“Open up for Daddy.”
Henry opened his lips like a little bird, chewed carefully, and then swallowed. He seemed to be thinking hard, and then he signed, “I never thought I would ever have anything like this.”
Because I had my hands full as I held and fed him, I waited till he looked at my lips again before I replied, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The deep connection between a Daddy and a Little, even with something as simple as me feeding you.”
“I always wanted this,” he signed carefully.
“It’s up to you. We can have a nice evening and file it as a one-time experience, or you can give me a chance.” My heart prayed that he wanted more. I smiled at him and blew on another forkful of lasagna. Henry began to relax into me, and he opened his mouth even before I said something. “Good Boy,” I praised him.
Of course, there had been other Littles in my life. There were minor playdates and fleeting boyfriends. But no one with any substance or any meaning. No one had ever pushed my buttons the way Henry did. No one made me want to wrap them up and protect them. After these brief moments together, I’d already claimed him. Was it too fast? Maybe? It might appear that way to some people. But I could care less what they thought. Henry was as needy and desperate for a Daddy as I was for a Little. He was downright adorable, and I wanted him to be mine. My mission would be to show him I could be the right Daddy for him. He wanted someone to spoil him rotten, to love him and dote on him. That could be me. If Henry gave us a chance, I was sure that we would be perfect together.
After four forks of lasagna, I picked up some salad, and Henry wrinkled his nose. Yep. Absolutely adorable. “Uh-uh. You need something healthy, too.”
“What about you? Your dinner is getting cold,” he signed, clearly trying to distract me.
“Nice try, Little Boy. You eat your salad, and I will eat as well.”
Laughing, I winked at him. We spent our entire dinner like this. The more time went by, the more Henry relaxed. When we’d finished dinner, he snuggled into me and made grabby hands at his sippy cup. I handed it to him, gently rocking him while he drank. Henry sat up after he finished his drink and placed it on the table, and then he turned to me.
“I don’t know anything about you,” he signed.
“Do you want me to sign? Or are you good like this?”
“I’m perfect, Daddy.”
“Yes, you are, sweetie,” I said, knowing that it wasn’t what he meant. But I got the response I wanted. Henry blushed, and he giggled. It was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything.” He exaggerated the sign.
“Ok, well, that narrows it down. I’m forty-one and a lawyer. At first, I wanted to be a prosecutor, but then I opened a victim’s rights law office with two friends. I have been a Daddy for years. My sister is my only sibling, and my mom lives with her. My dad left us shortly after my sister was born.”
“Wow, you are a lawyer, that’s cool. I’m just a writer.”
“You’re a journalist?”
Henry shook his head and blushed even further and signed, “No. I’m an author. I write books.”
“Impressive. Any chance that I’ve read one of your books?”
Henry hesitated, but then he signed, and again he watched my face closely while he did so. “Have you ever read any books by Lucian Holston or Little Boy Blue?” He fingerspelled the names.
Because of my immense love of books, it only took me a moment to place them.
“Oh, yeah. Lucian Holston is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read Bloody Tears and Silent Screams. I think there’s another one coming out soon. I have read a few books by Little Boy Blue as well.” Henry just looked at me, and the penny finally dropped. “Wait. You’re Lucian Holston and Little Boy Blue?”
Henry nodded with a shy smile, and this time it was me who just stared at him for a second. Henry was such an angelic, sweet Boy, and the Lucian Holston books were, there was no other way to describe them, they were brutal. Brutal but brilliant. It was hard processing that information. Based on his personality, it made sense to me that he was Little Boy Blue.
“Now, I’m pretty sure I’m not good enough for you.”
Again, Henry giggled and signed, “They are just books.”
“Yes, they are books, but they’re brilliant. Bloody Tears is even going to be turned into a TV Series, right? And those sweet stories by Little Boy Blue.”
“Yes. I sold the rights three years ago,” Henry signed. Then he hesitated before he added, “Nobody knows that I am Lucian Holston or Little Boy Blue.”
“I promise I won’t tell anyone.” There was a story there, I was sure, but I didn’t push. Instead, I grinned at him. “How about dessert, and then we go and meet—”
“Can I have ice cream with sprinkles?” Henry signed before I finished my sentence and gave me the most adoring look.
Oh dear, that was going to be a hard look to say no to. Henry might get anything he wanted if he kept looking at me like that. Instead of pointing out that he’d interrupted me, I nodded but held up my finger when I saw him getting ready to sign another response.
“Ice cream with sprinkles. But after that, you’re going to be a brave Boy and meet the others, ok?”
Again, Henry hesitated and glanced over to the table on the other side of the bar. Jakob, Sam, Darrell, and Josh were sitting around the table, eating and talking. It was quiet for a Wednesday night. Those four were the only ones attending to the Daddies and Littles evening. But I had a feeling
