Page 14 of Just a Little in Love

Oh. Apparently, he’d said that out loud. Well, he couldn’t get any redder. Rowan kept his gaze on the floor and breathed. Master was rubbing soothing circles on his back, and it was so good. Then he stopped, crouched down in front of Rowan, and hooked a finger under Rowan’s chin and gently encouraged him to look up. Not that looking into Master Gabriel’s eyes was a chore. In fact, he’d never noticed the almost amber highlights in the deep brown before. Rowan sighed happily.

“Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I think you were embarrassed because I got you the Toy Story cup? Overwhelmed a little?”

Rowan nodded, his happiness deflating.

“Rowan, do you think I would get embarrassed if you saw me in my leather pants or holding a whip?”

Rowan swallowed heavily, a weird fluttery feeling starting in his belly.

“Rowan, you’re a little. I’m a Dom. Of all your friends, I should be the one person to understand.” He paused. “I’m guessing other than at the club, you don’t have another safe space to explore your little side?”

He opened his mouth to tell Master about the room, but he couldn’t. He’d tried not to think about it, because he knew he was going to have to remove everything.

“What is it?” Master drew his thumb over Rowan’s cheek.

“Father’s selling the house,” Rowan croaked out.

Master gazed at him. “Rowan, do you have some little things there? Maybe stuffies? Books?”

Rowan nodded, misery sinking into him like a cloud.

“Well then, until you get your own place, pack them up and bring them here.”

“Here?” Rowan said. In an abstract way he understood the word of course, just not what Master meant. “Master—”

But Master chuckled. “You’re really struggling to call me by my name, huh?”

Rowan flushed.

“Then, how about when you’re here, you call me Daddy Gabriel or Daddy Gabe?”

Rowan was going to have a heart attack. “Daddy Gabriel?” he squeaked out. “But you’re not a Daddy.”

“No, but I can be when you’re here if it helps. You can’t call me that at the club, but I don’t mind if it makes it easier for you here. And it’s similar to calling me Master Gabriel.”

“You don’t mind?” Rowan rubbed his chest. Something hurt. But if he was going to die, he would go happily now.

“We’re friends, aren’t we? I want you to be comfortable around me. I can’t help you get a Daddy unless you feel you can talk to me. Don’t forget, you’re helping me as well.” Master—no, Daddy Gabriel stood and held out his hand. “Come on, let’s eat. I’m hungry.”

Rowan took it. It was warm, safe. He had a Daddy. No, he had a friend that would let him call him a Daddy.

Before Rowan knew what was happening, he was digging into a really tasty omelet. Veggies never tasted this good. He had some of those cute little breakfast potatoes as well, and some red sauce to dip them in. Rowan hummed around a delicious mouthful. M—Daddy Gabriel didn’t say much as he was eating, but every so often he would smile in approval. Daddy Gabriel finished first and got up to pour himself a coffee, and that almost broke the spell. Rowan looked down at his plate in alarm. He was maybe three quarters of the way through, and while it killed him, he carefully put down his knife and fork.

Daddy Gabriel looked over. “You didn’t like it?” He shrugged. “Be honest. Honesty is very important, vital even, to a friendship.”

“I loved it,” Rowan blurted out. “I—”

Daddy Gabriel came back to the table, sipping his coffee. “It’s okay if you’re full. Please don’t feel you have to finish it.”

Rowan looked down at his plate. Be honest. “Mother always gets angry if I finish my meals.”

Daddy Gabriel gazed at him. Confusion flittered across his face, so Rowan hurried to explain. “It’s just because she cares. I was sick for quite a while, and she worries I eat too much. Weigh too much,” Rowan added miserably.

“I suppose I can understand that,” Daddy Gabriel said carefully. “I’m assuming you see a nutritionist?”

“A dietician,” Rowan mumbled, feeling his face heat. He looked up when Daddy Gabriel didn’t reply. Daddy Gabriel nodded, then reached for Rowan’s plate and cleared everything before Rowan even got the chance to offer.

A dietician? Gabriel struggled to keep his opinions to himself, but making Rowan feel guilty about eating food was complete bullshit. And he knew because of Clare that dieticians had to be fully registered and keep themselves up to date. They were skilled and highly educated, but Rowan had said it like it was something to be ashamed of. Rowan wore a lot of baggy clothes, and Gabe had had been shocked at the ease with which he’d gotten Rowan off the floor. He hadn’t weighed as much as Gabe expected, but somehow Rowan seemed to have so much guilt and shame. Not that the disaster from last week had helped in any way, and he had to remember that despite him wanting to help Rowan, Rowan didn’t belong to him. Daddy Gabriel? The words had been out of his mouth before he could second-guess himself. He knew that’s how the littles referred to other Daddies.

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