by Cara Dee
I furrowed my brow and eased back a little.
He shook his head. “I knew his thoughts on marriage early on—he’s not a fan. But after we’d been together a couple years, he proposed an eternal engagement.”
I smiled and touched his cheek. “Eternal is a nice word.”
“It is. And it suits us.” He took a step back and picked up my cap from the ground. “Text me if you manage to get Camden here. I’ll meet up with y’all after I’m done. Shouldn’t be more than a few hours.”
“Will do.” I slid on my cap again.
“One more thing,” he said. “Camden and I obviously keep our lifestyle to ourselves—it’s private to us—but we’re private people by nature, regardless. We don’t advertise much of anythin’.” He paused. “That doesn’t mean we don’t show affection toward each other in public. We do. It’s just—our business is our business, and we don’t answer to anyone outside of our closest circle of friends and family. Which means that if the three of us go out to dinner, I don’t think I have it in me to act like you’re only an acquaintance. I don’t care if it raises questions from complete strangers. So if you wanna stay on the down-low if we head into town or somethin’, you have to set those boundaries. I’m too old to give a shit, and I’ve lived through enough years of being advised to keep anything out of the norm a secret.”
One of these days, I wanted to be able to come up with the perfect response on the spot.
I closed the distance and hugged him, kissing his neck, and I hugged him harder. A man who was sick of games. Imagine—those existed.
“If only more men were like you,” I murmured.
“Then I wouldn’t be so special.”
I chuckled quietly and took a quick kiss. “Don’t get me too hooked on you, ciccio.”
“Chee—what? Do I have to google that?”
“Yup.” I grinned and moved toward the opening of the tent. “I’ll text you later about Camden.”
Seeing as we were in the middle of lunchtime, my plan was to buy a bunch of food—and Camden’s donuts—and drive to the ranch, make sure he ate something, and then convince him to come back here with me.
Chapter 10
Something Beautiful
Sometimes, it was nice not to hear myself sing.
When we reached the bridge in the song, I took a step back and just listened. For a few beautiful seconds, it was only Nicky on his acoustic guitar and the choir.
I scanned the crowd as the spotlights once again extended outside of the stage.
I knew in my gut that they were here.
Wiping some sweat off my forehead, I glanced back at Luiz and waited for my cue.
This wasn’t part of my plan.
It wasn’t part of August’s plan either. He’d told Camden to tidy up his arts and crafts supplies; instead, I found the boy on the patio back at the ranch, in the middle of creating a bracelet for himself.
He’d hauled out four boxes full of beads, crayons, glitter glue, paper crafts, and things I couldn’t identify. And he’d been so happy to see me that I couldn’t bring myself to remind him of his chores. He demanded I sit next to him on the sofa so I could watch what he did.
“It’s almost done,” he said, reaching for a small wire cutter.
I took a bite of my venison burger and peered closer. Too fucking cute. He was spelling out ragazzo with colorful plastic beads.
“Just don’t forget to eat.” I extended my burger. “Wanna try this one? It’s from some steakhouse in Montana.”
He shook his head. He hadn’t touched his Cajun sandwich either. “I’m concentrating, Sir. I gotta concentrate.”
This kid wasn’t gonna clean up after himself without reminders, was he? He was off in his own world, where cleaning didn’t exist. Probably not festivals either.
“You remember that Daddy gave you a list of chores, right?”
He huffed. “I am cleaning. I’m using the stuff, and when I’ve used it, I’m putting it back where it belongs.”
That was one special way to sort through a mess.
“There’s no way August would buy that,” I noted wryly.
“But he’s not here now,” Camden replied smugly. “He won’t be back for many, many hours.”
“Actually…I was hoping I could bring you to the festival after we’ve eaten.”
He stopped what he was doing and scrunched his nose. “But Daddy’s working there. I would worry too much about running into people who recognize me, and it could get Daddy into trouble. No, Sir. No, thank you.”
