Chapter 7
Daddy was right about Koa's reaction to Ethan's arrival. There had been squeals of delight, and then Ethan was promptly attacked.
Attacked being that he was smothered in hugs and forehead kisses.
It took a good half hour for Koa to settle down and accept that Ethan wasn't going anywhere. He clung to Ethan like a koala, or a baby bear. Manny tried to stop him at first, then quickly realized there was no getting Koa to listen and sat back watching the pair.
Daddy had asked Manny to keep an eye on Ethan and to come get him if anything went awry. Ethan couldn't think of anything happening, so he focused instead on playing and letting himself sink into his Little mind.
It was for that reason alone that he didn't notice when the energy in the room shifted. Koa went on high alert, and Manny was up and standing in front of the boys.
“What?” Ethan asked as he fought to make sense of it all. When he leaned around Manny's leg, he saw the reason for the disturbance.
Ash was standing in the doorway, watching them. His face held an expression Ethan had never seen before. In all the years he'd worked for the man, not once had he seen this kind of emotion from him.
“What are you doing here?” Manny demanded.
“You know why I'm here.” Ash's gaze moved to Ethan.
Ethan squeaked and sat back, not wanting to draw trouble. It didn't matter. Manny was quick to redirect. “Hey, no! Focus on me. Don't pay him any mind. Why are you here?”
The other Littles in the room were watching, their expressions curious but cautious. Koa tapped his Daddy on the back of the leg and said quietly that maybe they should take this somewhere more private, gesturing to show that they were being watched.
Manny kept his eyes on Ash and nodded. “Okay. That's fine. Let's go.”
Ash waited at the door until Manny was within reach, then grabbed the other man's shoulder. Manny tensed and Ethan held his breath, not wanting a physical altercation to occur on his behalf.
“I just need to talk to him. Please.” Ash's voice was low.
From behind, Manny looked furious. Ethan couldn't imagine what his actual expression was. Ash held his stance, and waited until Manny gave a curt nod and pointed down the hall towards one of the empty office spaces.
Koa moved in front of the two men and Ethan brought up the rear. “We are staying while you talk to him,” Koa called over his shoulder. “I will not have you speak to him the way you did before. And we're getting his Daddy.”
Ash tripped over his feet. “His Daddy?”
“Uh-huh,” Koa said matter-of-factly. “I've already texted him, and he will meet us in the room in a moment.”
Ash cleared his throat but didn't stop again.
When they were in the space, Koa reached a hand out to Ethan and guided him into the empty chair.
Ethan appreciated it. His legs were wobbly and his heart was beating so fast he worried he'd pass out.
Koa stroked the back of his neck, and Manny moved to Ethan's other side.
“What do you need to say?” Manny demanded, his gaze fixed on Ash.
Ash opened his mouth to speak, but the door opened again and Ethan’s Daddy strode in, his expression furious. “Sweetheart,” he said to Ethan, and came straight over.
He lifted him and settled Ethan in his lap. Ethan wanted to curl up, wanted to float back into his Little mind and simply accept the love his Daddy had.
It had only been a few hours ago that they had exchanged those words with one another. Now he was being faced with another challenge, and he worried it would be too much.
“Why are you here?” Jacob directed at Ash. “Haven't you done enough? I don't understand what you could possibly want from him.”
Ethan kept his gaze on Ash, though he wanted the answer to the question he didn't dare speak aloud.
Ash sighed and put his hands on his hips. He paced back and forth for a moment before stopping and looking directly at Ethan.
“I am a terrible Dom.”
Every ounce of Ethan froze. Ash didn't seem to notice, or perhaps he didn't care. He needed to get the words out. It was obvious from the wild look in his eyes.
“I am a terrible Dominant because I put work above everything else.
I grew up with parents who instilled in me that you didn't matter to anyone if you couldn't get the job done. So I spent my life trying to prove I was good enough for them, and then good enough for everyone else, and before I knew it I was staying long hours and demanding it of others. All of my relationships failed because of it.”
He paused, steadying himself.
“The incident at the club that Manny mentioned…
that was my last submissive shouting loudly in front of everyone about how I didn't pay him any attention.
He aired all of our dirty laundry at one of the biggest events of the year.
I couldn't show my face there anymore, and I felt every word he said down to my bones.
I had neglected him. I'd been busy launching another business, thinking that making more money would be enough.
After that, I promised myself I wouldn't get involved with anyone else.”
Ash closed his eyes for a moment. He sighed and his hands fell to his sides. When he opened them again and looked at Ethan, it drew a quiet gasp. So much vulnerability shone there.
“But then one day you walked in, Ethan. You came into my office for an interview, and you were more than qualified.
I told myself I was simply impressed by your work ethic.
That it wasn't anything else. I told myself that even if you were submissive, we could never work, because you were my assistant, not someone who had agreed to a dynamic with me.
But the more time we spent together, I could see it.
I knew there was a Little inside of you that you kept tucked away.
And as much as I wanted to uncover him and connect with you, I couldn't. Instead, I focused on work. I buried myself in it and therefore buried you too.”
He met Ethan's eyes. “It didn't register to me that it was hurting you until that night Koa and Manny showed up. I changed after that, didn't I?”
Ethan gave a slow nod. His Daddy's hands were trailing up and down his arms, warming him and offering a measure of comfort.
“After that night I gave it my all,” Ash continued.
“But the day that client came in upset about their account I lost my cool because they blew up at me. Every inch of progress I’d made disappeared.
