Page 42 of His Holy Chaos

"Of course. Silly puppies need structure, don't they?"

"I guess," he mumbles, and it's endearing.

"So, first thing. No more alcohol without permission. Zero. If you're good, I'll let you have a beer or one drink as a reward. This is a hard rule, and I don't want you bratting about it."

His mouth opens. Just a little. Something flickers behind his eyes. Not quite protest, but the ghost of it, the reflex of a man who's been using alcohol as his emergency exit for a year. I see it, and I don't comment on it. I let him close his mouth on his own.

"Yes, Daddy," he says, quieter now.

It takes a huge weight off my shoulders.

"Good boy," I say and massage his scalp. "Second rule, no more cussing and bad words. But this isn't a hard rule. I'll keep a tally and punish you accordingly."

"Whyyyy not?!" he asks.

"Because it's bad behavior for bad puppies and bad babies, and you're my good little boy. Besides, I want to have a reason to punish you without you having to break actual big rules."

"Fucking hell, you're strict," he says, not missing a beat, and I can't help laughing.

"Okay. That's two tallies. I'd be careful if I were you."

"Two?!" he exclaims.

"You said two words, didn't you?"

"Fucking hell? I think it should count as one."

"Four tallies now," I say. He laughs and sticks his tongue out at me, and I want to grab it between my thumb and finger. But he's faster.

"Also, I expect bratting. The eye rolls, the tantrums, that sharp tongue of yours. That's you, and I adore it. But there's a difference between testing me and disrespecting me. The first comes with consequences we negotiate. The second is a hard stop."

"Yes, Daddy, of course. Can I say something, though?" he asks. I nod, eyebrows drawn together, not imagining what it could be. "You're always rolling your eyes! What will your punishment be?!"

Again, he gets me. "I don't have punishments because I can do whatever I want, brat," I say. He sighs, exaggerated, and it's cute and funny.

I keep going.

"As we established, you're my property, so I want you to update me on what you're doing and where you are. You won't touch or play without permission. Actually, you mentioned chastity cages, and I love that idea. And you'll wear my collar. Does that sound like something you'd like?"

"Fuck yes, I love all of that," he says. I raise an eyebrow.

"Five," I say. He giggles, as if he's testing me, testing the boundaries, seeing if the rule will hold. It will. "We can re-discuss any of this at any time. I expect you to use your safewords whenever you need them."

"I know, Daddy!" he exclaims. "I told you, I've been a sub forever, I know what I'm doing. I want to be your property, your puppy, your good little boy. Actually, I begged you for that."

"You did, didn't you?" I ask, rhetorically, smiling at him.

"Many times!" he exclaims.

"Good boy," I say, and caress his cheek. "I'm really proud of you. Come on, we have stuff to buy!"

He looks so ridiculously happy. That stupidly wholesome smile of his. I don't think I'll get used to how warm he makes me feel.

Chapter 21. Ford

The fluorescent lights of PetSmart are so bright they make my head hurt, but Jude doesn't seem bothered. He's so excited he's almost bouncing.

The store smells like kibble. Jude steers the cart toward the dog beds. The bed aisle has some insane options. Orthopedic foam, bolstered nests, memory-foam mattresses that cost more than some human beds I've slept on.