Ahoy Daddy!, page 6
Vale rappelled down and once both feet touched the ground he jumped just as excitedly as he had before he went up.
“Good job, Little Monkey. Where to next?” He was in character, so he didn’t use his words, though I wasn’t sure he’d completely immersed into subspace. But at least he’d tried and let go enough to feel a touch of the freedom associated with it. It’d likely take a few play sessions before he’d achieve it, considering how new this was to him.
He wandered toward the obstacle course and stood back and watched the pups and ferret run through it. I did appreciate the fact that the costume he made wasn’t too revealing and he could easily move around in it. As much as I would have loved a sexier outfit in another setting, it probably wouldn’t have gone over well here. Thankfully the shorts he made fell below his hips in lieu of the booty shorts most pet play outfits came with and he dressed it up with a cute furry vest. The monkey face was a basic mask with the eyes and mouth cut out, but the ears brought it together, and the tail was attached to his shorts. I appreciated that rather than having him wear an internal one. I was in no way against those and looked forward to being the lucky man who got to insert Vale’s some hopeful day.
He made it through the maze and only fell once. Then he was up and over to the cat towers, nimbly maneuvering them. All the pets watched him, oohing and aahing. I thought for sure they’d clap at the end but they’d already re-emersed themselves in their pursuits. This little monkey was agile for sure and put on quite the show, and through it all his smile never faltered. He was so free and uninhibited having found his niche. I was correct in thinking pet play would be a welcome outlet for him. He hit the rock wall one more time before he planted himself on my lap in a bold, new move.
“Are you worn out, Little Monkey?” He nodded. “Would you like a bottle of water or a juice box?” My question was answered with another nod. I slid him onto the empty chair beside me and retrieved a juice box and a bottle of water from the nearby fridge. Figured whichever one he didn’t drink I would.
“Which one, juice or water?” His eyes bobbed between the two before he finally pointed at the juice box. I popped a straw in and handed it over, seconds later he’d sucked it dry. “Would you like the water now?” Still in character, he shook his head no. “Let’s sit for a few more minutes so you can unwind and relax.” I slid my arm around the back of his chair, and he laid his head on my shoulder. I enjoyed this new layer of Vale. He hadn’t been this open around me yet and I loved the personal touches, from sitting on my lap to laying his head against me.
I’d have offered to walk him back to his room but if I went anywhere near the staff quarters the cameras would likely catch me and then he’d be in trouble. Not worth the risk. Our time would come once we were both in Seattle.
When the seventh yawn rolled from him, it was time to bring our night to an end. “Sleepy Little Monkey, it’s bedtime.”
“But I’m comfy.” He snuggled in deeper, nearly on my lap again.
“Me, too, and as much as I’d like to tuck you in, we both know that’s not possible.” How I wished he wasn’t an employee of the cruise line right now. We’d return to my room and cuddle as we stared out at the moonlit night. Maybe we’d make love, maybe we wouldn’t, but either way we’d be curled up together. This was harder than I thought it would be, and feelings were getting involved. I had it in my mind that casual dates while I was a passenger would be just fine and now here I was bidding him a reluctant goodnight.
“Sweet dreams, my cheeky little monkey.” He’d taken my suggestion and created this adorable creature, and I was ever so proud of him. And happy to report the yawns meant good things, restful things. Likely a combination of all the hours he’d worked in conjunction with playtime. But I’d like to think that the playtime was most of it and would assist in his having a decent night’s sleep.
We held hands as we strolled through the various rooms on our way to the main hallway.
“I’m this way,” Vale hooked a thumb in the opposite direction from where my room was.
“Then this is where we say goodnight, my sweet boy.” I gave him a brief kiss, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention. “I look forward to tomorrow’s lunch date.”
“Me, too. Goodnight, Jack.”
“Goodnight, Monkey.”
On the way back to my room, I wandered through the promenade deck window shopping. As I came upon a toy shop, an adorable monkey stuffie caught my eye and I knew it was meant for my boy. My boy worked hard, and he deserved a special treat. I envisioned him curled up with the little fluff ball in bed at night. But of course, being the nurturing Daddy I was, that wasn’t all I walked out of the store with.
It was ridiculous how excited I was to share these gifts with Vale. I’d set one out each day at lunch for him to take back to his room. I made sure nothing was too big and unable to be hidden on his cleaning cart. I just wanted him to have some things to remind him of me once the cruise was over.
When I was back in my cabin I showered, ordered room service and settled in for a night of binge television. Being a workaholic definitely had its pros, but it came with a list of cons, too. Like the huge reality check I got when it hit me that I’d never given my past boys the attention that I was giving Vale and even in times like now when I sat down to start watching shows that I’d been meaning to watch for years. Now I actually had the time, though I’d still take on a new project here or there. Having a future with Vale slowly worked its way to the top of my list of importance.
As had catching up with my parents, too.
I was lucky in so many aspects. The fact that I was still able to do this at such a young age—semi-retire or vacation when I wanted. Things most people worked their entire lives, literally, for until the day they died while others dreamed of doing so when they reached retirement age. Then how many years did you have left after you retired? While I wasn’t technically retired, being in my thirties with the ability to start living life the way it was meant to be was indeed a blessing.
