I grinned. First day of the week. I liked his eagerness. “Unfortunately, I have plans. I’m introducing Sloan to Corey, the brat I have that arrangement with. My buddy’s been away from kink for too long, and I’m hoping putting him in the same room as a Little will lure out the dormant Daddy Dom in him.”
“I see. Are you going to be sneaky, Sir?”
“I’m gonna try,” I chuckled. I wanted to tell him more; for some reason, I immediately wanted to include him and share my worries about Corey. But it would have to come later. Besides, Corey’s integrity and privacy came before anything else. “I’m free on Tuesday. Does that work?”
He nodded. “Yes, Sir. I have one more thing to share with you, but I think I’m gonna save it till then. It’s nothing bad.”
Then Tuesday would be great. I wasn’t sure I could fit another tidbit of information into my skull right now.
“Tuesday, it is. Gimme your number so I can text you with a time and place.”
We exchanged numbers, and when we glanced at each other, I knew we were thinking the same thing. We hadn’t gotten this far last time.
“What’s your last name?” I asked.
“McMasters.”
Well, that was…ironic. McMasters—I had to chuckle.
“All done. Did you name me Sergeant Finlay?” I murmured. It was what he was going to call me five years ago.
He shook his head and showed me the screen.
My future Owner
Damn. I scratched my forehead as he snatched my phone from my hand. I’d named him Archie McMasters. In my defense, I knew another Archie already, a client through work.
Thankfully, the Archie on my lap found it funny. “It’s okay, Sir. At some point in the near future, you will rename me something sugary-sweet and romantic.”
He believed in his pipe dream now. That warmed my jaded heart.
I stole back my phone and renamed him.
To Bubbles.
“Better?” I showed it to him.
He shook his head in amusement and climbed off my lap. “Much.”
“Good.” I grunted as I stood up too. “Are you heading home or going back to the party?”
He checked his phone. “Home. Definitely home. What about you?”
Considering I’d bailed an hour into the party tonight, I had some making up to do. “I’m on dungeon monitor duty till the last tune.” I’d volunteered to be here for cleanup tomorrow as well.
After we’d put on our shoes, we left my cabin and trailed up toward the main house.
He said he should say goodbye to Nathan before he drove home.
“Where exactly is home?” I wondered.
“Truxton Circle…?” he asked rather than stated.
I nodded. Right in the middle of DC, then.
“Rent is insane,” he said. “I would’ve been happy in a suburb or even farther out, but Lydia insisted.” That was his sister, I assumed. “She went from a government job to one in the private sector, so she’s acting like a millionaire.”
I chuckled.
We slowed down as we reached the patio. Not many people were out here, only three—no, four. Inside the house, the music was pumping, and once we opened the doors, we wouldn’t hear a word we said.
“Text me later so I know you got home safe.”
He smiled and nodded. “I will, Sir.”
That wasn’t enough. He needed something more from me; I could tell by the way his feet seemed rooted in place and the nervous, semi-expectant look in his eyes. But if I were to venture a guess, he’d told himself not to push another inch tonight. It was both funny and reassuring. He was really going all in, and he was antsy to begin.
I closed the distance between us and cupped his face in my hands. “How eager are you, little one?”
He breathed a laugh and trembled. “I’m sorry. I’m just scared that this is all a dream.”
Sweet, sweet boy. I dipped down and kissed him softly. “I know that feeling. Do you want me to pinch you again?”
“No!” He aced the mock-horrified look and hugged my middle, and then he peered up at me with those gorgeous, deep-blue eyes of his that made me wanna steal him away right now. “I will survive till Tuesday, I suppose.”
“You better,” I murmured. “I think I need to give you some homework too.” I pecked him a few times until he was smiling again. “Tomorrow when you wake up, you’re gonna send me a photo on the theme of domestic servitude. Think you can do that? Free interpretation.”
He didn’t hesitate. “Yes, Sir. And thank you—this helps.”
I had a feeling. Hell, it would help me too. Something small to tide us over until we saw each other again.
“Excellent.” I kissed him once more, harder this time, with finality, even though I wasn’t ready to let go. But I had to if I was ever gonna be able to process this evening.
Archie was no longer a memory that haunted me. He might be part of my future.