Page 7 of Wylan

He looks so fucking beautiful. Shaking my thoughts away, I stride forward with a smile.

“Good afternoon, you two. Cate, can you make your way up front and cover Wylan’s duties? I need to borrow him for something else. Bex called in sick today.”

“Sure thing, Seth,” Cate says as she makes her way up front.

Wylan’s shoulders straighten as he blinks up at me. In the past, he would have been slightly more… submissive. He used to be all adorable stuttering and rosy cheeks. I mean, he still is, but something is definitely different. Instead of dropping his eyes, his baby blues seem to sparkle.

“Wylan, would you mind overseeing the set up in VIP room three? I have to see a friend for a quick moment before running an errand.”

Wylan’s whole face lights up as if I’ve given him keys to the kingdom. “Of course, Sir.”

I shudder at his innocent words. Damn, how I’d love to hear him call me Sir while at the club.

“Good. Follow me, petal.” The nickname falls from my lips without a second thought. Internally, I wince, although it isn’t the first time I’ve called him petal at work, and I’m sure it won’t be the last time either. I glance over my shoulder and see Wylan standing there, staring down at the floor with the sweetest little smile on his face. I light up inside, knowing I put that smile there. “Let me show you the decoration package the guest requested when booking the room.”

Silently, Wylan walks by my side, never faltering at my speed. We make it back to my office, where I hand him one box and offer to carry the other for him. At first, he refuses, but I insist. Handing him the lighter box, we carry them to the other side of the restaurant and into the VIP room.

“I’ll place these on the table and you can go set that box down on the floor.” I point to the corner of the room. I about swallow my tongue when he bends in half, sticking his little round ass high in the air. When Wylan stays in that position for a beat longer than what should be considered normal, he casually glances over his shoulder. The blush on his cheeks and his subtle smile show his perfectly shy and flirtatious personality.

Damn. My boy did that on purpose. Didn’t he?

I grip my steering wheel with a white-knuckle grip as I chastise myself.Wylan is not my boy. I’m not his Daddy. I’m his mother-fucking boss, for shit’s sake.But as the image of Wylan bending over to drop that box replays in my mind, I can’t fight my attraction.

When it comes to my employee, my thoughts and feelings are always a whirlwind of emotions. I’ve known Wylan for a littleover a year and a half, and since the moment I first spotted the boy, I knew I was in trouble.

A little niggle of doubt worms its way into my head. What would a beautiful twenty-eight-year-old man want with a forty-three-year-old Dom with a fondness for pain? No, Wylan is too sweet for the likes of me. I need to get over this damn crush and get thoughts of Wylan being my boy out of my head.

“So, let me get this straight. You want me to participate in a Christmas Charity Auction during Masquerade Night this weekend?”

Cal nods.

I shake my head, already coming up with a million excuses. When Hunter and Cal invited me here today, I just assumed they wanted me to teach a few extra demos. But an auction that’s literally designed to connect Daddies with their perfect boys? I don’t think so. That’s a chapter in my life that should be left closed. I ignore the little traitorous thought that pops up, telling me how much I miss being a Daddy.

“I don’t know. Why can’t you ask someone else? I know at least six Daddy Doms right off the top of my head.

Cal lets out a deep sigh. “We need another Daddy to participate in this year’s charity auction. Everyone else is busy with the holidays right around the corner.”

I arch a brow at Hunter, but he just shrugs. Every year, Dark Satin runs a charity auction. It’s a fun way for Daddies and littles to connect while giving to the community.

“Please,” Cal tries again, leaning forward in his seat. “We need another Daddy.”

My heart pounds. “I don’t see what that has to do with me,” I lie. Fuck, does he know?

Cal opens his mouth to say something else when Hunter speaks up. “Cal, do you mind if I have a moment with Seth here?”

“Sure. You two work it out. If we need to find someone else, Hunter, let me know.” Cal gets out of his seat, pats me on the back, and walks out of his office.

“A last-minute boy signed up for the auction before it closed. We need several extra Daddies to participate so that every boy is bid on. Can you imagine a cute little going up there on stage, all wide-eyed and hopeful, thinking this year will finally be the year they find a Daddy, only to not have anyone bid on them?”

Fuck. They would be devastated. An image of some faceless boy just standing there waiting for someone to bid on him replays in my mind. “You’re playing dirty, and you know it,” I growl at my soon-to-be ex-best friend.

Hunter chuckles. “Fine.” He puts his hands up in the surrender motion. “I just thought you might want first dips at bidding for this particular little submissive. He’s the one constantly on your mind, after all.”

I narrow my eyes. What the hell is Hunter playing at? “The only person who’s been on my mind lately is—” My words trail off and my body jerks forward in my seat. Is Hunter hinting that Wylan applied to participate in the Christmas Charity Auction?

“Hunter,” I hesitate. “What are you getting at?” There’s no fucking way the young man I’ve been crushing on is actually kinky and in the community. Is there?

Hope lights up in my chest, flickering in the darkness. I try to ignore it, but that’s the thing about hope; once it catches fire, it lingers or grows until it’s completely snuffed out.

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