1. John

Chapter One

JOHN

" B oy, I'm home!" I called out as I searched for Will, hoping he didn't have his headphones on. I had no idea what he'd planned for this morning, but It wasn't unusual to come home and find one room or another torn apart in our three-bedroom, two-bath penthouse. He lived to redecorate. Although, recently, I wasn't sure that was true anymore. At first, I thought maybe he was bored, but lately, I wasn't so sure it was boredom at all.

I found him in my office, staring transfixed at the larger of the three monitors sitting on my desk with his gold headphones covering either side of his head, which explained why he didn't hear me. He often used my office when I wasn't home to browse for new furniture or clothes, but it was yet again, the image of a child's nursery on the screen that shocked me.

He'd never expressed a desire for children, but this wasn't the first time he'd been perusing children's furniture and accessories. I'd also found a magazine opened to a layout of a child's nursery that was shoved under the couch, and I'd caught him more than once shutting off his cellphone quickly when I approached. But not before I'd spied the colors and prints of childhood shining up from the screen.

In our eight years together, Will had never been shy about telling me when he wanted something. He batted his lashes and murmured, Daddy, in that breathless way that still made my knees go weak. Something about this was different, and I wasn't sure how to bring it up. I'd never given the idea of raising kids much thought, but I wanted Will to be happy, so if he wanted to grow our little family of two, then we would.

Unsure how he'd react to me seeing what he was looking at, I headed back into the kitchen to start lunch preparations while pondering the idea of bringing a child or children into our home. It would be an adjustment, for sure, but I'd get used to the idea. It was the timing that concerned me the most. Will had been urging me to quit my job as a venture capitalist, and I wanted to, more than I'd ever let on. But not if we were expanding our family. We had more than enough money for just the two of us, but I'd want to give any future children a better life than what I'd had. There would be diapers, braces, cars, and college to think about. Plus, Will. If my boy liked reinventing the interior of our home now, I couldn't imagine him with our child.

Our child . Phew. I'd give him a little more time to approach me on his own, and then I'd have to sit him down for a talk.

"Daddy," the love of my life squealed, wrapping his arms around my neck from behind and pressing close against my back.

Craning my neck around, I dropped a kiss on his forehead. "Hello, boy. What have you been up to today?"

He groaned dramatically. "I feel like I've been waiting a thousand years for you to get home from work. I think you should fuck me for being such a bad Daddy."

Huffing out a laugh, I set the carrot and peeler down on the cutting board and turned, pulling him tight. "You do, huh?"

He tipped his chin down, fluttering his eyelashes up at me. "I do. It's only right."

"What about lunch?"

He waggled his eyebrows. "You can feed me your protein." He licked his lips. "It's my favorite after all."

I did like to give my boy whatever he wanted, so I picked him up, threw him over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and smacked one hand on his tight little ass. "Your wish is my command."

Will squealed as I strode through the penthouse for our bedroom. Normally, I'd make him eat lunch because recurring stomach aches had also become an issue for him lately, but I so rarely took a half-day off, and today it was actually to go meet up with our friend Roland and help him with the planning of his new business, so I wanted to give Will the attention he deserved first.

As I walked down the hall toward our bedroom, I asked, "What do you want, boy? What're you in the mood for?"

"Well, I've been a very bad boy, professor. I didn't get any of my homework done last night."

Oh, so my boy really wanted to play. Changing directions, I went into my office, where all the monitors were now black. I guessed he still wasn't ready to talk about it. That was fine. We had time. I set him on his feet next to the desk, then I sat down in my office chair and steepled my fingers. "Where is your homework?" I demanded.

Will immediately pushed out his lower lip, and my little actor's eyes swam with fresh moisture. "Well, you see, professor, my mom?—"

I smacked one hand down on my desktop. "What's your name again? I swear you've been in here a million times, and I still can't remember it."

"W-W-Will," he stammered.

"Will what?"

"Edwards. Will Edwards."

I bit back a grin at him using my last name. We'd decided years ago that we didn't consider marriage necessary. I'd kept my lawyer busy for weeks after we'd first gotten together, making sure that Will would be taken care of in every way possible if anything ever happened to me, but Will tended to use my last name when we played. Which I was more than fine with.

"Okay, Mr. Edwards. This isn't the first time you've wandered into my office after class with excuses. You're a college student now. Your mommy doesn't get to write you a note to excuse a missed assignment. It's your responsibility."

