Page 40 of Mouth to Mouth

Brad chuckled. “Well, I thought you would enjoy this. I know it’s not sharks or fishes or anything like that. I wasn’t sure what toys you already had. This just came out so I took a chance.”

“You bought me a new toy?” Luca asked as suspicion laced his words.

“I did.” Brad closed his bag, not revealing other items that he’d packed. One step at a time.

Luca caught him. “What else is in there?”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out.”

Luca pushed his bottom lip out. “Not fair.”

“Only good boys get rewards,” Brad told him. “Brats get spankings.”

Luca’s eyes widened comically before he smirked. “Promise?”

Oh, this sweet boy had no idea what was in store for him. Brad pulled Luca into his lap. “What can I do to help you slip into your regression?” he asked gently.

Luca sighed and dropped his head. “It’s hard.”

“I understand that, baby boy. But I’m going to take care of you tonight. You don’t have to worry about anything. Not our friends or being big. That’s what I’m here for.”

“Dawson.” Luca started to turn.

“Is reading a third book to Josh,” Brad replied. “He’s even making Josh give him sips from his cup.”

Luca giggled.

“And Cal is building blocks, letting Scott knock them down,” Brad shared. He’d been paying attention to his friends so Luca didn’t have to.

“And James?” Luca asked while batting his eyes.

Brad was not impressed. “Since they’re they only established couple, I think him and Jacob will be just fine. Although for some reason, James has piled, like, six blankets over Jacob.”

“He does that,” Luca said. “I haven’t figured out why.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Brad responded. “You need to let it go.” He rubbed a hand down Luca’s back. “Let me help.”

“Why?” Luca asked. “Why do you even want to?”

“Just for tonight,” Brad said. They would worry about tomorrow later. “Think of it as an apology for the first time here.”

Luca rubbed his face roughly across Brad’s shoulder. “Just for tonight.”

Brad kissed the middle of Luca’s forehead. “Good boy.”

Luca huffed. “I wanna play.”

“Good.” Reaching back down into the bag he’d packed, Brad pulled out a bright yellow sippy cup. It was the same color as the bird on Luca’s shirt.

Luca clapped cheerfully before snatching the cup and taking a long pull.

Brad laughed. He sat back down on his ass, stretching his long legs out in front of him. He settled Luca between his legs as the boy sucked more juice down.

Luca wiggled and poked at the box until Brad pulled off the top.

He was glad that he’d thought ahead and cut the tape off the box so all he had to do was lift the lid. Luca shoved the sippy cup into Brad’s chest before cheering and grabbing two handfuls of pieces.

Brad had to widen his legs as Luca decided to use Brad’s limbs as part of the game. The dinosaur track that he started went from his left outer thigh, down to his feet, back up all the way to Brad’s crotch, down once again, and back up to his other hip.