18. Elias

Chapter 18

Elias

"What else is your surprise, Daddy?" Peeking around the entryway, Milo wasn't impressed with the new keys on the hall table, but that was probably because he hadn't remembered yet that one was for him. "You said you had surprises."

And he was little enough at the moment that it was all he could focus on.

"I do." And the text I'd gotten from Grace said it was all set. "Would you like to see it?"

Nodding excitedly, Milo took my hand and started dragging me through the house. "Where is it? Is it a box? Is it alive? Is it a treat?"

His list was fascinating, but I was happy to be able to shake my head at each one.

"Where is it?" He finally stopped by the stairs, turning us in a circle. "I don't know where to go. Daddy?"

"Upstairs." That was all he needed to charge up the stairs, tugging me behind him. "Be careful."

He wasn't exactly being reckless but he wasn't thinking about anything logical like safety. "If you fall, you'll have to wait to see what the surprise is."

"I'm careful." His words did not match his behavior, but we made it upstairs without too many problems and only one slight issue with a railing that he said reached out and poked him.

My house was evidently vicious and had an attitude, according to Milo.

"Where…" Milo finally stopped at the top of the stairs, turning us in another circle on the landing. "Daddy, something is…"

I waited to see if he would figure out on his own what had changed. He hadn't spent too much time wandering around upstairs, so I wasn't surprised when he couldn't quite place it. "Do you want a hint?"

Milo huffed and puffed but nodded after a second. "Yes, please."

"Close your eyes." When he obeyed, I squeezed his hand. "How many doors are upstairs?"

"Five? No. Six." His free hand came up and he started listing them on his fingers. "Daddy's room. Big bedroom. Big bedroom. Closet. Big bedroom. Bathroom. Yes. I did it. You have a big house, Daddy."

Probably too big but I liked the neighborhood.

"Okay, open your eyes and now tell me how many doors you see." I managed not to laugh as his finger pointed and he counted, but when his mouth dropped open, I had to chuckle. "Are you sure there were six doors?"

"Daddy. It's magic." Tugging on my hand, he inched us down the hallway. "Six. There were six doors, Daddy."

"Yes, there were." Kissing his head, I pointed to the wall that was now blank. "I took a door out but let me show you why."

Milo looked slightly awed as he studied the now-blank wall. "Daddy has magic."

Well, construction magic and lots of money.

Swinging my hand, I pointed toward the bedroom door. "Let me show you."

"Yes. Show the magic." Milo was searching the space with wide eyes as he let me finally lead him into the bedroom. "Oh. More doors?"

"I moved the door to the other bedroom." There were only so many guestrooms that were needed since I didn't like having people over. "Now the only way to get into that room is to go through our bedroom."

Milo frowned thoughtfully. "Office?"

"No, but that's a good guess." I could see him trying to come up with logical options but we got to the new door on the far side of the bedroom before he could find one. "Alright, you open the door since it's your surprise."

"Hmm…" His hand reached out before stopping right before he touched the knob. "Boo?"

"No, nothing is going to jump out at you. It's a good surprise." I wasn't sure I was creative enough to come up with something like that.

"No boo. No work." Making more thinking sounds, he opened the door just enough to peek inside. " Oh, no work, Daddy ."

"That's right. Just play." The playroom wasn't done, but with the new shelves painted a bright white and a big teddy bear in the middle of the room, it was clear what the space was going to be. "Now we've got a special room to put a crib or changing table or more toys in, and no one will see. It's completely private and that door even has a lock on it."

"I gotta room, Daddy." The awe in his voice had me swallowing hard around something in my throat.

"Look." I nodded as he pointed to the shelves. "I get more books? More toys?"

"Yes." Glad that I'd sounded almost normal, I swallowed again and cleared my throat. "We're going to put another big chair in here and lots of books and toys."

"Wow." Finally moving again, Milo slowly walked us around the room, looking at every wall and shelf. "So pretty, Daddy."

"We're going to make it even prettier once we figure out how to decorate it." Milo hadn't given me enough hints about that. The closest thing to an idea had been his love of birds but I wasn't sure if that was just a big Milo thing or not. "We'll get some pictures and lots of new toys."

"Baskets." Nodding like he was in awe at the thought of getting to buy more baskets, he squeezed my hand. "Thank you, Daddy."

"You're welcome." Kissing his head, I pulled him closer and wrapped my arms around him. "I wanted you to have your own space where you don't have to worry about anyone coming in or anyone seeing your stuff."

One of the things he had mentioned about his own apartment was that it was his own space and he didn't have to share. Milo didn't need an office in this house and it didn't seem like he needed his own den, but this seemed like a wonderful way to give him privacy and a place to be himself.

