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He cocked his head to one side as he settled back into the booth. “Maybe just a sparkling water.”

Halting my exit, I raised an eyebrow. “You don’t ever drink anything without sugar.”

He snickered. “Tonight’s a night for trying new things.”

My grin was wide. “I’m proud of you, boy.”

I could’ve sworn he blushed, but in this lighting, it was impossible to tell.

Chapter ten

Tristan

Istared at Henry’s backside as he hurried up to the bar, and the man did everyone a favor by leaning on the bar with his elbows, sticking that perfect ass out. How was that man almost fifty? His backside sure didn’t show it. His ass was a work of art.

I mean, I hadn’t seen it naked, but given the way it filled his jeans, I could imagine. I was nearly salivating at how incredible it seemed. Maybe he’d even let me sink into it one day. Now that would be amazing.

The thought made me realize that we still had a lot to learn about each other. I was vers, which shocked literally everyone who found out—even Cameron—so I was a little hesitant to share that with Henry this early on. After one horrifically bad breakup, I hadn’t dated anyone, but I’d fucked around with the same guys a handful of times, and I knew that to be happy long-term, I needed to fuck and be fucked. I loved bottoming, sure, and given that I had the body of twink, albeit a tall and lightly muscular one, sexual partners expected it, so I usually defaulted to that. It was my preferred position, but a guy’s gotta switch things up now and then, right? And it had been way too long since I’d had my dick in an ass that spectacular. “Way too long” meaning never, because his ass was perfection.

Henry was back with our drinks and set them in front of us before sliding in next to me, the tattoos on his chest flexing deliciously with the movements. He sat just as close as he had before he’d pulled me onto his lap for those scorching kisses, and I loved it. His nearness was consuming and blissful. I didn’t know how else to describe it.

Except maybe terrifying.

I eyed the bubbly drink before I tentatively pulled it in front of me.

Henry laughed. “Scared to try it?”

I gulped. “A little, to be honest. I’ve not had it before.”

“Oh, Tris, you don’t have to try this hard. I already like you.”

I laughed, the tension breaking. “God, you’re amazing. I love your sense of humor.”

He tilted his head to one side. “Funny, I’ve had the exact same thought about you.”

Pursing my lips around the stirrers, I sucked the fizzy drink through the straw. The lack of sugar was jarring at first, but after a few sips, I was starting to appreciate it.

“Good?”

I shrugged then leaned my head on his shoulder. I was taller than most boys, and I loved that Henry—Daddy, for tonight—had a few inches on me. We fit perfectly together, and we hadn’t even had sex yet. “It’s passable.” He laughed. “It’s not bad, actually. Just had to get acclimated to it.”

He stared at me for a second before blinking to clear his expression. “I love how smart you are.”

I could feel my cheeks heat. “Thanks. I suppose my degree was money well spent, then.”

His eyes widened just a bit. “You have a degree? In what?”

I took a breath, steeling myself for his reaction. “Philosophy and ethics.”

“What?!” He’d stopped shouting to be heard above the crowd when the shibari demonstration had started, but he was back to it now. I saw a few heads turn our direction, and Henry must’ve noticed them as well because his next words were nearly a whisper. “You’re like . . . really smart, then. Fuck, that’s such a turn-on. Could you be any more perfect?”

I shook my head. “I’m not perfect; far from it.”

Henry frowned. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

My stomach churned as my fingers played with the napkin beneath my half-empty glass.

I could feel Henry twist in the seat to face me, and his bent index finger came up under my chin. “Tristan, look at me.”