Baby Bear

by Brina Brady

“Why were you drinking, Sammy?” Daddy Noah asked.

  “Because it was here. You never told me I wasn’t allowed to drink during the day.”

  “New rule, Sammy. No drinking unless you have my permission. And certainly not at this hour.”

  Sammy looked over at Abel and smiled as if they’d gotten something over their Daddies.

  “Let’s go, Sammy. We have to get ready for lunch at the club. See you guys over there.” Daddy Noah and Sammy left.

  “Hey, you. Is everything going okay with you and Sammy?”

  Abel nodded. “Did you mean what you said about getting your permission for drinking?”

  “Of course, I did.”

  “What if I drink and forget about asking you? What will you do then?”

  “I told you I was tallying up your misbehavior, and when you’re my Baby Bear, I’m going to spank you.”

  “Why do you have to wait to spank me?”

  “I don’t have to.”

  “Then don’t. I want to be your Baby Bear now.”

  “Let’s see how today goes, and we’ll talk about it. Brush your teeth. I don’t want you smelling like beer at this hour.”

  “Yes, sir.” Abel quickly left to brush his teeth. There was a chance he might become his Baby Bear. If only he’d hurry up about it. Everyone would know they were bound. Hopefully, no one would point out that he was just a guest. But he was certainly more than a guest, since they shared a cabin. So much could go wrong today. He might say the wrong thing, or maybe he’d offend someone. Now that he and Sammy were on speaking terms, he could hang out with him and learn more.

  “Are you ready for lunch?” Daddy Darius asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “You’re a good boy. I can’t wait to introduce you to my friends.”

  “I’m nervous about that.”

  “You don’t have to be nervous with me. I’ll make sure you’re comfortable. I can’t tell you how much you being here means to me. I’m so ready to make you mine in so many ways.”

  “Do it. I’m all yours in every way you want. I want to make you proud of me. And I hope I’m not too much of a problem.”

  “I like to fix problems, but you, my dear boy, are not a problem. You’ve made me happy, something I wasn’t for a while.”

  They walked along a path to the main building, where a man with long hair and a redheaded boy were standing outside talking. Of course, they’d have to be the first ones they met. That man must be Papa Chaska and his boy, Lucas. Daddy Darius didn’t hesitate and continued walking but stopped when they reached them.

  “So, is this your new boy?” Papa Chaska asked.

  “This is Abel Gardner. He’ll be my Baby Bear soon.” He turned to Abel. “This is Papa Chaska and his Baby Bear Lucas.” Daddy Darius never looked straight at Lucas.

  “Hi,” Abel said, looking over Lucas from top to bottom. Sammy had been right. He was very white, and his hair was beyond bright. Abel felt Papa Chaska’s gaze on him. He raised his head but instantly dropped it again. His staring made Abel uncomfortable. He shouldn’t be looking at him like he wanted to devour him right in front of Daddy Darius.

  “Hi, Abel,” Lucas said.

  Lucas seemed friendly enough, and he didn’t look upset to see Daddy Darius with him. So maybe there wouldn’t be any issues. Daddy Darius didn’t say one word to Lucas, nor did Lucas say anything to him. What did that mean? Abel had no idea. Did Daddy Darius still have feelings for Lucas?

  “So, I heard you work at Boka Boys,” Papa Chaska said.

  Abel looked to Daddy Darius and didn’t answer.

  “What’s it to you?” Daddy Darius asked.

  “Maybe Abel could entertain us after dinner.”

  “That won’t be happening.”

  “I guess I’ll have to go to Boka Boys to check him out, then.”

  “Stay the fuck out of Boka Boys. You have a Baby Bear. Let’s go.” Daddy Darius walked toward the door with Abel behind him.

  As he tried to catch up to Daddy Darius, someone pinched his ass. He turned around, only to see Papa Chaska grinning. Abel shot him a death stare and caught up with Daddy Darius. If he mentioned this to Daddy Darius, there could be a big commotion. It might be better not to say anything, but he sure had no plans to be near Papa Chaska. Had Lucas seen him do it, and would he then have a problem with him? Abel had no idea what to do about this situation.

