Chapter 4
“What are you doing here?” Koa shouted the second Ethan was logged in and past the entryway. “You're supposed to be at work right now.”
His friend pouted, then looked at the clock on the wall like he was upset at not understanding the change in schedule.
Ethan smiled widely, showing off all his teeth.
Koa blinked a few times, then whooped loudly. Several heads turned and Ethan wanted to duck away. The scrutiny was a lot after what he'd just done.
“You finally did it,” Koa said, his voice all breathy and light.
His partner Manny strode up, likely having heard Koa's scream. “What's going on over here, boys?” he asked.
Koa turned to him, bouncing on his toes and clapping his hands excitedly. “Ethan finally quit his job, Daddy. Isn't that so exciting?”
Manny's eyes widened the same way Koa's had. “You quit your job,” he said slowly.
“Yes, Uncle Manny,” Ethan agreed. The nickname had been a request of both Koa and Manny since Ethan was like family. They needed him to feel included in the best way they could manage.
“Well, I'll be. Congratulations, Ethan. I'm so glad you're finally free.”
There was a spark in Manny's eye that Ethan didn't necessarily like. He knew that Manny and Ash had been friendly at one time. There'd been talk of Ash being at another club, and for all the weeks since that blow-up, Ethan had thought about what that meant.
He didn't have the courage to ask his boss, and Manny seemed tight-lipped about it all. He wouldn't dwell on it. He couldn't. What he could do was make sure that no matter what, Manny kept Ethan’s secrets.
“You won't tell him where I am, will you?” Ethan asked.
Manny raised his hands. “Absolutely not. I would never. You are safe here, Ethan. I haven't spoken to Ash since we ran into him that night, and I have no intention of speaking to him again if he treated you badly enough that you quit working for him.”
Ethan shook his head. “No, it's not that he treated me badly—”
Koa scoffed. “I don't know what you consider bad, but him acting as if you should bend to his will every minute of the day is pretty bad in my opinion.”
The indignation in his best friend's tone made Ethan giggle. It sounded a little hysterical and he knew the others could tell. Thankfully, they didn't press, because Jacob walked up with a plate of cookies in hand.
“Rumor mill says someone quit his job today,” Jacob said. “Does that mean you're going to be stress-free from here on out?”
Ethan blushed, ducking his head. He wasn't quite sure how to answer. He always got so tongue-tied around Jacob now. The more he paid attention to Ethan, the harder it was to be cool, calm, and collected.
“I—” he started, but his brain couldn't finish the loop, couldn't close in on what he needed to express.
“It's okay. You don't have to tell me anything,” Jacob said. “I'm about to head out for the day anyway.”
Koa pouted. “You're done already? But Ethan just got here.”
“I know, and I hate that I'm not here for this.” Jacob glanced around at the group.
“Do you have plans? Is there some reason you can't stick around?” Manny asked.
Jacob rubbed the back of his neck, glancing from Ethan to the others and back. He looked at Manny when he answered. “I was planning to test out some recipes. All of the ingredients are at my place, and it's kind of a surprise. I didn't expect Ethan to show up today.”
Ethan frowned, thinking maybe he was the problem here. Should he have just gone home? And if Ash somehow found out about the club and that Manny was connected to it, would he could looking for Ethan there?
Panic built in his chest at the idea of having to confront his former boss. Asking Manny to keep his secrets wouldn’t matter if Ash put two and two together on his own.
“Whoa, whoa. What's wrong?”
Ethan came back to the moment to find Jacob holding his hands. He didn't have the energy to blush or panic further. He was too shocked to realize he'd lost his composure at the mere thought of Ash's arrival.
It wasn't Ash himself so much as the conversation that would have to be had. His boss was really, really good at arguing, especially when he wanted his way.
Ethan knew he'd done a good job, knew his work had been important. If Ash wanted him back, he would have a compelling argument that Ethan wasn't sure he could resist. He only had so much bravery.
“I just thought about him finding me here,” he said.
Jacob's jaw tightened and his hands tightened on Ethan’s. Koa and Manny must have noticed as well, because they shared a look before turning back to Ethan.
“You're right that he could probably show up,” Koa said carefully. “And he knows where you live too, right?”
Ethan nodded.
“He doesn't know where I live.” Jacob's words made all three men turn his way.
Ethan stared at the other man, their gazes locked as he tried to process what Jacob was offering.
Koa clapped. “Oh yes, that's true. He doesn't.” His eyes lit up. “Which means you could totally go to Jacob's place and be safe away from all of it.”
Ethan didn't really like the word “safe.” He wasn't in danger from Ash. He just needed time to get his bearings before having to face the other man. He knew a conversation would happen eventually. It wasn't a matter of if, just when.
A few days to breathe would probably help Ethan though. At least he could recharge by then.
Jacob smiled at Koa's enthusiasm, though his gaze remained on Ethan. “The offer stands. I'd be honored to have you come to my place, and I think you'll enjoy what I'm making.”
Something about the way he said it made Ethan perk up. Could it be that the recipe Jacob was testing was one meant for Ethan?
No, that would be too presumptuous of him to think. Though Jacob had said he was interested. He'd also shown up quite a bit over the last few weeks.
Still, that didn't necessarily mean he was going out of his way to test recipes with Ethan in mind.
