Dominic and the Daddy Domme - Chapter 1
Copyright 2022 by Heather Rose Brown

In this chapter, a struggling college student meets a friendly coworker who offers to help him out when both simple issue, as well as a terrifyingly overwhelming one.

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"Hey!" somebody called out from behind me. "No minors behind the bar."

The last of my freshly washed shot glasses sparkled in the purple mood lighting when I placed it on the stack I'd been creating. I squared my shoulders while setting aside my irritation, then straightened my back before I turned and said, "I'll be twenty-two in a few months."

A woman in a sleeveless black t-shirt grinned while leaning her well-toned forearms on the bar separating us, then asked, "So ... you're headed to the old folks home after work?"

Even though I was still a little annoyed at being called a minor, I couldn't help grinning back when I said, "Nah, I'm too old for that. I'm headed straight for the morgue."

The woman's grin faded when she said, "Don't joke around like that, kid."

I frowned and said, "Please don't call me that."

She ran her fingers through her short, spiky hair while saying, "Sorry, bad habit of mine." After leaning on the bar again, she asked, "Is there something else you'd like to be called?"

"Well," I said while fiddling with a corner of my apron, "most people call me Nic."

"Hey there, Nic," she said as she stretched out her arm over the bar. "You can call me Di."

My stomach flip-flopped when I realized she was offering to make actual, physical contact with me. I took a few steps towards her while drying my sweaty hands on the towel hanging from my apron. "Nice to meet you, Di," I said as I placed my right hand in hers.

Her grip was strong, yet gentle, when she shook hands with me. After letting go, she asked, "Is Nic short for Nicholas?"

I took in a slow, deep breath to calm my jangled nerves, then said, "Actually, it's Dominic."

Di chuckled, then said, "You're definitely more a Nic than a Dom."

I blinked while my scrambled brain tried to decipher the comment, then said, "Huh?"

She grinned again, then said, "Just think of it as a dumb dad joke."

I rolled my eyes and asked, "Should I call you Dad?"

The corners of her eyes crinkled when she said, "Hrmmm ... sounds tempting."

My fingers started to tingle when I took a step back and asked, "Are you flirting with me?"

There was a playful twinkle in her eyes when she asked, "Do you get flirted with a lot?"

I crossed my arms and said, "In case it's not already obvious, I *am* a guy."

"And?"

"And ... well ... this is a lesbian bar, so ... ummm."

Di raised an eyebrow, then asked, "You thought I was only into girls?"

I took another step back and said, "Sorry, I shouldn't have assumed you--"

She held up a hand and said, "Hey, it's okay. Easy mistake to make."

I let my arms drop as I said, "Thanks for being so understanding."

Di nodded and said, "Not a problem. But, for the record, you were right."

Confusion joined my embarrassment. "I ... uh ... gotta go."

She smiled and said, "I better head home too. Being a bouncer ain't as easy as I make it look."

"I meant, I gotta go to ... the bathroom."

"Ah, got it," Di said, then pointed to a pair of doors. "Both restrooms are still unlocked."

I peeked at the doors, then asked, "You sure nobody will mind me being in there?"

"Don't worry," she said while resting her hands on her hips. "We closed a few minutes ago, so nobody should be in there."

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Someone was definitely in the bathroom. At least, based on the impressively loud vomiting I was hearing, there was someone on the far side of the door marked 'Butch'. I half-opened the other door, and asked, "Anybody in here?"

When nobody answered, I pushed the door open a little more, then stepped inside. I squinted until my eyes adjusted to the stark white lighting, then made a bee-line towards the closest stall. While I sat and took care of business, muffled shouts came through the wall behind me.

I sighed with relief when I realized I'd managed to avoid whatever trouble was going on in the other bathroom. After finishing what I started, I exited the stall, and wandered over to the sinks. I stared at my reflection while washing up, and a scrawny guy with messy brown hair stared back.

After drying my hands, I unrolled my hairband from my shaggy ponytail onto my wrist. I was running my fingers through my hair to loosen the tangles, when someone knocked on the bathroom door.

"You in there, Nic?" Di yelled through the door.

"Yeah!" I yelled back while pulling a comb out of my pocket.

The bouncer opened the door a crack and poked her head in, then glanced from side to side before entering. She gave me a wide smile, then said, "I thought I'd find you in here."

