Page 35 of All Tied Up

Now that Neil had noticed the sounds he let them drift away. The basement was huge, and they were settled into a quiet nook off to the side, a kind of bubble separate from the crowd.

Neil found himself yawning, completely breaking the pattern. Maybe he should have taken a nap this afternoon. He’d been keyed up from the event, and now that he was snuggled up and cozy, he was kind of crashing. “Sorry,” he murmured.

“Don’t be sorry. I promised you an early bedtime. Maybe we should get you upstairs.”

Neil’s chest filled with warmth. It was like Sebastian just did this Daddy thing without even thinking about it. “Do I have to go now?” He tried not to be disappointed, but it may have slipped out anyway.

“Nope. We can stay right here. Jamie’s going to schmooze so you can keep me company.”

He snuggled deeper into that warm chest and soft belly, then turned to press an eensy bit closer into the warmth of Sebastian’s denim-covered thigh. “You’re a really good Daddy,” he heard himself saying.

Sebastian chucked, a deep warm sound that shook his whole body. “And you’re a really good boy.”

“I didn’t think anyone would think so,” he commented quietly. He was too sleepy and cozy to worry too much about how he sounded. This was the most relaxed he’d felt all year. Maybe his whole life.

“Oh, several Daddies definitely noticed, as you saw. That shy, blushing thing you do is unbelievably sexy. And there was a moment there, when you were saying those lines, that your submission just shone through. It was beautiful to see.”

“Really?” He opened his eyes, but he didn’t pull away. He just needed to see Sebastian saying it.

“You’re a gorgeous boy, Neil.” Sebastian’s warm, dark eyes caught and held his. He felt like he could get lost in them forever.

For a moment it seemed almost like Sebastian wanted to kiss him, and he wanted so much to feel those lips on his…

Neil jerked back with a yelp. “Jamie. Jamie’s your boy. You shouldn’t… do that. With me.” He wasn’t quite sure what that was. Looking, kissing, sharing the rhythm of their lungs. But somewhere, a line had been crossed.

Jamie had been flirting hard with Neil earlier, but Neil knew that didn’t mean anything. This, though, was frighteningly close to cheating.

Sebastian grabbed Neil’s wrist, not tight, but anchoring him in place. “Shhhh…” he soothed. Well, Neil might have been kind of loud. “I think we need to have a conversation. No freaking out, OK? Let me call Jamie over here.”

Neil crossed his arms defensively over his chest, though he didn’t break Sebastian’s hold. It was one thing to imagine someone else’s hot Daddy as his, and another thing to act on it. Sebastian should definitely know better.

Sebastian turned his head and whistled three times. It wasn’t a sharp, piercing screech, but a mellow, falling tone like a bird call. If Neil weren’t so confused and annoyed, he’d find it really sweet.

Actually, he still kind of did. He wanted to ask which bird sound it was, since he was sure Sebastian would know, and what the story was behind it.

But he wanted answers first.

Sebastian rubbed comfortingly up and down Neil’s arms a few times and then let them go when Neil just kept staring straight ahead.

He figured he could at least stay there until he heard things out, though. In fact, the more he thought about it… It couldn’t be that Jamie had been flirting with him for real? Right? Were they poly? Or was this part of their kink?

A moment later, Jamie came into the room, scanning the area until he found them. As soon as he did, his eyes lit up. “Daddy! Neil!” He bounced over happily.

Literally bounced, since his prosthetic, like an upside down question mark, seemed to add an extra spring to his gait.

Hopefully whatever came next wouldn’t destroy that happiness.

Sebastian patted his lap and Jamie launched into it sideways, tilting his face up for an enthusiastic kiss. Neil watched from the corner of his eye. Jamie’s bare leg draped over Neil’s knees, and if he had been uncomfortable before, he was doubly uncomfortable now.

And turned on, because Jamie was still wearing that corset that made his figure just start to curve in, and that fuck-me skirt that just begged to be lifted. His bare, smooth-shaven leg was drifting enticingly closer on Neil’s lap as Jamie squirmed in his Daddy’s hold.

Dammit. Now Neil was feeling even more uncomfortable.

“I was just about to start herding people out of the dungeon,” Jamie reported brightly. “What’s up?”

Sebastian looked chagrined. “I seem to have gotten ahead of myself and worried Neil. I thought it would be easier to explain with you here.”

“Ahhhhh…” Jamie nodded wisely. “Well, go ahead.”