Page 3 of Ethan’s Dazzling Daddies

Ethan should have been embarrassed about it, should have begged off, but he didn't want to. He liked Jacob a lot, and if it got him some help and gave him the bonus of spending time with the other man, then why would he ever let that go?

They cleaned everything up and got it put away. Sure, it took a while, but in that time, Jacob told Ethan stories about cooking for the club and how he'd learned all of the recipes. Apparently, he'd been very close with his grandmother, and she had shared all of the family secrets with him by providing recipes Jacob now brought to the club.

He also shared a bit more about his life outside of the club in general. He was full-time staff, so he didn't have another job, but he did have hobbies and other pursuits. Ethan enjoyed every minute of it.

When it was time to go, Ethan almost followed Jacob into the kitchen just to keep spending time with him, but he knew sleep was the better option. At least as much of it as he would get. He didn't want to be even more exhausted, even if that meant less time with Jacob.

As if he could sense Ethan's turmoil, Jacob shook his head and urged Ethan towards the door. “I'll see you again soon, and you are always welcome to come to the kitchen whenever you're here. I would never turn you away.”

Ethan waved goodbye, heading home with a heart that was both full and aching. He wished he had the courage to say more to Jacob, to maybe confess his feelings and see if the other man felt the same. The fact that Jacob had chosen to sit by Ethan and cuddle him tonight was a good sign.

It wasn't enough, though. He needed more concrete evidence.

A fact that would come just a few days later, when Ash Lucas pushed Ethan's last button.

CHAPTER 1

Ethan could see easily how his friend Koa was affected by Manny, the new Daddy at Club Delight. The way he couldn't stop looking at the other man said a lot.

It made Ethan smile, knowing that Koa wouldn't have to be lonely, that his friend would get the love and care he deserved.

A little piece of Ethan was jealous. He wanted a Daddy of his own to take care of him. One in particular always came to mind when he thought of his happily ever after.

The big problem was that Ethan was shy… and so was Jacob. Jacob didn't always have the ability to step up and say what he felt. And for all Ethan knew, Jacob just liked him as a friend. He was just being supportive with his kind smiles and the recent cuddle session.

Anything more than that was an assumption on Ethan's part.

He was contentedly playing and thinking about Jacob, his mind deep in Little space and wishing for a Daddy of his own, when his phone rang. The sound of it ripped him straight out of Little space and threw him into Big mode.

That ringtone could only be one person: his boss.

He answered the phone, and with a few short, brisk sentences, the man made it clear that Ethan was to come back into work. He looked down at himself, noticing how he was still in his Little clothes, and thought of how he'd been content just a moment before.

There was no chance he would get back to that mindset. No way he'd find peace again after just a few moments of his boss's deep, angry tone.

Ethan let Koa know he had to leave, citing that work had called him in. Koa didn't want him to go. Koa never wanted him to. His friend had encouraged him for months to quit his job and come work at Club Delight full time.

But Ethan didn't think it was fair. What right did he have to get a job just because his friend told him he could have it? Sure, he was qualified. That didn't mean he should just be handed something.

Ethan's parents had always told him he had to work twice as hard and for twice as long to get what others had. Being Black in this world was difficult. Add to that the fact that he was gay and submissive, and you had a person who masked regularly to fit into a world not built for them. He constantly needed to code-switch to get by.

When Ethan had changed enough to look less Little and more his work self, he went to the office. The security guard, Steve, waved at him with a sad smile on his face.

“Hey, Ethan,” he said. “You get called back?”

Ethan couldn't speak, so he nodded instead. He scanned his badge on the kiosk and waved goodbye when Steve didn't say anything else. The pair didn't need words to communicate. Steve knew how often Ethan had to come back into work, knew the long hours he kept.

There had even been occasions where Ethan was arriving and leaving in a way that aligned with Steve's shifts. Those were hours no one should have to keep as a personal assistant.

Someone should tell that to his boss.

In the office, Ethan found his boss behind his desk, as usual. His brow was furrowed as he scanned the papers in front of him. Ethan knocked on the door frame and stepped inside, his hands clasped before him.

Mr. Lucas looked up instantly, his gaze raking over Ethan. For a moment, it was still and quiet. Ethan felt a sense of dread inch through him, knowing it wouldn't be long before he was given a demand.

When Mr. Lucas was in a mood, Ethan could do nothing right. The man never said it outright, of course. It was in the way he looked at Ethan, the way he bit out orders. It pained him to be around his boss during those times.

He’d had never been hateful or rude in the sense of his race or sexuality. In fact, Ethan was pretty sure the man was gay himself. But he was still mean. Still tough to be around for long periods.