by L. Michael
Sam nodded like encouraging himself, and I smiled. My brave boy.
“He even asked me to lure you out so he can say hello.”
“With what?”
“He brought a new friend for you.” His legs twitched under my hands. “Don't even think about running to the kitchen.”
“I wasn't.” It could have been the truth, and I might have believed him until he blushed.
“Ok, Peanut, let's go and say hi to Uncle Des and your new friend.” Sam nodded and leaned forward, craving his special connection again. My lips lightly touched his and then his forehead before I reached out for his hand. “You are very brave, and I’m very proud of you, Sweet Boy.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“Oh, you make sure to greet Des first, and then you can freak out about your new friend.”
“Well, lookie here. I think I see my favorite Little Boy.” Des exclaimed when we came into the kitchen. He knelt on the floor and held his arms open. Maybe I should pay Des’s ridiculous five-hundred dollar fee because, beside me, Sam giggled and didn't even glance at the huge dolphin. Instead, he let go of my hand and rushed over to Des.
“Hi, Uncle Des.”
“Hi there, sweet boy.” Des scooped Sam up and hugged Sam tight. Then, the crazy shit twirled Sam in a circle getting Sam to laugh so loud that it echoed. Des stopped and smelled the air, and then he stuck his nose in Sam’s hair. “Mh, you even smell sweet. Do you use chocolate shampoo? Where can I get some of that? Yum. Wow, you smell good enough to eat.”
“No, Uncle Des, that’s not shampoo. That's just chocolate sauce. Daddy made me pancakes for lunch.”
“Pancakes with chocolate sauce for lunch, huh? You are a lucky Little Boy.”
“No.” Sam’s voice got quiet. “I just had an icky morning.”
“So, I heard.” Des looked at me over Sam’s head, and I saw the same worry I felt. We still hadn’t talked about what had happened. “That's why I brought you a new friend because every Little who is hurting needs a friend, right?”
“Where is it?” Sam looked around the kitchen, and I could tell the exact moment he spotted the dolphin because his eyes grew wide. He clapped his hands over his mouth. “It's…that's for me?”
“Yep.” Des stood up and winked at me. Then he huffed when Sam threw his arms around him.
“Thank you, Uncle Des. Thank you. Thank you.”
“I guess that means you like him.” Des laughed when Sam’s head bobbed up and down against his chest. “Go on. Cuddle him. Oh, and he needs a name.”
Sam looked at me, and when I nodded, he raced over to the table and carefully lifted the dolphin. I had to cover a laugh with a cough because that damn dolphin was nearly as tall as Sam was, and it looked ridiculous when he hugged it. “He's going to be my favorite stuffie!”
“I guess that means I'm sleeping on the couch from now on.”
“What? Why? No!” Sam looked horrified by that thought, while Des chuckled softly behind him.
“There is no chance that we fit into bed together with this thing.”
“No, Daddy. We can make it work. I can be your little octopus again, and Skip can sleep next to us.”
Des turned around, but his shoulders were shaking. Jerk. I hated him right now.
“I’ll tell you what, Peanut. Bob can sleep with us, but Skip is going to sleep in the playroom. And if he's lonely, I'm sure Uncle Des will buy him a companion.” It was a weak attempt to get back at Des because Des turned around with a bright smile, and he was way too gleeful. Damn, that backfired.
“Oh, hey, that’s a great idea. Hey, we could go to the store together, Sam. Then you can choose a friend for Skip.”
“Yes!” Sam’s face brightened up like the sun. “Daddy, can I go with Uncle Des? Please? Please, Daddy?”
“Of course, you can.” As if I would ever deny him anything when he looked at me like that. And Des knew it as well because he grinned behind Sam and made a heart with his hands. I swear one of these days I am going to kill Des. But if it keeps Sam happy, I guess I can grin and bear it. I can’t wait for Des to find his Little Boy. Oh, sweet revenge.
Chapter 12
Samuel
I was back in that alley, Rosek shoved me against the wall. But this time, I was naked, and I felt the bricks scratch my back. My groceries were littered all over the ground.
“Let´s make a video. I'd love to see it.” Suddenly Curtis was there too.
