My heartbeat quickens. His words mirror the desires deep inside me. And yet I sense he's holding back, as if the darker details are left unsaid.
"Then this is what we'll do," I say carefully. "But one step at a time. We don't rush this."
"Can I ask why?"
He's bared himself to me. It's only fair I try too.
"The only real relationship I've had was with Aziel. After that, I stuck to hookups. But I don't want you to be just another bed partner."
"You want more? Why me, though?"
He asks the hard questions, and I admire him for that.
"Yes, I want more with you." I squeeze his hand. "Why you? That's something even I don't know yet. It shouldn't be possible. It shouldn't make sense. But it does."
"Because of our history?"
"Yes. Because I knew you when you were a kid. Because we have a history, as your brother's ex-husband, and you as Aziel's brother. But there's more."
"More?"
"You were the only person who was there for me when Aziel cheated on me. It's something I'll never forget. Then you disappeared but returned into my life as a man that caught my eyes in ways no one ever had."
"Not even my brother?"
"Not even him," I confess. I hold his gaze. "I want you to know something, Sebastian. There are darker sides to me that I'm not sure you'll like."
Sebastian's pupils dilate, and he tightens his grip on my hand.
"I can handle the darkness, Daddy."
We'll see. But fuck, I want to believe him.
After dessert, I pay, and we leave for the park. With cotton candy in hand, Sebastian beams like a child.
"This is the best date I've ever had!" he exclaims with his mouth full of pink fluff.
I laugh and swipe my finger over his lip. "The date is not yet over, boy."
"Oh? What else do you have planned?"
"Movie night with dragons before our shift starts."
"I love this plan."
We walk hand in hand, talking about favorite movies, shows, food, games, and places we'd like to visit.
"Can I ask you how you know Ethan? I've wondered for some time. Especially since you're twenty," I say.
I know Ethan's club is above the law. I'm not blind. But still, hiring a twenty-year-old to work there bothered me. Or maybe, I was just worried he's taking advantage of Sebastian.
"Oh. We met three years ago. I did something for him, and he owed me a favor. So when I asked him to hire me, he agreed." Like he could read my mind he adds, "Ethan didn't care about IDs or age. He cares about loyalty and competence."
"You asked him to work in the bar?" I'm curious about what he did for a man like Ethan that ended with him owing Sebastian a favor, but I don't think it's my place to ask. Yet.
He nods easily. "Of course. My Daddy works there, after all."
I falter in my steps, and he stops, looking up at me.