One more day at sea then we would dock at our first stop on the island of Oahu. A day on the beach should help me relax. Maybe do some light shopping. Speaking of which, I logged onto the familiar pet site I’d purchased items from before and searched their gear. While the show I thought I wanted to watch played in the background, I laughed at the realization I wasn’t one to sit still either. I shopped for a proper monkey suit for Vale. A boy with a vast amount of energy seemed to be just what I needed to pull me out of my slump.
Somewhere along the line, I lost myself while riding wave after wave of wrong boys. Something deep down inside me had awoken and I had Vale to thank for that. Though none of my relationships had ended in heartbreak, at least not by me, and I didn’t remember any real tears from the boys that I’d spent any time with, they’d still ended. Granted, they weren’t always meant to be relationships, just more playmates with benefits. I couldn’t help but wonder if I had been selfish just by living my life my way I had.
It's funny how I came on board with the thought I’d work the entire time but since the moment Vale stormed into my room, he’d been my every waking thought. The list of places to take him and things to do had grown exponentially. It’s crazy, these sudden changes in me and for all I knew Vale didn’t even like any of the items I’d mentally listed for us to do. Or maybe he wouldn’t want to spend that much time with me once he was home. But it was like my brain just couldn’t stop.
On a bright note, I found the perfect outfit for him and had it shipped to my place. It would be waiting for him when he finally got back.
What if he signed another four-month contract? Would I be able to continually be apart from him for months on end?
My father always told me for him it was love at first sight the day he spotted my mother across the crowded room that fateful night. They both attended their senior prom but with other dates. They’d never really talked outside of class but knew who the other was. Their dates had wandered off and they took a chance and danced. From that moment forward they were inseparable.
While Dad attended college at UDub, Mom worked by choice. Mom wasn’t inspired in a professional capacity. From a young age she’d dreamed of a family of her own and a house filled with children’s laughter. So as soon as Dad graduated, they were married and moved into their first place together. Sadly, Mom suffered four miscarriages before finally carrying me, her fifth pregnancy, to term. She wanted more but her doctor warned her against it and even recommended a full hysterectomy before she left the hospital due to the damages caused from carrying me and during childbirth.
It broke her heart to know that she couldn’t have any more, but she said the first time she held me and gazed into my eyes, all the pain was forgotten. At least in those moments. She called me her light, the one that brought her back from the dark and filled her days with joy. The one who made her whole again. I really had the best childhood. Yes, my father worked a lot, but again, I went with him once I was old enough to. What little bit of time he may have spent at home, he did everything in his power to ensure Mother and I always knew we were loved. We had everything we needed and honestly, I didn’t remember my parents ever having had a single argument.
To this day, they still looked at each other like they hung the moon. Being married for more than forty years was amazing. I used to tease them when I was younger about being mushy and kissing and how gross it was but then as an adult, I grew to envy it. I never met two people more in love than my parents. Someday, I hoped to have a love that strong. One that stood the test of time through the good and the bad. Knowing that the one person who held your heart was always there for you, and you for them.
I placed an order with catering for tomorrow’s lunch to arrive promptly at noon, shut the computer down and ended up falling asleep with the TV on. Hadn’t done that in forever, at home I barely turned the thing on.
Rejuvenated and ready for another day was how I woke up the next morning. Giddy to the point of having butterflies over seeing Vale again. Even though it had been less than twelve hours since we parted, it was far too long for me.
Meeting up twice a day, at least on the days that we weren’t docked made the trip all that much better. I probably wouldn’t get off at each island outside of Oahu because I’d previously been to them. But I knew Vale hadn’t. During one of our conversations, he had mentioned he’d never been out of Washington, and I hoped to whisk him away on an island vacation someday.
So many plans, so little time.
Wasn’t that the way it always went?
Chapter Seven
Vale
Was it odd that as soon as Jack opened the door I wanted to scream “Daddy” and run into his arms? Though I did still run into his open arms, I managed to keep the use of Daddy in check.
Daddy, handler, tomato, tohmato.
None of that was relevant.
“Little Monkey, it’s far too long between our visits. Though I must admit I had a ton of fun last night.”
“Me. too. But are you sure I didn’t look ridiculous? I mean, the suit was super patchy, but I did my best with what I had. At least it didn’t fall off.” Thankfully I wore underwear underneath it, or it would have itched like hell. It needed to be washed, but I was afraid as soon as water touched it, it would either shrink or disintegrate.
“No, sweet boy, you did not look ridiculous. In case you didn’t notice, all eyes were on you. Even the pets stopped playing to watch you. The crowd was enthralled with the silly monkey and on edge to see what he’d do next.”
“I hadn’t really picked a spirit animal but when I saw that costume, it all clicked into place. With the amount of energy coursing through me, a monkey swinging around, jumping from branch to branch seemed fitting. It was like a furry version of me.”