I set down my burger and pressed a hand to my stomach. I winced a little, too. I’d eaten too much already.
“I know he wants me there, by the way,” he added. “I just get too nervous, and I don’t like being nervous.”
I rubbed his back but didn’t say anything yet. This was gonna take some creativity, I reckoned. I didn’t want him to feel worried when he was out; I wanted him to enjoy himself. Especially when he was regressing. Despite it being a food festival, there were several vendors selling other shit. Toys, balloons, board games… I’d passed one vendor after picking up the chicken fries I’d eaten on the way back here, and he’d sold both Alaskan ice cream and leather boots from their Native culture. I was certain Camden could have a blast at the festival, and his costumes came to mind again. Maybe it didn’t have to be a dumb idea. Maybe it was the perfect idea for a young man who thrived when he let go of all adult notions and standards.
He was anything but adult right now. Sitting there in his pajama bottoms, making a bracelet, forgetting to eat. Forgetting the sun. His shoulders looked a little red, and I assumed he’d been sitting here since the sun had flooded the patio area.
“You need sunscreen, ragazzo,” I said. “Do you know where you keep it?”
He shrugged and pointed distractedly toward the house, then focused on adding the last bead to the bracelet. “Maybe in Daddy’s bathroom, I don’t know.”
It gave me an idea. I’d already spent an hour sweating buckets at the event, and I was hoping for some hot sex when August came back. Camden and I could use a good cleanin’. And it would give me a chance to find out where Camden’s mind was at. If he was in a sexual mind-set today or not.
It might be easier if we saved the festival for tomorrow anyway. August wouldn’t be working then.
“Finish your sandwich, Camden,” I told him. “Then you and I are taking a bath.”
He whipped his head my way, youthful excitement lighting up his eyes. “Can you wash me and scratch my scalp? I love that.”
As if I’d be able to keep my hands off him.
This was gonna frustrate me to no end.
“Come here.” I closed the lid on the toilet after wrapping a towel around my hips, and I sat down with a towel for Camden. He stepped between my legs so I could dry him off and hopefully get a fucking answer.
He kept rambling about a new action figure he wanted to buy and that he was saving his allowance from Daddy in his “super-cool” Darth Vader piggy bank. Which spoke volumes about where Camden’s mind was, and it wasn’t sex. But his body said otherwise.
“Such a beautiful boy.” It was difficult to keep the lust out of my voice as I wrapped him up in the towel and moved it over his torso and arms.
We’d washed each other thoroughly in the big tub, and he’d driven me insane with innocent exploring. Almost no kissing, mainly because his mouth hadn’t stopped running, but his touches were shameless and bold. He’d told me that he’d wash me like Daddy washed him, and before I’d known what was gonna happen, he’d slipped a hand between my ass cheeks and started fingering me in the water.
At the same time, he’d talked about his fucking arts and crafts.
“You’re still hard, Sir.” He bent down and poked at my cock creating a bulge in the towel.
“So are you.” I shifted my hand to his crotch and dragged the towel over his cock and balls.
That was the frustrating part. He wasn’t unfazed by my own wande
ring hands—far from it. His breathing had hitched when I’d finger-fucked him. He’d moaned and bucked into my hand. But I needed his mind to be on the same page.
“Let’s bring the sunscreen back to the patio,” I said. “No need to get dressed.”
I was bringing lube and oil too. If not to use with Camden, then with August when he returned in a couple hours.
“Is there any risk of running into August’s sister around here?” I asked, tucking a hand underneath my head.
I didn’t wanna move—ever. Camden and I had taken one of the two double-sized sunbeds around the pool that had their own umbrellas, and we’d brought coffee for me, soda for him, and his donuts so we could stay here a while. But we were stark naked, and August did share the ranch with his sister.
Camden giggled softly and shifted closer to rest his head on my shoulder. “She’s a hermit. She only stops by when Daddy invites her for dinner.”
I hummed and started brushing my fingers along his arm. “I take it you’re closer to Clara, then.”
