Page 21

Chapter twenty-one

What’s My HEA?

We were actually in a committed, monogamous relationship.

Wow.

I still had to pinch myself daily.

But this dreaded day had finally arrived.

We were going to the club, Afterglow.

Again.

Maybe I was more prepared this time?

It wasn’t like a total flop the last time, but dealing with the all the thirsty twinks flirting with my daddy would be rough.

Danny’s advice was to stake my claim and make sure everyone knew it.

Crow seemed quietly on board with that as he handed me a box.

“Present for you,” he said a little shyly, which was not like Crow at all.

Cocky, yes.

Shy, no.

I took the shirt box from him.

“What’s this?”

“Something for tonight.”

I sat on the bench at the end of his king size bed, where I’d slept so comfortably the night before.

Seriously, I might stay with him forever for the cozy bed alone.

Skeptical of the present, I opened it slowly.

And pulled out a mesh shirt, lined in leather.

“Woah.” Underneath it was more leather—a pair of booty shorts.

I’d never worn anything like this, but I’d seen guys at the club in similarly revealing outfits.

Maybe even some showing more skin than this would.

“I don’t know…”

“You’ll look fantastic. Grab a quick shower and try it on.” Now that was the Crow I knew, pushy arrogant bastard.

“Fine…” I sounded like I was giving in, but there was a part of me that was giddy at the idea of wearing such a sexy outfit.

But oh.

“What shoes am I going to wear with this?”

“Don’t you have boots?”

“Boots? No.” I had dress shoes, loafers, and sneakers.

And flip flops but none of those were going to work.

“I want you to be comfortable. How about black tennis shoes?”

I shook my head and held up the shorts.

“This is not comfortable, and sneakers won’t go with it. I think. Not mine, anyway.” Maybe I should call Danny, but honestly, this wasn’t something he would wear.

Completely different style.

“They look small. They might not fit.”

“They’ll fit. Shower. Try them on. And then we’ll go to the store and find some fancy footwear for you.” He winked at me.

“Prick.”

His maniacal laugh followed me into the bathroom.

And what a bathroom.

I mean, mine was nice with subway tile and all that, but his was like a spa with full slab marble on the walls of the shower, a separate soaking tub, which I was dying to get into—maybe tomorrow.

The wall behind it was wood, maybe bamboo.

Whatever it was, it was gorgeous.

I loved everything about his house.

Especially the living room.

It was so modern, but still cozy.

It had an electric fireplace that was set into what looked like stacked brick to the ceiling.

Obviously, it wasn’t a real fireplace, like wood-burning, but it was really cool, and his big ass TV was mounted above the firebox.

But that wasn’t even the best thing.

Nope.

The back wall leading to the pool was three quarters sliders that opened all the way up.

The last little bit was a big window over the wet bar.

At first, I thought it was odd, until he opened the window.

It lifted on some kind of hydraulic springs and acted as a passthrough to the pool.

For drinks.

Or whatever.

And that wet bar was slick.

And so was my hair under the hot water dropping from the rain head above me.

Fuck.

I could get used to this.

My place was great, and I’d earned it myself, but I was fast loving this one.

And having Crow along with it wasn’t bad either.

He was growing on me.

To be honest, I was falling for him.

I hadn’t said those three words yet, and since that day in my office, he hadn’t said them again either.

He was waiting for me, and I was pretty fucking close, even without the gorgeous house.

I tried the club clothes on and strutted out into the bedroom wearing them.

Crow’s eyes grew wide.

“Holy shit, baby boy. You look incredible. I knew you’d look good, but fuck me, you’re a knockout.” He whistled.

“Thanks. And great job on the sizes.” I turned and slapped my ass that filled out those shorts like they were made specifically for me.

Crow made a growly sound and grabbed me, tossing me to the bed.

“Maybe we skip the club and fuck here all night.” He mouthed at my throat and the side of my neck.

“Oh no. We said we were going, and I have to show this off now.” I trailed my hand down the center of my shirt along the leather where the buttons were to emphasize it.

There was more leather at the cuffs and along the waistline.

It really was a nice top.

And I did really want to go back to Afterglow.

I had something to prove.

“I have a friend who designs club wear, and I sent her your size. She wanted me to get your exact measurements but that was tricky. I used that black tee you left here that fits you like a glove.”

“Uh-huh. The one I have a hard time getting out of that you almost ripped?”

“Yeah, that one.” He kissed me quickly, then gave me a cheeky smile.

“Okay. Get some regular clothes on and let’s go get you some boots.”

I’d never owned boots.

Never needed or cared for them.

Loafers were more my style, but I had to admit, I found a pair I liked that would look good with the outfit, probably other outfits, and felt good on my feet.

