Chapter Four
Trying not to openly stare at the pricey furniture and stunning antiques of the sort Eli had only seen in museums was making his head hurt.
When Ryan told him he lived in Beacon Hill, he’d expected something very nice.
His grandparents had once taken him to visit one of their friends who lived in the upscale neighborhood.
But this? Ryan’s place outdid anyone’s home he’d ever been in before.
Ryan didn’t tell me he lived in a freakin’ palace.
“Have a seat anywhere, make yourself at home.”
Ryan was busy shuffling through some mail on a black, marble-covered entryway table.
The legs were gold and curvy, with some fancy decorative elements surrounding the wavy edge.
He had no idea what any of the styles were, if they were reproductions or valuable antiques.
All he knew for sure was that he’d never set foot in a home so grandiose.
Ryan dropped the pieces of mail back in the cut crystal bowl he’d retrieved them from when they first entered.
“It’s okay, Eli.” Ryan smiled as he glanced up.
“Get comfortable. Do you want anything to drink? If you’re still hungry, I can make us a snack.
” He tapped his chin, his bottom lip sticking.
“You know, I never ate before I went to the shelter. Daddy won’t like that.
I’ll fix us something. Is there anything you don’t like? ”
Eli blinked several times, trying to process everything Ryan had blurted. He was still stuck on the ‘Daddy’ part.
“Umm… Anything is fine. So, your dad lives here with you and your boyfriends?” If so, Ryan had a very progressive father.
“Huh?” Ryan’s bottom lip jutted out again. “Oh! Yeah, sorry. Once you said you’ve been around the BDSM world, my filter evaporated. Zane is my Master, but also my Daddy when I need him. You know what a Daddy Dom is, right?”
“Oh, okay, that’s what you meant.” Eli nodded. “Yeah, I know what that is.”
“I’m only Little when I get stressed out. Not that I’ve regressed right now, but it feels good to think of him that way. If I’m still anxious later, we’ll spend some time together in the playroom.”
Eli didn’t fully comprehend the Daddy/little dynamic, but that didn’t mean he was against it. One of the first things he’d learned when he started to explore the BDSM world was the concept of ‘your kink is not my kink’ as being vital to embracing the lifestyle.
Ryan gestured for Eli to follow him out of the living room. “The counter stools in the kitchen are pretty comfy. We can talk in there while I throw something together.”
Eli followed Ryan down a hall that opened up into a magnificent modern kitchen with chrome appliances and an assortment of copper pots and pans hanging from a rack above a center island.
He climbed onto one of the kitchen stools in front of a center island.
The surface was a gray stone of some sort, with sparkles in it.
He ran his hand across the cool surface. Whatever it was, it was impressive.
While Eli took in the rest of his surroundings, Ryan was busy rummaging in the large, double-sided refrigerator.
He assumed they must entertain a lot or something.
Three people didn’t need all this space.
Eli hung his head. Why was he being so judgmental?
Especially since Ryan had gone out of his way to help him.
Ryan turned around, his arms loaded with a bunch of cheese and meat packages, along with some condiments. He plopped everything on the island, and Eli rushed to grab a cheddar cheese block before it tumbled to the floor.
“Good catch!” Ryan laughed breathlessly. “I’ve got pickles and onions too, if that’s your thing.”
“I promise, this is great. I appreciate everything you’re doing. Can I help?”
Ryan was busy arranging all the items on the counter.
“There’s bread in the pantry.” He pointed to a door with an etched glass center pane next to the fridge.
“We had some friends over a few days ago, so there’s different types.
” He shrugged. “We have to eat it before it goes bad. I’d freeze some, but oh man.
Ty’s always trying new recipes, so that freezer is stuffed to the brim. ”
Eli slid off the stool. “Ty is yours and Zane’s boyfriend?”
“Yup. He works as a line cook at the café in the Charles River Suites hotel.”
Eli tripped on his own feet and had to grab the door handle to keep from crashing through the glass. Ryan gasped, rushing to his side.
“Oh my God! Are you okay?”
Eli nodded shakily. “Yeah, totally. Just me being clumsy.”
His legs were like limp noodles, but he grasped the brass handle of the door while he steadied himself and tried to laugh the whole episode off. The last thing he needed was Ryan or his family finding out that he used to work there.
Eli quickly grabbed a half-used loaf of sourdough, then returned to his perch. “So, uh, Ty cooks at that fancy place? He must be really talented.”
Ryan looked up from his preparations. “Have you ever eaten there?”
