That’s what we all needed and that’s what we’d get. I was Daddy, dammit, and if I felt a break was in order, and I knew one would be by the end of this afternoon, then it was my job to impose one and make sure my boys were in the right headspace to enjoy it. Zephyr and I might need to do a bit of tag-teaming on Tristan toget him to come around to my way of thinking, but something told me Zephyr would be more than up to the challenge. All he’d have to do was bat those baby blues up at his big brother and beg for some playtime, and I knew Tristan would fold.

He needed to.

He’d already pushed the limits of his work hours by starting before breakfast, even if it had been with the notebook and sketchpad he kept in the nightstand on his side of the bed. While working in bed was frowned upon, he hadn’t technically been breaking any rules, so I’d let it slide. What I would not let him do was let him linger in his studio past eight tonight the way I’d done last night. I’d only given him that extra hour because he’d been in the middle of a crucial step and there was no way to pause without wasting materials.

The alert on my phone chimed and I sighed and ran my fingers through Zephyr’s hair one last time. I didn’t have to tell him it was time to go in, as soon as I stopped touching him, he stood with far more grace than I managed. I loved the way his smaller hand fit in mine as we walked to the office, where he hesitated at the door.

“Do I have time to grab a few things from our room?” he asked.

“As long as you make it quick.”

“I will, Daddy,” he replied, then he kissed me on the cheek and in a flash, he went dashing bare-assed up the hallway, while I chuckled as I watched that perfect bottom bounce.

I had a few surprises I needed to get ready, too. I’d taken them out of the playroom this morning and placed them in the center drawer of my desk. Now I retrieved them and laid them out beside the files I’d carefully organized, ready to add a little thrillto my day. I was curious to see how long it took before Zephyr noticed them.

I’d barely taken my seat when he returned, hair tousled like he’d been running his fingers through it. I wondered if he’d struggled to remember where he’d put his things, since everything here was still so new to him.

“Was that fast enough?” he asked, as he placed a book, his phone and a pair of earbuds on the bench, on top of the blankets and pillows I’d already arranged for him.

“It sure was.”

He added the little notebook and two googly-eyed pens he’d gotten in Blackpool to the pile, then climbed up and pulled a furry purple blanket up to his chin.

“Is it warm enough for you?” I asked.

“It is now.”

“Good, you let me know if that changes, okay? I have a thermostat in here that I can easily adjust, and look right here, under my desk, is a mini-fridge you can easily reach. It’s already got some of your fruit cups and two juice smoothies in it if you need them. There are other things to nibble on in there, too. You just help yourself to whatever you’d like. You don’t have to ask, the same as if you need to use the bathroom. You just slip away and do whatever you need and come back when you’re finished.”

“I will, Daddy, and I’ll be as quiet as a mouse.”

“Oh, I know you will, even when it’s difficult,” I said, grinning at him as I tapped the desk to draw his attention to the little bullet-shaped vibrator I’d placed there beside the remote control I intended to use to torment him.

The tip of his pink tongue poked out and his eyes grew wide, right before his face broke into a wide, excited grin as I stood and picked up the vibrator and lube.

“Do you see that candy jar on the edge of my desk?” I asked, pointing to it to make sure he wouldn’t miss it.

“Uh-huh.”

“It’s filled with little maple stars. They are a very special treat that I only keep in here because keeping them in the kitchen means they vanish too soon. Every time you stay quiet when this toy is on, I’ll feed you one as a reward for how well you’re doing. If you’re a super good boy, I will have an even bigger reward for you after I’ve concluded business for the day. Is that acceptable?”

“Perfectly acceptable, Daddy,” he replied as he spread his legs for me, leaving me little to do but fold back the blanket and reveal that pretty cock and perky ass I wished I had time to play with.

Time was of the essence, though, so I prepped him fast, leaning over him to suck his cock several times, just to tease him a little as I worked the toy in. The heat in his eyes nearly made me cancel my whole afternoon, but I was an old hat at this, dammit. I knew how to rein myself in while keeping him on edge.

Until he nuzzled up beside me with those earbuds in his ears and his book open in front of him. The shirt I’d chosen was one of several specially designed for me. It had buttons on the side that allowed the front to stay closed, even when I had a boy burrowing beneath it. While I wasn’t in need of that attention yet, I’d deliberately put it on knowing I’d need him to nurse before my meetings were through. Getting too stressed alwaysmade it difficult for my milk to release, which led to discomfort and irritation I couldn’t afford. I hoped that having him beside me, getting to touch him and play with him during my meetings, would keep me from losing my shit completely, but it was always best to come prepared.

Ten minutes in, I was glad I had. The first interviewee had obviously failed to do his homework about the company or what his duties would entail.

“Let me interrupt you right there,” I said as I hit the button on the remote control and felt Zephyr stiffen beside me.

He didn’t make a sound, though. His lips pursed, his eyelids fluttered, but he was perfectly silent as I caressed his cheek, then ran a fingertip over his lips. As I’d hoped, he opened right up and sucked it in, allowing me to soften my expression a little as I sought to bring an abrupt end to the interview.

“What we do is far more involved than escorting cash drops to the bank and protecting clients while they transport valuables or spend time at a casino,” I explained to the man on the other side of the screen while Zephyr steadily sucked away on my finger until my pants started feeling tight and I had to ease my finger out from between his lips and turn the toy off so we could both settle back down.

“There is no going home at the end of a shift, there is only endless preparedness, daily briefings, constantly shifting schedules and a variety of engagements I cannot begin to describe. You aren’t a proper fit, nor are you ready for what a detail like this entails. Thank you for your time, but this interview is over.”

I didn’t wait to hear what he sputtered, I just clicked the curser on the button I’d already poised it over, and the screen went blank.