Page 32 of Dear Daddy, Please Want Me

Anyway, if this really worked out, maybe he wouldn’t have to. “That makes sense, but, I mean, is that a typical HR practice?”

“It is, actually. Not everywhere, of course. But companies have figured it out. There’s even this thing called a looooooooove contract.” He clasped his hands to his chest and batted his eyes.

“Really?”

“It more or less says that everything’s consensual, puts some guidelines in place for behavior and potential conflicts of interest, and protects the company from damages if the couple breaks up.”

“You’ve done a lot of research on this.” It was oddly flattering. Amidst all of these logistics, Levi was saying that he wanted this enough to find a way to make it work.

“Well, I’m not the only employee at Cuffd with a crush on my boss.”

“Wait, really?”

“Yes, and I’m not going to tell you who the others are. But if you change this policy, I’d expect at least two new relationships out of it. Maybe more.”

Seriously? “There aren’t even forty people in the company!”

“Yep. And they all talk about their kinks during meetings to provide input on the app design. It’s like a buffet.”

Saul rolled his eyes. “Alright, brat. You really think this is the ethical thing to do?”

Levi nodded solemnly. “It makes a lot of sense.”

“People are still going to talk.”

“People are going to cheer. I’m personally expecting a nice round of office-themed kinky memes and gag gifts.”

“Ugh. You’re probably right.”

“I mean, they’re not wrong... boss.” Levi looked pointedly around the office. “Great choice of location, by the way.”

“You goaded me into it, naughty boy. Though it was hot, wasn’t it?”

“OMG, yes.” Levi actually said the letters out loud. “I hope you know that this is basically what I imagine maybe, twenty percent of the time I walk in here. After today, though, I’ll probably never be able to concentrate again.”

Yeah, neither would Saul.

“Listen.” Levi gave him what was probably the first serious look that day. “It’s a small company and everyone knows you. They want you to be happy. They want me to be happy. Just be honest and give everyone else the same opportunity.”

Huh. That was kind of sweet. And having a realistic solution to the office relationship issue was a huge weight off his shoulders.

But it also exposed the real fears that lurked underneath. The ones that said he wasn’t man enough. That he wouldn’t know how to navigate the complexities of gay culture. That Levi would take one look at his body and change his mind.

He wished so often that he’d transitioned when he was younger. Or that he could just skip over a couple years of this awkward in-between stage. Caterpillar metaphors didn’t help.

Saul pulled Levi back against his chest, both to hold him close for a little bit longer and to give himself time to think. Levi settled in with a happy murmur.

Could it be that easy? Levi certainly didn’t seem worried about anything. His hand was back to tracing patterns along Saul’s waist, almost like it was comforting for him to be able to touch it.

Maybe he should just ask. They’d talked about corporate policies but not about the two of them.

He spoke into Levi’s silky hair. “Is this what you want? Not just like…” He gestured vaguely at the couch and their intertwined bodies even though Levi couldn’t see. “I mean, do you want...?” God, he sounded like a fool.

Levi met his eyes. He looked nervous. Like, really nervous, not the playful shyness that he sometimes affected. “What?”

“Well, more, I guess? Do you want to keep seeing each other?”

Levi nodded, but he looked hesitant, too. Like he wanted to say something.