Page 9

9

OTTO

On the entire drive to the airport, I debated whether or not to tell Preston the truth. I should have. It would have been the right thing to do. But I just couldn’t find the words.

And he looked so damn stressed that I didn’t want to pile on anything else. But when he said he had a lot to think about, it killed me to know I was probably a big portion of that stress.

After parking the car and grabbing my own luggage from the front, I practiced my speech. But just getting past the “Hey, I’m the guy who’s been climbing into your bed every night, dry-humping your diaper, and then picking you up in the morning without another word” part, I was stumped.

Everything depended on his reaction to seeing me. When I signed the additional contract to travel with him, his assistant sent me instructions to contact their travel agent with my name and travel information. I wasn’t sure if he would have been sent copies of my boarding pass, but based on his reaction on the drive, it was clear he still had no idea it was me.

I waited until the last minute to go to the gate and was one of the last people to board. My seat was 1B, and I assumed Preston was beside me, so I took a deep breath and got on the plane.

“Otto?” Preston physically startled when he looked up from his phone and saw me standing there. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m going with you.” I took a deep breath and pushed my bag into the overhead bin above his head. “I’m your…nurse.” I didn’t have the courage to look him in the eye as I dropped into the seat beside him.

“I don’t understand.” His voice was quiet, and it was clear he was actually starting to understand. “It’s you?” His hand was wrapped around his armrest like he was trying to crush it.

Hoping I wasn’t being too presumptuous, I gently placed my hand over his and held it there. “I’m sorry for not saying something sooner, but with the contract I signed, I didn’t think you’d want to know. But now…” I gave his hand a squeeze and then pulled it away. “I guess the cat’s outta the bag.”

His jaw was still hanging open, and I wondered if he might be in shock.

“Are you okay, Mr. Sinclair?” I swallowed hard, prepared to have him tell me to get the fuck off this plane and that he never wanted to see me again.

"Yes, and… thank you again for coming with me."

Relieved he wasn’t freaking out, I settled back into the plush leather of my seat. As I secured my own safety belt, I couldn’t help turning my attention toward Mr. Sinclair. The instinct to care for him was now second nature after all the hours I’d spent in his bed, ensuring his comfort and nourishment.

A quick glance confirmed that his belt was tightly fastened, so my shoulders relaxed. "Is there anything else you need before we take off?" My voice was a low murmur meant only for his ears. It was an offer that extended beyond our seats. If I needed to take him into a bathroom and let him have a drink, I would do it in a heartbeat. I had zero concern over what other passengers or crew might think about that.

If Preston needed Daddy, I would be there for him.

Fuck, was I really thinking of myself as his Daddy? At night, I definitely did. But now everything had changed and I wondered if that did too. Was he wondering the same thing?

Tension still pulled at Preston whole body, keeping him curled forward. Then, as though finally accepting our new reality, he exhaled and his shoulders eased down to a more relaxed stance. His eyes met mine with questions that I was still trying to answer myself.

"Um, no, thanks. I'm good for now." Despite his words, I heard what he was really saying. He was okay with this. For now, at least.

The flight attendants brought us warm cookies and champagne, and I almost made a joke about offering him milk with his cookies, but we weren’t there yet. I hoped we’d get there soon because I was curious to learn his sense of humor. I hadn’t seen it yet, but I knew it had to be there.

Preston picked up a cookie and broke it in half. A hint of his Little side was in his eyes as he glanced at me. The chocolate dripped from the warm center as he took a bite, and a small smile touched his lips, a rare unguarded moment that warmed me more than the plate of cookies in front of me.

As we reached cruising altitude, Preston leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Now that I could look at him freely, his stress and exhaustion was evident on his face. Seeing him that vulnerable stirred something within me. A protective instinct filled me, one that I hadn’t felt before boarding the plane and revealing myself to him. The ache in my chest was like getting hit by a truck, and I wanted nothing more in the world than to take care of him in all ways.

As if sensing my gaze, Preston’s fingers twitched and unfolded slightly. They rested limply on the armrest between us in a silent invitation.

I stared at his hand and recognized it as a bridge to this new relationship between us. Still employee and employer but without any secrets between each other. Our biggest secret was with the outside world.

In the privacy of the dimmed cabin, I didn’t hesitate to take his hand in mine. "Get some rest, Preston," I whispered softly.

He let out a contented sigh and turned his head toward me. “I think I actually will.”