Page 58 of Born Daddy

“I’m glad to hear that. I’ve been concerned, as I’m sure Tate told you.”

Rogan could almost hear the smile in the sound of the Master’s voice. “Uh, Master Zane, can I ask you one thing before we go further into that aspect of this call?”

“Whatever you want to ask, feel free,” replied Master Zane. “I’d like to be a sounding board for you as well as Tate. That is, if you feel comfortable speaking with me after today.”

A measure of relief filled Rogan. He’d said almost those same words to Tate. With each passing moment, the concept of him being a Daddy became more of a plausible scenario.

“Great. I’m wondering if you’ve ever heard of either a Dom or sub named Jace? The detective brought up that name yesterday, and he wasn’t one of the known victims. My sense is that they either have a missing person who fits the victim profile, or they’re trying to find out if this Jace is involved somehow.”

“Tate asked me the same thing. The name isn’t familiar to me, but that doesn’t mean he was never at the club. I plan to ask my team and to check my records, though. Cam was only a member here a year before Tate joined and I never saw him with anyone on a regular basis.” Master Zane grunted. “The guy was never that chatty, and he didn’t socialize with the other Doms, not even the Daddies. I could never get a read on him. But he came with a sterling background, his references from previous clubs and boys he’d worked with were stellar, so I had no hesitation in accepting him as a member.” Master Zane sighed. “Yet, look how wrong I was.”

“As were we all,” said Rogan. He raked his fingers through his hair. “I’m sure Tate told you this as well, but that’s what originally motivated him to seek me out. I’ll forever be grateful that he did—for many reasons.”

Master Zane chuckled. “That was an excellent segue. Let me begin this subject by reconfirming what you said earlier. When you say you want to understand the lifestyle, and what it is that Tate needs, what’s your true motivation? How do you view yourself fitting into the picture?”

Pushing aside his fears, Rogan charged ahead with his answer. “I’d like to be Tate’s Daddy.” He cleared his throat. “Or, at least try to be. I appreciate how abrupt that must seem given my lack of knowledge and experience.”

“No, that’s not necessarily that surprising. We all start somewhere, and if you’ve never been introduced to this lifestyle before, never been inspired to delve deeper into understanding what a true power exchange might mean, then why would you have checked into it earlier in your life?”

Rogan smirked to himself. “I take it Tate shared with you how old I am?”

Master Zane chuckled. “Not directly. But I was aware that Cam was in his forties and Tate mentioned you went to high school with him. Two and two, as it were.”

“You aren’t concerned with the age gap?”

“Not at all. It’s rather common in our crowd, especially with Daddy/boys. I’m thirty-eight, and one of my boys is twenty-seven and the other just turned twenty.”

Rogan arched his eyebrows. Interesting. “Oh.” He chuckled shakily. “I guess that’s one concern to check off the list.”

Master Zane chuckled in return. “Age is the least of my concerns. I tell you what. If you’re serious about this, serious about Tate, I’d like to extend an offer. I’d be willing to mentor you in discovering your inner Daddy. I’ve got a full schedule, but this is something I could fit in by having you come to my home. Then I can not only be with my boys, but you can understand how the dynamic works, learn by watching and doing.”

“Err…”

That was hardcore. Jumping in with both feet. The lifestyle would be right in his face and there’d be no hiding or putting things off. His thoughts drifted to the young man waiting anxiously in his bedroom and Rogan’s heart melted. Of course he’d accept the offer. His discomfort didn’t matter. However, Tate’s wellbeing did.

“Thank you, that’s very generous of you. I’d be happy to take you up on it.”

“I’m so thrilled to hear that, Rogan. I truly am.”

Rogan rubbed the back of his neck. He supposed he’d have to get more comfortable discussing what he would’ve considered in the past to be too private of a subject.

“Does this mean your counsel that Tate and I should wait for a few weeks before taking things to the next level is no longer valid?”

“You mean sex?”

Rogan rolled his eyes at himself and how embarrassed he felt being so blunt. Not to mention it was like asking teacher if it would be okay to fuck.

“Yes. But also interacting with Tate as a boyfriend.”

“You’re already taking a big step. While a romantic relationship isn’t required to be a Daddy, you’re clearly seeking to become one with the intention of having Tate as your boyfriend. So, no longer valid in that regard.”

Master Zane then paused long enough that Rogan worried the call had dropped. At last, the Master sighed then continued.

“I’m not going to pretend I’m not concerned that Tate is moving too fast. That his feelings stem more from a place of vulnerability, and that he’s responding to how caring and kind of a man you are rather than taking the time to heal. On the other hand, how many boys have begun Dom or Daddy relationships for the sole purpose of having their yearning to be cared for or to serve fulfilled? More than I could count. With that said, your first Daddy assignment will be to set the pace between you and Tate. You decide when he’s ready.”

Holy shit.

Right when he thought he’d accepted the enormity of being responsible for another man, the concept reared up and smacked him across the face.

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