“So spend it with me. If you want to.”
“I do want to, Daddy. Thank you.”
“That’s settled, then.”
Eventually, we reach a village, where the streets and tiny car parks have been gritted. Rowan finds somewhere to park, and we wander around until we discover a quaint pub selling breakfast. We sit by an open fire, eating bacon, sausage, fried egg, beans, and hash browns. The fire provides a different kind of warmth to Rowan, crackling and fierce. We chat about random things. Rowan always seems to have a new topic up his sleeve. He’s especially interested in all my favourite things.Colour, music, films, and books. He’s engaging and enchanting, and I can’t keep my eyes off him. I can’t help but smile around him. He’s an enthusiastic ray of sunshine.
After breakfast, we look for somewhere to buy clothes. Rowan spies a charity shop and drags me into it. He puts on a mini fashion show for me, trying on practically everything on the men’s rails that will fit him and showing me every outfit combination. It’s odd to see him in anything other than a grey suit. He settles on a close-fitting Pride T-shirt, ripped jeans, and a soft, grey, brushed-cotton over-shirt for his first outfit, which he puts on as soon as he’s paid.
Next, we find a chemist to buy condoms.
“Do you think there’s a sex shop in the village that sells Elevated’s products?” Rowan whispers.
“I doubt it.”
“Shame.”
“Why?”
He shrugs. “More toys would be fun.”
He’s not wrong, but I’m sure we can have fun without them.
By the time we’re done, the temperature has risen to above zero, and the snow is melting. Hoping the roads between the village and the hotel will be clear—or at least clear enough—we return to the car and begin the last leg of our journey.
Finally, the grand country house comes into view. We find a parking space in the almost full car park, put the Pride dildo into Rowan’s bag, and make our way to reception. It’s too early to check in, or it would be if we hadn’t had rooms booked for the night we spent in the car. Even though we have two rooms, we only take one room key—for the room we’ll be spending tonight in. I send the Scrooge costume and my jumper for dry cleaning, and then we make our way to the room.
“It’s huge!” Rowan says.
“It’s a suite. Nigel doesn’t stay in normal rooms anymore.”
“Why not?”
I sit on the edge of the king-sized bed and waggle my fingers. Rowan comes to me and sits on my lap, his arms around my neck.
“We didn’t have much growing up. Our parents lived from payday to payday. Often, the money didn’t last that long, and we ended up eating beans and toast or plain pasta for a week. Either that, or Mum would go to the food bank. Our clothes were mostly hand-me-downs. We went on holiday once because Mum had enough coupons to get a cheap stay at a caravan park. It was the best summer of our lives. Nigel dreamt up the idea for Elevated, but needed some cash to get started, so he roped me in. I’d just qualified to be a plumber. He got a small business loan. I got a personal loan, and we sank everything we had into his crazy idea.”
“And it paid off?”
“Yes. I don’t think either of us dreamt Elevated would get so big. But it did, and now Nigel likes splashing cash around. He’s got money now and he’s damn well going to spend it.”
“Hence the flashy cars.”
“Yes. Honestly, I don’t blame him. And he’s not completely frivolous. He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise the business. He only spends what he can afford to.”
“Well, I appreciate the business the two of you created. So does my arse.” He winks.
“Do you have more of our toys?”
“At home, yes. Not all of them. Some of your dildos are eye-wateringly big. I have some of the fantasy ones, though. The Tentickle is one of my favourites. I got it after I watched Rubin’s partner use it on his live stream. He had so much fun, I had to buy it.”
“With your staff discount?”
He laughs. “Damn right. There has to be some perks to working for a sex toy company, right?”
I run my hand over his thigh. “Of course.”
“Being screwed by the boss is the best perk.”
