Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“I don’t know.” Cash didn’t seem entirely honest as he answered the question but I didn’t call him out on it, and I did my best not to react when he shot me a quick glance. It was clearly an are you going to tell on me look, but I just pretended not to notice.
“It’s working now, that’s what matters at the moment.” Then, giving Gareth a cheeky grin, I looked over toward the games on the other side of the large building. “And in a few minutes, the only thing that will matter is how many points we can get.”
He seemed delighted with that plan and started chattering away about what he wanted to play and what he thought Brady would think of the whole thing. After a bit, I could feel Cashel’s stress growing again.
Gareth seemed to unconsciously notice it because he kept sending smiles toward Cashel but that wasn’t really helping. So when he turned toward the games and started plotting again, I reached under the small table and rested my hand on Cashel’s thigh.
He went completely still and suddenly seemed to have more interesting things to focus on rather than getting worried about Gareth’s delightful chatter.
It took several long seconds where I kept my hand completely still and continued talking to Gareth before Cashel relaxed again. But once he did, I slowly moved my fingers, barely caressing the sexy, stressed-out man.
It was obvious that he wanted the date to go well, but I couldn’t tell if it was because of his own desires or Gareth’s. They were so entwined that they seemed to be always focused on the other and not what they wanted.
Having our date together for the first time had definitely been a good idea, but it left me wondering what I should do going forward…and that led to a lot of other interesting questions about firsts. But I knew they could wait until we’d gotten to know each other more and Gareth had figured out how he felt about spankings.
Fearful or fascinated.
It seemed to be a toss-up at the moment, and I thought that was one of the reasons he found it so easy to talk about Brady. That cutie was a safe topic that he knew inside and out and didn’t have to worry about since I already knew Brady was little and interesting.
He probably could’ve gone on all night but our barely-managing-not-to-smile waiter was a wonderful distraction when he came back to get our order. To say he found us funny would’ve been an understatement, but after sending him away three times earlier, I couldn’t blame him.
“Great. I’ll get this in and bring you guys more drinks.” He gave me a wink as he shook his head, obviously grasping the dynamics, and it made me wonder if I’d seen him at any BDSM events in the area.
But before I could get distracted down that mental rabbit hole, I thanked him and focused on my dates. “Alright, with that all set, I’m going to be nosy.”
Rubbing my hands together like an evil villain got a grin from both of them, which I thought was a good change of pace. “What are your favorite desserts?”
The ridiculous question had them blinking in confusion and seemed to take a minute to adjust to. They’d probably assumed I’d ask something naughty but keeping them on their toes seemed like the better plan.
Cashel found his words first. “That wasn’t fair. But, um, I like to bake? So I enjoy a lot of different things.”
Oh, that was good to know.
“I’d wondered who made the cakes.” I couldn’t resist perking up as he smiled and blushed. “It was hard to figure that out. Can I say I like anything chocolate that comes in a cake form without seeming greedy?”
Gareth nearly giggled. “Yes, but you have to put in your request in enough time for us to remember to buy the ingredients.”
The way Cashel rolled his eyes said there was a story I couldn’t remember. I let my gaze bounce between them and mentally sorted through their recent conversations. “Brady’s mother. You have to talk her into going grocery shopping.”
That had them both laughing and as it trailed off, Gareth sighed dramatically. “We really are too loud.”
“What did I say about that?” Giving him a mock glare like he’d been naughty had him squirming slightly and looking sweetly sheepish…it brought my mind right back to spanking him, but he didn’t seem to realize that, so I behaved.
“You…you like hearing us.” The blush that crept over his face made me smile, but it was the way Cashel was studying both of us knowingly that made me reconsider the avoid-the-spanking plan.
“I do.” Nodding slowly, I leaned over toward Cashel. “He was very naughty to forget that. I think I’m going to have to help him to remember to be a good boy later.”