Ethan nodded slowly. What harm would it do? It was just a meal, or some snacks. He could manage keeping his cool for that, right?
“I'll go with you,” he said, his voice soft.
“Excellent.”
Jacob's voice sent a shiver down Ethan's spine. Maybe now that he wasn't so focused on his boss's needs, he could attend to his own. Namely, he could figure out what he and Jacob meant to each other.
With nothing but time on his side, it looked like a real possibility that he could get his own happily ever after.
At Jacob's house, Ethan immediately settled.
The building was old but well taken care of.
The apartment-condo feel gave him comfort that they wouldn't be entirely alone in some big, rambling space.
He had no clue what Jacob's income was like, only that the other man was a staple at the club and a damn good cook.
If he were anywhere else, working for anyone else, he'd make a fortune.
“Why don't you get comfortable on the couch? I'm going to get changed and then we can go into the kitchen.”
Ethan dropped onto the sofa like a log. He wasn't quite sure what to do with himself, not with Jacob gone and his mind free to wander.
He took in the space. It was warm and comforting.
Immediately, his mind compared it to his boss's office: cold and clinical. Such vast differences between the two men he’d spent most of his time with.
He'd no longer be around Ash, so it didn't really matter. Still, Ash would be a part of Ethan's memory for a long, long time. You simply didn't let go of someone who'd been a part of your life for years, not even if they made it rough.
While thinking of Ash, Ethan recalled how Manny and the other man had spoken to each other that night.
Even in his distraught state, Ethan could see that they'd been friendly.
And for all that he'd gotten to know Manny, he didn't believe the other man would be friends with someone truly horrible. That didn't make sense.
So why had Ash been so difficult with him specifically? Was it a work thing? Was it the fact that Ethan was meant to do more, to be more?
They were questions he'd likely never have the answer to, because confronting it wasn't in his nature.
Jacob returned before Ethan could sink too much further into his thoughts.
He appreciated it since he'd been about five minutes away from jumping up and leaving.
Jacob now had on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt with the sleeves cut off.
It was the most relaxed Ethan had ever seen him.
He didn't get too formal at the club, but this was something else entirely pure I’m not trying to impress anyone energy.
Ethan's mouth watered at all the skin on display. Jacob was handsome. Of course, he had drawn Ethan's attention from the first day they met. But beneath his work clothes, there was so much more. Muscle and freckles. Veins that spoke to just how much he worked with his hands.
When Ethan's eyes finally met Jacob's, there was a twinkle there. Amusement lined the other man's features. “Are you ready to come cook with me now?” he asked.
Ethan appreciated that Jacob didn't point out what he'd just been doing. There was no denying he'd been thoroughly checking him out. He swallowed and nodded.
“Yes, please.”
He could feel himself slipping into his Little mindset the longer he was with Jacob. It was easy to do, given how kind Jacob was, how patient and understanding he was with Ethan. There was no chance for him to be anything but Little.
“You can sit right here while I work.” Jacob pointed to a stool.
Ethan climbed on, then wiggled to get comfortable.
Jacob watched him, a smile in place. “Good?”
Ethan gave a nod, then leaned forward onto the counter, arms folded in front of him.
Jacob must have been content with his position, because he turned to the pantry.
Ethan wanted to focus on the man, but the kitchen was beautiful.
Huge and industrial, with enough warm accents to make it feel less like a warehouse and more like a comfortable, functional space.
Jacob pulled out multiple ingredients, his hands moving here and there, snatching things up until he was satisfied.
Ethan watched curiously. He couldn't tell right away what was being made, only that it involved all of his favorite things. Could he have been right in thinking Jacob was making something specifically for him? The way Jacob kept glancing at him made Ethan think so.
The minute the recipe card landed on the countertop, Ethan took a peek. “I love those,” he whispered, pointing at the page.
Jacob didn't look up. He simply dipped his head and said, “I know.”
It was at that exact moment that Ethan understood what he'd been missing.
All the time he'd spent working for Ash.
All the late nights and frustrating moments.
He'd completely ignored how deeply Jacob had embedded himself in his mind, and how deeply he'd done the same in Jacob's.
Their mutual attraction was more than shared meals at the club on occasion.
This man had come home on his day off to perfect a recipe he knew Ethan would enjoy.
“Jacob,” he whispered, drawing a breath.
The other man lifted his gaze. “Yes?”
Ethan could feel the blush on his cheeks, knew he was fidgeting with nerves, but he couldn't not ask. He couldn't let this go another day.
“Will you—” he paused, closing his eyes. He gathered every ounce of confidence he could muster. “Will you be my Daddy tonight?”
The sound of metal on metal had Ethan's eyes popping open. Jacob had dropped the whisk he was using and was already rounding the countertop. When he reached Ethan, he cupped his face in both hands, holding him still.
“Do you really mean that?” he asked, his voice dropping to a near whisper, as though he were afraid to break the moment.
Ethan stared deep into Jacob's eyes. He could see the nervousness there, could see the hope he'd somehow missed all this time.
He bit his lip, which drew Jacob's gaze down for just a moment, and then he gave a slow nod. “Yes, please.”
In the next second, Jacob's mouth was crashing into his, and everything else slipped away.