Page 72 of Ethan

She tore some lettuce and arranged it on the three sandwiches, then closed them up.

"Is it serious?"

I nodded. "We're officially boyfriends now."

Sarah smiled at me. "Does that mean you're exclusive?"

Ethan and I hadn't stopped to define the parameters of our relationship. There should be a discussion about that soon. "It's new. We haven't talked about it yet."

"So … you might not be?"

"I would be open to the idea of it being well … open."

Sarah cut each sandwich in half. "I find that surprising considering you tied yourself solely to Mom for twenty-two years." She set a plated sandwich in front of me. "It was just her, right?"

I waved her away. "Yes, of course." I gave some thought to what I wanted to say. "It's different with Ethan. He's such a free spirit. I'd hate to strap him down and restrain him for myself alone."

"It wouldn't bother you if he was with other men?"

"No." I was not going to share with my daughter that the thought of my boyfriend with other men turned me on.

"Lunch!" Sarah shouted down the hallway.

Damian came trotting into the room, took a seat, and set in on his sandwich.

"What does he do for work?" Sarah asked.

"Mm." I tucked the square of paper towel Sarah had provided into my collar. "He owns a coffee shop a block from where I used to work. That's how I met him."

"You saw him across the room and knew?"

"He asked to sit with me."

Sarah chewed away and then swallowed. "Forward."

"Ethan isn't shy." In many respects. Not only was he playful, but he was also cheeky and fun. The crazy shirts and socks. The lace panties. The way he sometimes called me Daddy.

I wanted to climb inside him and live there forever.

"Does Mom know?"

"I asked Derek not to tell her. I'll ask you the same. I'll tell her when I'm ready."

As we ate, Damian chatted about his new best friend, Brandon. The boy he had bullied at school because of his long hair. Now he liked Brandon's hair. Said it was soft and silky to touch. Also, he liked when Brandon talked because he had nice pink lips.

There was a silent knowing exchange between Sarah and me.

We smiled at each other and then finished our lunch.

When I arrived home, I sat in my car and retrieved my phone from my pocket. It had dinged while I was at Sarah's. I had looked briefly but quickly realized it was more pictures.

Of Ethan—in the photoshoot.

Carlos must have sent Ethan more.

I had tucked my phone away. Now, I wanted to see them. Each picture was more gorgeous than the last. Nude in a bed of white sheets. His eyes hooded as he licked his lips. Begging to be fucked. I'd seen that look many times. My heart fluttered a little as I realized he'd been looking down the lens at Carlos that way. That maybe he hadn't simply been posing.

My cock throbbed.

---