Page 28 of Daddy Marc's Gem

“Of course.” He glanced at Dolly. “Should I let her out? She’s staring at the back door.”

Foster smacked his forehead with the heel of his palm. “Yes, thank you. I don’t know where my head is at.”

Marc chuckled as he released Dolly into the backyard. “I have an inkling.” Foster ducked his head. It might take his shy boy a while to adjust to his new world, but Marc was confident that it could be the best thing that ever happened to Foster. “Should I let her back in?”

Foster lifted his gaze, the remnants of his blush fading. “No, it’s supposed to be nice out today. If she gets tired of the yard, she’ll jump on the padded lounge chair on the patio.” He shrugged. “She claimed it the minute we moved in.”

“As well she should.”

Marc sent a prayer of thanks to the universe for Dolly being there for Foster. It made his heart hurt to think of him as beingall alone after Edward left. Marc recognized the inherent need in Foster for love and affection. He gritted his teeth.

And I’m going to be the one to give it to him.

Foster waited in nervous anticipation for Marc’s arrival. He was supposed to pick him up at seven, which was still ten minutes away. Marc was taking him to the restaurant that was a part of Club Sensation, after which he planned to introduce him to Master Zane properly. Now that he’d be on Marc’s arm, he was looking forward to checking it out. After the amazing night with Marc, he found himself more curious than ever what this lifestyle was all about.

Foster scratched Dolly behind the ears. She’d been sitting next to the side chair in the living room instead of lying in her bed or at his feet. It was like she sensed his nervousness and was watching over him.

His gaze darted to the mantel clock.Eight more minutes.He was wound tighter than a drum. His thoughts kept drifting to everything Marc had discussed with him over breakfast. They’d had to keep their voices low to keep from upsetting the pearl-clutchers. Foster snorted. More than once he’d wished for his own pearls to clutch. In between that and his insta-boners while chatting, he couldn’t fathom how he made it out of the diner without dying of embarrassment.

A knock at the door sounded, and Foster almost fell out of the chair. Dolly broke into a chorus of raucous barking, racing to the door to let the person on the other side know she meant business.

“It’s okay, Dolly.” Foster’s heart hammered as he approached the door. “It’s just Marc.”

Even as he said it, a flutter of anticipation coursed through him.Just Marc. As if there was anything ‘just’ about the man who had completely upended his world in the best possible way.

Foster opened the door to find Marc standing on the porch, dressed in black slacks with a slight sheen and a burgundy button-down that hugged his broad shoulders. His beard was neatly trimmed, and his eyes lit up the moment they landed on Foster.

“Hey there, beautiful.” Marc smiled, his voice a deep rumble that made Foster’s stomach flip.

“Hi, Daddy.” The word was still new on his tongue but felt increasingly right each time he said it.

Marc leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Foster’s lips. “Ready for tonight?”

Dolly nudged her way between them, tail wagging as she looked up at Marc expectantly.

“I see you, girl.” Marc ruffled her fur then petted her head while she tried to lick his hand. “I promise I'll bring him back safe and sound.”

Warmth filled Foster from the gentle way Marc addressed Dolly. It was such a simple thing, but spoke volumes about the man.

“Let me grab my jacket,” Foster said, retrieving the blazer from the coat rack. He bent down to Dolly’s level, giving her a quick scratch behind the ears. “Be good while we’re gone, okay? No counter surfing.”

Dolly tilted her head, the picture of innocence, though Foster knew better. Marc held out his arm, and Foster eagerly accepted, his heart light as they made their way down the stone path to the driveway. Marc opened the passenger door of his luxury sedan and guided him inside. He couldn’t get over how Marc treated him like royalty.

The drive to Club Sensation was filled with comfortable conversation, Marc’s hand occasionally landing on Foster’s thigh as they talked. Foster found himself relaxing despite his nerves about meeting Master Zane officially as Marc’s boy.

“Just breathe,” Marc said, squeezing his knee gently as they pulled into the private parking lot for VIP members. “Zane might seem intimidating at first, but he’s actually a teddy bear once you get to know him.”

“A six-foot-four teddy bear with muscles on his muscles?” Foster laughed shakily. “Thank heavens he wasn’t coming for me that night.”

“He would never approach a boy the way he does a misbehaving Dom. And anyway, you're under my protection now.” Marc’s voice held a note of pride that made Foster's chest swell. “Trust me, sweetheart. This is going to be a wonderful night.”

The restaurant portion of Club Sensation was surprisingly elegant—white tablecloths, soft lighting from wall sconces, and discreet booths that offered privacy without seeming isolated. Foster noticed a few other couples seated throughout the space, some with obvious power dynamics, others appearing more conventional.

He tore his gaze from a large, bear-like man holding a much younger man on his lap. Foster pretended as though he hadn’t been staring at them. Nope. He didn’t just see a guy feeding another guy something from a baby food jar.

“This way, sweetheart.”

Marc guided him with a gentle hand at the small of his back, and Foster leaned into the touch instinctively. A host approached, his smile warming when he recognized Marc.

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