Page 39 of Daddy's Little Chaos Gremlin

Two raps on the door meant five-minute warning.

I ran my fingers along his check, cupped it and kissed him. “I’ve got to take my seat now, would you like a few sips more from your smoothie first?”

“Yes, please.”

I held it for him again and stroked his hair while he took a few sips, the softness of it like the velvet beneath him. He truly looked decadent and debauched, like the sea nymphs I’d portrayed him as in my sculptures. We’d already picked outmermaid tails from a catalogue and I couldn’t wait to see him in one, splashing in the shallow end of the pool, where we’d already planned to hold a photoshoot.

One knock.

Two-minute warning.

I kissed him again, then went to sit at the far end of the table, in front of the stand on which my covered sculptures sat waiting to be unveiled.

Our eyes met over the table, and he winked and blew me a kiss, which made the last little knot in my gut loosen, allowing me to finally relax and get comfortable in my chair.

“Ohhh, Rowan, you have all outdone yourselves this time,” Brenner said as he led the way into the room. “And oh my goddess, Zephyr, honey, you look positively outstanding.”

We’d asked if Zephyr would feel uncomfortable in any way about having them attend, only to discover that he was thrilled at the prospect. Learning that they’d been instrumental in helping him feel comfortable about accepting the audition just made me cherish their friendship even more. It proved that you didn’t need the whole world to know who you were, you just needed a few special people to be in your corner, and you’d still be able to live your dreams.

Zephyr had closed his eyes at the sound of the door opening, but his lips were curved upward in a tiny smile, and I could tell that he was listening and heard every word of praise that was issued his way.

“Tristan!”

Hamish’s squeal drowned out everything else, and I barely had time to turn before he barreled into me. He’d have sent us both tumbling into the chair and likely overturned it, too, if his husband Brecker hadn’t grabbed our sleeves to steady us.”

“What have I told you about behaving like an out-of-control ping-pong ball?” Brecker grumble-whispered.

“Not to unless it’s in a designated space,” Hamish contritely whispered back.

“Then kindly hug your friend properly.”

“Yes, sir,” Hamish replied and hugged me properly this time.

“It’s good to see you again,” Brecker said, ruffling my hair while Hamish squeezed the stuffing out of me.

“It looks like you’ve captured a merman,” Stavros remarked, his booming voice likely the only reason Hamish let go.

I took a moment to straighten my clothes, and suck in some much-needed air as Stavros continued speaking.

“The question now is what you intend to do with him.”

Like Daddy, he was a patron of the arts and an avid collector of all things kink. He had a collection of implements that never failed to inspire Daddy to design a new, more sinisterly wicked toy, which I always appreciated.

“Keep him,” Daddy declared, and danced possessive fingers over Zephyr’s arm, careful to touch only skin.

Stavros chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. “Good plan.”

I’d been to events where things turned lewd and the people in attendance said all sorts of filthy things about the models andsubs on display, speaking openly about what they would do to them if they were theirs and generally being letches. Daddy never allowed those kinds of people into our homes or at one of our events.

Zephyr and the ropes that formed fishnet and waves all over his body were meant to be appreciated as the artwork that they were, and I knew that everyone here tonight would treat them that way.

“So, tell me, what inspired tonight?” Bruce encouraged as he took one of the seats nearest to me. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen the curtains fully opened for one of your reveals and one of the first where everything wasn’t bathed in candlelight.”

“We went to the beach in Blackpool,” I explained as more people began to take their seats.

I knew from experience that some would take longer than others, studying the knots, trying to work out how I’d formed the wave pattern up his thigh, formulating questions to ask during the demonstration later, where I’d show them while I was changing Zephyr’s position. From the admiration I already saw on several faces as they studied him, I knew that the next Shibari workshop I held would be full and might even have a waitlist. That would just make it easier to plan a follow-up one, which I was always open to doing. I loved teaching people how to work with ropes almost as much as I love trussing someone up with them.

“Blackpool, huh? I bet that was an adventure,” Bruce said.

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