Page 36 of Born Daddy

They sat in silence for a few minutes, surrounded by the roar of the sea, and the continuous screeching of the gulls. The salty air and cool breeze helped relax his nervous stomach. Maybe they shouldn’t have come to the beach after all. Then there wouldn’t be uncomfortable yearnings for future trips.

“So,” Rogan cleared his throat. “Do you have to be back at a particular time?”

Tate’s gut clenched and his meal no longer seemed as if it would stay down where it belonged. Rogan was clearly trying to find an excuse to leave.

“No. But if you’ve got to get back, I understand.”

Rogan rubbed his forehead with thumb and forefinger, lost in thoughts Tate could only guess at. At last, he regarded Tate, his features softened by the easy smile he’d had earlier.

“Not at all. Even if we don’t ride the carousel, there’s still plenty to do. We can still go check it out, and don’t forget, there’s also the museum.” Rogan made a sweeping gesture in the direction of the ocean. “And it’s a rule that if you go to the beach, you have to walk in the sand.”

Tate’s heat lightened, his relief at Rogan’s words a visceral thing. “Would it be all right if I took off my shoes and put my feet in the water?”

Rogan grunted as if Tate was crazy. “I insist that you do.”

Tate laughed, his stomach back to being full instead of nauseous. “Cool. I don’t have to be back early, either. I have my check-in with Master Zane in the morning, but that’s not until nine.”

The moment Rogan’s expression went flat with confusion, Tate wondered how he’d become so blurty around Rogan. It was like the man made him want to reveal all—a dangerous situation considering his secret feelings for the guy.

“I’m sorry, I know this is due to my ignorance of your lifestyle, but what’s a check-in?”

Oh boy. “Well, you already know how I need a Daddy to help guide me, someone to take charge of my life, right?”

“Yeah. I understood what you mean.”

“It’s been so hard being on my own this whole time, not having someone to help direct me, and well, Master Zane is someone I know from before…uh, before. He’s actually the owner of the club where I met Cam.”

Rogan’s eyebrows shot up. “And you’re in touch with this man? Was he also a friend of Cam’s?”

Tate shook his head. “No. He knew who he was, and he knew me from being a member for about a year before Cam and I got together. Master Zane made it his business to keep an eye on the subs and boys, to make sure they were being treated well.”

Rogan huffed. “He missed the mark with you and Cam.”

Tate couldn’t imagine why Rogan was being so salty, and he wasn’t comfortable with correcting him. But he also didn’t want Rogan thinking badly of Master Zane.

“Didn’t we all, though? Cam put on a good show of being normal and…” Tate pursed his lips. “Human.”

Rogan tipped back his head with a sigh then returned his attention to Tate. “Good point. I didn’t mean to insult the guy, or you. I suppose I want to make sure…” A light blush filled Rogan’s cheeks. “I don’t want you…” Rogan rubbed his eye with one knuckle. “Just be careful. If you ever…” He looked away and cleared his throat. “You know what I mean.”

Tate had zero clue what he meant. All he knew for sure was that Rogan seemed embarrassed, or maybe confused, about something.

“Um, not exactly. The check-in is something a lot of Doms or Daddies use as a way of helping ground their boys, make sure there isn’t anything that’s upsetting or worrying them. It can also be more basic, like, the boy obeying his Daddy and letting him know he’s okay or completing tasks or whatever. It can be whatever’s agreed on.”

Rogan regarded him intently. “I see. So, what is it that you and Master Zane have agreed on?” Rogan looked down and ran a hand across the top of his head before glancing up again. “I apologize, Tate. I shouldn’t have asked you that. It’s none of my business.”

“That’s okay, I don’t mind.”

Something inside Tate yearned for Rogan to understand this part of the Daddy/boy dynamic. That maybe it would make the lifestyle seem less foreign to Rogan, since he’d already shown a tendency to be a protector and leader.

Tate continued, “Since I’m without a Daddy for the first time in years, he’s offered to help me start my day, so I don’t feel so lost. Mostly to make sure I’m feeling okay. But he’s also giving me tasks to do.”

Rogan narrowed his eyes. “Tasks? Like what?”

Tate shrugged. “I’m not sure yet. Tomorrow will be our first official day. I’m guessing it’ll be things like making sure I’m showering, brushing my teeth, eating right, keeping my place and clothes clean.”

Tate could only imagine how strange all this must sound to Rogan.

Rogan frowned. “But…you don’t need help with any of that. You obviously have excellent grooming and are tidy.” Rogan scratched his chin, his brow creasing, seemingly lost in thought. “Of course, making sure you’re feeling okay, given your circumstances, makes a lot of sense. And there has been the issue with eating, so I can see why having someone check in with you could be valuable.” Rogan crossed his arms. “I guess since you already know this Master whatever his name is, then he’d be someone you’d want to talk to.”

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