Page 20 of Hunting Little Hope
That’s when I realized Troy wasn’t alone.
Another man stood slightly to his right. Broader through the shoulders but a few inches shorter. Him I didn’t recognize. So far, he’d not said anything, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure if Hope had even acknowledged him yet.
Hope laughed at something Troy said, then glanced between the two men, the first indication she realized there was someone else with them. She looked a bit shocked and taken aback but then she smiled at the stranger before offering him her hand.
I stepped back out before she could notice me stalking her like a creeper. I had no interest in intruding or turning an easy drink into a territorial display. If she wanted Troy’s attention tonight, she should have it.
She should have everything she wanted.
The path toward the residential apartments crunched softly under my boots as I headed home. Living on site meant I could retreat when I chose to. I valued that. The Ranch could be... loud in more ways than one. Especially when we had big events with loads of new people.
I was halfway around the bend when something slight and fast barreled toward me.
“Daddy, you’re too slow!”
I stopped automatically.
The Little skidded to a halt just short of colliding with me, bright eyes flashing up at me in triumph.
“Well,” I said dryly, “If it isn’t mister dino nuggie, himself.”
Perry’s mouth fell open. “You remember me!”
“Hard to forget you, handsome boy,” I returned. “Now where’s your Daddy?”
Tyrell came up a moment later, steady and unruffled as ever. His gaze met mine, and his smile split his face.
“Lee!” he greeted me, before taking my offered hand and pulling me into a bear hug.
I remembered his hugs fondly.
“I see you and your Little are still up to no good and attacking innocent bystanders,” I remarked mildly as he set me back on my feet.
“Only the handsome ones,” he replied.
Perry made a dramatic sigh. “Daddy,” he whined. “Stop flirting with the big, bad, handsome Master Lee.”
I laughed despite myself, and just like that I was a year in the past.
We’d met at an educational convention in Atlanta. My official job at the Ranch was as a teacher for the school-age Littles. However, over the past couple of years, Derek had encouraged me to spread my wings a bit. That included conducting a few seminars at Rawhide University where I concentrated on going a little deeper into the possibilities various dynamics could offer. From there, I’d begun being invited to do the same at a variety of venues. In Georgia, I’d been teaching a seminar on creative expression in power exchange. How our different senses could be used in scenes. Tyrell had attended with Perry tucked close to his side.
I’d noticed Tyrell first.
It would have been difficult not to.
He had an aura to him that I’d found impossible to miss. Something about him drew me to him, even though we were obviously of the same leanings.
Obviously, mostly because he had his Little boy with him, and Perry was so clearly devoted to his Daddy it warmed my heart.
I’d flirted. With both of them.
Shamelessly, if I were honest.
Tyrell had flirted back, just as easily, heat simmering under that calm exterior. There had been drinks and laughter and charged conversations that had stretched well past midnight. Perry though, had taken a bit longer to warm up to me. Tyrell had assured me his Little was just painfully shy and it wasn’t anything personal.
But at the end of the day, I was getting along with both of them wonderfully, and even though I’m sure that they were open to sharing, I hadn’t been sure if I was in the right headspace for something like that at the time.
Strangely enough, now, with Hope... I was rather open to the idea. If that was what she wanted.
