Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 114284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
“Oh wow, I didn’t know Macklin was a switch,” Peyton said.
Ed raised his brows. “I didn’t know you were diving straight into polyamory.”
I lifted a shoulder and returned to my steak. “I don’t think we’ll be doing anything conventional this time. It couldn’t be just anyone, of course, but Lane is a sweet boy. I got to know him a bit in Florida.”
Not everything had changed. I would never be comfortable seeing Macklin with random partners, something I’d worried about a great deal last time around. And actually voicing that fear to Macklin during our week in the South had taught me a good lesson. Proper communication could kill unnecessary worries and tension—because as it turned out, Macklin had no desire for “random partners” either. More than that, he’d shared the same fear about me.
We’d been idiots.
“There’s just so much about kink I don’t know,” Peyton marveled.
Polyamory was technically not part of BDSM, but sure, that type of relationship was more common in kink. Kink and religion, I supposed I should say.
Ed eyed his husband. “Don’t you get any ideas, baby boy.”
I grinned.
Peyton laughed. “Oh my God, can you even imagine? No, I’m—I’m… That’s not for me. I’m too traditional. But I can still find all these new relationships fascinating, can’t I?”
New relationships?
Oh boy, his age was showing. And it wasn’t as if he was a teenager. He’d hit thirty-five if I wasn’t mistaken.
Ed and I exchanged an amused look, presumably because we’d been around a bit longer. Polyamory hadn’t been a “new thing” in the gay community for decades.
Seconds later when Peyton and Ed lifted their gazes to something going on behind me, I glanced over my shoulder to see Lane coming toward our table. Hell, Macklin had even made him wear a uniform.
The young man was incredibly attractive, and he wasn’t shy either, which only made him sexier in my eyes. Macklin had, for reasons known only to him, given Lane a task, and the submissive was being a good boy by complying.
“Did everything taste all right, gentlemen?” Lane asked.
“It was amazing.” Peyton smiled.
“Wonderful,” Ed agreed. “Please tell Macklin we’ll be back soon.”
I scooted out from the table a little to be able to see Lane clearer. “A better question is, what earned you a new job for the evening, pet?”
He grinned bashfully. “He thought it was a good idea to dole out some funishment because I used up his five-minute break by rambling about the green orchid bee and how it’s established a new home in Florida.”
I couldn’t help it; I let out a laugh and shook my head. Sweet, sweet boy.
“Nobody cares,” he added frustratingly.
Well. I could think of one man who might.
“Anyway.” Lane cleared his throat and smiled politely. “Would you like to hear the dessert special?”
“Absolutely,” Ed said.
Something struck me deep within when I spotted Lane quickly glancing at the inside of his hand before clasping them behind his back again. He’d written something on his palm, hadn’t he? For some reason, I found that damn cute. To the point where I discreetly reached out and rubbed the back of his leg.
He drew in a breath and focused his attention on Ed and Peyton—except that he shifted a few inches closer to me. “So this month, we’re doing butter-fried apple slices with cinnamon on vanilla ice cream, topped with caramel flakes and a sweet cognac syrup.”
Good fucking lord in heaven. I was ordering that.
“We definitely want that,” Ed chuckled. “And coffee, please. Black.”
“I will have the same,” I said.
Peyton excused himself to scan the cocktail menu on the table, which gave me more time with Lane.
“Did you finish your homework?” I asked, sliding my hand a little higher up his leg. We only had one table behind us, so I hoped they weren’t paying attention to my groping the staff.
“Yes, Sir.” Lane nodded firmly. “He said he has thoughts.”
Oh dear.
Unwilling to control myself, I slipped a hand between his thighs and brushed against his balls before I withdrew and stroked his sweet little ass. So far, I’d only had one chance to play with Lane, and it’d been during a scene in which I was a CNC predator. Hopefully, I’d get more time with him soon.
Between Macklin and me, I was sure we could make Lane lose his mind.
After saying goodbye to Ed and Peyton about an hour and change later, I returned to the bar, where I found both Lane and Macklin. It was nearing ten at night, so the service wasn’t busy any longer. This downstairs seating area right here was mostly for cocktail guests waiting for their tables, and it’d cleared out for the most part.
“Can I get you a drink, Sir?” Macklin asked.
“No, thank you, love. I’m stuffed.” I patted my stomach and sat down on the stool next to Lane. He’d changed back into his own clothes, and if this was how he dressed every day, he looked more like a businessman than I ever could’ve guessed. In Florida, he’d lived in cargo shorts. Back in DC, he apparently wore nice pants and shirts that fit his body perfectly. No outlandish colors either—charcoal pants and a light blue button-down.