I started combing the back of my hair while asking, "Whatcha mean by that?" then winced when my comb hit a snag.

"Want some help there?" she asked as she strode towards me.

I wiggled my comb out of the knot in my hair and said, "It's alright. I can take care of it later."

Di looked at me in the mirror, then held her hand under my comb and said, "I promise to be careful."

While the idea of someone I barely knew combing my hair seemed odd, struggling with the mess at the back of my head didn't sound fun. After considering the pros and cons of both sides, I placed my comb in her hand and said, "If you're sure, I'd appreciate the help."

She gave me a warm smile as she accepted the comb, then said, "No problem," before stepping behind me. I gasped when she gathered my hair in a firm grip at the nape of my neck. Di looked over my head at my reflection, making me realize she was at least a couple inches taller.

Even though tall people usually made me anxious, there was something in the way she looked at me that just ... put me at ease. While I was pondering that realization, she asked, "Am I holding too tight?"

I tried shaking my head, but I couldn't move it while she was holding onto my hair, so I said, "No, I just ... I'm not used to anybody doing anything to my hair."

"Don't worry," she said in a voice that was almost as soft as a whisper, "you're in good hands."

I did my best to relax while she ran the comb through the ends of my hair. While there were a few tugs, they weren't sharp enough to hurt. Her grip on my hair loosened, and the comb glided across the back of my scalp. I braced myself for the inevitable snag, but nothing happened.

"Wow," I said as she combed the left side of my hair over my ear, "you're really good."

"Thanks," she said while combing the other side of my head. "I used to know someone who's hair was a little longer than yours, and brushed it for her all the time."

There was a hint of sadness in her last few words. While I was trying to think of something comforting to say, she slipped the hairband off my wrist, pulled my hair back into a ponytail, then asked, "How's that?"

While it was higher than I usually liked it, I didn't want to sound ungrateful, so I said, "It looks nice. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Di said while stepping out from behind me. "You ready to head out?"

The tip of my ponytail swished against the back of my neck when I nodded and said, "Oh yeah. It's been a long night, and I'm *so* ready for bed."

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I zipped up my windbreaker as soon as we walked out of the bar, but the cool night breeze blowing across the deserted street still made me shiver.

After locking up, Di looked at me while shrugging into her leather jacket, then asked, "You getting cold?"

"I'm okay," I said while tucking my frozen fingers under my armpits.

The bouncer gave me a look that made me feel like a kid caught in a bald-faced lie. I was trying to think of a decent apology, when she pointed to a brightly lit storefront and said, "There's a nice coffee shop down there, if you want to get something to warm you up."

I thought about the suggestion, then said, "It's probably not good to be drinking coffee right before I head off to bed."

She nodded and said, "Good point. How about hot cocoa?"

I sighed wistfully, then said, "I haven't had that since I was little."

"Ah!" she said while tugging at my elbow. "You're in for a treat, then."

The idea of something warm and tasty before bed sounded too good to pass up, so I followed Di down the street to the coffee shop.

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I caught a whiff of freshly baked pastry, along with other delicious scents, when I walked through the door. A burly man with dark skin, darker hair, and a thick beard leaned against the counter to my right and said, "Welcome to Uncle Fern's Cafe."

"Hey Fernando," Di said as she walked around from behind me.

The man bounded out from behind the counter and said, "Didi!" then gave her what looked like a bone-crushing hug. After letting go, he waved a beefy hand towards me with a slight flourish while asking, "Who's your pretty friend?"

At first, I wanted tell him off for asking such a weird question, but he sounded too sincere for me to be seriously offended. While I was trying to decide how to react, Di placed her hand on the small of my back and said, "His name's Nic. He just started working at Xena and Gabi's today."

A broad smile spread across Fernando's face, then he said something that sounded vaguely Spanish. The bouncer smiled back and said, "We're just friends." While I was somewhat frustrated at missing out on half of the conversation, having Di call me a friend felt wonderful!

The man nodded and said, "Of course. Would you like your usual drink?"

My new friend lowered her hand from my back and said, "I'm skipping the Irish coffee tonight. Could we get a couple of hot cocoas, with all the toppings?"

"You got it!" Fernando said while giving Di a wink. "Go ahead and find a seat," he added before giving her shoulder a friendly slap. "I'll bring your order to you as soon as it's ready."

