“And what about Aaron?” Jack asked.
Verity’s eye twitched, but the rest of their face didn’t betray whatever they were thinking. “I haven’t seen him.”
“Since when?” Jack pressed, just as Callum returned, setting a mixed drink in front of him with a proud grin.
He took a sip and smiled at Callum who was already off to mix another drink for someone farther down the bar. Jack turned his attention to Verity who still hadn’t answered his question.
“Since when, you harlot?” he asked again.
Verity licked their lips and fiddled with a strap on their shirt. “This morning.”
Jack’s brows furrowed in concern.
“Oh, stop,” Verity interjected, “I’m a grown up, I can take care of myself.”
Jack scratched at the side of his lip, thinking about taking care of Callum.
“I know you can, but you shouldn’t have to.”
“That’s very Daddy of you, Daddy.” Verity reached over and took a small sip of Jack’s drink before placing it back on the bar.
“I can’t help it,” Jack replied with a shrug.
“And that’s why you and him are perfect for each other.” Verity shrugged too and smiled, then disappeared into the crowd.
17
Callum
Jack had been stayingat Landon’s for three nights. That was three nights that Callum had spent alone in a bed that smelled like mountaineering Swiss men and the fading musk of sweat and cum.
He equal parts hated and appreciated the fact Jack was giving him the space to work and the time to maintain his schedule the way he needed. But it was Monday now, and he didn’t have work. He had a date.
Jack knocked on his door and it startled him. He didn’tknowit was Jack, but he assumed it was, since they had a date and no one else came over unannounced. He opened his front door and there was Jack, as expected, as hoped for.
He was wearing slim-cut black trousers and a simple looking red v-neck tee. He had a single, long-stem red rose in one hand, held casually at his side. He displayed it between them with a smile that melted Callum’s heart.
“Kitten,” Jack greeted him.
“Daddy.”
Callum took the rose into his kitchen and pulled a pilsner glass from a cabinet, filling it with water and dropping the stem in.
“Where are we going?” Callum asked, coming back to face Jack in the doorway. Jack twined their fingers together and lifted their hands, dusting a kiss across the top of Callum’s knuckles.
“You’ll see.” Jack pulled him into the hallway.
“Am I driving?” Callum asked, closing his front door and locking it.
“No.” Jack led him down the hallway and out to the street, pulling a set of keys from his pocket.
“You bought a car already?” Callum asked, a little shocked Jack had moved so quickly.
“Nothing fancy,” Jack assured him, pressing the fob.
The lights on a shiny black Range Rover blinked.
“Nothing fancy,” Callum deadpanned.