“No. Please…”
“Hey, you got the beer bottle?”
No. No, they wouldn´t do that. I shivered in the cold and screamed when Rosek shoved me down. He was all over me, grabbing me all the while telling me what they were going to do to me.
“No. No. Please-Please, don't…” I begged and screamed, but they wouldn´t stop.
“N-No.” Someone held me down, and I lashed out. “N-No. Let go…”
“Shhh. Sam, it's me. It's Daddy.”
“D-Don´t… not the bee-beer bottle.”
“Goddammit.” All at once, the weight holding me down disappeared, and I tried to crawl away. But I didn’t get very far because my feet got tangled in the sheets. Wait, there were no sheets in the alley. My momentum threw me off balance, and I fell out of bed. The lights went on as I hit the floor. Blinking, I stared up at the ceiling. “Ouch.”
“Sam? Sam, are you okay?” Jakob’s face appeared above me.
“Y-yes.” It had only been a dream. An evil, nasty dream that was not real. Jakob is here together in his bedroom, and I was safe.
“Are you with me, Peanut?”
“Y-Yes.” My voice broke, and I blinked to try and stop the tears from falling. “I… I had a bad dream.”
“I know. You were screaming and thrashing. Come on, let´s get you off the floor.” Jakob untangled my feet, helped me up then carefully looked me over. “Did you hurt yourself? Did you hit your head?”
“No.” Quickly did an internal check, but I was sure that I hadn't hit my head. Ouch. “I bumped my elbow. Why do they call it your funny bone? It’s not very funny when you hit it.”
“I know, sweetie. Sit down and let me look at it.”Jakob fussed over me. He turned my arm, gently poked it, and examined the skin. “There's a small rug burn. I´ll get you a band-aid and some juice, okay?”
Instead of answering, I just nodded and stared at the floor. Rationally I should not be at all surprised that I had a nightmare after what had happened. Still, it had caught me off guard. I wrapped my arms around myself and bit my lip. It wasn´t the first time that I dreamt of the assault back in Boston, but there was a new twist. My brain had mixed up recent events and the Boston attack. I hadn´t heard Jakob coming back into the room, and I flinched when he touched my shoulder.
“I´m sorry, Baby. Here drink this, while I fix up your elbow.”
Jakob handed me my favorite sippy cup filled with apple juice, so I took a long drink while I watched him. He had a cute turtle band-aid, but he also had a small bottle.
“This is probably going to sting a bit, Baby. But I want to make sure that it doesn't get infected.” Even though he warned me, I flinched away from the stinging pain. It was sweet how he blew on my owie.
“Shhh, it's okay, Baby. All done, and now Daddy will put a cute band-aid over it. See? It has turtles on it.”
“My Mom always used those cute band-aids. I-I sometimes pretended to be hurt so that I could get one. She always knew I wasn’t hurt, but she never said anything. She would just put one on me and kiss the owie to make it better.”
“She sounds like a great Mom.”
“She was the best.” We laid there quietly until I thought about something. “Speaking of parents and your Dad…we´re going to see him tomorrow.”
“Yes, and he will like you, Baby. Don´t worry about that.”
“But what if…”
“We´re not going down that road,” Jakob said sternly. “It's just dinner, and I promise you, he'll like you.”
“Okay.” I wasn't convinced, though. There w
ere too many scenarios of how the evening could go wrong. That was probably another reason for my nightmare. When we went to bed last night, I was already tense and nervous.
“Are you ready to go back to sleep? Because I want to try something.”
“Now?” It was in the middle of the night, and we should both be asleep, but I was sure that I couldn’t get any more sleep.
“Yes, now. I´m just going to turn off the light.” Jakob sensed my fear. “Don´t worry, Baby. The light is on in the hallway. No worries, we'll get you a night light.”
“With fishes?”
“Whatever you want.” Jakob wriggled around, switched off the light, then he laid back down and pulled until I was lying on top of him again. I instantly reached for his hand to suck on his thumb, but he denied it to me. “As I said, I want to try something. Just relax against me.”
It took me a few seconds to realize that my head was resting on his chest, and if I just turned my head a little bit, I could easily reach his nipple.
