Chapter 4
Rooster watched over his menu as Emmett frowned at his own. They’d been seated at the restaurant for less than five minutes, and it already seemed like the boy was overwhelmed.
“Have you ever been here before?” Rooster asked casually.
Emmett glanced up, the furrow between his brows slow to melt away. “No, though I’ve heard that it’s good.”
Rooster nodded. “It is.” He studied Emmett for a few more seconds, then added, “Would you like me to order for you?”
He said it nonchalantly, like he might offer to a friend who didn’t know what to order, but he wanted to see if it was the kind of thing Emmett would be okay with. Not a test necessarily, but a way to gently let him know that if he wanted help, Rooster would be glad to give it.
Hell, he’d love to give it. Stuff like that was what had always driven past partners crazy.
He’d always had an innate desire to help and care for those around him, especially men and women he’d dated.
It was why he’d become an EMT too. But people in the past had felt smothered by his attempts to take care of them, leaving him feeling rejected and unfulfilled.
He’d gotten the impression Emmett wouldn’t be offended by the offer though.
In fact, after the way he’d responded to some of the things Rooster had said and done the night before at his house, he was pretty damn sure the boy craved giving up more control than the other subs Rooster knew.
He couldn’t imagine Ollie letting Six order his food—of course, maybe they were completely different as a couple when it was just the two of them.
He was glad he’d offered when relief washed over Emmett, his shoulders dropping and round face smoothing. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
“No, of course not.” He set aside his menu and plucked Emmett’s from his fingers, setting it aside as well. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to help you. You seem surprised though.”
“Um, sort of,” Emmett said, fiddling with his rolled-up silverware. “It’s one of those things…”
He didn’t finish, and Rooster wasn’t sure where he was going with that statement. Following his instincts, he grabbed those fidgeting fingers and wrapped them up in his own hands. Gorgeous, golden-brown eyes flashed up to his face, lips parting slightly.
“It’s one of those things, what?”
Emmett licked his dark pink lips, hands twitching in Rooster’s hold. “One of those things I’ve always wanted but wasn’t sure would actually, um, be okay in real life.”
Rooster realized he was editing out a few words. The place wasn’t very busy, since it was a Monday evening instead of a weekend, but there were others sitting a couple of booths away.
He didn’t give a fuck.
He didn’t want any sort of misunderstandings between the two of them, so he clarified, “You mean certain things that you want from a daddy?”
Emmett’s cheeks flushed bright pink, but before he could answer, a server approached them. Rooster didn’t release his hands, barely glancing at the young man where he stood right at the end of his side of the booth.
“Evening, how are you doing tonight?” He winked when Rooster looked over again, annoyed he was ignoring Emmett.
He turned his full attention to Emmett when he tried to tug his hands free, tightening his hold instead and holding his eyes as he answered. “Fine. Can he get a lemonade, and I’ll take a Founders IPA—whatever you have on tap—and a glass of water.”
The local brewing company was one of his favorites, and he knew the restaurant carried several options. He only intended on having one though, not wanting Emmett to hesitate for even a second getting in the car with him again or missing out on any nuances of his reactions.
“Sure thing! I love their IPAs. That’s an excellent choice,” the server gushed, pushing buttons on the small tablet he carried. “I’ll be right back with—”
“We’re actually ready to order our food as well,” Rooster cut in, wanting to lessen the number of interruptions they’d have as much as possible.
“Oh, uh, okay. Did you want to hear the specials?”
“No, thank you. We’ll start with the apps sampler, and then he’ll have the sirloin burger with the toppings on the side.”
“Okay, that comes with your choice of side,” he said, looking at Emmett for the first time and raising his eyebrows. “A lot of people get the house salad.”
Emmett shrank under his judgmental gaze and snide comment.
Grinding his teeth together, Rooster spoke again, voice harder. “He’ll have the truffle fries.”
The server eyed him this time, lingering on his cut and hoodie. “There’s an upcharge of—”
“Yes, I know. That’s fine. And I’ll take the filet mignon, medium rare, with the mashed potatoes and gravy.” He held the guy’s gaze as he added, “And let Roman know that Rooster is here and would love to say hi if he has a minute.”
The blood drained from the server’s face, and he quickly nodded and fled. Emmett watched him go, eyes wide, then whipped back around to Rooster.
“Who’s Roman?”
