Protection is Best Served With Benefits: MM DDlb Romance

Chapter Seven

Not edited or proofread.

Max

I'd never had something like this. Never had someone who cared enough about me to want to do this for me. But Griffin, in all his Papa-glory, had taken the day off and spent hours working on this room for me. I had no idea when he'd had the chance to order all this stuff, but I was in heaven.

There were so many stuffies. So many toys. The floor was covered in soft, fuzzy rugs. He even got me a bed so I could have naps in my room.

It was all so perfect.

I looked up when Griffin's phone rang, the arm of my stuffed bear clenched in my hand. Stretching out a little, he pulled his phone from his pocket before sighing at whoever was calling him. He looked at me as he stood from the recliner he'd been sitting in for the past hour, and I just knew he was going to have to leave me alone. I didn't want him to. I wanted him in here with me. But I also knew he had to do adult things, even when I was in my little space.

"I need to take this," he told me, sounding as sad as I felt. "Come get me if you need me, okay?"

I nodded, squeezing my bear to me. "Okay, Papa."

He crouched and pressed a kiss to the top of my head before standing and striding from the room, lifting his phone to his ear. "What?" he snapped as he left my room, leaving my door open—thankfully. I wasn't in the mood to be alone, but I would deal. I wouldn't deal if he had closed the door.

Sighing, I laid down on my side in my huge stuffie pile and closed my eyes. I was so tired, and my stuffies were so comfy, and it was warm...

~*~*~

"You're so precious, baby boy," Griffin said softly. I groaned and opened one eye. He was crouched beside me, raking his fingers through my hair as he gazed at me through soft, adoring eyes. When I unwrapped my bear from my arms and reached for him, he lifted me and pulled me to him, pressing me to his chest. "I'm sorry I took so long."

I shook my head. "I went to sleep not long after you left the room," I told him quietly. Tentatively, I pressed a kiss to his throat. He shivered, clutching me to him tighter. I plucked at his t-shirt, twisting and untwisting the fabric around my index finger. "I want milk," I said softly.

He tilted my chin up and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. I sank into him, letting him deepen it a moment. I whined in protest when he pulled away. Kissing Griffin was like coming home. Like sunshine on a cold, winter day. For me, he was everything good and bright in the world, even if I knew he didn't run on the right side of the law.

He was good for me. That was all I cared about.

"You can have milk, baby," he told me. I beamed at him. "Do you want to shower while I warm it up? I have footie pajamas waiting for you on the bed."

My eyes widened, and I jerked to my feet, rushing from the room. When I got to his, sure enough, a pair of baby blue footie pajamas with ducks printed on them were draped over the edge of the bed. Tears welled in my eyes, and one leaked down my cheek before I could stop it. Immediately, Griffin wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on the top of my head.

"Do you like them?"

I spun around and wrapped my arms tight around his waist. "No one has ever taken care of me like this," I croaked, my voice muffled by his chest. "I love them. I love it all. It's so perfect. Please don't ever leave me."

"God," he rasped, reaching up to cradle the back of my head. "I'll never leave you, baby boy. You're mine. Until death does us part—with or without the wedding vows, you hear me?" He gently tugged my head back so I was forced to look at him. "Yes?"

I nodded. "Yes, Papa."

He pressed a tender, sweet kiss to my lips. "Go shower. Once you're dressed, come find me. I'll probably be in my office, but I'll have your milk ready."

I nodded and reluctantly released him, heading into the bathroom. His eyes burned into my back until I quietly shut the door behind me with a shcnick.

~*~*~

Sure enough, I found Griffin in his office once I was out of the shower and dressed. He was focused on his computer when I knocked lightly on the open door, but then, he looked up, smiling softly at me in that way that made my insides feel all gooey.

"You look adorable, baby," he said, running his eyes over me. Scooting back from his desk, he patted his lap. Instantly, I cleared the distance between us, scrambling onto his lap to straddle his thighs. He grabbed a sippy cup off his desk and handed it to me before pushing my damp hair out of my face. "You never have to knock on my door, Max."

"You sure?" I asked before I shoved my sippy cup in my mouth, my eyelids drooping a little as soon as the warm milk slid down my throat. It was the perfect temperature, too. How did he do that?

"Yes, I'm sure." He ran his hand down my back. "Are your pajamas comfortable?"

I nodded. He tucked me close and slid his chair back close to his desk. "You rest right here," he told me. "I need to finish up some work. If you fall asleep before I'm done, I'll carry you to bed, okay?"

I nodded and popped my sippy cup into my mouth long enough to say, "'Kay, Papa."

He pressed a kiss to the shell of my ear before focusing back on his computer. It didn't take long before my eyelids fell closed and sleep tugged at me, all safe and warm in my Papa's arms.