Page 7 of Trashed to Treasured
I poked around his cabinets to see if he had a sippy cup or anything he could take to bed with him, but all I could find was a travel coffee mug. “What do you use for water at night?”
“What do you mean?” He looked so much better, like the worst of his hangover had passed, but I knew he wasn’t out of the woods yet. He needed a good night’s rest. It was early in the evening, but I didn’t plan to leave until he was tucked into bed.
“Well, um…” I wasn’t sure if he wanted to talk about his little side, but it was important to me that he not only had what he needed but that he knew he was safe with me. I decided to just rip the bandaid off and get straight to the point. I’d already seen his dildo and butt plugs. We couldn't get much more intimate than that. “Do you have a sippy cup or bottle you like to sleep with?”
Brody’s eyes went wide, and he looked shocked by my question, but he seemed to come to the same conclusion I had. We were basically strangers and I already knew his secret, so there was no sense in denying it at this point. “No, not really. I mean, I’ve always wanted to get a little deeper into my little side, but I haven’t, um… Well, I haven’t had a partner who was into it. That backpack was kinda like a…hope chest, of sorts. Things that I wanted to use someday, but it just hasn’t worked out.”
“Yet.” I leaned against the counter right in front of him, just a foot of space separating us. “You haven’t had a chance to use them yet.”
He just nodded, not breaking eye contact with me. “Yet.”
5
BRODY
Between the soup with stars and the toast without crust…he was already the nicest person I’d ever met. But the fact that Aaron was openly acknowledging that he knew I had little desires and was going out of his way to fulfill them was almost overwhelming.
In my mind, I knew that looking for a sippy cup wasn’t exactly a statement of love or even an offer to be my Daddy. But my heart was getting carried away with silly ideas of having a man like Aaron to take care of me. To give me attention and make decisions that were good for me.
I’d only been with selfish men who cared more about themselves or their needs than mine. Geo said he wanted to be my Daddy, but he just wanted to control me. And my money. When I couldn’t support his delusions of grandeur any longer, he was gone. Again. It wasn’t the first time he’d played me like that, but it was definitely the last.
I wouldn’t do that again.
I couldn’t.
“I know it’s still early, but I think you’ll feel better if you head to bed.” Aaron placed his hand over mine to get my attention. “Do you have some special PJs that you’d like to put on?”
As if on auto-pilot, I nodded. “I have a pair of footies that my sister bought me for our Christmas picture. I don’t wear them often, but…”
He held out his hand and waited for me to take it. “Then let’s get you into your footies and tucked into bed.”
“Okay.” I took his hand and let him guide me down the hall.
He paused outside the bathroom door. “Do you need to go potty first?”
Hearing him say that, speaking in such a soft and gentle voice, was both shocking and like a balm to my heart. “No, but I can try.”
Aaron smiled. “I think that’s a good idea. You try, and I’ll get your bed ready.”
“You will?” I didn’t know exactly what he meant by that, but I was quick to pee and brush my teeth so I could find out.
When I met him back in the bedroom, Aaron had not only turned down the sheets so they were ready for me to slide between, he’d also placed the teddy bear and pacifier on the second pillow and had the onesie laid out on the end of the bed. My cheeks burned as I thought about some of the other items in the backpack.
“Would you like to wear your onesie under your footies?” Aaron held it up, reminding me that he knew my secret and was okay with it.
“Yes, please.” I nodded but just stood there, not exactly sure what to do next. I wanted him to help me, but I wasn’t about to ask.
Aaron waited a long moment before deciding to make the next move. “May I help you?”
I nodded again, completely at his mercy. A twinge of embarrassment was right on the edge of my awareness, but I didn’t give it any space to grow. I forced myself to stay completely focused on Aaron and the care he showed.
The care I’d been waiting to feel for so long.
As if he really was a parent or a doctor, Aaron reached for my sides, his fingers hovering just beyond the hem of my shirt. He hesitated just long enough for me to nod my consent, before gently lifting the shirt up and over my head. When I didn’t make a move to remove my sweats, he slipped his thumbs beneath the waistband and slowly pushed them down, keeping his eyes on my face and never letting them stray lower.
“Step out before you trip.” His hands closed on my shoulders to keep me steady as I kicked off the puddle of cotton. “Now arms up.”
I lifted my arms, and he carefully guided my arms into the onesie before pushing it past my head. I’d never worn it before, but the soft cotton felt different from anything I’d touched before. I was probably imagining it, but it felt like wearing both a cloud and a hug as he pulled it down to my hips.