While the man made his way around the counter, Di gestured towards a table a half dozen feet from us and asked, "You okay sitting by the window?"

I nodded and said, "Sure," before heading to the table. Just as I was about to sit, I heard a wooden scrape. When I turned to the noise, I saw my friend holding onto the back of the chair I was about to sit on. I looked from the chair to her and and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Just waiting for you to sit," she said while nodding at the chair.

Even though it felt a little strange, it also felt nice, so I sat and said, "Thanks."

After helping me with my chair, Di sat across from me, then rested her arms on the tiny table between us, and said, "I hope Diego didn't run you ragged on your first night."

I thought about the cheerful guy who'd cooked in the cramped kitchen while I cleaned, then said, "It definitely was busier than I'd expected, but he had me laughing too hard to mind."

My friend nodded and said, "He's usually fun to be around, so long as he's sober."

"What's he like when--" I started asking, then paused when my phone buzzed in my back pocket. " 'Scuse me," I said while pulling out my phone. A chill ran down my spine when I checked my texts, and saw the most recent message.

I was still staring at the screen, when Di nudged my arm and asked, "Everything okay?"

"I ... I'm not sure," I said when I looked up at her.

She leaned closer and asked, "What's wrong?"

I looked back at my phone, and studied the words to make sure I hadn't misread anything, then said, "The hotel I'd booked into before work said my check was declined, and my baggage can be picked up at the front desk."

Di grimaced and said, "That's awful!"

I tried to laugh, but made a choking sound instead, then shrugged and said, "I knew my parents had found a way to withdraw funding for my college courses, but I wasn't expecting them to do anything with my checking account."

"What the h--" she started saying, then stopped when Fernanado approached our table.

He looked from me to my friend while setting steaming mugs of cocoa in front of us, then said, "Here you go," in a very subdued voice before wandering off.

Once Fernando left, Di leaned forward again, then asked, "Why would your parents do something like that to such a sweet k--person?"

I wrapped my hands around the earthenware mug in front of me, and watched the whipped cream melt into the dark brown liquid below it. Eventually, I shrugged and said, "It's a bit of a long story."

Di patted my arm, then said, "If you're willing to talk, I'm a pretty good listener."

I looked up from my drink to the woman sitting across the table from me, then said, "It all started when I'd dressed as a cheerleader for a Halloween party." I waited for a teasing remark, or a surprised reaction, but my friend just nodded with an attentive expression on her face.

"I was surprised when my dorm-mate suggested I try it," I said, "but when he said college was a place to try new things, I decided to give it a go. When nobody made an issue about how I was dressed at the party, I was able to relax, a had lot of fun!"

My friend smiled and nodded again while taking a sip of her drink.

I sipped my own drink, enjoying the hint of cinnamon in the cocoa, then set my mug down and said, "Unfortunately, the next morning, I got a call from my parents, who'd come across a picture someone posted of me while I was at the party."

"And ... they got upset about you going to a college party?"

I shrugged and said, "Well, they were kinda upset about the party, but they went completely ballistic over the way I'd been dressed." I swallowed the painful lump in my throat, then said, "They accused me of some really ... awful stuff, then withdrew my college funds."

A hot tear slid down my cheek as I said, "Those funds also covered the cost of my dorm room, which is why I went to the hotel." I closed my eyes when my vision blurred, then said, "But, now that I don't have that, I ... I dunno what I'm gonna do."

Something soft brushed against my cheek. I opened my eyes as Di blotted my other cheek with a paper napkin. She pressed the napkin against my nose and said, "Go ahead and blow." I tried to protest, but it was hard to do with my mouth half covered, so I did as I was asked instead.

After taking the napkin away from my face, she asked, "Would you be okay with me making a couple of suggestions?"

I didn't trust myself to speak without crying again, so I nodded instead.

Di nodded back, then said, "First, you should finish your cocoa."

I gave my friend a faint smile before taking another sip of my drink.

"Next, I'd like to suggest you stay with me until you get your feet under you again."

I started coughing when I tried to gasp while drinking. Once my throat was clear enough to speak, I said, "I can't impose on you like that."

"It's no imposition. I have a spare room, and you need a place to stay."

"Wow," I said while looking into here deep green eyes, "that's really nice of you to do. Especially for someone you've only just met. Thank you so much!"

