“So am I, sweetheart. Can I get a hug?”
He sure could, and Phex didn’t hesitate as he stepped into Devlin’s open arms. He put his head against that strong shoulder, breathing in his unique scent, a mix of the subtle cologne he always wore with his own body odor and, interestingly enough, leather.
“Hmm, this is nice,” Devlin rumbled, tightening his arms around Phex. “You feel really good in my arms.”
Phex relaxed even more, practically melting against him. Sweet relief filled him that he wasn’t on his own anymore. Daddy was here to take care of him. Everything would be better now.
“Let’s unpack a bit,” Devlin said as he finally let him go. “Where did you want me?”
He still gave Phex the choice, and more than anything else, that sealed the deal for him. He trusted him. “In my bedroom,” he said softly.
Devlin’s smile was wide. “Thank you, sweetheart. I really look forward to holding you in my arms when we fall asleep. I’m a massive snuggler, so be warned.”
“I think I would like that.”
“Good.”
Within minutes, Devlin had unpacked the two suitcases he’d brought, putting his clothes in the part of Phex’s closet he had emptied for him. He’d simply transferred some of his suits to the closet in the nearest guest room. He didn’t wear those a lot anyway, just for formal occasions.
“What do we do now, Daddy?” Phex asked when they had stowed Devlin’s suitcases in the big hallway closet where Phex kept his own.
“We’re going to sit down with something to drink and come up with a schedule. You’re gonna tell me exactly what your days look like right now, and then we’ll figure out a way to make sure you get your job done while at the same time, prioritizing self-care.”
Phex’s relief was so intense he teared up. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Mmm, there’s my sweet boy. No more worries, okay? Daddy’s got you.”
9
They’d shared a simple dinner, a quick and easy stir fry Devlin had thrown together. Cooking wasn’t his hobby, but he was proficient enough in the kitchen to make decent and healthy meals. After they were done eating, Devlin had asked one question after the other, and Phex had answered them all, showing no resistance whatsoever. Now he was exhausted to the point of numbness, and it worried Devlin. “Are you tired, sweetheart?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Then let’s get you in bed.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Brushing their teeth together felt surprisingly intimate, both of them only wearing underwear. “You don’t have to go to bed just ‘cause I am tired,” Phex said, but his protest sounded weak.
Devlin merely smiled at him. “I think we both know better, don’t we?”
Phex sighed. “Yes, Daddy.”
They crawled into bed, Devlin barely able to keep back a moan when he settled onto the mattress. It was like being hugged by clouds, so soft. He held out his arm, and after a briefhesitation, Phex cuddled close, his head on Devlin’s shoulder, his eyes already closed. “Mmm, there’s a good boy. Now, remember, we want to get back into a rhythm, so I’ve set the alarm at six, okay?”
“Mmm.”
“Go to sleep, sweetheart. Daddy is here.”
Phex let out a sigh…and fell asleep. Within minutes, his breathing became slow and deep, signaling he was truly under. If he fell asleep this easily, what had he been talking about when he’d mentioned having sleeping issues? Something Devlin had forgotten to ask about. He put it on his mental list for the next day, then took a moment to revel in the warm feeling inside him at sharing a bed with someone again. And not just anyone. His sweet boy, his Phex. His Mikey. He fell asleep with a smile on his face.
He was awake before the alarm went off—as usual. Years of waking up at six had conditioned his body, and he only set an alarm as a safety precaution. Phex was still asleep. He was also still in Devlin’s arms, a leg slid between Devlin’s and his hand splayed across Devlin’s chest while his head rested on Devlin’s shoulder. Even in his sleep, Phex wanted to be close to him, and Devlin considered that a good sign.
When the alarm went off, Phex blinked. “Whatisthat?” he mumbled sleepily.
“Time to wake up, my sweet boy.”
Phex groaned. “Don’t wanna. Sleeping was nice…comfortable. Don’t wanna get up.”