Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“So you’re saying you worried for nothing?” Tate teased.
I chuckled and dropped my keys on the hallway table. “Possibly.”
My God, I was full.
I released a breath and put Tate on speaker instead, and then I made my way to the kitchen, flicking on lights as I went. As delicious as the butter cake had been, I’d only managed to eat half of it. So I’d brought the rest with me.
“You’ll be proud to find out I brought leftovers home with me,” I mentioned.
Because Tate had once balked at the fact that I’d never done that before.
“Aw, good boy. Was the food amazing?”
“More than. Spectacular. I’d like to take you and Kingsley there sometime.” I stuffed the rest of the butter cake into the fridge.
“You know I love a reason to dress up.” It sounded like he was stretching out somewhere. “Are you working tomorrow?”
I yawned and removed my tie. “I haven’t decided yet. I might go through some reports from home. Otherwise, I’ll wait till Tuesday. I have a board meeting at ten.”
Tate hummed. “Any other plans with Jack? Where’s he staying, by the way? Because where I’m from, family stays in the guest room.”
I technically didn’t have a guest room. I had a home office with a pullout couch, and that wasn’t Jack’s style.
“He’s at the Westwater a few blocks from here,” I replied. “We made loose plans to meet up before he flies back to New York—nothing set in stone.”
I wouldn’t be as nervous if we did meet up. Tonight had been…pleasant.
“All right,” Tate said through a yawn. “I’m gonna hit the sack. Some of us have work in the morning. Just sucks I won’t get to see Lily.”
I knew the feeling. “I hope you’re not playing favorites, Mister Tate.” I smiled to myself.
He laughed.
“Get some rest—we’ll talk soon,” I continued. “Give Kingsley a kiss from me, please.”
“Mmm, I will. Goodnight, Daddy.”
I shivered. “Goodnight, baby boy.”
That settled it. I was going to take a shower and then watch porn. Perhaps the homemade version of the first time Tate and I had fucked each other six ways to Sunday. It was one of Kingsley’s favorite clips too.
Fifteen minutes later, I pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms and headed for the living room. Bigger TV screen there. On the way, I turned up the thermostat a couple degrees. November had brought the cold with it, and unlike my daughter who enjoyed forty below zero, I preferred toasty warm.
My phone vibrated just as I sat down on the couch with a glass of dark rum. The cocktail and half a bottle of wine at dinner had given me a slight buzz I wanted to cling to.
I frowned when I saw it was a message from Jack.
Have you gone to bed?
I took a sip and responded.
Not yet. Is everything all right?
Should I have offered him a place to stay? Out of courtesy, if nothing else, perhaps. Samantha and I had stopped asking years ago when we’d figured he preferred to stay at a hotel. Or at his grandparents’ house when they’d been alive.
Jack’s answer popped up on the screen.
Yes. I was just curious. Are you seeing anyone?
Oh. I didn’t know how to reply. Damn it, the uncomfortable questions were supposed to be over. I’d been at ease since dessert had been served. We’d steered toward safer topics. I’d asked about his work; he’d asked about mine. We’d shared a chuckle at Lily’s sweet goodnight text that’d included approximately fifteen emojis.
I drained half my drink.
Okay. I couldn’t say yes, and I couldn’t say no. The truth was somewhere in the middle—but I didn’t want follow-up questions.
I’m trying to see what’s out there, I suppose is a fair assessment.
There. Send. I didn’t want to go as far as to say I was dating, because I wasn’t. I had an arrangement with two men who had plans to get married and adopt children. Kingsley and Tate were very much monogamous when it came to their relationship. It was only for kinky playtime they invited others. Mainly me.
I did flirt with other men. I’d tried my hand at sexting and fooling around online—wasn’t my thing. The shine of exchanging intimate pictures had worn off within a week or two.
Noa came to mind, as well as his Daddy Dom. KC was incredibly attractive, very composed and sophisticated until he unleashed the Sadist in him. He was a savage just like his boy. And I was enjoying the pull, the playful banter, and the feeling of “something might happen.” The two were a treat to behold, especially since Noa was constantly testing his Daddy. In a fun way, of course. Toeing the line of what might get his ass beaten. Addictive. Nothing I wanted for myself, but my God, I could spend hours watching others in their dynamics. Even more so when a Dom like KC could say so much with just a cocked brow or a specific stare.