Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Joshua was leaning against the doorframe, his posture casual, but the look in his eyes revealed something else. Arms folded over his chest, equal parts severe and welcoming. This doorstep was more than a doorstep.
“He’s gotten attached to you, Dean.”
“It’s mutual.”
He already knew that, though, and it didn’t matter. I recognized a protective Daddy when I saw one. He wanted to know if a part of me was still on the fence.
“Are you in or out?”
He couldn’t wait for my bold gesture tomorrow at our date? Hmpf.
“I’m in.” I leaned in and kissed his jaw. “Balls-deep in.”
He snorted and fought a smile.
I didn’t fight mine. I kissed him closer to his lips. “You successfully pulled my head out of my ass, darling. Was that what you wanted to hear?”
“Maybe.” Some of the tension left him, and he slipped two fingers between a couple buttons in my shirt. “I keep telling myself we’re just gonna try, but I really fucking want this.”
“So we’ll succeed instead.” Because I wanted this too. I needed it. Terrifying as it was, I was ready to fight. I was ready to risk getting hurt beyond measure.
He let out a breath and nodded minutely, and I covered his mouth with mine in a slow kiss.
“You and me,” I murmured, “and our little peach.”
He grinned, at last, and cupped the back of my neck. “Now we’re talkin’.”
The following evening, I got to take my two dates out to dinner in town. Underneath our suits, we all had paint that hadn’t come off in the shower, and I liked it. Every dot of dark blue—and green for Joshua’s bedroom—was a reminder that I suddenly had a social calendar. I was part of something bigger that filled me with joy and terror.
I had something to lose.
“I’ve decided something,” Gael announced in the line.
We had two parties in front of us that were also waiting for their table.
“What’s that, little one?” Joshua asked.
Gael tugged at his tie. “I do not like ties.”
I chuckled.
So did Joshua, and he helped Gael remove it. “I told you, didn’t I?”
“But I wanted to try,” the boy huffed. “Dean looks so delicious in his.”
Well, maybe one tie was enough on our little bunch. Joshua rocked a beautiful vest with his dress pants instead, and Gael had suspenders I found adorable on him. We looked sharp together, in our own ways.
Once Joshua had pocketed Gael’s tie, the boy pulled out his phone and said he was going to make a poll on the online forum.
“About ties?” I asked.
He nodded, busy typing.
Joshua and I exchanged an amused glance. If Gael asked about ties, I knew what Doms would reply. Ties were wonderful tools.
I grabbed Joshua’s hand and threaded our fingers together.
“His post will get hijacked,” he said under his breath.
I kept my grin to myself and peered ahead of us. It was cold out, but the host’s area in the restaurant was too full; the line went down the stoop and out on the sidewalk.
Perhaps I could leave my lurker mode online and actually contribute. The past couple of days, Gael had begun posting outside the history group, resulting in comments from fellow goofballs. Slowly but surely, our boy was taking steps out of the shadow of loneliness, and it made me weirdly proud. I’d never been part of such a journey before.
Just yesterday after dinner, he’d shouted out in triumph that he had a brat date planned with Kit, Noa, and Corey. A bout of nervousness had followed, though he’d shaken it off fairly quickly. He’d also exchanged a few private messages with Cam, which made me even happier. Gael truly wanted to explore domestic servitude with me.
I’d given him homework this morning for tonight. I wanted a list of chores he would like for us to set up a protocol for.
“There. Sent.” Gael pocketed his phone again. “Gosh, I’m so hungry now.”
Yeah, so was I. I’d taken my insulin in the car, so it wouldn’t surprise me if my monitor started beeping soon. I’d thought we’d be seated sooner.
“Good thing I’m prepared.” Joshua retrieved a couple candies from his jacket pocket, and he handed one to Gael and the other to me. I received a pointed look too, and I didn’t have to ask what it was about. He was keeping track. In a few days, he’d become well attuned to when I needed to eat.
I didn’t turn down the opportunity to get a sweet. They were my favorite too, Werther’s soft toffee with chocolate filling. Which…
I chewed on the candy and eyed Joshua. “Have you been talking to Walker?”
Aside from my drunken ramble about all the shit that was wrong in my life those years ago when I’d met Joshua, I’d been tight-lipped about my condition. Maybe a handful of people in Mclean knew I had diabetes, and as far as I knew, only my brother walked around with the same type of candy in case I needed a quick fix.