Big Boy by Skyler Snow

Carter curledup against my side, his beard tickling my skin as he nuzzled me. I ran my hand up and down his furry back. Ever since we'd arrived back at my place after dinner with his family we had stayed cuddled up in bed together. He needed reassurance and comfort right now and I was ready to give that to him.

"Do you think things will really change with my family?" Carter whispered.

"Yes," I said with a nod. "They never seemed malicious, just unaware. I think that if you guys continue to talk openly the way you did tonight everything will be okay."

"Thank you for being there for me." Carter held onto me tightly. "If you weren't I probably would have never had the balls to go through with that."

Yes, you would have. It was time for you to move on and you were able to speak up for yourself. This is all because of you, sweet boy."

He snuggled against me more closely as if he couldn't be pressed up against me tightly enough. I smiled and let him do just that before we both settled down once more. I kept rubbing his back, feeling him relax against me happily.

"Carter?" I asked after a moment of serene, comfortable silence. "What do you want to do for a living?"

"Well, I was doing data entry before," he started.

I shook my head. "No, that's not what I asked. What do you want to do for a living? If you could choose anything, something that would make you happy, what would it be?"

"Video games," Carter blurted out. "That's stupid."

"No, go on."

He groaned. "Daddy, please it's so dumb."

"Tell me."

Carter sighed. "I've always wanted to be a streamer. But I'm old, fat, and no one wants to see me playing games. Most of the people who stream these days are gorgeous. And I'm... me. I would probably never make money off of it."

I sat up and glared down at Carter. "Okay, boy I've had enough of you talking down about yourself. Tomorrow you're going to write me lines because of this."

"What!" He shot up. "That's not fair!"

"It's completely fair." I patted his thigh. "It's time for you to start respecting yourself. And if you keep talking like that you'll be writing lines for weeks."

Carter frowned. "But...it's the truth."

"Baby, it's not." I pulled him into my arms. "You are sweet, friendly, nice, honest, and funny. And that's just all of the aspects that aren't physical. If I like you then other people will as well."

"To be fair you didn't fall for my face, Daddy. You're demisexual."

I laughed. "That's true, but your personality is what made me realize how beautiful you were. After that everything about you became clear and I adore every inch of you." I dragged my fingers over his skin. "And I think if you really want to play video games for a living then you should go for it. It's better to try and fail than to give up before you even start."

"You think so?"

"I know so. If I wouldn't have kept trying, I would have never gotten healthy again or started personal training or learning about nutrition. And I would have never met you." I caressed his cheek. “And meeting you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Carter smiled softly. "Yeah well, that would have been a disaster. What would you do without me?"

"Exactly!" I chuckled before I became serious. "Carter, I want you to move in with me."

"Daddy..."

"I know it makes you nervous, but hear me out." I took a deep breath. "When you're not around I get lonely without you, baby. All I can think about is you being here with me, waking up to you, going to sleep with you. Come live with me and I'll support your dream while being happy that you're around because that's what I need."

Carter fidgeted with his fingers. "Yeah, I'm nervous, but that's not the only reason. I don't want to be a burden on you and..." He sighed. "Everything I read or hear about relationships says that you need to love yourself before you can love someone else. What if I never get there? I'm a little more confident now, but I'm still growing. What if I'm never worthy enough for your love?" He looked at me and glanced away. "When we get to that point I mean."

I blinked at Carter. That was why he didn't want to move in with me? I hated that damn saying so much. I took his hand in mine.

"Carter, that saying is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. Listen, just because you don't love yourself yet doesn't mean you can't love someone else. That's crazy. I've met a lot of people in my life and some of them hated themselves, but still did good things for other people. That thought process basically means people with depression don't deserve love. People with body dysmorphia don't deserve love. People who are hurting don’t deserve love.” I shook my head in disgust. “I don't want to hear that shit. Everyone deserves love even if they’re still learning to love themselves. Especially you."

"Are you sure?" he whispered.

"Yes, I'm sure. And another thing? You're not a burden on me and you never will be. I want to support you because I think you're going to be amazing at anything you put your mind to. Why get another boring job you hate when you can do something you love every day?"

Carter smiled at me. "It sounds like a good plan to me, but I just keep thinking about all of the 'what-ifs'. All the ways it could go wrong."

I pushed Carter back onto the bed and he gasped. As soon as he was flat I laid on top of him. Carter was so comfortable I could stay on him like this forever, but I quickly remembered that I was trying to talk to him.