“Daddy?”
“If it doesn’t work, we don't have to do it anymore. But I would like you to try it.” Jakob wrapped his arms and legs around me and shifted until his nipple was close to my lips. “Suckle and just relax, Peanut. I have you. Can you feel it? I'm surrounding my little octopus. You're safe with me.”
Tentatively I reached out with my tongue and found his nipple. It was awkward at first. But slowly it became more comforting. Hmmm. I decided that I liked this. So much better than sucking on Daddy’s thumb. I was on top of him, but his arms and legs held me close to him, while I gently started to suckle in earnest. Jakob was stroking my hair, whispering soothing words to me, and I faded to sleep.
◆◆◆
The next afternoon we were driving to Staten Island to see Jakob’s Dad. I was nervous, but I had to admit that I wasn't tired. Jakob’s experiment had worked out well, and I slept better than I had in months. There was something very comforting about being wrapped up by Daddy and to be able to suckle on him.
Daddy served me breakfast in bed that had scrambled eggs with mushrooms and bacon, a bum, and a hairy ball. I played with my zoo for a bit before my shower and a light lunch. Then I watched cartoons until it was time to leave. So far, Daddy’s distraction tactics had worked, but when we got to Staten Island, I started to fidget.
“I feel like I'm driving you to your execution. You know it’s going to be ok?”
“Your Dad was a cop. He knows how to shoot people and how to make the body disappear.” I replied, and Jakob laughed.
“That´s what he told the poor guy who dared to take Meredith to prom.”
“If this is supposed to calm me down, it's not working.”
“I can assure you that he is alive and well.” Jakob chuckled. “Even though Meredith never forgave my Dad for ruining her prom night. That poor guy was so scared that he kept his distance all night. No dance or kiss for her.”
That was funny. Then a thought struck me. “How did your Dad react when you brought someone home for the first time?” To my surprise, Jakob groaned. Oh, not good. I got worried. “What? What happened?”
“Well, there were no threats involved. But it was embarrassing. I was nineteen and dating guy. Simon. I had no idea I was a Daddy, but even then, I was attracted to the quiet, shy ones. My Dad never threatened him, but he peppered him with all sorts of questions. Like if he´d ever been to a Pride parade if he was out and proud, and things like that. Simon was only seventeen, and he had just come out. He was so terrified that he broke up with me.”
“I'm sorry?”
“It's okay, Baby.” Jakob laughed and gently nudged my leg. “It wouldn’t have worked out anyway. Simon moved away to go to college and never came back.”
“And you found out that you're a Daddy and that you want a Baby Boy.”
“Yes, but not until I was twenty-three and met Desmond.” Jakob turned his blinker on and glanced at me. “Okay, but that´s a story for another time. We´re here.”
“What? Already?” Shocked, I looked out of the window. We´d stopped in front of a two-story house with a beautiful garden. Colorful flowers complimented the white house. It looked cozy and welcoming.
“Yeah, look at Daddy. Master of distraction.”
“Sneaky Daddy.”
“Well, it worked.” Jakob turned towards me and reached over. I leaned my cheek into his hand and absorbed the feeling. “Just relax and remember that my Dad is a huge teddy bear. He'll like you.”
Well, Daddy was right. Andrew Lannister was a bear of a man. I felt slightly intimidated when we walked up to where he was standing on the porch and stepped closer to Jakob. Even if I felt safe with him, I still jumped when Andrew Lannister’s low, booming voice called out to us.
“There you are. I wondered if you were making a run for the border. I was about to call and have an APB put out for you.”
“Why would we run to the border?” I heard myself ask before I could stop myself. Jakob laughed, but Andrew Lannister looked right at me.
“Well, to elope, of course. What else would you do in Canada?”
That question had me at a loss. What would you do in Canada? Why would I elope with Jakob? Did his dad think we were getting married already? Oh, that’s right. Andrew asked me a question. God, he probably thought I was rude. “Uhm… Whale watching?”
“It was a rhetorical question, Baby,” Jakob whispered in my ear, and I blushed. Great way to make a good impression on his Dad, but Andrew Lannister didn’t seem to mind. He just chuckled and showed us into his house.
