Captain Daddy

Onyx

1 year later

The Ocean Star is a ten-passenger party boat. We’ve docked it at the private port on Etsumi for years. Now that I’m standing in front of it, I can’t remember the last time I was here. Not since my grandparents’ last visit. When my dad died, we stopped taking it out as much. It was Dad’s boat. He loved it like a second child.

We used to take it out for nostalgia, but I think we all ended up coming back to shore sad. So our time on the Ocean Star became less and less. We rented Kala’s boats instead. It seemed dumb and a waste of money since we already had our own. 

We pay to dock it, and we pay to have it kept in working order. But we don’t use it.

Now that I’m standing in front of it, I think Dad would like that we’re giving it a new life. A purpose. I’m sure it would break his heart that the boat just sits here and we haven’t enjoyed it in… years. I think it’s probably been ten, maybe eleven, since my grandparents last visited.

Footsteps on the wooden dock behind me alert me that someone is approaching. It’s not long before my mom is standing beside me. For a moment, we remain silent, both staring at the Ocean Star.

“Are you sure?” I ask after a while.

Mom’s hand slips into mine. She leans her head on my shoulder. “Your dad would have loved Cash. You know that?”

I take a deep breath to clear the sudden rise of emotion. There are times I can talk about Dad for hours—just remembering, laughing, telling stories, sharing memories—and I won’t tear up. Other times, I can nearly burst into tears without warning when my dad’s mentioned.

Today is one of the latter, apparently.

Forcing myself to nod, I answer, “Yeah. I think he would, too.”

“Cash has such a vibrant energy to him. His smile is so genuine and filled with youthful joy. Dad would have adored him.”

I’m feeling too choked up to answer verbally, so I nod again. Deep down, I think most people want their parents to love the partner they choose to spend their life with. I’m glad my mom loves Cash. It hits somewhere deep, believing that my dad would love him, too.

Mom hands me a rolled piece of paper and the key to the boat. “I’m excited for you and this new adventure.”

I chew the inside of my lip and nod again, absently. Everyone dreams of making their wishes come true. For me, I already have my heart’s desire; I have Cash. The only other thing I’ve wanted since then is to make Cash’s dreams come true.

Today is the start of that.

I kiss Mom’s cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”

She smiles. “I expect to be on the first tour.” Mom turns and heads back down the dock.

For a few minutes longer, I stare at the Ocean Star. Shadows of my childhood run around on the deck; Dad behind the wheel, laughing with Gramps, Mom lounging in the shade, Gran and me kneeling on the bench at the front of the boat with the ocean mist and wind whipping at our faces.

The memory fades, and I turn around. It’s time to make new memories.

I stop at the Hinky Dinky Bar before leaving Etsumi. Laiken is behind the bar, but he’s not handling customers. He’s talking to two guys. Training them, I think. I recognize them, but didn’t go to school with them, which reminds me that I’m already getting old. The new graduates are no longer people who I grew up with. It’s such a strange feeling when I know I’m only in my early twenties, but already, time has moved to the point where I’m out of touch with those now in school.

Laiken flashes me a smile and raises his hand in greeting. I return it and then look at the empty stage where my drum set used to live. I thought about donating a set for whatever live bands come in. Guitars are reasonable to travel with. Drums—not so much.

But I love my drums. My favorite set was here, where I played in front of an audience. I beat the shit out of Benson on the second-best set in his garage. Not the whole set. I’d already taken half of them away. When I threw Benson off Cash, I threw him into my drums. Busted the big one and the stand for another. Now they’re sitting in my old room at Mom’s house. I’m unsure what to do with them.

I could donate my set that I used to give lessons with. I’m not sure I need them anymore.

After a few minutes, I leave the bar. I come in here with Cash and Lie once a week or so, when Laiken is doing what he loves—mixing drinks instead of managerial duties. Lie and Cash take up their usual seats at the far end of the bar and giggle all night. Most of the time, I let them do their thing.

Right up until some dumbass tries to take Cash to the dance floor or hand him his room number. Then I get a little… growly. I grin as I think about the way his cheeks turn pink and his eyes sparkle when I do. He loves me being possessive of him.

By the time I reach the docks where the tours leave from on Anapos, Cash’s tour is just landing. I can see him standing on the bottom rung of the railings to make sure the crowd can see him as he yells instructions. His answer to a question I can’t hear rings in the air, “Because my mommy said I’m special and don’t have to follow the rules.”

I chuckle and shake my head.

“Okay, you’re right. I lied. My Daddy says I don’t have to follow the rules because I’m his good little slut.”

“Oh god,” I mutter. When I look in his direction again, I find him watching me with a big grin on his face. Little shit.

“That’s my Daddy right there.” Cash points in my direction. “Hot, right? He’s a punk rock drummer.” There’s a comment I don’t hear that has Cash looking at someone with barely contained glee. “Yes!! I know, right?”

I sigh and slide my hands into my pockets as I wait for them to dock. Honestly, I could play this little game with Cash every day. There’s no pretending my smile isn’t real. Daddy is our bedroom thing, but he’s constantly pushing and dropping it in public when he’s feeling mischievous.

