kissing tenderly, Prince ran his hand over Dex's hip, moving around to the back where he squeezed his ass. "Oh, my. I think my little Prince wants the big king."

"That is so cheesy," Prince whispered, laughing.

"Yeah, but true."

"Yes, it's true. I want to make love," Prince said, then kissed him again. "Before we're rocking an RV."

"Literally, rocking it."

Prince nodded slowly, kissing him slower.

Dex took the lube and condoms from the suitcase, then came back over to the bed and crawled over him, and they continued their seductive dance for an hour, with light touches, feathery kisses, and their breath on each other's flesh.

The light from outside the room was the only thing that illuminated them as Prince lay atop him, kissing over Dex's throat, nipping along his jaw, and Dex's slow, guttural moan made Prince crazy with desire.

"Prince, my baby, my Prince," he said as he stared into Prince's eyes. "You make me so fucking happy."

"Me? Little old me?"

He got a stinging slap to his ass for that. "Don't make Daddy mad. You won't like the punishment."

"I haven't gotten enough of that? I've been without sex for weeks and weeks and weeks!"

"Poor little baby. Let's see if I can't make up for that."

"I would love that."

Dex suddenly spun them, so he was over Prince and the kissing got much rougher. Soon he was in the depths of a sensuality that was drowning him. Dex held him down and took what he wanted from Prince, kissing him, biting over his neck, sucking there, and Prince groaned as he loved his bruises were being replaced with hickeys.

A hand wrapped around his cock and stroked, and every time Prince tried to wiggle and writhe, he was held still by Dex.

Once Dex pushed inside of him, he was full all over again, and from being so long, the burn was terrible. As heated as they both were, Dex took his time, letting him adjust, kissing him while he pushed ever so slowly deeper.

The world was a wonderful place at times. Having Dex inside him made the world better. All his cares and worries left, not that he had many, anyway. Dex seemed to grab Prince's problems and throttle them until they are worked out or gone altogether.

Dex moved deeper, kissing his bottom lip and chuckling like he had a secret. "What?"

"I'm going to fuck you for hours."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Do you think I'll complain?"

Dex kissed him, holding his chin in one hand. "No. You're a terrible slut for me."

"Terrible?"

"Awful. Insatiable."

The slow, steady thrusts were over and Dex moved a lot faster inside him. He held onto Dex like he'd fall a thousand feet if he let go, and that was how Dex made him feel. He was in the clouds, floating so far above the earth he couldn't see it below.

Dex and Prince, the perfect couple. Oh, he knew it wouldn't always be perfect, but it was for him. A man that loved him, real friends, a new purpose, a job that had him excited to start…

Of all the things that he'd wanted, he got most of them. Toby could beat him again, once he got out of jail, of course, but even that couldn't stop his happiness. Prince was a prince at last, with a king, a daddy of his very own. One that loved him, and always would.

And after the perfect summer, with the perfect Daddy, Prince knew he'd live happily ever after…

The end.