“I hope you’re hungry. I made my famous meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy. Does that sound good?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Did you hear that? He called me, Sir.” Andrew Lannister looked at Jakob with a huge grin. The resemblance between Father and Son was obvious but also a bit disturbing. “He's a sweet boy.”
“Dad, he's right here with us. He can hear you.” Jakob shook his head and laid his hand in the small of my back. The pressure of his touch helped me feel better, and I didn’t feel like I was going to die of embarrassment.
“What? Am I not supposed to compliment him?”
“You're not supposed to embarrass him.”
“Wait till dinner, Jake. I’ll break out the embarrassing stories from your childhood.”
A small table stood in one corner between the kitchen and the dining room distracted me from the conversation. There was a chessboard on top of it. I lost myself in the game that was in progress. A notepad and a pen sat to the side of the board. I studied the moves Jakob’s Dad had written down. My fingers twitched to complete the game when a hand landed on my shoulder, and I jumped, blushing furiously.
“Are you okay, Baby?”
“Yes. I just finished the game in my head.”
“What did you say?” Andrew Lannister came over with a bowl of salad in his hands and a frown on his forehead. “You finished the game in your mind?”
“Yes, Sir. From your notes, I see that you´re white and based on your former moves and the moves from black…” I shrugged. “You will be in checkmate in less than eight moves.”
“Eight moves, huh?” Andrew stared at the board, and then he shoved the salad bowl into Jakob’s hands. “Here. Go, finish setting up the table. I need to talk to your boyfriend.”
“I… I´m sorry. I didn't mean to ruin your game, Sir.”
“What? Nonsense.” I jumped as Andrew Lannister took his son’s place beside me and clapped me on the shoulder. “Now, tell me how I can avoid that.”
“You can't. Even if you save your last rook with your next move, you´ll lose your bishop with the following. That would put you in zugzwang, and you would have to sacrifice your queen. You will just be checkmated earlier.” I explained, worrying my lip with my teeth. I glanced between the board and Andrew, who stared intently at his game.
“I don't see it.”
“Following your opponent’s moves, he´' going to move his knight.”
Andrew nodded and listened as I explained the next moves to him, and I was finally able to relax a little. He wasn’t mean to me earlier. Andrew was trying to comfort me with his jokes. I wondered if he knew that Jakob is a Daddy.
“Do I need to call an ambulance?” Jakob joked when he walked from the kitchen with two bowls full of mashed potatoes and green beans. “Dad, you look like you’re having a stroke.”
“No, I'm thinking.”
“Okay, I’ll repeat myself. Do I need to call an ambulance?”
“Set the table, Jake. We're busy here, we…oh. Oh!”
“Now, are you having a stroke?” Jakob asked with a chuckle and winked at me.
“This boy is not only sweet and polite, but he is also a genius.”
“Yeah, I know that, Dad. He's my boyfriend, after all.” Again, I blushed but smiled at Jakob. My boyfriend. I loved the way that sounded, but I also liked that he said it to his Dad. Andrew Lannister laughed and clapped me on the shoulder again, but it was so hard I almost fell over.
“And you picked a good one.” Andrew Lannister clapped his hands together and ushered me to the dining room. It was a cozy table with three place settings, and Andrew directed me to one of the chairs.
“You will have to come back sometime for a game of chess.”
“I… I'd like that, Sir.”
“Oh, please stop calling me, Sir. Call me, Andrew. Please, sit down. How do you like New York so far? You're from Boston, right?”
“Not originally, no.”
“Oh? Where are you from?”
“I grew up in a small town, um, Eugene, Oregon. Then, I went to college in California.” I explained, waiting for Jakob to return. Andrew was a nice kind man, but I still felt uncomfortable being alone with him. Especially when he was kind of interrogating me. What if said something wrong?
“Oh, yes. You went to Berkley, right?”
“I… yes?” How did he know? I glanced at the door to the kitchen. Did Jakob say something?
“Jakob has not told me anything about you. I wasn´t even aware that he was dating anyone until I got a call when Jakob got suspended. I heard about you from Chief Henley after you got transferred and when I called Jakob, and he told me your name, I just put two and two together.”