They weren’t heavy like combat boots, or sleek like dress boots.

They were somewhere in between.

They laced up the front and were shiny black.

They cost a couple hundred bucks, which had me scoffing, but Crow grabbed them and headed to the checkout.

Afterward, we had lunch at a nice steakhouse down the road.

You needed reservations for the main seating area, and it wasn’t open for a few hours, but the lounge was.

We ordered eight-ounce filet mignon and salads.

As I chewed my delicious steak, Crow pointed at me with his fork.

“We need to have dinner here some time. Half this menu is absolutely fantastic, but I haven’t tried the other half. Yet.”

He could be so charming.

“I’d love that.” I knew he had money.

He owned a holding company that bought and sold other companies.

That’s how he’d gotten in trouble all those years ago.

He tried to buy a company from a desperate man who didn’t actually want to sell but needed the money.

I hoped Crow got a lot of karma out of that deal, and he must have.

Fancy house, two cars, expensive restaurants, and he thought nothing of dropping hundreds of dollars on clothes for me.

Maybe thousands.

That top could not have been cheap.

“Crow…”

“Hmm?”

“You know you don’t have to impress me.” I waved my hand around, indicating the restaurant, then gestured toward the plate.

“I know—”

“Nonsense.” He scowled.

“It’s not that I don’t appreciate it.”

He reached across the table and grabbed my hand.

“Skyler. I have money. I do. More than I’ll ever spend, even giving a lot away to charity. So if I want to spend some on you, I will. It makes me happy. I want to spoil you.”

“Okay. I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage. That’s all.” I squeezed his hand.

I had what I needed.

“I don’t think that at all. You’re a very successful lawyer. You own a beautiful home and a nice car. You wear designer suits. And I bet you save or invest most of what you make. If you wanted those boots, and I wasn’t around, you would have bought them.” He shrugged as if it were nothing.

And in a way, it was nothing.

He was right.

I could afford them.

“I do invest a lot.” They weren’t the words I wanted to say.

“I guessed as much.”

We finished eating and headed back to his place.

Having already taken over three drawers and a part of his closet out of convenience, I wanted more.

I didn’t want to go back to my place if I didn’t have to.

I loved my house, but honestly, I didn’t want to be without Crow.

Didn’t want to sleep alone or hang out where he wasn’t.

Since we still had a few hours before going to the club, we jumped in the pool for a bit, and then I grabbed my book and relaxed in one of his loungers.

It was another perfect Florida summer day.

Crow went in the house and a few minutes later, called out to me through the pass-thru window.

He held a frozen drink.

“What’s this?” I walked over and took the drink and sipped from the straw he’d stuck in.

“Yum.”

“Strawberry daiquiri, light on the alcohol.”

“It’s great. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He grabbed a second drink and joined me on the patio.

“What are you reading?”

“It’s a cozy mystery, MM style.”

“MM?”

“That means gay, male-male.”

“Gotcha. Is it good?”

“Pretty good, yeah. Better than a straight contemporary romance, but I like those too.”

“Hmm…good to know.”

We were learning a lot about each other from moments like this, hanging out and talking.

He was more than the confidence he exuded and his daddy-kink.

He hadn’t always been super rich, and we had similar backgrounds with our families being middle class and a bit weird.

And he could be very compassionate and loved good food.

He didn’t read a lot, but he researched tons of things for work and pleasure.

He didn’t play video games or watch a lot of TV, but he did like good sci-fi and monster movies, and Grimm was his favorite series before it was cancelled.

I liked that one too, so we planned a binge marathon.

But I also learned how beautiful his eyes were when he smiled at me.

He loved to hold my hand, and his hot-spot was on his neck, just under his ear.

And I liked him entirely too much.

We walked into the club, the same as last time with his hand at the small of my back.

He guided me through the bar area and to the dance floor.

“Want to dance a little first?”

The music wasn’t great, but I liked the idea of dancing with him, and we missed out on that last time.

“Sure.” I slid my arms around his neck and rocked my hips into him.

He ran his hands up my back.

“You look fantastic.”

“Thanks.” I’d added eyeliner and fixed my hair a bit, and along with the leather it made me feel fantastic too.

It wasn’t something I was used to, but I liked it.

“You don’t look like the sharp lawyer I know.”

“Mm…maybe not, but I’ll still win any argument you throw at me.” Okay.

I admit it.

I wasn’t very good at flirting, but it hardly mattered.

“I bet I can occupy your mouth with other things.”

I tossed my head back and laughed.

That’s when that little purple-haired twink from the last time walked up.

He thrust his hip out.

“Can I cut in?”