Eli almost choked on his tongue. He needed to shut up before he gave too much away.
He chuckled, trying to sound nonchalant. “No, no way. Way too expensive for me.”
Ryan paused, chewing on his lower lip. He set down the condiment knife. “Am I being insensitive?”
The question startled Eli before he realized this must be part of Ryan’s anxiety. His panic attack at the shelter had happened after he questioned whether he’d messed up.
“Not at all,” Eli reassured him. “My situation now is…” He had to seriously watch what he said. “Totally temporary. I’ve always had a place to live, done okay. Things will be better soon.”
He smiled to reinforce that he believed the pile of horseshit that just came out of his mouth.
Ryan let out a long breath. “Good. Like I said earlier, I can tell you’re not street savvy, so I only said that because I assumed you’ve probably gone to lots of nice restaurants before.
” Ryan groaned as he tipped back his head.
“That was such a weird thing to say.” His shoulders dropped.
“I wish Daddy would hurry up and get home.”
“It wasn’t weird, Ryan. I swear.” An idea struck Eli. “Hey, why don’t you sit down and I’ll make the sandwiches?” He almost went as far as saying something like ‘little boys shouldn’t be using knives’. However, if Ryan completely regressed, he’d be totally lost and probably do more harm than good.
Ryan fiddled with the knife handle. “But you’re the guest.”
“And you’re the one doing me a favor. Come on, let me help.”
Ryan furrowed his brow. After a beat, he gave a slight nod. “Okay. That makes sense.”
They switched places, and Ryan climbed on the stool, setting his elbows on the counter. He used his hands to prop himself up by his chin. “I want lots of lettuce on mine, please.”
“Sure. What else would you like?”
While Ryan instructed him on his sandwich preferences, Eli silently wished for Ryan’s Master to hurry up, too.
At last, he had their food ready, and Ryan requested strawberry milk to go with his sandwich.
At first, Eli worried there wouldn’t be any in the fridge, or he’d have to mix it up or something, but sure enough, there was a carton available.
Eli grabbed himself a soda, and they took their food to the dinette on the other side of the kitchen.
After taking a few bites and relishing the taste of fresh deli meat and bread, Eli set down his sandwich to give his stomach a rest. He’d had to use so much of his pay to buy the sleeping bag and other items that were now gone, that he’d been skimping on food.
The stew, coupled with a big sandwich close on its heels, was more than he was used to having.
Eli noted how Ryan took bites in between checking his phone every couple of minutes. Ryan glanced up and caught Eli staring.
“Sorry,” said Eli. “Didn’t mean to stare. Is everything okay?”
Ryan tugged a leaf of lettuce from his sandwich. “It’s fine. It’s just me being impatient. Ty might’ve had to work late because the cafe lost their head chef, and Ty’s had to work longer hours. Zane—that’s my Master—went to pick him up first before coming home, so I assume that’s what it is.”
Thankfully, he had no clue about what went on upstairs at the hotel, so he could truthfully talk about Ty’s work situation.
“It’s a bummer he has to work all those extra hours,” said Eli. “But it sounds like he enjoys cooking if he’s always trying out new recipes.”
Ryan finished chewing the lettuce leaf he’d shoved in his mouth. “That’s an understatement. Not that I’m complaining.” He laughed. “I’ve put on at least five pounds since he’s moved in.”
Eli wondered what it must be like to love work, to enjoy it so much, that you also did it at home when you didn’t have to. He had to do laundry at home, and he certainly didn’t enjoy it.
“He must’ve gone to a top-notch cooking school to get hired, so I’m sure he’ll end up as a head chef someday.”
“Not at all. Most of it has been on-the-job training. Zane is close friends with the hotel owner, so it was actually Sir Avery who gave Ty the opportunity.”
Eli almost spit out his soda, only keeping from giving Ryan a cola shower by swallowing too fast. He coughed into his fist, trying to clear the liquid that had gone down the wrong way.
Think, think. What’s Mr. Lockwood’s first name?
He wasn’t sure whether he’d ever heard it or not, but his brain had gone to mush, and his heart rate had just kicked up several notches.
A whirring sound came from somewhere downstairs, and Ryan shot up from his chair with a gasp. “Yay! Daddy’s home!”
He jetted from the room, but Eli was frozen in place. Should he sneak away while Ryan was distracted? Wandering the streets of Boston with nowhere to stay on a cold night wasn’t such a great idea. But would staying be worse?