“Lots. We talk almost every day.”
“I noticed.” A wry smile tugged at my lips. “It seems like you’ve discussed me with Clara more than your own Daddy.”
Camden lifted his head off my chest and blinked drowsily at me. “Did she say anything today?”
“Just that she knew I was here last night—in your room.”
“Oh. Yeah.” He grinned goofily and stretched out next to me. A yawn slipped out. “I had to talk to someone, and Daddy’s not ready. I called her super early this morning when I got up to pee.”
I got the feeling this was about a certain evil genius plan. Why else wouldn’t August be ready? Hell, why wouldn’t he be ready, regardless?
“Last I checked, your Daddy was a grown man.” I rolled onto my side so I could get my hands on Camden’s perfect little body. “I don’t think you need to sugarcoat anything where he’s concerned.”
That earned me a pat on the head as I kissed his chest. “You have much to learn about my Daddy, young grasshopper.”
I chuckled at the little shit. “Clue me in.”
The spark of mischief in his eyes mingled with a pensiveness that came from experience. It was a reminder. Camden Adair might be happiest as a little boy, but he was still an adult, one who had shared the last six years with August.
“He’s the single dad who’s hesitating to meet someone,” he murmured. “I’m his number one priority, and he’d sacrifice his own happiness for me.”
I frowned and supported myself on my elbow so I could face him better. “He’s happy with you, topolino. You’re not his actual kid.”
“I know that. But it’s still our lifestyle. When I’m little, he takes care of me like a parent—and he has more needs than just as a Daddy.” He reached out and played with my fingers that rested on his stomach. “I always knew we’d have to find a third in order for all our needs to be met, but he’s in denial. He worries that something will harm me. Or our relationship.”
I supposed that made sense.
“I saw you two this morning when I went to the bathroom,” he admitted. “I poked my head into his room. You were asleep in each other’s arms, and…it was sweet. And maybe you wouldn’t always sleep that way—I mean…” He backtracked and appeared to struggle to rephrase himself. “Okay, it’s like this. When I sleep with Daddy, I’m always in his arms. Until our skin gets sticky and I gots to move away because that’s gross.”
I chuckled quietly.
“And maybe you and Daddy will sleep like that sometimes too,” he went on. “But I thought it was symbolic to see you share a pillow with him. Like, you were on equal ground? He wasn’t holding you, you weren’t holding him—you were holding each other. Does that make sense?”
I inclined my head.
“That’s what my Daddy needs,” he said. “He needs a partner. Someone who will share his pillow, someone who will be his rock sometimes, ’cause Daddies get tired too.”
I withdrew my hand from his stomach and cupped his cheek, and I pressed a kiss to his forehead. “You’re a sweet, selfless, smart young man, Camden.”
Of course he got stuck on the single word that bothered him, and he scowled at me. “I’m a boy.”
I did my best to suppress my amusement. “A sweet, selfless, smart little boy.”
“That’s much better.” He smiled happily and cuddled up against me. “You smell like sunscreen.”
“Imagine that,” I chuckled. “You know, you’re a little too good at turning me on to the point where I almost attack, and then distracting me with something you say that just makes me wanna hug the crap outta you.”
He burst out in a giggle fit that made my heart fucking soar. That sound—I couldn’t describe what it did to me, only that breaths came easier and it was impossible not to smile at him.
“Daddy says I have that effect,” he laughed. “That’s the good thing about active safewords. It’s always playtime, but it’s also always okay to say red.”
I was curious about that. After reaching behind me, I took a sip of my coffee before I dove into the next topic. “So the safewords aren’t reserved for special times. It’s just a replacement word for no.”
He nodded. “Eggsackly. I dated someone who introduced me to BDSM before I met Daddy, and that guy wasn’t good for me. He turned my safeword into something monumental, and it made me hesitate to use it. So when Daddy and I started exploring with kink, he helped me break that habit by, um, what’s the word… Like, he made it easier for me to say it?”
