Page 6 of Don’t Call Me Son

She smacks the spoon right out of his hand with a sharp little slap. I frown as she grabs his wrist and lifts it, staring at the dark bruises and teeth marks I left behind.

“What happened?” she asks, voice full of concern. Then she pushes his chair back a little and her eyes drop to the visible bite on his inner thigh. “Archie?”

Archie goes wide-eyed and shoots me a panicked look across the table. Shit. I inhale sharply through my nose, forcing myself to stay calm. My heart is hammering, but on the outside, I keep my expression easy.

Sarah crosses her arms and stares Archie down like only a mother can. “Well?”

Archie lets out an awkward laugh. “I just… fell on the track yesterday, Mom.”

She raises her eyebrows and points at the clear bite mark on his wrist. “Sweetie, I’m a nurse. That ain’t no bruise from falling. Someone bit you.” Her eyes narrow. “Are you having sex?”

Archie chokes on air. “Mom! I am not talking about sex with you!”

I bark out a genuine laugh despite the tension. “Come on, hon. Leave the boy alone. He’s an adult.”

Sarah shakes her head, still looking equal parts amused and concerned. “I didn’t think my son would be into letting someone bite him like that.”

I grin wide at her sass.

Archie mutters under his breath, just loud enough for both of us to hear, “Didn’t give me much of a choice…”

Sarah spins around. “Archie! Oh my god…” She bursts out laughing into her hands, cheeks pink. “Okay, well… you’re old enough that I don’t have to give you the full speech, baby. Just use protection and don’t go catching anything, alright?”

I grin behind my coffee mug and take a slow sip, watching Archie turn bright red. His eyes dart to me, completely mortified; I just wink at him. He thumps his forehead against the table with a defeated groan.

I feel a strange rush of satisfaction. With Sarah I’ve never been dominant; not once. She doesn’t like that side of things; she wants soft, sweet, and equal. And I’ve always given her that because I love her. But that dominant, possessive part of me has always been there, simmering underneath. I’ve just never had anywhere to put it… until Archie. With him, I can finally let it out; and fuck, it feels good.

Sarah turns back toward the counter to pour herself coffee. I step up beside her, voice warm and gentle like it always is with her. “Let me help you pack your bag, love.”

I grab her lunch bag and start loading it properly; extra fruit, the sandwich I made earlier, a couple of her favourite protein bars, and a big bottle of water. I also always make sure she has a spare set of scrubs, because of that one nightmare shift where she got covered in bodily fluids and had nothing to change into. I double-check everything, making sure she’s set for her ten-hour shift.

She watches me with soft eyes and leans into my side. “What would I do without you?”

I kiss the top of her head. “You’d survive. But I’m glad you don’t have to.”

All while Archie is still sitting at the table, face hidden in his arms, probably dying inside.

…

A little while later, after Sarah’s had some toast and coffee, I grab her work bag and carry it out to the car like I do most mornings. She follows me out, scrubs looking crisp, hair neatly tied back. I set the bag on the passenger seat and turn to her, pulling her in by the waist and kissing her properly, full of real affection.

“Love you, sweetheart. Have a good day. Try not to let them work you too hard.”

She smiles against my mouth, hands resting on my chest. “Love you too. I’ll do my best.” She pauses, then adds like she always does, “Maybe we can do that stir-fry you like for dinner?”

“Sounds perfect,” I tell her, brushing a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear.

She gives me one more quick kiss, then climbs into the car. I shut the door for her and step back, waving as she reverses down the driveway; until she disappears around the corner.

The second her car is out of sight, that darkness settles over me again; heavy, hungry, and completely unapologetic. I step back inside the house, close the door, and lock it with a soft click. We still have a full hour before Archie and I need to leave.

I head into the living room and find him exactly where I expected: sprawled out on the couch, looking half-dead to the world. The kid’s usually only just dragging himself out of bed at this time. Seeing him there in his track kit, already marked up under his clothes because of me, does something primal to my chest.

I walk over, slide one hand under his head, and lift it gently. Archie makes a sleepy little sound but doesn’t fight it. I sit down where his head had been and lower him back down so his cheek rests on my thigh. He cracks one sleepy eye open, blinking up at me.

“Sleep,” I tell him. My hand settles on the side of his neck, thumb stroking lazily. “You’ve got an hour. Use it.”

Archie doesn’t argue. He just rolls onto his side, nuzzling in closer, using my thick thighs as a pillow. His breathing slowly evens out again, warm against my leg. I keep one hand resting possessively on the back of his neck, the other draped over his shoulder.