“No,” I barked at him.

He opened his mouth to say something, but I wasn’t having it.

No one was going to make me feel less than, and Crow was mine.

“Overruled. Daddy Crow is taken. Move along.”

He shut his mouth and stared at me hard.

Then turned on his heel and walked away.

“Well played.” Crow pulled me closer, pressing his front to mine, letting me feel the bulge in his jeans.

“Let’s go get our room. I’m hard as hell for you.”

“That got you hard? You better not show up at court any time soon.”

“Who knew you verbally lacerating people would be my kink?”

I swatted his chest.

“Shut the fuck up.”

He leaned in and bit my lower lip, tugging it with his teeth.

“Let’s go, lawyer-boy.” He grabbed my hand and led me to the door to No Limits.

After we checked our phones and took the breath test, Crow led me down the hall.

We passed the Littles room, and I peered in the window, wondering if Danny was there, but I didn’t see him.

I followed after Crow down another corridor.

If I had to get out of there myself, there was a high probability that I would get lost.

But he knew where he was going.

At the room he opened the door.

It was a different one than last time.

This one had a contraption in the center and the floor was padded.

“Shoes off at the door.” He pointed at a shelf beside the entrance.

“Might as well put your clothes there too.”

I undressed and sat everything, neatly folded, on the appropriate shelf and turned to watch him.

“Undress me, Skyler.” That was different, but okay.

If he liked that, I could do it.

Unlike other daddies here, he didn’t wear the typical leather.

His top was a deep burgundy, velvety material and so soft, and it was impossible to resist rubbing my hands all over his chest before I started unbuttoning it.

When I finished, I slid my hands inside, touching bare skin.

Stretching up on my bare toes and wiggling against him made all the blood in my body rush to my cock.

I took a breath and pushed his top over his shoulders and down his arms.

“Nice, Skyler. Fold it up.” He pointed to where my clothes were on the shelf, so I added his to the pile.

I reached for his waistband, but he shook his head and pointed at his shoes.

Yeah, boots first.

They were more like combat boots, and I’d have to untie and partially unlace them.

Oh.

Well.

I squatted to do it, but didn’t like the position, so I got on my knees, thankful for the soft carpeting on the floor and not tile or wood.

“Damn, Skyler. I like you naked on your knees in front of me.”

My cock jumped.

Did I like his words or being on my knees for him?

Maybe both.

I did like it, so it didn’t matter why.

I worked his laces and pulled the boots off, setting them on the floor next to mine.

Then I stood and reached for that front button on his pants.

They weren’t leather.

The material was more like cargo pants, but they were black and tight.

He had to wiggle his ass as I peeled them off.

“You’re going to have fun getting these back on, Daddy.”

He chuckled softly.

“Don’t I know it.” I got them down, and he stepped out of them.

“These too.” He held his socked foot up, so I pulled them off too.

Finally, we were both naked, but what was next?

I looked around the room anxiously.

I didn’t know what the fuck was in the middle, but there was a bed in the back of the room and other things hanging on the walls, including a closed cabinet on one side.

“What’re we doing?”

Crow stepped closer and pulled my bottom lip from between my teeth.

“Don’t do that. I’ve got you.”

I sighed.

“I trust you.”

“Okay. This is the swing room.” He nodded to that big contraption.

Now that he said it was a swing, I saw it.

“Oh. I get in that?”

“Yes. I’ll help.” He maneuvered me into the cradle on my back and made sure it was steady.

“I know it’ll hold your weight, because I’ve been in it.” Now that was a sight to imagine.

When I laughed, he glared at me.

“Enough of that, cheeky boy. Hold your hands up.”

I lifted my hands over my head, and he secured leather cuffs around my wrists.

“Feet here.” He pointed at the stirrup-like straps at the bottom.

When I stuck my feet in them, my knees went up and spread open.

He wrapped cuffs around both of my ankles.

There was no getting out of this unless he let me.

“I didn’t use a plug or anything, so I need to get you ready.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

He leaned over and kissed me before getting on his knees between my legs with a cocky smile on his face.

He swiped his tongue over my hole, and I closed my eyes.

There was nothing like a good rimming, and I planned on enjoying it, if that’s what Daddy wanted to do.

He teased and poked the tip of his tongue inside.

He licked over my hole and up my taint with the flat of his tongue, then pushed it in again, fucking me with it.

After a minute, he stuck his finger beside his tongue, making the fit tighter, and making me moan loudly.

“Mmm…forgot the lube. Damn.” He stood and rushed to the back of the room, where I couldn’t see him.

“Crow?”

“Hold on. I’m here.” He touched my thigh as he came around.