“He destigmatized it for you,” I supplied.
“Yes. That. Safewords are suppost’a be easy to say,” he said. “Before, with that other guy, I felt guilty when I wanted to say red because he’d made it such a big deal.”
That was interesting to me. I’d read about safewords before, and I’d gotten the impression they were a big deal. But I liked the way Camden and August used them. The levity was still there, using a safeword still meant business, but they’d removed the bad associations that could come with it. The word didn’t have to be linked to near-panic or fear. It could just mean a very firm no in a relationship where words like no and stop otherwise meant please fucking continue.
“I like learning about your lifestyle.” I poked his belly. “And thanks for reminding this horny bastard that you’re always up for grabs.”
He snickered. “I worried you weren’t gonna take the hint.”
I grinned and dipped down to blow a raspberry against his cheek.
“Eeep!” He tried to bat me away.
Unfortunately for him, since he was clearly in a playin’ mood, I had one more question.
“But you’re not always up for grabs, are you? You have your nonsexual moments too.”
He huffed a little. “Yeah, good luck with that, Sir. I don’t understand myself all the time, and I don’t know how Daddy manages to read me so well.” He scratched his nose and squinted. “I mean, he asks sometimes. And he says I have some tells that let him know I’ve regressed deeper.”
“What kind of tells?”
A faint blush bled across his cheeks that instantly had my attention.
“When I’m really little, I like to nurse from his thing,” he admitted and buried his face against my neck. I swallowed hard. “He can be watching a game in the TV room, and I’ll come in and ask if I can nurse and get Daddy’s special milk. Then he’ll know.”
Jesus fucking Christ.
That didn’t sound nonsexual to me. At all.
“You call that nonsexual?” I had to clear my throat. Not to mention adjust my cock that was waking up.
“It is to me,” he chuckled. “It’s just comforting—a way to connect with Daddy and spend time with him. Which frustrates him, cuz I just lie there with my head in his lap and suckle. So he gets horny but can’t, you know, thrust. And sometimes, I stop wanting it before he comes.”
Yeah, I could feel the frustration seeping into me, and it hadn’t even happened t
o me.
“I’ll also ask him to cut up my food more when I’m nonsexual,” he added. “I don’t like crusts on my toast. And I walk around with my stuffies more. I love stuffies. I have thirty-six of them.”
Could he get any more adorable? Camden was waking up a side of me I hadn’t known existed. To this extent, anyway. My friends and family knew I was a caregiver, but this urge to protect and nurture was bringing things to a whole new level.
I wanted to buy Camden a stuffed animal.
“I saw some cool stuffed animals at the festival.” I threw that out there.
Camden’s blue eyes flashed with excitement before he narrowed them. “But I can’t go.”
“You can.” I figured it was a good time to bring up my idea. “What if you dressed up? You could go as Darth Vader or Deadpool and be our super-secret agent. I saw several head masks on your shelves.”
He chewed on the inside of his cheek and looked skeptical. “Darth and Deadpool aren’t agents, Sir. Don’t you know anything about comics and sci-fi?”
Well, forgive me, then.
“Unlike some little punks, I actually saw Return of the Jedi in the theater as a kid.”
He found that hilarious. “Because you’re old like Daddy. He said he saw the first movie in 1977 with his sisters and mom.”
We didn’t need to discuss us being old. Compared to Camden, we were practically ancient.
“Hey, back to the topic,” I said pointedly. “What do you say? Wouldn’t it be fun to go in costume?” Preferably one that didn’t become too hot in the sun.
“Maybe,” he conceded, chewing on his lip. “I’ll ask Daddy.”
I doubted he’d say no.
Speaking of, though…
I twisted my upper body to reach my phone on the side table. Damn, time flew when you were having fun. “Topolino, you might wanna get a move on and clean your room. I think Daddy will be back soon.”
The table over on the patio was still full of his arts and crafts too.
“That’s so boring!” Camden whined.