  As soon as they entered the big room full of tables and a bar, a handsome blond man and his boy raced up to them.

  The man hugged Daddy Darius. “So glad to see you’re here. Is this your Abel?”

  “Yes.” Daddy Darius turned to him. “Abel, this is Bryce and his Baby Bear Jacob. Bryce and I go way back to our time in the Marines. He’s the other co-owner along with Noah and myself.”

  “I need to have a word with you. Abel and Jacob could hang out if that’s okay with you.”

  “Abel, are you okay with that?” Daddy Darius asked and kissed the top of his head.

  “Sure. We’ll be fine,” Abel said and hoped they would be okay without Daddy Darius.

  They left the two of them standing together.

  “Daddy Bryce told me all about you. He said Daddy Darius is really happy with you.”

  “That was nice of him to say. I’m happy with him too.”

  “Want to check out the lake?” Jacob asked.

  “I guess we could.” Abel worried Papa Chaska would still be out front.

  “Hey, if you don’t feel comfortable leaving, it’s okay. We can find a booth and talk.”

  “Do you know Papa Chaska very well?”

  “Yes. Why?” Jacob pushed his dark hair out of his eyes.

  “Did he ever flirt with other Baby Bears?”

  “Only with Lucas, but I suppose you know that story.”

  “Yes. Daddy Darius told me.”

  Sammy ran up to them. “Hey, you made it, Abel.”

  Abel hugged Sammy and felt safer with him around.

  “I just asked Abel if he wants to check out the lake,” Jacob said.

  “Yes, let’s go.” Sammy grinned as if they were going to be doing something more than checking out the lake.

  “Sure.” Abel took his phone out and sent Daddy Darius a message.

  Abel: Is it okay if I take a walk with Sammy and Jacob?

  Daddy Darius: Sure. I want you to make friends. Text me if you need anything. I miss my soon-to-be Baby Bear.

  Abel: I can’t wait until you’re my Papa Bear.

  Daddy Darius: Sooner than you think.

  “Hey, Abel, did you tell Daddy Darius where we were going?” Jacob asked.

  “Nope. Just asked if I could go walking with you guys. He said okay,” Abel said.

  “Good,” Sammy said.

  Abel followed them out of the building. Papa Chaska and Lucas were talking to another couple. Lucas looked over at the three boys as if he wished they’d invite him to come along. He didn’t look very happy, and Abel felt sorry for him. “We’re going for a walk. You want to come?” he asked.

  Lucas looked at Papa Chaska.

  “Go ahead, boy. See you later.”

  Lucas rushed over to them and walked beside Jacob and Abel with Sammy behind them.

  “Is everything okay, Lucas?” Jacob asked.

  “Papa Chaska is flirting with other guys in front of me. I don’t know what to do about it,” Lucas said.

  “Leave him, then,” Abel said. “Once they cheat or look like they want to cheat, it’ll never end.”

  “I know. It’s my own fault.”

  “Yes, it is,” Sammy said. “You’re getting what you deserve. Karma is a bitch.”

  “I know. I should’ve never trusted Papa Chaska.”

  “Again, you brought this on yourself,” Sammy said.

  “He might have, but he doesn’t have to stay if shit is going down. I can have Papa Bryce talk to Papa Chaska.”

  “Thanks,” Lucas said.

  “I feel sorry for you, but you’re not
going back to Daddy Darius. He’s mine. So you better find another place to stay,” Abel said.

  “I don’t want to leave Papa Chaska. I just want him to stop flirting.”

  “Papa Bryce will talk to him,” Jacob said.

  Sammy hung back with Abel and whispered, “I’m glad you’re here. And I’m glad we made up.”

  “Me too. I really need you as a friend.” Abel spoke low enough the two others didn’t hear.

  They reached the lake and sat down on a long log.

  “I got some pot.” Jacob lit a joint and passed it around.

  When it got to Abel, he looked at it but wasn’t sure he should smoke it.

  “Hey, either smoke it or pass it on,” Jacob said.

  “I’ve never smoked anything before.” Abel replayed his father’s words about how he’d never make it into the Kingdom if he defiled his body. For the most part, Abel had still carried that particular belief, but he was curious to see what it felt like. He swore he’d dismissed all his father’s beliefs, but a few had stuck with him.

