Page 17 of Ethan’s Dazzling Daddies

“What?” Ethan asked as he fought to make sense of it all. When he leaned around Manny's leg, he saw the reason for the disturbance.

Ash was standing in the doorway, watching them. His face held an expression Ethan had never seen before. In all the years he'd worked for the man, not once had he seen this kind of emotion from him.

“What are you doing here?” Manny demanded.

“You know why I'm here.” Ash's gaze moved to Ethan.

Ethan squeaked and sat back, not wanting to draw trouble. It didn't matter. Manny was quick to redirect. “Hey, no! Focus on me. Don't pay him any mind. Why are you here?”

The other Littles in the room were watching, their expressions curious but cautious. Koa tapped his Daddy on the back of the leg and said quietly that maybe they should take this somewhere more private, gesturing to show that they were being watched.

Manny kept his eyes on Ash and nodded. “Okay. That's fine. Let's go.”

Ash waited at the door until Manny was within reach, then grabbed the other man's shoulder. Manny tensed and Ethan held his breath, not wanting a physical altercation to occur on his behalf.

“I just need to talk to him. Please.” Ash's voice was low.

From behind, Manny looked furious. Ethan couldn't imagine what his actual expression was. Ash held his stance, and waited until Manny gave a curt nod and pointed down the hall towards one of the empty office spaces.

Koa moved in front of the two men and Ethan brought up the rear. “We are staying while you talk to him,” Koa called over his shoulder. “I will not have you speak to him the way you did before. And we're getting his Daddy.”

Ash tripped over his feet. “His Daddy?”

“Uh-huh,” Koa said matter-of-factly. “I've already texted him, and he will meet us in the room in a moment.”

Ash cleared his throat but didn't stop again. When they were in the space, Koa reached a hand out to Ethan and guided him into the empty chair. Ethan appreciated it. His legs were wobbly and his heart was beating so fast he worried he'd pass out. Koa stroked the back of his neck, and Manny moved to Ethan's other side.

“What do you need to say?” Manny demanded, his gaze fixed on Ash.

Ash opened his mouth to speak, but the door opened again and Ethan’s Daddy strode in, his expression furious. “Sweetheart,” he said to Ethan, and came straight over.

He lifted him and settled Ethan in his lap. Ethan wanted to curl up, wanted to float back into his Little mind and simply accept the love his Daddy had.

It had only been a few hours ago that they had exchanged those words with one another. Now he was being faced with another challenge, and he worried it would be too much.

“Why are you here?” Jacob directed at Ash. “Haven't you done enough? I don't understand what you could possibly want from him.”

Ethan kept his gaze on Ash, though he wanted the answer to the question he didn't dare speak aloud.

Ash sighed and put his hands on his hips. He paced back and forth for a moment before stopping and looking directly at Ethan.

“I am a terrible Dom.”

Every ounce of Ethan froze. Ash didn't seem to notice, or perhaps he didn't care. He needed to get the words out. It was obvious from the wild look in his eyes.

“I am a terrible Dominant because I put work above everything else. I grew up with parents who instilled in me that you didn't matter to anyone if you couldn't get the job done. So I spent my life trying to prove I was good enough for them, and then good enough for everyone else, and before I knew it I was staying long hours and demanding it of others. All of my relationships failed because of it.”

He paused, steadying himself.

“The incident at the club that Manny mentioned… that was my last submissive shouting loudly in front of everyone about how I didn't pay him any attention. He aired all of our dirty laundry at one of the biggest events of the year. I couldn't show my face there anymore, and I felt every word he said down to my bones. I had neglected him. I'd been busy launching another business, thinking that making more money would be enough. After that, I promised myself I wouldn't get involved with anyone else.”

Ash closed his eyes for a moment. He sighed and his hands fell to his sides. When he opened them again and looked at Ethan, it drew a quiet gasp. So much vulnerability shone there.

“But then one day you walked in, Ethan. You came into my office for an interview, and you were more than qualified. I told myself I was simply impressed by your work ethic. That it wasn't anything else. I told myself that even if you were submissive, we could never work, because you were my assistant, not someone who had agreed to a dynamic with me. But the more time we spent together, I could see it. I knew there was a Little inside of you that you kept tucked away. And as much as I wanted to uncover him and connect with you, I couldn't. Instead, I focused on work. I buried myself in it and therefore buried you too.”

He met Ethan's eyes. “It didn't register to me that it was hurting you until that night Koa and Manny showed up. I changed after that, didn't I?”

Ethan gave a slow nod. His Daddy's hands were trailing up and down his arms, warming him and offering a measure of comfort.