Page 35 of Something Unprofessional

Ev took a deep breath, let it out, then nodded. “Yeah. Okay.” He bit his lip, then nodded again. “Yes. Green. Just for tonight.”

Gabe smiled, relief flooding him. Thank fuck. He wasn’t sure what he would have done if Ev had refused. Possibly called Finn and Xavier and then made himself scarce. If he was honest,that would have been the right thing to do. Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to deny his inner Daddy, who was demanding he fix his boy’s pain right-the-fuck-now. He nudged Ev to get up. “Then be a good boy and go take a shower, then put on something comfy. I’m going to order us dinner. It’s been a long day, and I don’t know about you, but I need pizza and ice cream.”

“Room service has ice cream?” Ev asked, bemused, as Gabe ushered him toward the bathroom then picked up the phone. Gabe dialed without answering him. Ev needed to unwind, and Daddy knew exactly how to help him.

Ev

It took Ev afew minutes to convince himself to leave the bathroom after his shower. He’d changed into comfy pants and a tee like Gabe told him, but he was starting to second-guess this plan. He needed this—needed to get out of his head and stop obsessing over the last few hours—he needed a break. But what if letting Gabe take over screwed things up more than it helped? What if it messed with Ev’s head too much? What if Gabe saw him differently after? What if—

Fuck it. Ev screwed up his courage and left the bathroom. When he stepped into sight, Gabe gave him one of those approving nods. The ones that made his whole body warm. It melted some of the tightness in his chest. Nothing was better than the rush of getting something right, even if it was something as little as putting on the clothes Daddy asked for. With an extra spring in his step, Ev went to climb back on the bed andoh.His Switch was out. He snagged the controller. Gabe had connected it to the flat-screen, and his game was cued up. This TV was so much bigger than the one at home.Awesome. A video game marathon was exactly what he needed to get his mind off things. Ev settled cross-legged in the middle of the bed and hit start. He barely registered Gabe ducking into the bathroom and the shower turning on again. The game world opened up in front of him and sucked him in.

Someone was knocking on the door, but Ev was way too busy to get it. He was almost at the end of the level. It was fine, though. Daddy was out of the shower.

“Pause your game, tiger. It’s time to eat.”

Bummer. “Yes, Sir,” Ev sighed. As he turned away from the TV, his eyes went wide. “Ice cream before dinner, Daddy?” he mock-gasped, clutching his invisible pearls. “Isn’t that against the rules?”

Daddy smiled and set the bowl and spoon in front of Ev. “Are you saying you’d rather have melted ice cream?” he asked in his most serious Daddy voice.

Ev squinted thoughtfully. “Wouldn’t that just be a milkshake?”

Daddy narrowed his eyes right back at him. “Well, if you want to wait…” He reached for Ev’s bowl.

Ev leaned away and quickly scooped up a big spoonful of ice cream—complete with chocolate sauce and whipped cream—and shoved it into his mouth. His eyes slid shut, and he let out a groan of pleasure that turned into a pained whine. “Oww, brain freeze,” he complained, rubbing his forehead vigorously.

Daddy chuckled as he settled on the edge of the bed with his own, much smaller, dessert. “The most natural of consequences.”

Ev huffed and licked the back of the spoon, chasing the bits of chocolate he’d missed. “Worth it, though,” he declared.

Daddy just shook his head and murmured something that sounded like, “Such a tease.”

Ev ignored that. It was Daddy’s own fault if his mind went dirty places. Ev was just eating ice cream over here. Though Daddy was one to talk! He was a tease too in his loose gray sweats. Don’t think it got by Ev that he wasn’t wearing anything under them. He sneaky-sneaked another look, licking his lips at the thick outline of—

“Everett,” Daddy said, his voice stern with warning.

Ev pasted on his most innocent face. “Yes, Daddy?”

Daddy gave him alookthat sent shivers down his spine. “Do we need to have a discussion about consequences?”

Ev flicked his tongue against his piercing. As much as Ev loved a good spanking, he wasn’t in the mood tonight, so he shook his head. “I’ll be good, Daddy. I just want to eat pizza and play my game and snuggle.”

Daddy’s gaze softened. “We can absolutely do that.”

Ev gave a happy little wiggle and finished his ice cream. The spoon rattled when he dropped it back in the empty bowl. “How much pizza can I have?” he asked as Daddy stood andtook the bowl from him. A minute later, the open pizza box was on the bed between them.

“As much as you want,” Daddy said.

Ev grinned and grabbed the biggest slice, taking a huge bite. “You’re th’best Daddy ever,” he said around crisp crust and ooey-gooey cheese.

Daddy chuckled as he slid his own slice onto a plate. Ev gave him the stink eye, but luckily, Daddy didn’t try to eat with a knife and fork. Ev would have had to put his foot down if that happened. Pizza was not fork food. That was a fact.

Ev scooched over until he was close enough to lean against Daddy’s shoulder. In response, he got a kiss to the top of his head. Ev grinned in triumph, then he had a thought. “Did you get sauce in my hair, Daddy?”

Daddy just laughed.

This whole night wasjust perfect. They’d cleaned up the pizza—well, Daddy had cleaned up while Ev was in the bathroom getting grease off his fingers and sauce off his cheek—and now Daddy was leaning against the headboard, reading something on his phone. Ev had claimed the spot between his legs, his back to Daddy’s chest and one of Daddy’s strong arms wrapped around his waist.

Ev was doing his best not to jostle Daddy, but this part of his game was really, really intense. He was so close. He leanedto the left. Oh crap! No-no-no. He flicked the controls, dodging right. Just a little more…

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