Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Lee
I stood there a moment longer than necessary after Hope disappeared into the multi-purpose room that had been set up for this dating event.
It was a large room that served many purposes.
For these two weeks, it would serve as a place where people could meet for some demonstration or seminar as well as provided a space where they could gather for dinks and lighter pub-type fare without having to descend to the lower level where the Ranch’s Dungeon was located.
I told myself I was simply adjusting my schedule in my head. Deciding whether I wanted tea or something stronger. It had nothing to do with the way her smile lingered in my thoughts.
It also had nothing to do with the fact that when I’d asked to see her again, she hadn’t hesitated even if she was on her way to a date with another man.
I stepped inside anyway.
The room was already humming with low conversation and clinking glassware even if it was still a bit early to be considered cocktail hour. It still didn’t take me long to find her.
She stood near the far wall, her soft blue dress catching the amber light. I once again noticed how much effort she’d put into her appearance and felt a slight pang of envy that it wasn’t for me.
She was smiling up at a tall man in a dark button-down.
Troy.
I’d never formally met him, but Rawhide was small enough that reputations traveled. He was a classic Dominant and longtime friend of some of the Doms who worked on staff. He would be the perfect Dom for the kind of submissive Hope claimed to be.
And she seemed to be engaged. A little flushed. Definitely interested in what he had to say.
That’s when I realized Troy wasn’t alone.
Another man stood slightly to his right. Broader through the shoulders but a few inches shorter. Him I didn’t recognize. So far, he’d not said anything, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure if Hope had even acknowledged him yet.
Hope laughed at something Troy said, then glanced between the two men, the first indication she realized there was someone else with them. She looked a bit shocked and taken aback but then she smiled at the stranger before offering him her hand.
I stepped back out before she could notice me stalking her like a creeper. I had no interest in intruding or turning an easy drink into a territorial display. If she wanted Troy’s attention tonight, she should have it.
She should have everything she wanted.
The path toward the residential apartments crunched softly under my boots as I headed home. Living on site meant I could retreat when I chose to. I valued that. The Ranch could be... loud in more ways than one. Especially when we had big events with loads of new people.
I was halfway around the bend when something slight and fast barreled toward me.
“Daddy, you’re too slow!”
I stopped automatically.
The Little skidded to a halt just short of colliding with me, bright eyes flashing up at me in triumph.
“Well,” I said dryly, “If it isn’t mister dino nuggie, himself.”
Perry’s mouth fell open. “You remember me!”
“Hard to forget you, handsome boy,” I returned. “Now where’s your Daddy?”
Tyrell came up a moment later, steady and unruffled as ever. His gaze met mine, and his smile split his face.
“Lee!” he greeted me, before taking my offered hand and pulling me into a bear hug.
I remembered his hugs fondly.
“I see you and your Little are still up to no good and attacking innocent bystanders,” I remarked mildly as he set me back on my feet.
“Only the handsome ones,” he replied.
Perry made a dramatic sigh. “Daddy,” he whined. “Stop flirting with the big, bad, handsome Master Lee.”
I laughed despite myself, and just like that I was a year in the past.
We’d met at an educational convention in Atlanta.
My official job at the Ranch was as a teacher for the school-age Littles.
However, over the past couple of years, Derek had encouraged me to spread my wings a bit.
That included conducting a few seminars at Rawhide University where I concentrated on going a little deeper into the possibilities various dynamics could offer.
From there, I’d begun being invited to do the same at a variety of venues.
In Georgia, I’d been teaching a seminar on creative expression in power exchange.
How our different senses could be used in scenes.
Tyrell had attended with Perry tucked close to his side.
I’d noticed Tyrell first.
It would have been difficult not to.
He had an aura to him that I’d found impossible to miss. Something about him drew me to him, even though we were obviously of the same leanings.
Obviously, mostly because he had his Little boy with him, and Perry was so clearly devoted to his Daddy it warmed my heart.
I’d flirted. With both of them.
Shamelessly, if I were honest.
Tyrell had flirted back, just as easily, heat simmering under that calm exterior.
There had been drinks and laughter and charged conversations that had stretched well past midnight.
Perry though, had taken a bit longer to warm up to me.
Tyrell had assured me his Little was just painfully shy and it wasn’t anything personal.
But at the end of the day, I was getting along with both of them wonderfully, and even though I’m sure that they were open to sharing, I hadn’t been sure if I was in the right headspace for something like that at the time.
Strangely enough, now, with Hope... I was rather open to the idea. If that was what she wanted.
Perry’s impatient huff brought me back to the present, standing on the path at Rawhide. He was grinning at me, and Tyrell’s hand still rested on my shoulder.
“It’s good to see you both,” I said honestly.
Tyrell studied me for a moment, head tilting slightly. He’d always been perceptive. “You too, man. I’d actually forgotten you said you worked here until I saw your name on one of the panels being hosted later this week, so I was hoping we’d run into you.”
“Well,” I said after a beat, straightening. “I was on my way up to my place. I’ve got decent whiskey and even better hot chocolate, along with a coloring book that’s woefully empty. You’re welcome to join me for a bit if you don’t have any plans tonight.”
Perry looked at Tyrell immediately, eyes alight at the promise of something to color.
Tyrell didn’t answer right away. Finally, he nodded once. “We’d like that.”
My apartment was at the end of the top row, and I liked it that way because the ones closest to me were all empty, so it was always quiet.
Perry wandered just inside the doorway, eyes wide. “So you really live at Rawhide all of the time?”
“Yup. It’s one of the perks of the job,” I said, shrugging out of my jacket.
“Does that mean you get to join in on all the dating fun? We didn’t see you at the face painting today,” Tyrell questioned.
I smiled at the question, thinking of Hope and how I’d met her at all the dating fun while I handed Perry the coloring book and extra-jumbo sized box of crayons. “I can, yes, when it fits in around my regular duties. I’ve also been filling in and helping out when they need an extra pair of hands.”
“Ooh,” Perry cooed. “Does that mean you met someone? I bet there are loads of awesome Littles who would love to have you as a Daddy. You have the best coloring crayons, and you offered me hot chocolate.”
I chuckled at his excitement, even though a small part of me felt a twinge of guilt at hoping he’d think me the perfect Daddy when he already had one. “As a matter of fact, I did. We’re going to meet up for coffee tomorrow.”
Tyrell smoothed down Perry’s hair and placed a soft kiss on his Little’s head before leaning against my kitchen counter. He watched me grab some glasses and a bottle of whiskey from my cupboard, and I had to suppress the urge to fidget or squirm under his intense scrutiny.
“Tell me more,” he urged after taking the glass I offered him.
As I busied myself with preparing Perry’s hot chocolate, I thought about Hope and couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.
“She’s really sweet, a tad shy, and not very comfortable with her Little side as yet. But I think with enough encouragement, I could help her with that.”
Perry bit down on his bottom lip as he concentrated on the picture in front of him.
“That’s really cool, Master Lee. We also met someone exactly like that today.
She let Daddy paint her face and gave me a hug and everything.
Daddy said we could ask her out on another date.
I was going to call her and invite her to breakfast tomorrow.
” He continued a stream of babble as he selected a different color, barely paying us any attention.
“That’s fine, right, Daddy?” He quickly looked up at Tyrell from his place at the table.
“We can phone Hope tomorrow morning, can’t we? ”
Wait.
Did he say Hope?