Jack laughed. “Yes, I must say that choice was spot on, and I may have bought a thing or twelve for you for once you get back home. That is if you still want to see me when you get back.”
Was it Jack’s turn to exert uncertainty? “I do, I do, I do. I’m having so much fun, and you’ve opened a whole new world to me. Did you say you belong to a club where they have pet play?”
“Yes, the one in Seattle that’s overseeing the dungeon, pet playroom, and littles’ room on this very cruise as a matter of fact. It’s called Blush.”
“Do you think we could go there together sometime?”
“I would love nothing more. Now, have a seat and let’s eat.”
“Okay, Da-err.” I nearly freaking said it. Never once had I called a single, solitary man Daddy. Hell, not even my own whom I’d never even met.
“Well, I think that near faux pas brought about our next topic of conversation. I would like to date you, exclusively, and in doing so I would be your handler, though I prefer to be called Daddy. But it’s up to you how you wish to introduce or think of me. Whether that be your boyfriend, Daddy, partner, or your handler. Whatever makes you most comfortable. Point being, I have zero problems with you calling me Daddy. I know it’s new to you, but please do whatever you’re comfortable with. If you want the same thing as me, that is.” A rambling Jack was too cute.
“I do. I’m still afraid of screwing it up. I’m not interested in dating anybody else. I absolutely love what we have, and I know it’s my fault that we only get a little bit of time together, but I look forward to every second of it. Can we play again tonight?”
“I’d love nothing more, sweet boy. How did you sleep last night?”
“It was wonderful. As soon as I showered and lay down, I fell right to sleep. Which was a nice change, although usually I cat nap right when I lay down for an hour or two. But then I wake back up until around three or four, and then I’m down for round two.” There goes my mouth again, running a million miles a minute and sharing stupid shit no one cares about. “Sorry,” I sighed, frustrated. “Lost the brain-mouth filter.” Jack smiled, completely unbothered by this. “I would have slept longer, I think, had our alarm clock not gone off. But in saying that, it was a solid five hours of sleep. I didn’t even get up to use the bathroom before the alarm clock blared.”
“That’s fantastic news I. knew pet play would be the right fit for you.” Jack genuinely cared. It showed in every question. He truly wanted to know how I was. Not once had anyone asked that of me outside of Mom and Darcy. “Plus, I know you’re working a lot of long, hard hours. Once we’re both back on dry land, well, as dry as Seattle can get, it’ll be a true test to see how pet play works for you. Do you plan to sign another contract with the cruise line when this is over?”
“Honestly, no. I’m aware Darcy pulled a lot of strings to get me this job. And while it is keeping me busy and out of trouble, which is a miracle, it’s not the job for me. I’m starting to believe there will never be a right one.” I’d gone through them like toilet paper. No matter how hard I tried I never fit anywhere.
No truer words had come from my mouth. Did that make me a loser? The fact that I didn’t know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life? I had no interest in numbers. I was good with people except I usually pissed them off when I talked too much.
“Care to explain where that handsome head of your just ventured off to?”
“I don’t want you to think I’m lazy because I’m really not and I know you’re young and you’ve got your whole life planned and you know what you’re gonna do and you’ve been doing it. But I’ve never had any plans. I’ve just kind of lived every day as best I could. I mean, my mom always worked, but she’s a schoolteacher. At times she had to work more than one job just to make ends meet and I hated that. I would love more than anything to someday make enough money to pay all our bills, so she’d never have to work again. Although knowing her, she’d probably go crazy if she wasn’t doing something at least part-time. For me I guess I haven’t found where I fit. Nothing has stuck with me for more than a few months. I’m so scatterbrained that anything that takes a lot of concentration, like being a nurse or taking care of other people, wouldn’t go over well.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Little Monkey. You’ll find your niche and it’ll come to you when you least expect it. Or maybe not at all. But don’t think less of yourself for that. It is my opinion that there’s too much pressure put on youth these days to go to college, make money, buy a house, get married, have kids. I mean, those days are kind of behind us. While I get the point of making money to survive, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s one job for you for the rest of your life. Take me for example. Yes, I’m doing well, but I also have my hands in many pots. My money is invested in multiple avenues and businesses. Not one of them produces the same thing. They’re all different startup companies. My interests lie all over the place.”
“That’s actually kinda cool, because you get to learn new stuff all the time by doing that. I mean, I suppose you research each one before you give them your money. At least I hope you do.” Wasn’t that how it worked, or did he have a separate wad of cash he just threw at a board to see where it landed? Disposable income or something like that.
Jack smiled again. “Sweet boy, I do. But I’m interested in what they do, just not in doing it myself. Does that make sense to you? I’d rather give them my money for them to keep doing it and then I’d move on to the next venture that caught my eye.”
“Given the way my brain works, that’s easier for me to absorb than just about anything else we’ve talked about. I don’t know, I guess someday it’ll come to me what I want to do. At least I hope it does or I’m gonna be living in my car when I get back home. That’s a joke, by the way. My mom would never allow that to happen, but I refuse to mooch off of her for the rest of my life.”
