It offered the smallest of relief, but at the same time, a twinge of regret. He wanted to do it as much as he didn't. He wanted to put his Daddy's mind at ease, but he also wanted to show him that for however big he could be, he'd always be his little boy at heart and need a little help from Daddy every now and then. And if his Daddy was getting in the pool with him, Lucien felt he would have insisted on wearing them just because it would have made him feel tiny and safe.

"Can I ask you something, puppy? Entirely hypothetical."

Lucien paused. He'd gathered...