Daphne greeted me with enthusiasm.
I cocked my head at my host.
He grinned. “I figured I’d let you feed her. To see how it’s done. Then you can join the ranks of her favorite people.”
I feigned hurt and stuck out my lower lip. “I thought I already was one of her best buddies.”
She eyed me.
Zahir pointed to a large container. “One level scoop—which is in the container. She’s going to devour it because—” He opened the tin of tea bags.
I waited.
“She was likely deprived of food at one point. Or had to fight to get it. She’s very voracious when she gets her food. So no one else can steal it. Don’t get between her and her food.”
“Understood.” I nabbed the bowl with her name on it and then opened the container to scoop the exact amount. Daphne danced as I placed her bowl on the floor. Then proceeded to eat so fast, I worried she might choke.
Zahir handed me a coffee—prepared perfectly. Just the way I liked it. “You remember?”
He grinned. “I’m notthatold.” Then his expression sobered for a moment. “I try to remember everything about people I care for. That’s not always easy. Some people—not naming names—make it difficult for me to learn their preferences because they’re so contained. They don’t want to appear to be a burden, so they don’t express what they really want.”
I put the coffee on the counter and moved into Zahir’s personal space. “So asking for what I want? And if I want you?”
His eyes widened. “As a Daddy or as a lover?”
I bit my lip. Finally, I blurted my answer. The one I held tight in my heart. “Both?”
“You say that as a question—like you’re worried I don’t care enough about you to want more than what we’ve agreed to.”
I held his gaze—trying to parse his words. Trying to figure out exactly what he was and wasn’t saying. “Are you willing to consider more? Or is this moving way too fast?”
He held my gaze. “How about we get through meeting Demetrius and the rest of the family? After that, if you’re up for it, we can have a conversation about more.” His eyes burned an intense dark-brown. “I don’t want you making decisions—even seemingly easy ones—out of fear.”
I cocked my head.
He grasped my hand. “You’re nervous, Andre. Even I can see that. And as long as you’re worried about what’s about to happen, choosing to move our relationship forward in a romantic way—or however else you’re suggesting—isn’t a good idea.”
“Are you saying I’m wrong? That what I’m feeling isn’t—” I flailed the hand he wasn’t gripping tight.
“That’s not what I’m saying. We might be absolutely right together. It might be perfect. But you’re heading into somewhere challenging. I have your back, okay? No matter what happens, I’ll be here for you. In whatever capacity you need.”
I bit my lower lip. “Daddy?”
“Yes, Solo?”
“Can we play after we take Daphne out for a walk?”
Daphne, who had long consumed her food, sat at attention.
“Coffee, tea, Daphne, breakfast, and then play. Finally, showers, and we head to Demetrius’s. We’ve got plenty of time.”
I considered. “Yeah?”
“Yes. It’s going to work out.”
He said the words with more surety than I felt, but if he said this would work out, then I had to believe him. Because he had more life experience than me. Because he’d had a long-term relationship that worked. Because he knew what heartbreak looked like. Even if Demetrius rejected me, I’d have my Daddy to comfort me. “Yeah, okay.”
And so we did just that—drank our drinks, walked Daphne for half an hour, settled down for an egg-and-toast breakfast, and then headed down to the playroom.