She gave me a kind, gentle smile, and said, "It's my pleasure."

Dominic and the Daddy Domme - Chapter 2
Copyright 2023 by Heather Rose Brown

In this chapter, Nic experiences kindness and support from his new friend while recovering from the harsh treatment of his parents.

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Di frowned while running her fingers through her short, thick hair. Her pale blonde spikes had been turned silvery-blue by the bright lights of the nearly empty parking lot we were walking through. "Sorry we couldn't get your suitcase," she said as we approached her microvan.

I ignored the icy wind slapping my ponytail against the back of my head while adjusting the reclaimed bookbag dangling from my shoulder. "I'm surprised you were able to talk the night manager into giving me anything," I said, then smiled at my friend before adding, "I really appreciate your help."

She smiled back while pulling open the driver's side door, then said, "Glad I could help," before climbing in and closing her door.

After opening the passenger door, I plopped into the seat, then rested my bulky bag on my knees before pulling the door closed. The slam of the door interrupted something my friend was saying, so I turned to her and asked, "What was that?"

"It's okay, I'll take care of it," Di said as she reached over my waist.

"Whatcha doing?" I asked while she felt around for something near my right hip.

She pulled straps across my shoulder and lap while saying, "I'm making sure my passenger is safe."

My mouth hung open when she clicked my seatbelt into place. Eventually, I shut my mouth, then pulled my bookbag close and said, "Oh ... ummm ... you didn't need to do that."

"I don't mind," Di said while adjusting her own seatbelt.

After being left high and dry by my parents when they nuked my college funds, having someone being concerned about me being safe was comforting. I reached behind my neck and played with the wispy end of my ponytail while saying, "That really means a lot to me."

She grinned and nodded before pressing the ignition button. After the car rumbled awake, my friend pressed another button, and warm air began blowing from the vents near my feet.

My tense, aching muscles began to relax. I let go of my hair and stifled a yawn with the back of my hand, then said, "That feels nice."

Di's grin grew as she pulled out of the Bayview Hotel parking lot.

After we merged with the late night traffic, my friend glanced at the bag on my lap, and said, "That's some nice embroidery on your backpack."

"Umm ... thanks," I said while running my fingers over the flowers stitched into the front pocket of my bookbag.

My friend was quiet while switching lanes, then asked, "Did it come like that?"

"Actually," I said as my cheeks warmed, "I added the design to hide a tear I hadn't noticed when I picked my bookbag up from a thrift shop."

Di glanced down again, then said, "You did a good job."

"Thanks," I said as the warmth in my cheeks spread to my ears.

After we pulled to a stop at a traffic signal, she asked, "Are you taking any textiles and apparel design classes in college?"

"Actually, I'm majoring in business management," I said. "At least ... I was."

My friend brushed a few stray hairs from in front of my eyes, then said, "I know things are pretty bad for your right now, but they'll get better."

I let out a shaky breath, then said, "I wish I had your confidence."

A playful twinkle danced in Di's eyes when she drove through the intersection and said, "I'll just have to be confident enough for both of us."

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There were a few dull clicks to my left a moment before I opened my eyes. "Hey there, sleepyhead," My friend said as seatbelts zipped across my stomach and chest. "We're home." A cool breeze swept across me when she stood up.

"Oh wow," I said while wrapping goosebumpy arms around my bookbag. "How long was I out?"

"A few minutes," she said before taking a step back. "Want some help out?"

"I'm good," I said as I pulled myself out of the fading warmth of the plush seat I'd been dozing in. I gasped when I stood up, both at the beauty of the starry sky, and at how much colder the night had gotten.

"You feeling chilly?" she asked while shutting and locking the door behind me.

I slipped one of the straps of my bag over my shoulder while trying to decide how to respond. At first, I was tempted to say I was fine. After contemplating how she reacted the last time I'd stretched the truth, I said, "I guess I'm sorta ... I mean ... yeah, I kinda am."

Even though I couldn't read her expression by the pale light of the waning moon, there was a hint of approval in her voice when she said, "Let's get you inside, where it's nice and warm."

"Would you like me to adjust the temperature in the guest room?" asked a lilting voice with a british accent from the shadows of the dark house towering over us.

Di nodded and said, "Yes, please."

