Page 20 of Need Him
Gareth squeezed his hand and let go, rocking back on his heels so he could open the drawer. Inside was a box, and he lifted the lid. Nestled inside was a carton of strawberry milk powder.
“Milk?”
Ben swung his chair around and opened a door that blended with the decoration, showcasing a small fridge filled with milk. Gareth withheld his smile and took a carton, shutting the door again.
“Which cup do you use?” Ben held out the thermos. “Hidden in plain sight.” Gareth winked, and Ben’s bottom lip disappeared again.
Gareth made up the milkshake, screwed on the lid and handed it to Ben.
“Come on. Let’s sit on the sofa.” Ben checked the clock on the wall. “We’re good. I came in early,” Gareth said, guessing what Ben’s worry was.
Gareth sat on the sofa and patted the seat beside him. They wouldn’t be side by side because Gareth lifted his leg onto the cushion to sit face to face instead. When Ben sat, Gareth rested his elbow on the back of the sofa and his head in his palm.
“Drink up.”
“Don’t you want a drink?” Ben asked, sipping tentatively.
“I’m good.” Gareth watched him drink a bit more and asked, “What questions do you have?”
Ben made a move to get up, but Gareth stayed him with his hand on his forearm. “I’ve left my list over there,” Ben said.
“You don’t need it yet. Try to remember. We can check if we’ve missed anything on it later.”
Ben sat back, resting the hands cradling his thermos on his lap and staring at them. “What made you know you were a Daddy?”
“Right for the jugular, eh?” He winked at Ben’s darkening cheeks. “I knew I enjoyed taking care of others, and I like the control of knowing how things will go because I’m the one doing it. I found a club that had members with various kinks and saw a Daddy and little there. The moment I saw it, it clicked.”
Ben was silent for a minute, and Gareth wished he could read minds. “How will I know?”
Gareth smiled. “You try it. You’ll know deep inside when you find what you hadn’t realised you’d been missing. It’ll feel right.”
“You said I act out because I’m tired?”
Gareth exhaled. “I don’t think that helps. When people’s energy levels flag, they can become short-tempered and grumpy. Personally, I have nothing against tantrums. It’s just where they happen that can be an issue.”
“You mean like here?”
Gareth nodded. “As I mentioned yesterday, yelling at your staff will get them to do the job, but ultimately, they will leave the company because no one wants to work for an asshole.” He chuckled. “By learning to handle the issues in a different way, you can retain your staff for longer.”
“What if I can’t keep it inside?”
“Well, if the problem is that you can’t keep it inside until you get home, you might need to take yourself away from the store for an hour or call me to help. Usually, I would help you keep everything inside until you get home, and you can let it out in the comfort of your space. Have you ever heard a parent say that their kids are little angels for everyone else and little shits for them?” Ben nodded. “It’s a similar scenario. They have taught those kids well because they behave while they are out of the house. When they get home, they’re in their comfortable place, a place they feel relaxed and calm, and they can let their emotions leak out because they know their parents have their backs. That’s why parents get the short end of the stick most times. It’s because their kids trust them.”
“I never thought about it like that before.”
“That’s how I see a Daddy and Middle relationship. The Daddy helping the Middle to learn the boundaries of their emotions.” Gareth frowned. “I don’t know if I’ve explained that properly.”
“No, I understand. Is that how our relationship would work?” Ben wrinkled his nose, and Gareth barely stopped himself from rubbing his finger across it.
“It would work however we wanted it to. I would suggest us finding somewhere to talk in a more relaxed manner and see what happens.”
“How can we do that? We work different hours?” Ben rested his head against the sofa.
“We talk about it and find ways around it. Maybe you could finish a little earlier some days, and we could spend time before I have to start work? We’d figure it out if it’s something you want.”
Ben faced him. “It is. There’s something about you, Gareth. I felt the pull the moment I met you.” He laughed. “Okay, not the exact moment. Maybe the second time.”
Gareth smiled, enjoying Ben’s lighthearted moment. “I know the feeling. How about you come over this weekend? I don’t work Friday or Saturday, remember?” Ben opened his mouth, then bit his bottom lip. “You don’t have to, Ben. This goes at your pace.”
