“I think it’s good you’re here too,” he murmured. “Don’t be surprised if Noa asks for playtime.”
That made me laugh. “He already did. He said Mister KC could totally wreck James too.”
James sat up straighter and did that thing where he tried to look like the talk wasn’t affecting him. He went for disgruntled, but I wasn’t buying it.
“Now, that’s an image…” Ash was clearly not against the idea. Or the fantasy of it, maybe? I wasn’t sure. “Is that somethin’ you’ll wanna explore, having multiple partners?”
I detected only curiosity in his voice and expression, so I looked to James. We’d had our fantasies over the years—some wilder than others.
“I think it’s too soon to say,” I replied thoughtfully.
James nodded once. “I’d like to focus on what we may or may not be developing already, and then the future will tell. We’ve discussed it in theory before—nothing concrete about limits whatsoever.”
Word.
“I could picture possibly having a longer leash out here,” I added. “Maybe. I don’t know. But like, perhaps exploring a little bit in a kinky setting, and then when we’re at home, it’s just us,and you—” I turned to Ash. “In short, another set of rules for what goes out here.”
Ash inclined his head. “We have all the time in the world to test the waters. As long as we put communication first, because you two getting involved with others will affect safety and protection boundaries.”
Of course. Yeah. I agreed. “If you’re my Daddy Dom, I wanna run all those things by you first.”
He smiled at that. “Music to my ears. I like your T-shirt, by the way. Not that you bein’ a brat needs advertisin’.”
I beamed.
“This will be a playground for you.” He finally dropped a kiss to my lips, just a quick one. “If I’d seen the possibilities as quickly as you did, my marriage wouldn’t be a technicality.”
I shook my head and touched his cheek. “It’s not a technicality now either, Sir.”
He caught my hand and kissed the inside. “I hope you’re right. If nothing else, at least he has to be nice to me tomorrow.”
For his birthday? Yeah, uh-huh. Without any help whatsoever from Ash—as in, no wish lists—James and I had prepared a gift for him. Hopefully, we’d find a day to have dinner together soon.
“It’s okay to aim higher, boss,” James pointed out. “Not that I didn’t enjoy the two hours you spent today on telling me what birthday gifts you and Nathan have given each other over the years.”
I slapped a hand over my mouth to hide my giggles, and Ash shot us both a look.
It would be so easy to tell him to step on it or push him to blurt things out to Nathan, but I couldn’t do that. I got it. I understood the fear. Maybe Ash was afraid to get rejected. Also, kids took up a lot of time, and it wasn’t one of those conversations you had in passing.
That said, I couldn’t imagine he had anything to worry about. Their separation held too much pining and zero “I want you out of my life.” For chrissakes, Mister Rigger was pressing love on a bunch of relationship-goal memes and quotes about longing and grief.
Ash would learn a lot if he spent more time on the site. Then maybe he could also freaking friend me!
He nodded at James. “You can go make yourself useful and get us some sodas at the bar.” He pulled out his wallet. “It’s self-serve at this hour, so go behind it and grab the drinks from the fridge. Sodas are a buck a piece.” He extended a five to James. “You’ll find the money jar next to the register.”
A soda would be nice! I was thirsty.
“I actually think I can afford that all on my own.” James smirked a little and got up.
“Well, excuse me for bein’ a gentleman.” Ash shook his head in amusement and pocketed his money again.
We watched James head inside before I glanced back at Ash.
“He’s so ready for you to make a move on him.”
He chuckled quietly. “Not as ready as I want him, but he’s getting there.”
In other words, as the Sadist that he was, he wanted my husband downright desperate.