He blinked furiously, forcing a tear to well up and spill over. I watched it roll down his smooth, pale skin and sighed like I was exasperated. "And do you expect your tears to move me, Mr. Edwards?"

"No, sir. I'll do better. I swear."

"You better. Today will be a zero, so?—"

"Professor, no," he interrupted me. "Surely there's something I can do. Extra credit, maybe?"

My pretty, pretty boy stood in his socked feet, one on the other. His white t-shirt, with the huge tulip in the center, rode up over his belly button, exposing the black hairs of his happy trail that disappeared into the band of his jeans, which fit him like they'd been painted on. My mouth watered. He'd had the right idea. Who needed lunch when such a feast awaited me?

"I'd let you suck my dick"—he gasped—"but I've already given the honor to a student this morning." I snorted as Will dropped the act just long enough to give me the stink-eye. As if I'd let anyone but him touch me.

He quickly recovered and jumped back into our game. "Maybe I can… uh, straighten your desk." We both glanced over at my completely organized workspace. "Okay." He wrung his hands together. "I don't know. What do you need?"

I trailed my gaze lazily down, stopping at his crotch. He thrust his hands down, protectively covering himself. "Please, professor. I'm a virgin. I've never even kissed a boy, much less a man like you," he added coyly, dropping his voice to a simper.

A growl started low in my throat. Did I know this pretty boy in front of me knew exactly how to handle my body? Yes, but it was so hot when he laid it out there like he was mine to touch, to own. And make no mistake, no matter who Will had been with before me, the only man who'd ever owned him was me. Shoving to my feet, I got into his space, towering over him. "Do you know where the faculty lounge is?"

He gulped. "Y-y-yes."

"Go there and wait for me."

He scrambled his pert little ass right out of the room and down the hall toward our bedroom. It was fun playing Will's little games, but that didn't mean I couldn't enjoy the comfort of our bed to take him apart. While he waited for me, I went to the kitchen and put together a quick vegetable, fruit, and cheese tray. We'd have our fun, but he needed to eat, and I'd be distracted with worry if I didn't take care of his dietary needs first. After filling a tall glass with water for us to split, I went in search of my prize.

Will stood hesitantly outside the bedroom door, still wringing his hands. "Why didn't you go in like I told you?"

"I didn't know what to do. There were two other professors finishing lunch when I first arrived. They just left, but I didn't know if I was allowed in."

I shook my head. "What am I going to do with you, Mr. Edwards?"

"I'm sorry, professor."

"Mhm. Go in now." I followed him in and kicked the door shut behind me. "Lock the door, please. I don't want to be disturbed."

He skirted around me, hesitating with his fingers over the lock. When I cleared my throat, he quickly turned it and backed away. He looked like a frightened kitten, and it was adorable.

Making my way to the chaise lounge in the corner of our room, I placed the food and drinks on the side table that normally held our e-readers. "Come sit, please," I said as I sat down. Once he took his place next to me, I pulled the table so it was centered between us. "You may feed me."

Will rolled his bottom lip in, and I knew he was fighting back a laugh. Once he got himself under control, he picked up a cube of cheese and held it out in front of my mouth. "Like this?"

Using my teeth, I removed the cheese from between his fingers and sucked it into my mouth. "You might as well eat, too. You're going to need your energy."

He wasn't able to hold back his eye roll. I was driving him up a wall with my obsessive worry over his stomach aches. So far, the doctor thought it was nothing more than stress, but what was he stressed about? Talking to me about wanting a baby or was it something else? I didn't know, and until I did, he'd have to deal with my nagging.

Will alternated between feeding me and himself until we devoured the whole platter. He took a few sips of water when we were done, then inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. It was a trick his friend Toby had taught them to help center themselves, and I found it adorable that he was applying it here and now. "What's next, professor?"

"You've really never been kissed?"

He shook his head hard from side to side. "I get a little anxious, you see, so I've never even been on a date."

"I've been thinking. Sex is important, too. Maybe I'll teach you the ways to please a man and grade you on what happens physically instead. What do you think, Will Edwards? Would you be amenable to that arrangement?"

"And I wouldn't have to take your statistics class anymore?" he asked hopefully.

"You'd have to be in class, but no, your grade would depend on what happens between us in private."

He squeezed his eyes shut tight, then spun toward me and nodded his head. "Okay. Let's do it." His cheeks pinkened as he realized how spot-on his word choice was.

