Page 11 of Soothe Me, Daddy
Isaac wanted to take things further with Henley, but there needed to be a heavy conversation before anything happened between them. It was something he would discuss with Henley when he was sober.
When Isaac dropped Henley back at his house around one in the morning, he was second-guessing leaving him alone. He helped Henley into his house and ordered him to lock the door behind him, waiting on the step until he heard the click before returning to his car. He sat there for a few moments, weighing up his options until he saw the light upstairs switch on. Trusting his instincts, which said Henley was not drunk enough to do anything stupid, he drove off, reminding himself to ring Henley in the late morning to check on him.
****
“But Isaac—”
“But nothing, Henley. Do as you’re told.”
Isaac watched as Henley pouted before pivoting on his feet and marching to the other side of the room where he dropped into a chair and opened his lunch bag. Henley had been a whiny brat for the last two days, and enough was enough. Isaac hoped that eating his lunch would reduce some of the emotions bleeding into his work. Henley didn’t show it while staff was in the room, but as soon as it was empty, he went on and on about Saturday night and how there should be more days like that.
After explaining for the fourth time that people didn’t have enough time to go out every week because of family commitments, Henley had begun pouting and whining about it.
When it continued even after his lunch, Isaac took a chance. “Sit down!” he ordered, pointing to the chair Henley had used previously.
Stunned into place for a second, Henley glanced at Isaac and shuffled over to take a seat.
Checking no one else had entered the room, Isaac spoke, “Right. I am going to give you an option now, and you need to think hard about it before you give me your answer.” He paused until Henley nodded. “Choice one. Keep whining about everything, and I will continue to ignore it, which will get you more annoyed as the week goes on and may earn you a spanking. Choice two. Stop whining, and I will take you out for dinner on Saturday.” He held up his hand as Henley tried to interrupt. “Just dinner. There is a conversation we need to have.”
Henley’s eyes lit up as his mouth began to curve up into a smile.
“Your answer?”
Closing his eyes briefly, no doubt contemplating the thought of a spanking, Henley returned his gaze to Isaac’s, his eyes glistening in the lights. “Choice two, please,” he whispered.
Isaac nodded. “Good choice. Now, please, cheer up and stop whining.” Isaac held Henley’s gaze until he nodded.
For the rest of the day, things went back to how there had been in previous weeks. Although Henley didn’t stop talking, that was usual for him, and Isaac admitted, only to himself, it was endearing, and he was getting used to the constant narration throughout his day.
When he dropped Henley back home that afternoon, he practically danced to his door, turning to wave over his shoulder before shutting himself inside. Isaac shook his head, the movement being used more and more often in relation to Henley. He hoped Henley could last another four days, but if he was honest with himself, he was just as eager to get to Saturday as Henley probably was. It had been a while since he’d had a date and one where he’d have to do a lot of explaining, laying it all on the line.
He hoped with everything in him that Henley liked the same things he did, and that Henley wanted more than a fling.
****
Chapter 5
Henley
He couldn’t believe Isaac was taking him on a date. Or at least he would be if Henley could keep his mouth shut for the rest of the week. Henley honestly had no idea whether he would be able to, but because Isaac had asked him to, he would try.
By the time Friday came around, Henley was about to self-combust. He had so many questions about what was going to happen on Saturday, he was more fidgety than usual. He was driving himself to the store that day, in a company car he’d picked up the day before. It was a bit nerve-wracking meeting Isaac there instead of having the safety net of Isaac being with him, but he supposed he’d have to get used to it with only three weeks of his training left.
As he pulled into the store and parked his car, Henley scanned around but couldn’t see Isaac. It meant he’d have to get into the building by himself. Inhaling deeply, knowing Isaac wanted him to do this, Henley put the sign on his dashboard and climbed out the car, locking it behind him. Hooking his bag over his shoulder, he strode to the staff entrance.
With his pulse pounding a thumping rhythm, he spoke to the receptionist and gained entry, following her directions to the room where, blessedly, Isaac waited. When he entered, Isaac beamed at him.
“I knew you’d be fine,” Isaac muttered before waving him over. “Come on, we have our work cut out for us today.”
Henley groaned, dropping his head back and squeezing his eyes shut. “Okay.” He put his bag with Isaac’s, listening to his instructions. His voice was amazing, not gravelly but deep, like plucking a low note on a guitar, and it vibrated up his spine.
“Do you know what needs to be done before this can all happen?”
Isaac’s voice cut into his musings, and Henley realised he hadn’t heard everything Isaac had said. He rolled his lips inwards, trying to remember what the last thing was Isaac said as he raked his necklace along the chain from one side to the other.
“You didn’t hear me, did you?” Isaac narrowed his gaze, pinning Henley with his grey eyes.
Henley licked his lips but knew he couldn’t lie to him. He shook his head before lowering it. He hated disappointing Isaac. He didn’t mean to be all over the place. It was no excuse, but Rebecca had been on the phone the previous night in tears because of some guy, so he’d headed over there to keep her company. They’d talked until the early hours of the morning, so he wasn’t completely with it anyway.