"I want you to think about how we should decorate it and what kind of toys and furniture should go in here." I chuckled as Milo turned in my arms and leaned back against my chest. "We've got lots of options and I can't wait to hear your ideas."

His ideas and my budget was the plan, but I figured I could point that out later.

"Can Dally help too?" His whisper made it sound like he was slightly overwhelmed, but nothing said panic. "It's big, Daddy."

A big room?

A big job?

"Yes, I think Dally would love to help you." Either way, I'd expected his best friend to be in on the planning, if not the decorating.

"Help us, Daddy." Milo patted my arms over his chest. "Us, Daddy."

"Us." Kissing his head, I nodded. "That's right."

Milo stayed there quietly, studying his room for several long moments before humming. "My blanket, Daddy?"

It took me a second to realize he was talking about the blanket downstairs on the shelf in the living room. "Do you want to bring your blanket up here? Should that be the first decoration?"

"Second." Holding up two fingers, he pointed to the bear. "One."

Chuckling softly, I nodded. "You're right. I thought he looked like he'd be good to cuddle with when you play or when we read a book."

Our schedules didn't always align perfectly, so I was hoping he'd have a recharge space where he could be little if he wanted to, no matter if I was home or not.

"Cuddles." It seemed to be decided that the bear would be good to snuggle with because Milo pulled away and grabbed my hand again. "Blanket."

Since decorating had to start first thing, we headed back downstairs—thankfully at a safer speed—and picked up his blanket and two books from his basket. "All done, Daddy."

"Perfect." Holding the blanket and one of his hands, I let him take us back upstairs. "Where should it go?"

That was the million-dollar question.

It went in the corner.

Nope. That wasn't right.

It went in the other corner.

Nope. Still not good enough.

Think.

Think.

Think.

It went under the bear.

Perfection.

"Picnic, Daddy." Giggling, Milo ran around the bear before setting the two books down right in front of him. "Book picnic."

Happy with his scene or maybe room staging, Milo skipped over to me and snuggled against me. When I wrapped my arms around him, he let out a soft sigh and rubbed his face against my chest. "Cuddle time, Daddy?"

"That's a great idea." I wasn't sure he was bedtime tired yet, but it was clear he wanted some Daddy attention and downtime. "We'll cuddle and you can nurse. Then we'll get a bath or a shower. How does that sound?"

He nodded, his fingers coming up to pet my chest. "Special cuddles and bubbles and book snuggles?"

The soft touch and nuzzles were making me ache in multiple places and I had to push back a moan. "Yes, that sounds like a perfect night."

Milo must've realized that, though, because he giggled as his finger happened to glide over my nipple. Even through the fabric, I could still feel his caress and shivered, which, of course, delighted him. " Bed cuddles ?"

His teasing tone and barely controlled laughter said he knew exactly what he was doing to me. I reached down and gave his bottom a pop, but it just had his giggles escaping again. "I should tell you no and have us go sit down on the big chair."

Snickering, he shook his head. "No, Daddy likes wiggles and bed cuddles."

So did my boy.

"Are you sure?" His response was to give me a wiggle that rubbed his body against my poorly concealed erection. "Yes, you're sure."

Shaking, Milo held back his laughter but he nodded and kept teasing me. "I'm smart, Daddy."

"And good at teasing your Daddy." My dry retort came with a faint moan that he loved. Something about it sent a shiver through him, so I spanked him over his pants again just to drive him crazy. "Naughty boy."

He tried to look serious and shake his head, but his happy sounds kept it from looking believable at all. "Good…good boy, Daddy."

Sure he was.

"Come here, silly goose. Cuddle time." His grin got wider as I led him into the bedroom and over to the bed, and he was so excited he made me chuckle. "Yes, bed cuddles for my snuggly boy."

As he threw his arms around me and hugged me tight, I kissed his head and decided to try something new. "Thank you, baby."

Giving him one more peck as he pulled back, I nodded toward his arms. "Hands up."

There was no reason to start clothed and pretend that I wasn't going to end up playing with him. Wrestling his dick free one-handed was ridiculous and took him out of the moment. I thought it was a reasonable decision but Milo's eyes went wide and he let out a wicked giggle. "Naughty Daddy."

Practical Daddy.

But I shrugged and gave him a sly smile as I started stripping his clothes off. "But you're my boy and I want to cuddle you."

He thought I was naughty and ridiculous, but he made getting naked easy and his cock thoroughly approved of the plan. Milo spent the whole time alternating between giggling and shaking his head, though.

Somehow, he seemed to be under the impression I should've been more subtle.

He seemed to be forgetting who he was talking to…and who was going to be feeding him…because subtle was not my middle name. According to my family, it was asshole, and according to Milo, it was naughty.

Either way…not subtle.