Page 72 of All Tied Up

Just then another guest came down the stairs. It was Remi, for once not following a bouncy Isaac around in one of his cute, childish outfits.

Neil knew that the Meadowlark wasn’t always a kink haven like it was this weekend, but it was kind of nice how everything just felt so… normal. No one blinked when one grown man cut up another grown man’s fried egg at the breakfast table and then wiped down his messy hands and face with a baby wipe. People gave soft smiles when Remi popped a pacifier into Isaac’s mouth and helped him down from the table.

Neil figured that after seeing how easily the two of them were accepted, anything he wanted was probably tame in comparison.

Though it was still weird sometimes when Neil bumped into people in the hallway and knew what they liked to do in bed.

Remi gave Neil a friendly wave as he walked up to the desk.

Neil stepped back to give him space.

“Hello? Anyone there?” Remi called out.

Oh. Right. Obviously. That would have been the thing to do.

“Just a sec,” Sebastian’s deep voice replied from behind the wall. A moment later he appeared in the doorway with a friendly, professional smile.

The moment he caught sight of Neil, though, he broke into a grin. “Hey, baby,” he greeted Neil first.

God, Neil couldn’t even remember the last time someone had been so excited to see him. Had his ex ever been that enthusiastic?

Sebastian turned his attention back to Remi. “How can I help you this evening?”

“Ah, I was just wondering if you have any apple juice or orange juice if it’s not a bother. I know you had it at breakfast. And if it isn’t available, could you direct me to a grocery store?”

“Absolutely. I’ve got some little packets of crackers and cookies if you’d like those, too. Maybe some carrot sticks?”

Remi beamed. “That would be perfect. Put whatever it is on my tab.”

It was shocking how easily they talked about this. But it was comforting, too. This was what Levi had always told him, but it really was different seeing it in action.

“I’ll be right back,” Sebastian promised. Then he gave Neil a look. “Stay right there, boy.”

Oh, God. That commanding voice was all it took to have Neil weak in the knees. His cock, on the other hand, was starting to stand to attention. Sebastian was claiming him publicly, and it felt amazing.

“Yes, Sir,” he said. Because he could. Because for the first time in his life he had someone to say it to, even if it was just for the weekend. He could only imagine how much better it would feel to say that to someone who was his forever. Someone who was just like Sebastian.

Someone who he could eventually call Daddy.

With Sebastian on his errand, Remi turned toward Neil. “It looks like you got lucky this weekend.”

Neil could feel himself blushing, but he met the man’s eyes. “Yes, I did. Very lucky. It looks like you did, too.”

Remi got a dreamy look on his face. “The first moment I saw him.”

That had probably been obvious to everyone in the room.

“Are you going to keep seeing him? I mean, after this weekend?”

Remi let out a sigh. “We agreed that this was just a fling but… I hope we can work something out. I guess we’ll have to see.” He didn’t look too hopeful. “It’s going to be hard going back home alone after this.”

Neil knew that feeling. Not that there was any hope of a real relationship with Sebastian and Jamie, who’d been very clear about what they wanted. But Wednesday evening was going to suck.

Probably all of next year was going to suck. How could he just go back to his old life after this?

Just then, Sebastian returned. He held out a colorful paper bag that looked like it was leftover from a child’s birthday party, bulging with its lumpy contents. “Here’s what I had on hand. I tossed in some carrot sticks and sliced apples that we keep for making picnic boxes. If you need anything else, there’s a little store about five miles down the road. Just turn left out of the parking lot and drive until you see it.”

Remi looked in the bag. “This couldn’t have been more perfect. Thank you.”