Or… horny? Have I been misreading him all along?

Cash jumps onto the dock and ties it off before placing the bridge and dropping the gate to let everyone off. The guys walking by me whistle and wink. I ignore them all, my attention solely for Cash. There’s no one who holds a light to him as far as I’m concerned.

It’s almost fifteen minutes before he’s at my side with a mischievous grin. “Hey,” he greets, tone suggesting nothing had happened at all.

“What happens if Daddy says you’re a naughty little slut?” I ask him, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, I suppose Daddy would have to spank me.”

Cash is on the fence about spanking. I think his enjoyment is mood-based, so it’s very well the promise of a punishment as much as it is a suggestion of enjoyment.

I grip his chin between my fingers, and his smile turns sultry. I don’t kiss him, though. I’m not sure what our aversion to PDA is, but we generally avoid it. Even though we don’t need to. We haven’t needed to in almost a year. Yet, we still do.

“I want to take you somewhere before going home. You okay walking around in your uniform for a bit?”

“Ice cream?” he asks, face lighting up just like a kid’s.

“If you want ice cream, we can do that. Although maybe I should tell you no, so you stop calling me Daddy to your tour guests.”

“Nah. They like it. I also like that they all know you’re mine. Don’t pretend that standing down here like sex on two legs is missed by anyone. If I teasingly make it clear you’re mine, it’s less likely that I’m going to get annoyed that someone is hitting on you. I’ve determined that everyone is all about getting down when they visit Kala, but for the most part, they’re pretty respectful if they understand you’re in a relationship.”

Cash turns to the path, and we begin walking while he continues to talk. “But it feels really cringy when someone just announces, ‘Hey, that’s my boyfriend.’ That opens it up for someone to look at you with disgust because jealousy is gross. Possessiveness is kinda gross too, right? Unless we like it, but on the outside, most people find it, like, red flag nation. So if I tease that you’re my Daddy and I’m your good little slut, I’m making a claim without being cringy.”

“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t learn something from you.”

He grins. “I hope that’s a good thing.”

“It’s a good thing,” I assure him. “However, I think Daddy should only be between us.”

“Yes, Daddy. I’m not sharing you. That makes it only between us.”

His chosen ignorance on the topic makes me shake my head. Little shit. That’s what he is.

We order a couple of cones and then take the ferry to Etsumi. Cash is content to talk about whatever as we lick our cones and walk the path to the private docks. He rarely asks where we’re going, which I love about him. His trust in me is profound. Deep and to the point.

It isn’t until I’m helping him onto the Ocean Star that he begins to actually pay attention. When he sees me untying from the dock, he joins me. Then I’m behind the wheel and driving us away from shore into the open water between the islands.

I don’t bring us far. To the place between Ceto and Etsumi. The place where we can see the sleeping woman. The place where I subconsciously attribute getting my man back.

Killing the engine, I pull Cash between my legs, locking him in between me and the steering column. He smiles, hands resting on my thighs.

“Want to wear some sexy lace tonight?” he asks. “I kind of need to obsess over you.”

My heart jumps, and I take a breath. “If that’s what you want.”

“I want. I’ve been thinking about you in something skimpy all day.”

“Have you?”

Cash laughs. “Yes. Must have dreamed about it or something. I don’t know.”

He settles into my embrace, and for several minutes, we rock on the gentle water. After a few minutes, he asks, “This is your family’s boat, isn’t it?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“It’s a nice boat.”

“Think it’s big enough to take tours out?”

Cash lifts his head and looks around. “Yep. Not huge tours. Private tours. Like… half a dozen people or so.”

“That’s what I thought. Next Friday, we have a meeting with Maurice Calloway to discuss your new tour business.”

His eyes snap to mine, wide as saucers. “What?” he squeaks.

“I’ve pulled together all the things we’ve talked about. All the scribbled tour routes you’ve made over the past year. I have testimonials from people you’ve taken on private tours. I’ve noted the history and lore you’ve woven into your tours to make them both fun and educational—making people care about Kala as more than just a hot vacation destination. He loves everything about it and wants to meet with you next week.”

He’s barely breathing. I think I’m seeing terror in his eyes.

Cupping his face, I press a soft kiss to his lips. “This is your dream, Cash. I have a boat, and we can make it happen. If you’re ready.”

I think I’ve broken Cash. Several minutes pass, and he simply stares at me. And then tears begin running down his cheeks at an alarming rate. He throws his arms around my neck and buries his face. “You’re a jerk, and I love you so much.”

“That means you’re mad at me for the surprise, but you also love it?” I translate.

His laughter is watery. “Yes. Jerk.”

I hug him tightly. “I love you too.”

Cash picks his face up to look at me. “In this thing you proposed, are you my captain?”

“Yes. Think you can call me Captain instead of Daddy during the day?”

His smile is wicked. “I make no promises.”

I’m not even mad about it.

For additional bonus scenes, visit my patreon.