Page 9 of Slippery When Wet

Ellery’s tone hadn’t been angry or accusatory, only stating a fact. Calvin gave him a smile. He liked that Ellery was finding his voice when it came to standing up for himself. If he were lucky enough to become Ellery’s Daddy, he’d encourage that even more. Ellery smiled back and Calvin determined he’d had enough of Schultzandthe shop.

“We’ll need the paperwork for his workers’ comp claim.” Calvin didn’t wait for a response before turning to Ellery. “Do you have any personal belongings you need to retrieve before my driver arrives?”

Ellery bit his lip. “Just my jacket. My cell phone is in the pocket.”

Calvin turned back to Ellery’s boss. “Do you think you can manage to bring him his jacket as well?”

A customer leaned over a display table filled with argyle sweaters. “Could you also manage to measure me for a dress shirt? I have a meeting in less than an hour in Midtown, so I’ll also need it steamed.”

Thankfully, Schultz seemed to realize he’d been dismissed.

Calvin regarded Ellery. “Will you allow me to help you? If you’re uncomfortable with that, I can take you to a clinic. And don’t worry about the cost. I don’t have an issue covering the bill, but if it bothers you, we can worry about it after you put in your claim.”

Ellery either couldn’t—or wouldn’t—meet Calvin’s gaze, so once again Calvin encouraged him to make eye contact by placing a knuckle under his chin.

“It’s important for me to know whether you feel as if nowI’mthe one bullying you or pushing you around.” Calvin jerked his head in the direction of Schultz, who had reemerged from the back with a purple hoodie and a business size envelope. “No point in you thinking you’ve jumped from the frying pan into the fire.”

Calvin winked and Ellery laughed then quickly hissed, grabbing his calf as if to steady his leg.

“The only thing about me that feels uncomfortable is my stupid ankle.” Ellery shook his head. “I’d say I can’t believe I fell, but I’d be lying. I’m such a klutz.” He sighed. “I never should’ve let him push me into getting on that ladder.” Ellery glanced up, a hint of shame in his eyes. “I knew better.”

“Then you’ll be stronger and stand up for yourself next time, won’t you?”

Calvin gave him a reassuring smile then rose. He turned to Schultz as the man approached and helped himself to Ellery’s things, taking them from the grip of the startled shop owner without asking first. “We’ll be out of your hair in a moment. My driver won’t be long.”

Calvin then turned his back on Schultz, the detestable man seeming to reach the conclusion that Calvin was done with him. So far, that was the only correct conclusion Ellery’s boss had made since Calvin had arrived.

As Calvin had expected, his driver took less than ten minutes to reach the store. Calvin helped Ellery to his feet, crouching enough so he could put one of Ellery’s arms across his shoulders then wrap his own arm around Ellery’s waist. It would’ve been nothing to simply scoop Ellery up in his arms, but he sensed that even if Ellery would enjoy the contact, he’d be too self-conscious by such a public gesture.

So much of who Ellery was remained a mystery to be unraveled, and Calvin hoped Ellery would do him the honor of letting him try.

Chapter Five

Ellery slid his palm across the surface of the soft, tan leather seat of Calvin’s limo.I’m riding in an actual limo. He couldn’t deny that he felt like someone out of a fairytale.

Calvin had insisted he have the seat along the back all to himself so he could prop up his foot. Ellery hoped he concealed his disappointment well enough. In a brief fantasy, he’d imagined Calvin sitting next to him and holding Ellery’s leg across his thighs.

Perhaps even caressing it. Absentmindedly, of course. Not because he’s a player.

He frowned to himself. Was Calvin a player? That’s what Reese had been hinting at when they were at the club, and a couple of the other boys they’d run into that night had made similar remarks. The truth was, Ellery still had a lot to learn about Calvin before he made any drastic decisions regarding pursuing him.

“Can I ask you a question?” Ellery tried to keep his tone casual.

Calvin glanced up from his phone. He’d explained to Ellery he needed to answer a few business emails and get them out of the way so he could give Ellery his full attention.

“Anything you like. I want to be an open book to you.”

That gave Ellery pause. Between Calvin’s comment about not playing games and telling Ellery he could ask him anything, Calvin didn’tseemlike a big liar. But that didn’t mean he still shouldn’t be careful.

Ellery shifted in his seat. “Okay. Uh, I heard that you never do more than one scene with a boy and that…” He scraped his teeth across his lower lip and squirmed. “That no one really knows that much about you.”

Ellery dropped his gaze, his cheeks flushing hot. Calvin’s phone entered Ellery’s view and he frowned, lifting his head.

“What’s this for?”

Calvin offered him a soft smile. “I’d like you to text or message someone you trust, tell them you’re with me and that this is my number. I can also type out the address of my penthouse since you won’t allow me to take you to the clinic.”

Ellery gingerly accepted the phone. “Oh. Thanks. I…I just don’t like those places, and I’m sure if I get some ice and wrap it up, it’ll be fine.”

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