Page 2 of Love Me, Daddy
Daisy sat upright, her fingerless-gloved hands meeting with a muted double clap. “What is it?”
“Ah, ah, ah. That would be telling. I got some things for sandwiches. We should be able to keep most of it fairly fresh for a few days.” Nathan grinned as he crouched on his side of the small torchlit area. He rustled through the carrier bag and produced the sandwich items, hiding the custard and bananas for later that evening.
Lowering himself to sit on his pillow—another remarkable find one evening—Nathan rested his head back against the cold brick wall and watched Robbie and Daisy make a sandwich each. He hadn’t recovered from hiswork. He would eat a little later, but he reached for the water they had and opened the squash; the water had a metallic taste, which the squash overrode. Taking a deep drink, Nathan felt his body relax. He knew he had no other option, but it left a bitter taste—pun intended—in his mouth. He wished he’d bought a toothbrush and toothpaste because he didn’t want to tarnish his meal with this horrid taste in his mouth.
One day, he would see a better way out of the position he was currently in. One day, he would be able to use his brain to earn money instead of his body. One day, he would have what Robbie and Daisy had. He flicked his gaze over to the lovebirds, currently snuggled underneath their blankets, wrapped around each other, talking quietly and kissing. One day.
Chapter 2
Loren
Sitting in the café, sipping his lukewarm coffee, the lull of the conversations going on around him comforting rather than annoying, Loren Moore checked over the figures he’d input into the spreadsheet, saving the document. He clicked on his next project as someone dropped into the seat opposite him.
“It would be a miracle if Karen could get herself ready in time to be here.” Ben grinned, rubbing a hand over his rugged, lined face.
Loren raised an eyebrow. “Well, if you waited for your wife instead of telling her to make her own way here, you would both be here.”
Loren rolled his eyes at his two best friends. Ben and Karen had been married for fifteen years, and Loren was sure they would be married forever. Sometimes, he prayed for Ben’s life, because every time he left his wife behind when she took too long to get ready, she threatened him with divorce, and Ben ended up sleeping on his sofa for the night. And Loren could do without it. Especially that night.
“Nah, she doesn’t mind.” Ben threw a wink at him and diverted his gaze outside to the car park. Loren knew he was scanning for his wife despite what he said. Ben had no patience whatsoever, but he loved the woman with every fibre of his being.
“That’s not what my sofa says,” Loren deadpanned.
Ben glared at him and returned his gaze to the view. “Anyway, how are things? Any luck finding your kink partner?”
“Ben!” Loren hissed at him, checking around them for people being close enough to have heard.
“What? You’re looking, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but I’m not advertising it to the whole city. Jesus, Ben.” Loren picked up his now cold coffee, grimacing as he swallowed the remainder, hoping for another hit of caffeine.
“Well…” Ben shrugged, brushing off the fact that Loren tried to keep his Daddy issues quiet. “And you never answered my question.”
He sighed. “No, I’ve not had any luck yet.” He tried to keep his voice from sounding as melancholic as he felt. Finding a boy when Loren hated socialising was not an easy feat. He’d tried, time and again, the clubs catering for his type of kink, to no avail. Any other members he found with the same needs were either already attached or searching for boys, same as he was.
Loren could get his rocks off as well as the next male, but it was always a disappointment when he realised he couldn’t doeverythinghe wanted to: tucking his boy into bed, caring for him, cooking for him, being what his boy needed as much as his boy being what he needed.
His last boy had lasted less than a year. Evan had told him he needed something less controlling and less twenty-four-seven, which was a bit of a shock when that was what they had agreed upon at the beginning of their relationship. Loren understood tastes could change, but it had thrown him when Evan had done a one-eighty about his requirements. Everyone is entitled to change their minds.
Even if it had made Loren camera shy now.
“You need to go further afield. I know—” Ben’s words were cut off.
“I hope you’re looking to have company tonight, Loren, because this asshole is pissing me right off.” Karen’s voice penetrated Loren’s thought process, and he quickly switched his gaze to see her storming towards their table.
“Karen, sweetheart, you know how antsy I get when we’re going to be late. I needed to get here, honey. You look beautiful, by the way, my sweet.”
Karen slapped at Ben’s shoulder when he tried to reach for her. “Don’t you ‘my sweet’ me, you shithead. For once, I would love for you to consider that I want to arrive at the same time as you, not chasing after your coattails. When are you going to learn?”
Loren watched as Ben grabbed her and planted a kiss on her lips, witnessing Karen pretty much swoon into him. Ben pulled back, and Karen followed, blinking rapidly. Guiding her into the seat, Ben wrapped his arm around her shoulders with a smirk on his face directed at Loren.
That smirk meant Ben had won this round. Chuckling and shaking his head, Loren switched off his laptop and packed everything away.
“You’re not heading home already, are you?” Karen’s soft, melodic tone always calmed him for some reason.
“Yes. I need to get a few things sorted for the next lot of work I have arriving. I’ve recently taken on a few new clients, so I need to get them all set up properly before I can start them off.” Loren exhaled wearily, his gaze focused on his packing. If only he had someone to relax with at home. Instead, he headed towards an empty, silent house. Maybe he should go out tonight and find someone to help him take the edge off.
Loren shook his head. No, it wouldn’t work. He knew exactly what he needed, and he could find it nowhere around here.
