Page 3 of Slippery When Wet

Reese gave him a sheepish look. “You’re right. I’m being an ass. This is supposed to be about you tonight.”

With a chuckle, Ellery took another quick sip. “Especially since you’re the one who convinced me to come here.”

Reese rubbed the back of his neck. “Touché.”

The bartender approached and yelled over the din. “What can I get you?”

Without pause, Reese responded, “Another Fireball, please.”

Ellery’s jaw went slack. “Dude. You just said—”

“One more then that’s it. Pinky swear.” He held up his little finger and with a smirk, Ellery accepted the gesture.

“Damn good thing I’m notyourDaddy. The spanking would be off the charts.”

Reese barked out a laugh. “Wrong deterrent, my friend. Wrong deterrent.”

After the shot had been consumed in a flash, Reese finally seemed ready to get down to business. What followed was a depressing back and forth over the various available Daddies and their attributes.

“What about him?” Reese nudged Ellery’s shoulder and did a low point, so as not to be too obvious.

Ellery tracked the general direction of the point but couldn’t discern which of the three men seated around a small table near the bar he was referring to. However, even in the low lighting—and the fact that there was about ten feet and a sea of kink humanity meandering past them—Ellery was transfixed by the sight of the most handsome man he’d ever seen. Hot film stars and GQ models were bland compared to this guy. All his celebrity crushes had just fallen down a notch from their top spot on Ellery’s ‘I’d bend over for you’ list.

“The guy in the suit with the salt and pepper hair?” Ellery couldn’t take his eyes off him.

“Him? No way. His friend, the hunky blond.”

Ellery’s gaze flitted to the blond then immediately snapped back to the suited dreamboat.

“Why not the guy in the suit? Is he already with someone?”

Reese spoke next to his ear. “That’s just it. No one knows what his story is. I mean, yeah. He’s hot, clearly rich— judging by his clothes, watch, diamond earring studs and the limo he always shows up in. But who is he? Drug lord? Mob boss? Married and exploring his kinky side on the sly? Psycho killer?”

Ellery arched his eyebrows. “Damn. You’ve put a lot of thought into this mystery man. Perhaps a bit over the top, but I’ve met you before.”

“Ha ha.” Reese shrugged. “Boy gossip. But anyway, what’s really going on with him? And is heactuallyrich, or are those trappings all part of his act? He only hangs out regularly with the blond dude—who recently broke up with his long-term boy which means he’s back on the market, hint hint—and never scenes with a boy more than once. He’s only here on age play night, never any other time.

Reese arched his eyebrows. “In my opinion, I’m guessing he probably has a boyfriend who isn’t into kink tucked away at home and comes here to get some variety. Either that, or he’s married to a woman and living the straight life by day.” Reese elbowed him and shook his head. “I’d stay away.”

Ellery pressed his lips together. He wasn’t about to give up that easily, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be cautious. He’d come across a lot of players in kink land.

“Okay, but based on your logic, how do you know blond guy isn’t in on the ruse? Maybe he helps him get away with whatever it is he’s supposedly getting away with.”

Reese shook his head again. “Don’t just take my word for it. Most of the boys, and even though they weren’t supposed to blab what their Daddies told them, some of the Daddies are suspicious. He’s not very friendly. I mean, who wants a cold, unfeeling Daddy? That negates the whole point of the kink.”

Ellery shifted on the viciously uncomfortable stool that was annihilating his butt bones. “But wouldn’t that also mean the blond guy is just as bad? Why would I want to get involved with someone who’s friends with a cold, insensitive liar that’s using boys to satisfy his depraved urges before heartlessly tossing them aside?”

“Jesus.” Reese frowned at him. “You picked all that up from what I said? What an imagination.” He chuckled. “See? I think age play is perfect for you. You’ll have a blast playing with toys and making up games.”

Ellery returned his attention to the mystery Daddy. He had no idea whether he’d have a blast playing with toys or not. But when he pictured the older stud slowly removing his clothes, kissing and caring for him, maybe even diapering him…

Ellery licked his kips. Some mysteries were worth solving.

Chapter Two

Calvin glanced up at his computer screen, waiting for his assistant to answer the video call so they could begin their weekly meeting. Mondays were telecommuting days for him, as well as a way to offer him the occasional respite when the city became too much. Now that turning fifty was a mere few years away, he’d come to appreciate his home in the Hamptons more, and his penthouse in Manhattan much less.

At last, Joe answered. “Sorry, Mr. Stewart. I was on the phone with Helena Rothschild. She wanted me to find her a five-star hotel in Berlin that would allow her Great Dane, Lily, to stay with her.”

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