“Sorry. I was so excited to taste you, I forgot to grab supplies.” He winked at me.

I wanted to tell him he could lick me anytime he wanted, but I held back.

He knew that anyway.

But being at the club heightened everything.

He dropped back down between my legs and used the lube and his fingers to work my ass over, hitting my prostate every chance he got.

I loved every second of it.

Then he kissed and nibbled my thigh before standing.

“You ready?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Okay.” He leaned in and kissed me again.

“Remember. If you need to stop for any reason, you say red .”

“Got it. Red.” I nodded, more than ready to get on with it.

He rolled the condom on, and when he looked up at me, his face was so open and hopeful, I wanted to give him everything.

“I hope we can stop using these soon. I want to feel your walls gripping me without the barrier.”

“Me too.”

“You’re so hot inside; it’ll probably scorch my dick.”

I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth.

I wanted…

“Fuck me, Daddy.”

“With pleasure.” He pressed the top against my hole and pushed, working it in.

Once we got that out of the way, he fucked me.

But then he grabbed onto the swing and started moving me.

Back and forth, swinging to fuck me on his cock.

And it felt good.

But.

But.

The room started spinning and the sides of the swing rubbed my bare skin.

I couldn’t breathe.

“Cr-Crow…” I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling heat in my cheeks.

Then I remembered.

“R-Red. Red.”

Crow stopped immediately.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay, Skyler?”

“No. No. Get me out of this.” I was almost in tears, overwhelmed, and I couldn’t even say why.

Crow moved quickly, unhooking all the cuffs and practically pulling me out of the contraption, holding me tight.

“What do you need?”

“Air. I can’t breathe.”

“Shit. You’re having a panic attack.” He carried me to the bed and sat me on the mattress with my back against the headboard.

“Put your head between your knees.”

I did what he said, but I didn’t know if it would help.

I’d never had a panic attack.

I didn’t know what to do.

Crow rubbed my shoulder and murmured softly to me, although I didn’t focus on what he was saying.

I breathed in and out deeply.

Until my heart stopped all that ping-ponging around my chest.

I leaned back, and Crow handed me a bottle of water.

I had no clue where or when he’d picked it up, but I was thankful and took a long drink.

His brows were pinched above his long nose, and he looked so worried.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded.

“I’m sorry.”

“No. Nothing to be sorry about. I’m glad you remembered your word.”

“Me too.” We stared at each other.

He looked as vulnerable as I felt, and I didn’t know which I hated more.

“I don’t know what happened. It was good. Then all of a sudden it wasn’t.”

“Okay. Well. That’s fine. No swing.”

“That doesn’t mean no Afterglow. I like coming here with you. But…” I waved at that thing in the center of the room.

But it wasn’t what I hated.

I started rambling.

“There’s something here, Crow. I like you. I mean, way more than anyone. Like ever. I’m falling so hard. But it’s not, you know? It’s still shaky. And I don’t know where we stand or where we’re going, and half the time I can’t get out of my head, but in there in that…” I stuck my hand out.

“My brain stopped. I wasn’t thinking. Only feeling. And something tripped in my head, like I can’t do that. How can I do that? I…I trusted you, Crow. I didn’t trust me. Does any of this make any sense?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe? That’s all you have to say?” I wanted to scream.

To run.

But Crow climbed up on the bed and sat cross-legged in front of me.

“I’m trying to understand, but that was a lot to unpack.” He blew out a long breath.

“First, maybe we need to talk about our relationship more. And I know I’m not good at that, so you have my permission to force that on me.” His smile was so cute and smug.

I couldn’t be mad at him.

“Second, I think I pushed too fast for this.” He nodded his head behind him to indicate the swing, the club, or something.

“I want to do this with you.”

“I know. I want that too, but we can go slower. I mean, the possibilities are endless. And I can refrain from springing surprises like that on you.”

“Yeah. I think if I had time to get used to the idea, it might have been better.”

“But maybe you need to talk to someone. A sub or something, because I think you reacted when you were slipping into sub space.”

“What’s that?”

“Fuck. I really have made a mess of this. I’m a pretty good daddy, Skyler, but maybe not this side of it. You definitely need to talk to someone.”

“Okay, but not that purple-haired dude.”

He laughed and pulled me into his arms.

He kissed the top of my head.

“How about we go home and make slow, passionate love?”

“Home?”

“Yeah. Well, you’re practically living with me anyway. I expect you’ll have all your stuff moved in by the end of the month.”

I chuckled, because it was cute.

But.

“Crow. We haven’t even talked about that.”

“Okay. Let’s go home and discuss it in the morning.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Fine. Let’s get dressed.” I was determined to stick this out and make that stubborn man talk more.