  “Try it,” Jacob said.

  As Abel lifted the joint to his lips, heavy footsteps behind them stopped him, and he turned around to see who it was. Daddy Darius and Papa Chaska stood there, glaring at Abel.

  “Where did you get that joint, Abel?” Daddy Darius asked. He crossed his arms, looking disgusted. At this rate, Abel would never become his Baby Bear.

  Abel had no idea what to say, so he remained quiet and stared at the joint burning away. He wasn’t going to get Jacob into trouble, so he might as well claim he’d brought the joint, but right now, he prayed Jacob would say something first.

  “It looks like your Boka Boy is a bad influence on our Baby Bears,” Papa Chaska said.

  Then Daddy Bryce showed up with Daddy Noah as well.

  “What’s going on here?” Daddy Noah asked as he gazed at Abel.

  “We’re trying to find out why Darius’s Boka Boy is passing a joint to our Baby Bears,” Papa Chaska said.

  “You don’t know that,” Daddy Darius said. “Abel, where did you get that joint? Did you buy it?”

  “I’ve had it for a while. I was going to smoke it alone, and the others didn’t want any,” Abel said.

  “No, you didn’t, Abel,” Sammy said. “It’s my joint. I bought it on the street from some guy.”

  “Sammy, you don’t need to take the blame for me,” Abel told him.

  “Actually, I brought it,” Lucas said. “They don’t want me to get into trouble.”

  “No, you didn’t,” Jacob said. “I’m the one who brought it here. Abel didn’t want it, but I told him he ought to try it.”

  “And who are we to believe here?” Daddy Bryce asked.

  “Lucas, let’s go. Don’t let me see you hanging around the Boka Boy again,” Papa Chaska said.

  “Chaska, if you’re going to act as if Lucas is so damn innocent, you’d better take a longer look at your boy’s red eyes,” Daddy Darius said. “Abel’s eyes are clear.”

  Papa Chaska picked up Lucas, threw him over his shoulder, and carried him along the path.

  “We need the truth,” Daddy Darius said as he took the joint from Abel. He sniffed it, then threw it down and stomped it out. “We don’t allow drugs on the Bearded Papa Bears’ property. I know Noah and Bryce don’t allow their Baby Bears to take drugs. None of us approve of smoking either.”

  “I said it was my joint,” Abel said.

  “I don’t believe Abel brought the joint,” Daddy Noah said, surprising Abel.

  “I’m sure it was Jacob. He had some at the house on Wednesday,” Daddy Bryce said. “It looks like your ass needs some immediate attention. Get up and follow me.”

  Jacob left with Daddy Bryce. Daddy Noah and Daddy Darius looked at their boys.

  “Let’s go back to the cabin and talk,” Daddy Darius said.

  “And you’re going to get another whipping right here, Sammy,” Daddy Noah said.

  Daddy Darius took Abel’s hand, and together they walked back to the cabin.

  “I’m sorry I caused so much trouble,” Abel said.

  “Abel, it looked like you decided you were going to try the joint. Is that true?”

  “If you hadn’t shown up with Papa Chaska, I would have.”

  “You and I are going to have a serious talk.” Daddy Darius unlocked the door and pulled Abel inside.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Darius

  Darius sat at the kitchen table and pointed to the other chair for Abel. He knew Abel had had a very sheltered upbringing, and he wanted Abel to try new things to break away from his old fears, but doing drugs wasn’t one of them. The poor boy needed friends, and he’d do just about anything to have one. That, in itself, saddened him.

  “Lunch will be ready in an hour, so we have time to discuss a few things.”

  “Do you want me to leave now? I’d understand if you don’t want me as your new Baby Bear.”

  Abel looked so forlorn Darius felt sorry for him. And to make it worse, he might be the cause of the sadness. Darius clenched his jaw. He’d had no right to ask Benson to fire him. What the hell had he been thinking? Surely, he could’ve come up with a better idea than that. For that stupid move, he was truly sorry. Now, the boy thought that because he’d done something wrong, he wasn’t good enough for Darius. Everything was so black and white to him without any grays in his life.