"Such a pretty boy," I said, snickering when his nose scrunched. He'd always been my boy. As cute as some of the terms of endearment our friends used to refer to their boys, my Will liked boy. He said the way I said it first drew him in, and so that was what we stuck with. But he knew damn well that, in my head, he was my very pretty boy.

I pushed the table back where it belonged, then stood, holding out my hand to him. He placed his palm in mine, and I drew him up in front of me. "Well, if I have you for the rest of the semester, we'll take it slow."

"Not too slow, Daddy," he muttered, and I threw back my head laughing. Heaven forbid I forget his initial request to get fucked.

Cupping his cheeks, I leaned down and gently pressed my lips to his. Will shivered as I flicked my tongue out, running it along the seams of his lips. With another tremble, he opened and let me in. I explored slowly, licking up the taste of grapes and apples from our lunch. Pulling away, I stared down into his dark, fathomless eyes. "How was that?"

"G-good," he replied, staying in character. "I think I need more practice, though."

So I granted his request, kissing him until he was having a hard time holding back from rutting on my leg. He loved to start these little games, but I'm the one who took the most pleasure. I often turned it around, leaving him sweet and innocent, so he had to wait for me to set the pace. And I liked to take it slow as molasses, knowing that it was making him burn for me.

After several minutes—because I did after somewhere to be this afternoon—I stood up straight. "I'm going to strip you, Will Edwards. Can you handle that?"

He glared daggers at me for moving like a sloth, while saying, "I guess so, but I'm a little shy."

"Don't you worry about that. I'll take my clothes off, too." Then I whipped off his tank, chuckling as he covered his bare chest with his arms and dropped his gaze to the floor. "Look at me. You don't want to miss this," I said as I slowly unbuttoned my shirt and dropped it to the floor.

Will gulped, staring at my right nipple as if transfixed. When I reached for the button of his jeans, he jolted. "Oh, um. Those, too, huh? Maybe I should take them off. They're kind of tight."

Shaking my head, I tsked. "No, no. This is my class, Mr. Edwards. We'll do things my way."

So I turned him, backing him up until the back of his knees hit the mattress, then I pushed him gently back. Wanting him really hot and bothered, I went to my pants first, lazily removing my belt, unbuttoned them, then pulled the zipper down slowly. Will's tongue snaked out, licking over his lower lip. I shoved my boxer briefs down my legs with my trousers, then stood up, letting him feast his eyes on my half-hard cock. He whimpered.

After all these years, I'd grown proficient at removing his tight-as-hell jeans, so I worked them down, leering at the bulge hiding in his little red boy shorts. "Do you have something in there for me?"

Will reached down, palming himself, then cracked and sat up, grabbing my shoulders and slamming his mouth to mine. We ate at each other's mouths, devouring one another. Will finally pulled back. "I was a student, Daddy. You were supposed to want a blow job. I was ready for you to fuck my face. And what the hell?" He swatted at me playfully. "You already had someone else suck your dick today? You better not have. I'll cut a bitch."

Laughing, I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid him down under me on the bed. "You lasted longer than I thought you would."

He whined. "That's not fair. I've been waiting all day for you to come home and then you tease me. Professor-student, right? Quick and dirty. Why can't you ever follow the rules?"

I pressed into him, rubbing our dicks together. Like always happened when he lost patience with me, I was harder than steel now and ready to claim what was mine. Will immediately stopped complaining, getting with the program and moving his body in time with mine as I kissed a path down his neck, stopping and sucking my mark right above his left nipple. Will loved knowing that he bore my mark as he went through the day, but I adored that he wanted it—needed it even. This pretty boy thought I was too good to him, but he'd never understand how much he'd brightened my world, how much joy his giggles and irreverent mouth gave me.

"Daddy," he moaned, bucking up harder in his classic get-with-the-program move.

Reaching under the pillow, I searched around until I found the bottle of lube. Will left it there every morning when he made the bed for easy access when we needed it. He was such an insatiable little thing. For the flash of a second, I wondered what our sex life would look like with a child in the house, but I shoved that to the side. All that mattered right now was Will and giving him the pleasure he craved.

"You don't need it," he said, realizing what I was doing. "I prepped after my shower. Now stick it in already."

I stared down at him, then shook my head. "You're amazing, boy."

He reached down and grabbed my dick, bringing it to his rim. "I am, and this is magnificent. Stop teasing me, Daddy. I need you."

