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I flashed him the crooked smile that most men liked. And yup, he definitely shuddered that time. “Then thank you.” I tipped back my beer, taking a healthy swig and giving myself time to work up the courage to keep this conversation going. I’d never been a Daddy to a boy, and though it fit me well when I thought about it, I sometimes had to remind myself to act like the Daddy I was. My realization had been well over a year ago, yet somehow I was still finding my footing.

Tristan spoke up before I finished swallowing. “Can I be honest?”

I smiled. “Please do.”

He picked at the napkin under his empty drink glass. “I do like you, Henry. And forty-nine is perfect for me. I’m into older guys.” His eyes widened as his words sped up. “You know, older than me. Not that you’re old.”

I chuckled at his frantic backtracking. “No worries, Tris. I feel old more often than not. I was mostly concerned that someone as young, attractive, and full of life as you would never want an old guy like me.”

Little by little, the normal Tristan was coming back. “Are you kidding? Your age is one of your most attractive qualities.” He put his hand on my thigh, and I immediately reached for it and entwined my fingers with his until our palms were pressed together. “And the silver fox thing you have going on? Fuck, it’s hot.”

I blinked. “You’re kidding.”

It wasn’t a question, but he shook his head anyway. “I’m not.”

I smiled at him, and he grinned back. “Then good. I think you’re hot, too, you know.”

“Do you?”

I was two-point-five seconds away from kissing that smug smile from his lips. “You know I do.” Then I frowned. “Don’t you?”

Tristan flashed a crooked smile that might’ve made me literally swoon. “I’d hoped. Maybe, somewhere in my subconscious, I suspected. Honestly, this feels both like it’s coming out of left field and that it was inevitable and there all along. Were we just oblivious?”

I shrugged, leaning against the back of the seat, which pressed my leg more firmly into his. I felt him press back. “Maybe. You’ve had my attention for a while, Tris. I couldn’t help but get sucked into your orbit. You’re like a planet—and you’ve been pulling me in with your gravity for years.”

His jaw dropped. “Years?”

I nodded, feeling my cheeks flushing. Well, that was embarrassing. I was too old for that shit. “Years. Since you joined the Daddies and Subs Club.” I grinned. “Best night of my week. Well, every other week.”

His hand pulled on mine under the table, drawing me closer to him until our mouths were inches apart. “Henry,” he said on an exhale, and I breathed it in. “You’ve liked me for years?”

I nodded, our lips nearly touching. My heart was trying to leap out of my chest toward his. “Yes. I couldn’t escape you. I still can’t. You’re . . . you’re amazing, Tris. I’m honored you’d even want to give me the time of day.”

We froze in place, our breaths mingling in the space between us, which was filled with the sweetness of both the mai tai and the essence of us. His scent was fully masculine—a little smoky but undeniably sweet. Fuck, to taste him would be heaven.

Then Tristan, clearly on the same wavelength as I was, spoke the words I’d been longing to hear since I’d first laid eyes on him. “Henry, will you kiss me?”

No way was I turning that down. I closed the space between us instantly, capturing his soft, full lips with mine, drawing a moan from him that I swallowed as I coaxed his mouth open. Access granted, I slipped my tongue inside, searching until he matched my force then increased it, prompting me to lean in and take what I wanted.

Shit, Tristan tasted better than anything I’d ever had in my mouth. His taste was like the finest whiskey. And his soul? I couldn’t logically explain it, but it seemed to resonate with mine as the kiss deepened. Tristan leaned closer, dropping my hand to clasp both of his around the back of my neck. At that cue, I grabbed his hips and yanked him onto my lap until he was straddling me.

The table was crowding us, but I wasn’t about to give up tasting this man for anything. Especially when his hard dick pressed into mine, making me gasp. It broke our connection, and we took the moment to gulp some unfortunately necessary breaths.

Tristan was the first to break the spell between us. “Damn, that was hot.”

I chuckled. “Yes, it really fucking was.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “Wanna do it again?”

I growled, rushing forward to claim his mouth once more. I explored him urgently this time, grateful this beautiful man wanted me in this way and eager to soak it up while I could. I was a lucky bastard.

We only broke apart to catch our breath again. As our chests heaved in tandem, I took the opportunity to memorize every inch of his face.

Tristan leaned his forehead against mine.

“Okay, kissing works,” I started, still a little breathless. “I’d say we definitely have chemistry, not that I doubted it. You good?”

He smirked. “Better than good. Fantastic, actually. That was fun.”