Page 49 of Doc

“We will, sir.”

When the door shuts behind Cristian, I let out a breath of relief and get back to what I was doing, tension easing from my shoulders now that it’s just me and De Luca.

James opens the front door and grins at me. “Well, nice to see you again. Don’t leave without a key next time.”

I chuckle, but the look on his face says he’s serious.

“Have you eaten yet?” he asks.

“That’s my line usually, but no.”

“Go clean up and then come to the kitchen. I still have batter from the pancakes I made this morning.”

I try to protest. “You don’t have to go to the trouble.”

“It’s no trouble, now go. Daddies need to take care of themselves, too.”

Laughing, I raise my hands in surrender. “Okay, I’m going.”

After a quick shower,I find James in the kitchen. He jumps up when I enter the room and I say, “I can make my own food, I’m not Doc.”

He laughs. “It’s not a problem. I’m used to cooking because you should never trust Ash in the kitchen; he’s a menace.”

“He lets you call him Ash?”

James glances at me as he pulls the pancake batter from the fridge. “I didn’t give him a choice.” His grin is feral and I laugh. “He’s serious about his first name, he doesn’t like any reminders of his past. I call him Ash because it’s a thing between the two of us; something that helps cement the bond we have. Whatever the two of you are building will do the same. Though I’m careful not to call him that in front of other people, it’ll lead to more questions he won’t answer; I value my life too much for that.”

I smile softly at his words, liking the sound of building on my foundation with Doc—withAshby. “You said earlier that ‘Daddies need to take care of themselves, too’. How’d you know? I don’t think I scream ‘Daddy’, at least no one before believed it until they saw me in action.”

James laughs and pours some batter on the now hot griddle. “He told me. I hope that’s okay? We don’t have any secrets, so unless you tell him not to, nothing will ever stay between the two of you.”

Shaking my head, I reassure him, “It’s fine. I’m not upset that he told you about what we’re doing. I’m glad he has someone to talk to. Plus, my best friends know.”Even if I wish they didn’t. “So I'd be a hypocrite if I said he wasn’t allowed to talk to you.”

“You know,” he says as he plates up the stack of pancakes, “I always said Ash needed a keeper, didn’t expect him to go out and get a Daddy, but it’s fitting.”

I smirk. “Yes, well, don’t expect me to be a lenient Daddy. I take the care of my partner seriously.”

James sets the food, along with utensils, syrup, and butter in front of me. “I don’t know much about those types of relationships, they're not my thing, but I trust Ash, and if he trusts you, I’ll learn to. You don’t have to worry about me interfering with your relationship, just don’t hurt him.”

I shake my head as I cut into the pancakes. “It’ll never be on purpose; and when it is, it’s the kind of hurt we both want.”

James grins. “Yeah, I saw the marks you left on him. That kind of hurting is perfectly acceptable.” He frowns and his light brown eyes get a serious look in them. “He’s been through a lot, even if he won’t ever admit how deeply he feels things. All I want is for him to be happy. If that means he gets a Daddy who knows how to keep him in line and deliver thegoodtype of hurt, I’m not going to complain.”

“You’re not worried that I’ll get in the way of your relationship?”

James shakes his head. “I already know he warned you that our relationship wasn’t going to change. I’m not worried you’d go back on your word. The only reason I didn’t crawl into bed with you the other night was because we didn’t know how you’d respond. There’s a difference between being okay with us and seeing it full-force. I’d like to think we’re easing you into it, but I don’t think there’s any type of easing.”

I laugh. “No, probably not.”

James makes tea for the both of us while I finish my plate. “Want more?” he asks as he slides my mug over.

Shaking my head, I wrap my hands around the mug and take a deep breath. “No, I’m good. I’ll probably crash for a few hoursafter this, though. Even alone, sleeping on that cot is not the most comfortable thing.”

“Yeah, been there done that. I'm glad there’s someone else to take the brunt of it now.” He grins when I glare.

As we’re finishing our tea, James pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket. “I’m going to the grocery store, because it may be my day off from babysitting Ash, but that just means I have a million other things to do.” I laugh at his put out expression. “Anything you need or want?” He waves the paper in the air. “Let me know now so I can get it on the list.”

I shake my head. “No, I’m fine, thanks. I’m just the interloper, you don’t have to worry about me. Plus, one of my friends dropped by yesterday with groceries that he and his brothers bought for my place.” Rolling my eyes, I give James a wry grin. “Apparently, they don’t trust me to do my own shopping.”

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