  Darius reached across the table and took Abel’s hands in his. “I don’t want you ever to leave me, Abel. I know you didn’t smoke any pot. Why did you say you brought the pot when you didn’t?”

  “I didn’t want Jacob to get into trouble, and I was the one caught with the joint in my hand.”

  “Thank you for being honest with me. If you had smoked the joint, I would’ve been disappointed in your choice, but I do understand you wanted to fit in. I also understand you’ve never smoked before, and you wanted to check it out. I never discussed my rules. They are guidelines for the behavior you should strive to obtain. It doesn’t mean that when you break a rule, I’ll ask you to leave.”

  “I won’t leave if you still want me.”

  “You’re safe with me, and you don’t have to worry about anything.”

  “Thank you, but I don’t know your rules.”

  “Let’s fix that right now.”

  Abel nodded.

  “If you break these rules, you can expect me to discipline you, not throw you out. Do you give me permission to punish you when you break my rules?”

  Abel grinned with excitement. The boy knew where this talk would take them. It put Darius at ease, knowing the boy was ready for him, ready for them to unite as a real couple.

  “Yes, I want you to punish me when I break your rules. I want you to be proud of me.”

  “I have six house rules. Please pay attention to each one. They’re not in any specific order of importance. They all are equally important.

  Rule 1. Be honest at all times.

  Rule 2. Be respectful in word, thought, and deed.

  Rule 3. Be safe in your activities.

  Rule 4. No illegal substances, behavior, or swearing.

  Rule 5. Be faithful to Daddy Darius.

  Rule 6. Daddy Darius has the final say.”

  Darius watched Abel’s expression as he told him the rules. Abel didn’t seem shocked or disturbed by them. “Can you follow these rules, Abel?”

  “Yes, Daddy Darius. I’ll do my best to be perfect for you.”

  “I don’t expect perfection from you but an honest attempt to follow them to the best of your ability. I want you to share your feelings when you’re having a hard time with my rules or anything else going on with you involving me or anyone else. I don’t want to be kept in the dark about anything.”

  “I promise you I’ll be open and honest with you,” Abel said.

  “Abel, would you be my Baby Bear?”

  “Yes, Daddy Darius.” Abel teared up.

  “Come here and sit on my lap.”
>
  Abel was looking at him in a way that went straight to his dick. He wanted to rip his jeans off and bend him over the kitchen table, but that was exactly what Abel wanted. Darius wrapped him in his arms and kissed him.

  “I want to have your ceremony on Sunday. How do you feel about that?”

  “You mean tomorrow?”

  “Yes, tomorrow. I want everyone to know you’re mine.”

  “I want you to be my Papa Bear tomorrow. You really mean it?”

  “Of course I mean it. Your spankings are building up.” Darius smiled at him.

  “You can start spanking me now if you want.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “I just want you to treat me like your Baby Bear.”

  “I know exactly what you want, boy.”

  “Why were you with Papa Chaska?” Abel asked.

  “We were discussing you and your ceremony.”

  “Why does Papa Chaska hate me?”

  “I don’t think he hates you. It’s probably the opposite. But I had a talk with him, and he knows not to go near you.”

  “Did he tell you he pinched my ass today?”

  “That asshole did what?”

  “After we met them in front of the lodge, he got behind me right in front of Lucas and pinched me. Lucas was upset he did it, so Jacob said Daddy Bryce would talk to him.”

  “I’m going to kill him. I really am. I’ve had it with that bastard.”

  “Daddy Darius, you’re scaring me. I didn’t want to tell you because I knew you’d get upset. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “I’m not going to say anything to him this weekend, because this weekend is ours, and it’s when you’ll become mine. I’ll deal with him on Monday. You don’t need to worry about him. I wish you’d mentioned this when it happened.”

  “I know. I just didn’t want to start any problems for you.”

  “When you become my Baby Bear, no one, and I mean no one, touches you.”

  “Can I tell Sammy that you’re going to be my Papa Bear?”

  “You sure can, but he might know already. During the meeting, I booked Sunday, so all the Papa Bears know, and of course, their Baby Bears will know about it too.”

  “I’m really so excited but scared too.”

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “You might change your mind.”