I sat at the table of Allen’s favorite Chinese place when they both arrived. Mal had managed to get away from the hospital that was conveniently around the corner, and Allen had likely been at the club he helped a friend of his run these days to have something to do. He’d invested in the club, too, partially to make a more accepting place for our community to have parties that couldn’t fit people’s homes.
“I already ordered,” I told them immediately.
They both settled into their seats and thanked me. Efficiency was big for people on tight schedules, I’d learned over the years. Not that Allen was too busy, but Mal certainly had limited time.
“So, tell us your troubles,” Allen said in his kindest Dom voice, as if I was a scared boy he was trying to settle. The twinkle in his eye let me know he was doing it on purpose.
I rolled my eyes, which made them laugh at me.
Our food arrived, and we started on those. For once, I didn’t feel like eating. I also recognized that I used food a lot to make a point of socializing while eating. Having conversations, whether lighthearted or tough, while having a meal together had always been a thing in my family.
“I need your opinions on something.”
“Bear,” Mal said, grinning as he used his chopsticks to pick up some shrimp.
“We’ve agreed to a trial basis arrangement. D/s only, no sexual play.”
Allen nodded slowly, clearly going into his serious mode. “That sounds good with what he’s been through lately.”
“Yes, but the little thing…” I exhaled loudly and put down my chopsticks. “I told him I wanted to figure out if being a Daddy Dom was something for me.”
“And?” Mal peered at me. “Sounds good to me.”
“He just said that there were plenty of littles in the community.”
Both of them froze, eyes wide.
Then Allen cleared his throat. “Well, that boy’s in denial if I ever saw one.”
Mal nodded empathetically. “Yeah. I see your problem now.”
I picked up my chopsticks again and pointed them at my friends. “So, here’s my actual question: Would it be bad for me to gradually insert little-y things into his life?”
Mal chuckled a bit wickedly. “I mean, I’m not against being a bit sneaky about something like that.”
We both looked at Allen who sighed and rubbed his face. “Or you could have an actual conversation with the boy?”
Bear
It had been a couple of weeks and I couldn’t have felt more settled if I’d tried.
Yesterday, Luke had been tense, and I’d only figured it out after Master Allen sent me a text telling me to keep an eye on Luke as there was a celebration of Elio’s birthday being held at Lila’s. So I’d done the obvious and told him I needed help with some baking.
Then I’d accidentally on purpose made a mess and we’d spent most of the evening baking, cleaning up, and eating the cupcakes we’d decorated pretty damn badly. They’d been tasty though.
I heard him get up and use the bathroom. I finished scrambling the eggs and hoped the breakfast buns I’d made would be cool enough by the time we sat to eat.
Luke made his way into the kitchen, looking sleep-rumpled like he did some mornings. Today, his eyes were red-rimmed, but he didn’t seem sad anymore.
“Morning,” he rasped as he went to fix himself a mug of coffee.
“Morning, Sir.”
I plated the food and turned to put his on the table first. He stepped around me with his mug and stopped next to me to drop a kiss on my head. He was maybe two inches taller than me, but I always felt smaller in a good way when he was this close.
“This looks incredible as always. I swear I never ate as well in the mornings as I have while you’ve lived with me, Bear. Thank you.”
Blushing, I tried to process the casual kiss. “Uh, of course, Sir. I made rolls, too.”
