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His eyes widened, and he gasped. “You’re a Daddy? How did I not know this?”

A shit-eating grin spread across my face. “I’m a pretty private person. When Ethan first asked me to join your club, I didn’t even know I was one. Once I did, changing things up felt weird. So I kept it to myself.” I shrugged, but the ache in my chest told me a different story—keeping this part of myself hidden from my friends had taken its toll.

Tristan cupped his hand around my cheek, his fingertips playing with a few strands of silver hair at my temple. “Thank you for sharing that with me, Henry. Or . . . would it be alright, just for tonight, if I called you Daddy?”

I caught his gaze and held it. “I’d love that, boy.” Accepting his qualification nearly killed me, but if “just for tonight” was what Tris needed, I’d give it to him. I’d give him the world if I could.

He smiled at my term of endearment, and I couldn’t help my answering grin. “But in the interest of putting everything on the table, I have a confession of my own.”

His brows furrowed. “Okay.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m MrFox43.”

His jaw dropped, and I froze in place until he spoke. “You’re MrFox?”

I nodded seriously, my features schooled until I could get a read on him. I wasn’t imagining he was into MrFox, was I?

Then his face lit up with a giant smile. “Fuck, that’s amazing! God—that’s the most perfect thing ever.”

I eyed him, not daring to hope. “Seriously?”

He nodded emphatically, his next words coming fast. “Yes, ohmygod!” He started laughing, and I couldn’t help but join in, the relief stark and strong. “That Behemoth live stream, our conversation afterward, all the messages you’ve sent me during my lives . . . this is kismet. Did you know I was into him—I mean, you? I didn’t know your name or who you were, but I felt like I could talk to you about literally anything. And then I realized I wanted you—Henry—too. I didn’t know how to reconcile what I was feeling for who I thought were two men. So finding out you’re him . . .”

He started laughing a little hysterically then, and I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into my chest.

He chuckled against my hair. “God, this is wild.”

I pulled back to find his gaze. “I agree. And I had a similar revelation when I realized the man I’d wanted for years was the same man I was lusting after online.” I paused, hesitating. I really wanted to share more, the depth of my desire for him, but I sensed he wasn’t ready to hear all of it.

I had to be clear about something, though. “Tris, I told you I want you in whatever way you’ll have me, and that’s absolutely true. I’m not going to force you into anything and certainly not before you’re ready. That’s not okay, and I’d never ignore consent like that. But, Tris, please don’t ever think this is only lust for me. This feels like more than just attraction, and I’m sorry if that scares you, but I wanted you to know.” I searched his beautiful eyes that were currently reflecting the strobe lights. “Is that okay to say?”

He nodded, his fingers still playing in the hair at my temple. “I feel something for you, Henry, and it does scare me. But maybe, just for tonight, I can be brave.”

There was that horrible qualification again, but I’d accept it. Because despite the fact that Tris had made it clear this arrangement was only temporary, I felt the last piece of my heart locking into place with his words. Everything now felt complete with Tristan in my arms.

Then he smirked. “Okay, I’ve gotta ask: What the hell does the forty-three stand for?”

I chuckled, releasing him a little so he had slightly more wiggle room—but only just. “That’s how old I was when I discovered I was gay.”

“Um—what?!”

I offered a conciliatory crooked smile. “A story for another time when we’re somewhere quieter. For now—”

Just then, Kink Night’s regular emcee, Timothy, interrupted with a loud “Welcome to our biweekly Kink Night!” and the crowd exploded. Our heads whipped toward the stage in unison as Timothy gave his usual introduction about kink and safety and rules and consent while the extra staff I’d scheduled for tonight set up the first demonstration. No one on my staff was required to work Kink Night, but several of them usually volunteered for it, and with good reason—the tips were great. But I would never dream of making anyone uncomfortable, so I didn’t begrudge those who chose to take these nights off. It didn’t happen often, but still, I always made it clear they could.

I turned back to Tristan as his head swiveled to look at me. “So, Tris, did you have any plans for tonight?”

He shook his head. “No, Cameron’s . . . well, he’s going through something and wanted to be left alone. The other guys from the club opted out, too. So hanging with you tonight is perfect—no one will interrupt us.”

I grinned. “Would you like me to freshen up our drinks while you watch the shibari demonstration?”

He stared at the stage, where the Dom had just started wrapping a length of white rope around the scantily clad sub sitting on a wooden chair in the middle of the stage. “Sure. Getting tied up like that doesn’t really do it for me, but it’s cool to watch.”

No bondage play, check. Wasn’t my thing, either.

Everything I found out about him just made me want him more.

I reluctantly guided Tristan off my lap, sliding out of the booth before I grabbed our empty glasses. “You want another mai tai?”