I took a step closer to my friend and asked, "Who's that?"

"My name is Ada," said the disembodied voice while a pair of lamps on either side of the front door lit up a small porch.

"It's nice to meet you," I said while attempting to rub away the goosebumps on my upper arms.

"The pleasure is all mine," Ada said in a voice that managed to be reserved as well as friendly. "Won't you come inside?"

"Come on," Di said before leading the way up the short cobblestone path to the porch. "I'll make formal introductions once we get you out of the cold."

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Warm puffs of air flowed from the floor vent near the front door when I followed Di into a narrow hallway. Subdued lighting over several doorways brightened while a british voice from somewhere nearby said, "To the right you will find the kitchen, dining room, and playroom."

Blinking with both sleepiness and surprise when I heard the last room's name, I tried to ask my friend if she had any kids, but I wound up letting out a huge yawn instead.

Di smiled and winked at me, then hung her leather jacket on the coatrack by the door while saying, "We may need to put off the house tour for tomorrow, Ada. Is the guest room ready?"

"Of course," Ada said while the staircase to the left was being lit by a row of ceiling lights. When the last light came on, her voice sounded a little distant when she said, "The guest room can be found up here on the second floor, through the first door to your right, Miss."

I frowned while looking up in the general direction the voice seemed to be coming from, and said, "I'm ... ummm ... not a Miss."

Ada's voice sounded closer, and a very embarrassed, when she said, "Oh, I do beg your pardon. Would you prefer Sir, Miz, Mix, or some other title?"

I shrugged while my tired brain tried to figure out the last title, then said, "Would ya mind just calling me Nic?"

"It would be my pleasure, Nic," she answered in a relieved voice that seemed to be coming from a distance again. "If you'd like to come upstairs, we can get you tucked into bed."

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My half-lidded eyes popped open when I entered the guest bedroom. "Oh wow," I said in a voice softened by awe. "This is so ... so ..."

Di stepped through the door behind me while saying, "If it's too girly, you're welcome to use my bedroom."

I glanced around the tastefully decorated room, then said, "Oh, this isn't girly at all."

My friend raised an eyebrow while asking, "Are you sure?"

I shifted from foot to foot while trying to think of a way of explaining how much I liked the room. It reminded me of the changes I'd tried to make to my parents plans for redecorating my bedroom when I was eight. But how do you explain something like that without sounding weird, or gay, or ... whatever I was?

After a lot of internal debate, I said, "Well ... the yellow gingham bedspread is a bit ... I guess ... frilly, and the daisies on the wallpaper are pretty," I bit my lower lip, then added, "but ... they're subtle touches which add charm to the room, rather than making it particularly girly."

A broad smile spread across Di's face.

"I'm glad to hear that," she said while striding across the room. She tapped the top drawer of a tall dresser and said, "There's some pajamas that should fit you in here. My last guest didn't leave behind a lot, but you're welcome to borrow anything you find in here."

I smiled back and said, "Oh wow ... thank you! I'd forgotten about not having my suitcase."

There was a maternal (paternal?) warmth in her eyes when she walked towards me and said, "It's no problem, sweetie." Before I could react to the pet name, she lifted my bookbag from my shoulder, rested it on the bed, then said, "I'll give you some privacy, so you can change."

I barely had time to nod my thanks before my friend had walked out of the room, closing the door behind her with a quiet snick. Once I was alone, I wandered over to the dresser, pulled open the top drawer, and winced at the faint squeak.

Even though I knew I'd been given permission to use what was in the dresser, I still felt a twinge of guilt when I looked in the drawer. To my surprise, the pajamas on top were a simple red and black plaid. But, when I pulled them out of the drawer, I noticed the red lace lining the cuffs.

Even though they weren't that bad, I folded the first pair of pajamas back up. After setting them on top of the dresser, I looked at the second pair. They were a rich honey color, decorated with tiny white roses. When I ran my fingertips across the fabric, it felt incredibly soft, and a bit silky.

My heart thudded when I thought of how my parents would react to seeing me wear something so pretty. I shoved those thoughts aside as I lifted the pajama top up, then draped it across my front. The thought of actually wearing it made me a little giddy.

At that moment, I realized it was long past time to stop trying to please my parents. I smiled to myself while removing the hairband from my ponytail, then began getting changed.