“I don’t think you really believe that.” I cocked my head to one side and stared at him. What am I not getting? “Why are you on the verge of throwing a tantrum? You know I’ll have to punish you if you do, don’t you?”
His lips curved in a smile, and the worry in his eyes turned to desire as he peeked at me beneath his eyelashes.
“Maybe I want you to punish me before I go. Please.”
Ashton resumed tapping his foot under the table. Dammit, why did I take so long to figure it out? He was nervous about going to his first AA meeting and wanted something familiar.
I rose to my feet and held out my hand to him. “We don’t have much time, but we can use the office.”
He nodded, and without a word, we weaved our way around the tables. Brayden was watching us, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t quite hide his grin, though.
“Phil, we’ll be in my office,” I called.
Phil raised his head from the cup of coffee he was making. He glanced from me to Ashton, then back at me.
“Okay, won’t disturb you.”
Ever since I found out he was the reason Ashton ghosted me the last time, our friendship was strained. He tried to make up for it by being even more agreeable than usual, but I was still hurt he’d gone behind my back like that and talked to Ash about Mario.
Ash and I ducked around the back to my office. I kept ahold of his hand as we walked inside. The space was more of a storage room than an office, our stock on shelves that rested against the walls. Smack in the middle stood my desk with a computer and a printer. The only things I really splurged on were for this business. I needed efficient tools to keep us in the green where profits were concerned.
“This is your office?” Ashton asked, glancing around, his face showing his horror.
I chuckled, his reaction just what was needed to break the ice. This office was definitely a step down from what I was used to on Wall Street, but I liked it. It was all mine, since Phil rarely set a foot through the doors.
“Snob,” I half teased, letting go of his hand. “What did you expect?”
He walked over to the single window in the room and looked out, then turned back to me, his nose all scrunched up. “Definitely not a view of your dumpster.”
“Hmm, why don’t you give me a better view, then.” I sat behind my desk. “Come here, boy. Daddy’s got to teach his spoiled brat a lesson.”
He shuffled closer, his eyes shining. “You know, it only looks bad on you if I’m a brat. You spoil me.”
I chuckled. “I wouldn’t have the means to begin spoiling you, Pretty Eyes.”
“It doesn’t take money to spoil me.” His laughter gave way to a pensive expression, brows knitted in a frown. “Money means nothing to me. You give me all the things that really matter. Your time. Your love. Your patience. And your coffee.” He grinned at me again. “You always find a way to make mine extra special.”
“Hmm, maybe because I have an extra special boy.” I nodded at him. “Now unbuckle your pants.”
He undid his belt buckle, his eyes full of mischief. It was good to see him this way and not as tense as he’d been earlier. We both hurt over the past forty-eight hours, but laughter was the medicine that could help us heal.
“No, turn around while you do it.”
He turned to his side and smiled impishly at me. “Like this?”
“Your ass is going to be so sore,” I threatened. “All the way around.”
He did exactly what I said. But instead of a one-eighty, he did a three-sixty and faced me once more.
“That’s all the way around, right, Daddy?” He gave me his best innocent expression, hands behind his back, biting his bottom lip and batting his lashes at me.
My lips twitched as I barely contained my smile at his antics. How could I give up on him? He brought so much laughter and joy to my life.
I grabbed his hips and spun him the way I wanted him. With his back to me.
“You know it’s your ass I want to see, boy. Don’t play with Daddy, or he won’t let you suck his dick when he’s finished swatting your ass.”