The horrible truth of it all was that I'd made errors in those reports because I'd been so lost in thoughts of you.
That doesn't excuse my behavior. Not in the slightest. It doesn't make anything right.
I could spend years groveling, and I know it won't be enough, but I had to tell you that I was sorry.
I had to explain myself. I couldn't let you go on in life thinking you were anything less than perfect.”
“Oh,” Ethan whispered.
“I understand that you may never want to see me again, and that I am probably filled with only bad memories for you, but I would really like for us to try to be friendly.
Maybe get to know each other in a setting that isn't work-related.
I'm going to dial things back. It's long past time for me to get my shit together.”
Daddy scoffed, his arms banding around Ethan. “Are you wanting a chance at my boy? Is that what you're saying? You think you'll take him from me?!”
Ash shook his head and held his hands up. “That's not what I'm saying at all. I would like to be friendly with Ethan, and if one day he decides I'm worthy of something more, then I would like to present the option to share him.”
Ash's voice dipped at the end, and the room went so silent you could hear everyone breathing.
Koa hadn't said a word, nor had Manny. They were merely sentinels amidst the trio's conversation.
“You want to share him with me?” Jacob asked, as if to clarify.
“I do,” Ash agreed. “I simply want to be a part of his life.
I can't go without him. I have for the last few days and it's been hell.
Nothing has gotten done. I don't even want to be in the office, and that's coming from someone who had an apartment suite installed in the building so he wouldn't have to leave.”
There was a sorrow in Ash's voice, a darkness he'd done well to hide for a long time. Ethan leaned back further into his Daddy's chest, and the other man’s arm tightened in response.
“I don't understand,” Ethan admitted. He did, to an extent. It just seemed illogical. “You like me?”
Ash laughed, but it was dark and laden with something unspoken.
“I more than like you. I adore you endlessly.
You're all I think of and want to be around. You fill up every ounce of joy I've experienced since I met you. It used to be mergers and increasing my bank account that mattered most. Even my previous submissives didn’t capture my attention the way you have, Ethan.” He paused.
“And again, I'm not asking for anything right now. I would just like the chance for proving I’m not only an asshold. Are you willing to let me be your friend?”
Ethan turned his head to look at his Daddy. He needed to know what Jacob was thinking, because if he did befriend Ash, it was obvious that Ash would want more eventually. Ethan didn’t think he’d feel that way, but he couldn’t conclude it would never happen.
More would change the dynamic he and Jacob had. The one they had just somewhat solidified. The one that was still fresh and new.
Jacob was already looking at him. One hand came up and stroked along Ethan's cheek. “I only ever want you happy, sweetheart. Everything else is your decision.”
Ethan blinked a few times. “You want to share me?”
Jacob smiled. “I don't necessarily love the idea, but if this man grovels half as well as he is at business, then he might be worth a little more of your time. Besides, he is quite handsome, and he did say some very nice things about you, so he's clearly got good taste.”
The smile kicked up into a smirk, and Ethan giggled. When he turned back to Ash, there was no doubt that hope shone in the other man's eyes.
Koa chose that moment to clear his throat, and everyone looked at him.
“I just want to point out that Ethan getting two Daddies was not on my bingo card, and I think it's kind of awesome, but I am absolutely in agreement that Ash has to grovel. Head to the ground, beg for forgiveness level of groveling.”
As soon as the words were out of Koa's mouth, Ash was moving around the table and dropping to the floor. His forehead pressed into the hardwood and his hands came forward.
Ethan froze. Jacob hummed appreciatively. It was clear his Daddy respected the gesture. Ash was submitting to Ethan, admitting he was wrong, and asking for the chance to simply get to know him.
“You can never raise your voice again,” Ethan declared.
Ash rose slowly, staying in the kneeling position, hands on his thighs as he looked up at Ethan. “You will never hear my voice that way again. I would walk away before it came that. Or I’d go pour a bucket of ice cold water on my head to make myself stop. Anything ridiculous and distracting.”
“You could just stuff his cock in your mouth if you need to quiet him,” Jacob muttered.
Ethan shook his head, but Ash smiled, a blush tingeing his cheeks. “I could also do that… if I'm allowed one day.”
“It's one of my favorite things to do, though I’m not groveling when I am. He’s got an addictive taste,” Jacob added.
For as torn up as Ethan's mind was, his body reacted to the notion. He had always thought Ash handsome, and despite the bad temperament, his former boss was good at heart. Ethan’s intuition had told him so.
All the philanthropy and volunteer work Ash did proved Ethan’s point many times over the years as well.
“I'll consider it,” Ethan said slowly. “But you have to come to the club consistently, and you have to be nice, and you have to let Jacob be in charge because he's Daddy.”
Ash nodded along with every point Ethan made. “That's fine. I don't need the title of Daddy. That's entirely Jacob's. He was here first. I could be Papa one day, maybe, or some other name. Or nothing at all.”
Ethan tapped his chin. “Papa,” he said aloud to test it out.
Ash shivered, his entire body jolting at the single word.
Jacob chuckled. “Oh, I think that's the one, sweetheart. He had a reaction rather like my own the first time you said Daddy.”
Ethan smiled at Jacob, remembering that moment. When he turned back to Ash, he stuck his hand out. “I agree, and you agree, and now I wanna play so we be done.”
Ash, in a surprisingly tender move, took Ethan's hand in both of his, leaned forward, and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. Then he pressed his forehead against them and murmured, “I will do anything you wish, Ethan.”
Oh boy, Ethan thought. I’m in a load of trouble.