"Do you want to live with me?"

He smiled. "You know I do, Daddy. Of course. I want to spend every minute with you." He laughed. "I mean we practically spend every minute with each other already. You're always at my place or I'm at yours."

"That's true." I stroked my fingers over his beard. "Then move in with me. I would love having you around every single day. And so would Salt and Pepa."

“Daddy, using the babies against me? That’s not fair!” Carter bit his bottom lip as he thought. "Alright," he said finally. "Yeah, let's move in together. But under one condition."

"What's that?"

"We share the same room. I don't want the spare," he said with a smile. "If that's okay with you, of course, Daddy."

"Is that okay with me?" I left a mess of kisses on his cheeks, forehead, throat, and chest. He laughed as he tried to squirm away from me, but I wasn't letting that happen. "Hell, the only reason I suggested that was because I wanted you to be comfortable."

"I'm comfortable when I'm with you."

"Then it's settled. You're moving in with me."

I rolled off of Carter and pulled him against my body. My heart wouldn't stop beating fast as hell, but I didn't care. I was too excited. My sweet boy was going to be around all of the time. I couldn't be happier.

Salt and Pepabarked as they ran around our heels. I almost tripped before I stabilized myself and adjusted the box in my arms.

"Hey, are you two trying to kill me?" I asked as I sat the box on the floor and pushed it up against the wall. "Carter, is that the last one?"

"Nope!" He was right behind me with a blue tub that we'd packed his clothes into. "Diego said he would grab the last few with Red though so we can take a break and get some water."

I opened the fridge and handed him a cold bottle before I took one for myself. For a moment we stood together just drinking our water as we let the coolness of it and the fan take away some of the heat. It was just like Georgia to be chilly one second and go back to being hot as hell right after.

"I wanted to show you something," I said as I put my water bottle on the counter.

Carter tugged his shirt away from his body and fanned himself. "Is it a cold shower? Because I could use one of those."

"Nope, not that," I laughed. "But why don't you go take one and then meet me outside the spare room."

He frowned. "I thought I was staying in your room?"

"You are, this is something else." I patted his shoulder. "Go cool off."

"Yes, Daddy."

While Carter went to take his shower I finished putting more boxes and containers in our room. Later, after we had a good meal, we could sit down together and get everything put away. Right now I wanted to show off my surprise and see the look on his face when he realized what I had done.

"Okay, Daddy, I'm ready," he called as he walked out of the bathroom. "What did you want to show me?"

I took his hand. "Come on." I pulled him toward the guest room. "Okay, open the door."

Carter tilted his head at me. "Okay," he said before he reached out and grabbed the knob. He turned it and once the room opened up and he realized what it was, his jaw dropped. "Daddy, you didn't."

"I did," I smiled as I stepped into the room after him. "What do you think?"

"Wow, it's...it's..." He shook his head. "It's too much!"

I chuckled. "Trust me, it wasn't that bad. I know how to get a good deal or two."

I'd decked out the room in blue and purple lights. There was a gray couch that pulled out into a bed where Carter could rest or even nap when he was tired from work. A big-screen TV was on one wall and there was a desk holding a computer and two monitors. That was probably the more expensive part of the room, but it would be worth it for Carter.

"I set up your gaming system this morning too," I pointed it out. "So if you want to stream from there you can."

"This is way too much," Carter whispered. "I mean it's cool and I love it, but holy fuck!" He ran over and touched his computer. It started up and he marveled at the rainbow backlit keyboard. "I love this!"

"You're happy then?"

"Are you kidding? This is amazing." He turned around and wrapped his arms around me. "Thank you, Daddy! Of course I’m happy. I love you so much!"

We both froze. Did he just say that he loved me? My heart started pounding out of my chest as I stepped back to look at Carter who was red as hell.

"That uh slipped out," he muttered. "I mean I love the room. It looks really good and you put a lot into it and-"

"I love you too."

Carter blinked up at me. "What?"

I smiled. "I love you too." I reached out and cradled his furry cheek. "I'm pretty sure I've been falling for you for a while now."

"You have?"

I nodded. "Yes, I have." I leaned down and pressed my lips against his. "I'm so glad you're here."

"Me too," he whispered. "Can I have another kiss, Daddy?"

"You can have a thousand kisses, sweet boy."

Our lips pressed together once more and I held onto him as tightly as I could. My life was turning out to be perfect.