Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Brett
It takes everything I have not to run to the showers after the show. My post-performance energy is at an all-time high. I’ve never been this keyed up. Never felt so invincible.
And I know the exact reason why.
Konnor.
He watched me give my all on that stage tonight.
I know he didn’t miss a single beat because every chance I got, my eyes were turned his way.
I’m sure some of the guests seated near his section thought my looks were for them.
They had to be thinking they’d somehow been chosen to be the focus of my attention.
I couldn’t even tell you what a single one of them was wearing. Or what their hair looked like.
Yet I can vividly describe the way Konnor’s gaze swept over me. I can tell you how often he would bite his lip, as if he appreciated the show. As if he appreciated me.
I sure hope I’m picking up the right signals from him. If not, I’m going to feel like a complete idiot.
Normally I take my time in the shower after a show. I’ll sing some of the songs we performed to, and maybe even pretend to be part of the water act Roscoe does. I’m not coordinated enough for it in reality, however, me and the shower stall are partners for life.
Tonight, I don’t have the patience for any of it. All I want is to be clean enough to get to Konnor. The rest is pointless.
Luckily, I’m the first in and the first out. I throw on a shirt and some sweats when I’m done. The fabric clings to me since I don’t take the time to fully dry off. I’ll count it as points in my favor. If Konnor is interested, surely he’ll notice the way the material stretches across my muscles.
I leave my bag in the communal dressing area before taking off to find my boy. The guys won’t mess with my stuff. If anything, Angelo will inform them I’m busy. I trust him to have my back.
I pause to take a breath when I get to the room I told Konnor to wait in. No matter what happens next, I have to stay true to myself. I won’t let my emotions get the better of me. Not again.
Pushing inside, I breathe a sigh of relief at seeing him waiting for me on the couch. I close the door behind me as I smile.
“Hey, you,” I tease.
Konnor ducks his head. “Hey.”
The reply is softer than I’d like. For a moment, I worry that he doesn’t want to be here. Does he think his job is depending on this? That I’ll cause trouble if he really wants to leave?
I decide it’s best to get the truth out in the open. I’m usually a direct sort of guy. Stopping now would be pointless. Especially when I want to make sure I’m on the right foot.
“My parents raised me to be honest to a fault. Having said that, I want to be clear about what this is for me.” I wait until his eyes lift to meet my gaze.
“I like you, Konnor. More than I probably should given how little we know about one another. But you don’t have to like me back.
And you certainly don’t have to be here if you don’t want to. ”
He frowns. “I… I want to.”
“That’s good to know. If you’re okay with it, I’d like to come sit with you. Would you mind?”
Konnor lifts a hand out to me. The move gives me all the answer I need.
One minute I’m at the door, and the next I’m practically on top of him. From shoulder to knee, our bodies touch. It’s far too tempting to be this close to him. Clothes don’t lessen the effect in any way. If anything, it only makes my desire stronger.
“Brett,” he says softly.
“Konnor.”
At my firm reply, he leans his head on my shoulder. “I’m not sure what’s happening. This is all moving so fast. And I don’t even know what ‘this’ is. Have I fallen and hit my head? Is that it?”
I press a soft kiss to the top of his head as my arms wrap around him. “This isn’t a dream, nor are you hallucinating. Think of it as more like fate interceding in our lives. You were meant to be here so I could find you. That’s all.”
“I’m not sure…”
Leaning back, I make sure I’m looking him in the eye when I lay my full truth on the line.
“You may not be sure, but I am. When you’re around, I feel like I can breathe better.
It’s as if your proximity slows down the chaos of my mind and brings me peace I didn’t know I could have.
I’m sure that sounds a bit out there since we’ve literally only spoken twice before this.
If I could explain it better, then I would. ”
He shakes his head rapidly. “I feel the same way. It doesn’t make any sense though.”
“It does,” I insist. “We’re not saying we’re in love. This thing between us—this pull—is attraction. A connection at the most physical level. You and I don’t have to know each other to know we want more.”
“That… that makes sense. But what does that mean for us? I don’t want to have a fling. Especially not with someone I have to be around at work. It’s not who I am.”
My heart soars at his words. Maybe he’ll want what I do too. Someone who means more than to warm my bed.
“Can I tell you what I’m looking for in a partner? It might help you if you know where I stand first?”
He nods. “Yes, please. When you told me the truth before, it made decisions easier. I hate having to make decisions.”
Damn. It’s like he knows exactly what I want to hear.
“What I’m looking for is a partner who wants more than casual. I want to date someone. To build a serious commitment with them.”
At my words, he slowly nods. I wait for him to speak, and when he doesn’t, I continue. This next part is where I truly worry I’ll lose him. Because of my pledge to be upfront about my kinks, I have to tell him I’m a Daddy. There’s no getting out of it.
“Do you know what Daddy kink is?”
His cheeks go pink at my question. It’s not a verbal answer, though I suspect his reaction is based on some sort of understanding.
Shyly, he answers, “Only from researching online. I don’t know anyone who practices.”
“Thank you for being honest. I appreciate you sharing that with me.”
“Are you—?” Konnor’s question cuts off as he bites his lip.
“Am I what? A Daddy?”
His eyes go wide even as he nods.
Chuckling at his reaction, I run my hands along his arms. We’re still sitting close, our bodies aligned, as if waiting for us to get our shit together.
I’m trying.
“Would it bother you if I said I was? Is that a dealbreaker?”
“I’m not sure,” he answers, his eyes closing at the touch of my hands on his body. “It’s not a dealbreaker from the start, but I’ve never been with someone who had those needs. What if… what if I’m not what you need?”
“There is little doubt in my mind that you aren’t damn near exactly the type of boy I’ve been looking for.”
“Boy?”
I nod, my gaze locked on the goosebumps forming on his skin. It takes everything I have not to lean forward to tease him further. I long to run my lips over them, to heighten any pleasure he feels until he’s on the edge of something beautiful.
“Brett?”
The sound of my name on his lips pulls me back. “Yes?”
“I asked you why you said boy. Is that part of the kink?”
“It is,” I answer. “The general term I use for a partner would be boy when in the dynamic. It’s meant to cover the fact that I’m their Daddy Dom, and I’m the one to take care of their needs.
We’d agree to what those needs are before taking things further.
Just like I’d expect my boy to trust me and to call me Daddy, he’d know I intend to call him by his preferred endearment and to be his caregiver.
You didn’t seem to enjoy little bunny earlier. ”
“But I thought boy was the preferred endearment?” He frowned, which nearly made me laugh.
He was so fucking cute. The bun on his head had loosened as the night wore on. Pieces of his hair fell around his face. They framed him perfectly despite it probably being what he considered messy.
“It could be your chosen term. There’s also the standard nicknames people use in their relationships. Darling. Baby. Sweetheart. Honey.”
Konnor giggles. “Those all sound so silly. I don’t really connect with any of them.”
I suspect I know the reason for this. It’s not like I can throw him in the deep end though. My boy needs time to adjust bit by bit.
Still… it wouldn’t hurt to give him a gentle nudge.
“There are other combinations of nicknames too. For instance, when I first saw you, I thought you looked really pretty. I could call you my pretty boy.”
His eyes dilate at the two words. I think we have a winner.