Holding his gaze, I pushed in slowly and carefully until I bottomed out. "You ready, boy?"

He smirked. "Let's see what you got." So I pulled out, thrusting back in and knocking our headboard into the wall. Will groaned loudly, and I did it again, over and over, until his face contorted in such a way that I knew his release was near.

"Jerk yourself, boy. I want you to come for me."

As I pounded into him, he yanked on his dick erratically as he chased his climax. When he cried out, cum shooting up and onto his belly, I buried my face in his neck, letting my orgasm come. "Fuck."

We lay there panting, sweaty limbs twined together when Will whispered, "I love you, Daddy."

"And I love you, boy. So much." And I'd figure out what had his stomach in knots and why he was looking at baby nurseries without saying a word to me, and I'd make it alright. Whatever that meant.

Will

John threw the towel, making it right into the top of our hamper. As much as we had sex and he cleaned me up, that made sense. My competent, super-sexy professor. I giggled at my thoughts as he wrapped both arms around me, and I curled into him. "I'd have come home for lunch every day if I'd known it would be so much fun."

I kissed the center of his chest. "If you could quit your nine-to-five, we could do this whenever you want. Just imagine, Daddy, setting your own schedule around sexy times."

John sighed deeply. "That sounds like my dream, boy."

"But it doesn't have to be just a dream anymore." I rose up above him and stared intently into his beautiful pale eyes. Right now, against our sheets, they looked a misty gray, the color of rain clouds during a drizzle. "You've been unhappy with your job for so long. You've always said that you couldn't just sit home, that you needed something to sink your teeth into. Helping Roland get Honey-Do Handyman off the ground is giving you exactly that."

John reached up a finger and trailed it down my cheek. "I hear what you're saying. But…"

"But what? We have plenty of money with all of the investments you've made over the years, more than we could ever possibly spend. If you hate your job, then why stay there?"

"You know why. I want to be able to take good care of you."

I rolled my eyes. "Daddy, you know I don't care about money. Do I love being able to change things up in our home whenever I feel like it? Sure, I do, but if anyone knows that money can't buy happiness, it's me. My parents were ridiculously wealthy, and it was still never enough. You've never been like that, and I don't want you to fall into that trap."

He frowned. "It feels irresponsible to retire so?—"

I cut him off as I moved around and sat cross-legged by his side. Pulling his hand between mine, I smiled sweetly. "You've taken such good care of me all these years, but I don't think you pay enough attention to yourself and your own needs. I know it was tough growing up in your house, and it took years for your parents to have financial stability, but that's not our situation."

He nodded. "You've also seen what that turned my parents into. My father is worn out, and my mother is bitter at all the hours he spent out of the house working."

I tipped my head in acknowledgment. "I know. But I think the biggest issue with your parents is probably that they kind of hate each other. But"—waving my hand in the air, I pushed talk of his parents aside" —neither of us is particularly close to our families, and we're both happy with that. After all, we have each other. If we have to leave everything as-is in our home until the day we die, that's fine as long as I have you. I want you to be happy, Daddy. I want you to be selfish for once and put your own needs first."

"How did I get so lucky?" He leaned up on his elbow, and I bent down to join our lips together in a sweet kiss.

"I'm the lucky one," I murmured against his lips.

We shared another kiss, then John pulled back and grinned boyishly. God, how I wanted to see that expression on his face every day. "I've got to get out of bed if I'm going to meet with Roland on time."

"Perfect. I'm coming, too. I'm hanging out with Kenny for the afternoon. I'm pretty sure he invited some of the other guys over, as well."

John nodded. "That'll be good. I was worried when Jackson said that he was taking Timothy on an extended vacation in Europe that you'd go stir crazy without him, so it's nice seeing you and Kenny growing even closer than you were before."

He wasn't wrong to have been worried. When Timothy first started talking about traveling with Jackson, I'd been heartbroken. I knew it wasn't forever, but he'd been my best friend since I first moved to Takoda. Hell, in my whole life. But over the years, all of the friends we'd made at The Tap Tavern had become like family. It wasn't until Timothy left that I'd realized how much I'd carved out a spot with the boys who were all fondly referred to as Toby's Crew .

It wasn't like my roommates when I first moved here, who I only developed surface relationships with and lost touch soon after I moved in with John. I'd found my family with this unlikely bunch, just like I'd found the most wonderful Daddy in the world, and I'd be forever grateful.