Page 54 of Stetson

The spike of panic in my chest made me recognize my triggers surrounding recent events.

And Levi picked up on it. He dropped what he was doing, leaving his pants hanging open. “He went ahead of us to make sure everything was in place.” Soft, warm lips pressed against my forehead, and I relaxed. “It’s okay. I promise. All I need you to do is put those clothes on.”

Levi fastened his pants and buckled his belt. I eyed the ensemble on the bed, and still hesitated. Despite everything, I hated feeling insecure. My brat simmered beneath the surface, and I worked hard to tamp him down. I’d learned my lesson in letting him run the show. Walking to the dresser, I bent down to the bottom drawer where Levi kept all of our sexy stuff. After rummaging through, I finally found what I wanted. “What are you doing, sweet boy?”

I chose not to answer the question. I was nervous, and I didn’t like being nervous. I needed to feel grounded in the moment, and I needed Daddy to be the one to do it.

I took a moment to focus on the black lace in my hands, then hooked them onto my finger and turned to face him. Instantly, his eyes blazed. “Will you help me, Daddy?” I asked, hamming it up by batting my lashes.

Levi tossed his jacket aside and rushed across the room to take the lace panties from my hand. “You really want to do this knowingthesewill be under your clothes the whole time?”

I couldn’t nod fast enough, picking my hand up to run the soft material through my fingers again. “It’ll help remind me that you’re there.”

Heat flared across Levi’s eyes. “Well, how can I argue that?”

Slowly, he lowered himself to his knees. He pressed a kiss to each hip bone and with a flick of his wrist, my towel hit the ground. Ignoring the semi I was sporting, he brought the panties to my feet and directed me to lift each leg. When the lace slid up my legs, I let out a sigh of relief. They’d done exactly what I needed them to.

My shirt came next, Levi slipping it over my arms and settling it on my shoulders. He took his time with each button, kissing my wrists when he fastened the cuffs. Slacks next, and he carefully did them up. He threaded my belt through the loops, and buckled it just right. By the time he straightened and reached for my sports coat, I was in a much better mindset.

Although not much could keep my impatient side from showing. We’d been in the car less than ten minutes and I was getting antsy. “Levi, where are we going?”

“You’ll see, baby.” His hand caressed my thigh, thumb brushing where boxer briefs should have been. I shivered. “We’re almost there.”

I couldn’tseea thing. I’d been blindfolded. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for anything fun. At least, not that I could tell. Daddy seemed all business. I slumped back in the seat, but then the car slowed to a stop. I heard chattering outside the doors, and hornets stirred in my belly. “Where are we?”

Levi fumbled at the back of my head, and the blindfold fell away. In his hands were two pairs of sunglasses, and he offered one to me. “Trust me?”

I looked past him to the swarm ofpaparazzioutside the car. Even the deep tint to the windows was pointless against the onslaught of cameras. My mouth went dry. My outburst in Orlando was still the talk of the community. I wasn’t proud of my behavior. I’d been instructed to apologize to the catcher, but I stood by the idea that he deserved it.

“Baby boy,” Levi cooed, pulling me from my thoughts. I tore my gaze away from the sunglasses. “Can you trust me?”

I glanced toward the driver, and Levi followed my line of sight. “That man is being paid a lot of money to be deaf right now.”

With a smile, I took the shades and put them on. “Yes, Daddy. I trust you.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Levi put on his own glasses and offered his hand. The driver pulled the door open for us. Flashes instantly blinded me. I relied on Levi to lead me through the crowd of reporters and it was only when we climbed a flight of stairs that another hand hooked a finger under my chin and lifted my gaze. I almost couldn’t believe what was in front of me. Up here, the flashes were far less damaging to my eyes. I yanked the glasses off. “Barrett?”

“Hey, sweetheart.” He leaned in to brush a kiss across my lips, and I stiffened. The clicks of the cameras intensified.

“What are we doing?” I faked my best smile.

“I have something I need to say,” Barrett told me, “and I’m ashamed that it took me this long to do it. I’ll never be able to apologize to you enough. Right now, the only thing you need to do is what you do best: stand right over there and look pretty.”

When I didn’t answer, Barrett looked at me expectantly. My attention darted to Levi, who gave me a reassuring nod. Lowering my voice, I turned back to Barrett. “Yes, sir.”

The smoldering look in his eyes sent a burst of warmth through my veins. There was a podium in the dead center of the stage with a ridiculous number of microphones clipped to the edges. There was a sheet of paper there, but I was too far away to make out any of the words. While Levi and I moved to the far corner of the stage, Barrett stepped up to the podium. Lights flickered so violently that I wondered how he was able to see anything. Then again, I supposed nothing mattered more than the words in front of him. Movement from the front row caught my eye and with that signal from his publicist, Barrett started to speak.

“Good evening, everyone. I would assume that all of you know who I am, so I’ll skip to the formalities and get straight to why we’re all here tonight.”

I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corner of my lips. Barrett’s voice oozed confidence, and it was sexy as hell.

“A few weeks ago, a photo of me surfaced. Since, I’ve been called some pretty unsavory names that I’d rather not repeat. I’m here tonight to set the record straight, but first I have to say how appalled I am by the public’s reaction.”

Barrett clearing his throat was the only sign of nerves. Well, to the audience. From my angle I could see the way he fidgeted with the corner of his page. I itched to step forward and show him some sign that he wasn’t in this alone. As if Levi could sense it, his hand found my lower back and he gave me a subtle shake of his head.Not yet.

“Polyamory in humans can be traced back to ancient times. Sure, it might be considered taboo in Western culture, but it’s most certainly not new. I’m not surprised that me being seen with another man was a shock to some of you, but I’m outraged that the first thing people jumped to was the negative. People were so quick to paint me as a monster, to label Georgia’s own Hometown Hero a homewrecker. Frankly, I’m disappointed, but we move on. My sexuality has never been a secret, but I never considered that I’d spend the rest of my life coming out of the closet again and again. Tonight, for the first time, I’d like to reintroduce myself. My name is Barrett Swindon, I’m a Georgia native, and I’m a polyamorous gay man. I have not one, but twowonderfulpartners who, for whatever reason, decided that I was worthy of their love and affection.” Barrett paused and looked at us over his shoulder. “Would the two of you join me, please?”

---