“The owner and head chef.” Rooster took a deep breath to find his calm again, not wanting to spend any more time upset at the little shit. “Now, back to what we were talking about…”
Emmett squinted, eyes going unfocused for a second. It was fucking adorable, and so was the blush that crept back up over his cheeks as he remembered what they’d been discussing before the interruption. “Oh, um…”
When he didn’t continue, Rooster smiled gently at him and gave his hands a slight squeeze. “Are you worried there are certain things you may want from a daddy that he won’t be interested in giving you, sweet boy?”
He nodded, eyes downcast. Rooster waited him out though, rubbing his thumbs over the backs of his hands.
After a few moments, Emmett peeked up at him, teeth tugging at his bottom lip.
“Yes, that’s… that’s what I meant. I wasn’t sure if ordering for their little was just something daddies did in books. ”
Rooster’s interest piqued further, and he cocked his head. “Is that how you learned about being little? From books?”
Those damn dimples appeared again, making Rooster’s heart skip a beat. Emmett dropped his gaze to their entwined hands, using his thumb to trace around one of Rooster’s fingernails. “Books and the internet. I know not everything is going to be accurate, but…”
“But what, sweet boy?”
“The first time I read a book with a little in it… something just clicked into place in my head.” The low, romantic lighting turned Emmett’s eyes into molten gold, and he studied Rooster’s face, completely unaware how he was stealing Rooster’s heart with his shy looks and brave honesty. “Does that make sense?”
“It makes perfect sense,” Rooster assured him, his voice a little huskier. “I felt the same way at the first BDSM class we held at the clubhouse.”
“What?” Emmett shot upright, nearly jerking his fingers free from his hold. “Wait, wait, wait. Is that what Ollie meant by Houston’s classes?”
It took him a second to remember the exchange with Ollie and Knuckles while they decorated cookies. “Yeah. This summer, Houston and a friend of his who’s also a Dom started leading classes and shit at the clubhouse to teach any members and their partners about the lifestyle.”
“Wow.” Emmett’s eyes were enormous. “That’s so cool.”
Rooster chuckled. “It was. They did a whole series, and next month, the club is going to host its first BDSM party. We can go if you want, but if that’s not your thing, we don’t have to.”
Somehow, his eyes got even bigger. “I… I don’t know.”
He gave his fingers another squeeze. “There’s no pressure. You can think about it. Why don’t you tell me another thing you’re interested in, but you’re not sure a daddy will want to give you?”
“Um.”
He held back a grimace as Emmett’s face flushed an alarming shade of red, head whipping around to stare in horror at the young woman standing at the end of their table.
She was holding their drinks and kept her eyes averted as she set them in front of them, muttered an apology, and speed walked away.
“Oh my gosh.” Emmett tugged his hands free and covered his face. “We have to leave.”
Rooster chuckled, but his mouth snapped shut when the sweet boy actually slid his hands down to glare at him.
“It’s not funny,” Emmett hissed, leaning over the table. “She heard you say—”
“Little boy, she’s heard worse. I can promise you that.”
Most of his ire drained away, his soft-looking lips turning to a pout as he slumped over the table, resting his head on his folded arms and whimpering. “That doesn’t make me feel much better.”
“Poor thing,” Rooster said softly, reaching over and gently carding his fingers through the short hairs on the back of Emmett’s head.
He didn’t push him to sit up or stop being dramatic.
Rooster couldn’t give two shits about someone seeing Emmett’s little breakdown.
It was more important to him to offer space and comfort.
After a few quiet moments, Emmett sighed and turned his head so his chin was resting on his arms. Rooster brushed his fingers over the delicate curve of his ear as he pulled his hand back, pleased as punch when Emmett shivered, lips parting slightly.
He stared at Rooster, eyes darting back and forth over his face like he was searching for something. His shoulders moved as he took a deep breath and then said softly, “Bath time.”
Fuck, he was proud of him.
Warmth spread in his chest as he imagined Emmett in a tub, surrounded by bubbles and his stuffed dragon looking on from a safe distance. His dimples on full display as he smiled up at Rooster as he knelt to wash him.
“That’s definitely something a daddy could help with,” he said, clearing the gravel out of his throat before he continued. “Something I’d love to help a little boy with.”
Sitting up slowly, Emmett kept his gaze on the table, his round cheeks flushing a dark pink. “Yeah?”
“Fuck yeah.”