Page 11 of Soothing Little Sylmen

Lunch was simple, much like dinner and breakfast had been. I didn’t overthink it, just selecting what sounded good. With a full belly, I took off to see Miss Amelia. I asked someone for directions, because once again I didn’t have my map. A few wrong turns later, I managed to make it through the doorway only a minute or two late. Okay, maybe it was like five minutes, but she only smiled and shook her head at me.

“You look like you have been running around.”

I nodded. I was about to pull out my phone to tell her as much when a familiar deep voice rose up from behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see the mystery man standing right inside the doorway. His eyes trailed over my figure. It was a brand upon my skin. My knees instantly felt weak. I had to lock them to stay standing.

“Oh good, you’re here, Gael. I’d like you to meet Sylmen.”

Amelia’s voice played out as he stepped closer. I needed to react. I needed to say something, anything. But I didn’t have the ability. It was as if I were frozen.

Chapter Six

Gael

Amelia’s text informing me I needed to get to the library at 2 p.m. was worrying. Part of me assumed I had done something wrong earlier when we had spoken to Master Derek. Maybe he changed his mind and decided Sylmen wasn’t a good fit for me, or maybe I wasn’t a good fit for him.

There were so many variables to all of this. Pieces that I didn’t have a guide for. As much as I wanted to rush in and claim Sylmen as my own, I needed to respect the way things worked.

I trudged through the halls until I reached the library’s entrance. I took a moment to breathe deeply, knowing that whatever came I would be fine. And then I stepped through the door. Immediately I understood why Amelia told me I had to come. Because she was playing matchmaker.

Sylmen stood there facing her as if they had just exchanged some type of greeting.

“You wanted to see me, Amelia?” I tried to keep my voice as even as I could, though I wanted to shout with joy from the rooftops. No need to scare my boy this soon. I didn’t want to scare him at all, actually. When he turned to look over his shoulder, I noticed the way his eyes widened. So he’d had no clue I was coming.

Amelia’s eyes sparkled with joy. “Introduce yourselves,” she said.

And while I was hearing her words, it was as if Sylmen did not. He’d frozen like there was no way this could possibly be happening.

Was he upset or simply overwhelmed? Did my presence make him uncomfortable?

Because if it did, then I would absolutely leave. There was no way I was going to make this sweet boy anything other than happy. It was my goal to be what he needed. And if that meant not being near him, then I would understand.

I approached him slowly, careful not to startle the life out of him. I was nearly toe to toe with him before he shook himself out of it.

“Hello, Sylmen,” I said, my voice carefully even. His eyes widened slightly. I didn’t know if he was shocked by the tone of my voice or that I was acknowledging him. He seemed to want to blend into the background almost. I couldn’t let that happen, though. Not when he took up so much of my thoughts.

I extended my hand to him as if to shake it. He slipped his fingers over my palm, and rather than shaking it, I turned it sideways and placed my other hand on top. His hands were cold, and I knew that mine would warm him up.

“I have heard good things about you, Sylmen, and I was hoping to meet you. It seems that Miss Amelia has decided to make it happen.”

Sylmen turned to look at the woman. Though I couldn’t see his expression, if I had to guess it would be a sense of betrayal—like maybe Amelia had done him wrong—based on the way she reacted.

“I have nothing nefarious planned,” she said. “Nothing that you might think. I only want to connect two people who might be a good fit together.”

When he turned back to me, I could see the curiosity lingering just at the surface, like he wanted to say more, to do more. I decided I would take a chance, be myself, and really step forward to show him I could be the Daddy he needed.

“I spoke with Master Derek about you,” I said as I stroked my thumb over the top of his hand. “I expressed an interest in you after seeing you in the restaurant last night. There was a connection on my end, and if you are open to exploring it, I would like to spend time with you while you’re here. I am a Daddy, and my hope is to find someone who likes to be Little 24/7. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I believe in putting my cards on the table.”

Sylmen’s hand flexed in mine. I didn’t know if it was a good sign or a bad one. When he went to pull back, I allowed it, even though I wanted to keep him close for longer. The second he was free, he pulled out his phone. He typed on it for a moment, then pointed it my way.

I don’t know what to make of all this. I thought I was just coming to read some books and instead the man who I’ve been thinking about appears. I’m not good with decisions right now.

When I went to look back at him, his eyes had lowered almost as if he was ashamed or embarrassed. I placed my finger under his chin and made him look at me. Keeping my expression as neutral as possible, I explained further.

“It’s okay that you are unsure. How about we do this? Since you like books, I would like the chance to read with you. You can look over everything and pick out a book you like. We’ll sit together and I’ll read as many books as you want. When we’re done with that, maybe we can eat together. If after that you want time apart, you’re free to go. Heck, you don’t even have to have dinner with me if you don’t want to. But I would like to spend time with you to show you that I think we could be a good fit together.”

He nibbled at his bottom lip. Part of me liked the sight of him thinking it through. The Daddy side of me wanted to tell him to pull that lip free, that he didn’t need to hurt himself. The key to it all would be his trust. He had no reason to give me that, but at the same time I think he appreciated my mention of Master Derek and the fact that Amelia had brought us both here. It would be different if I had set it up somehow, trapping him when he had no clue.

The next words on his screen were encouraging.