Cohen
Fuck.
Now what?
As we watched the train slowly pull away, I reached out and took Ian’s hand. Somehow, I hadn’t realized until this moment that he was going to be watching his Daddy leave him at the same time I was watching my sub leave.
Yep, I was not that bright, but luckily I caught on quickly and could think on the fly.
“You know, if we timed it right, we could alternate calling him so much all he did was talk to us.” My suggestion had Ian giggling, his little side peeking out. “He doesn’t have anything else to do right now.”
Ian shrugged but glanced up at me out of the corner of his eye. “Nap? You probably kept him up all night.”
Not quite all night…
My grin must’ve been slightly wicked because Ian blushed and giggled again. “You were naughty, Uncle Cohen.”
Oh yeah.
“No.” I shook my head aiming for innocent. “I just made sure Daddy would remember us when he went back to pack his stuff.”
Ian was on the edge of being grown-up and not quite so grown-up, and the stress of watching Bishop leave was definitely inching him toward his little headspace. I wasn’t sure if he would poke at what I’d said or not, but he did just as he started to swing my hand.
“Us?” He nibbled on his lower lip, drawing my eyes.
But he kept swinging our hands.
The mixed signals were going to be the death of me.
“Yes.” Aiming for innocent enough not to shock a little just in case, I nodded. “I made sure we talked about you a lot.”
It took Ian a second, but then his eyes widened and his tone said he was scandalized. “Uncle Cohen.”
Clearly Uncle Cohen was a naughty Dom, but I wasn’t worried because Ian kept giggling. “I know. I’m very helpful.”
That got another giggle, but Ian started shaking his head like he couldn’t believe I’d said that…so maybe he was bigger than I thought?
It was time to find out.
“Alright, we can go grab some dinner, because I’m betting neither of us ate much earlier, or we can go back to your place and…find something fun to do.” The area wasn’t quite private enough for me to ask him if he wanted to play with his toys, but the wicked delight in his eyes had me rolling mine. “Dirty boy. That’s not what I meant.”
Ian blushed as a woman behind us cleared her throat. I couldn’t decide if she was enjoying our banter or thought we should take it somewhere more appropriate, but either way I stayed focused on the boy who was now in my care.
“What do you think?” As the train moved out of sight, I kept hold of Ian’s hand and started leading him through the building and back toward my car. “I could go either way.”
I wanted him to know I wasn’t leading him in any specific direction, but as we got more privacy, I spelled it out more plainly. “If you want to be little tonight because today was stressful, I think that would be a very good plan.”
He nodded slowly, clearly thinking hard…but he was still swinging my hand.
So I waited.
And waited.
By the time we got to my car, I was considering the merits of poking him when he shrugged. “Can we do both?”
“Sure.” What was he picturing? “How about we go grab some pizza and relax, and then we can go back to your place?”
Ian perked up, nodding. “Deep dish?”
Laughing, I agreed quickly. “Oh yes. But do you have the patience for true deep dish?”
That wasn’t a fast process.
His grin wavered between both sides of his personality as he barely managed not to giggle. “That’s your job to help me with now, Uncle Cohen.”
Hmm. He was probably right.
“Then let’s go.” I had a thousand questions to ask him, and at the very least grilling him would take up time…and when in doubt, I could find him a game on my phone to play. Right?
Giving his hand a squeeze, I opened the passenger door and even helped him get buckled. He was at the point where little Ian found it funny and liked being helped and big Ian was giggling for much naughtier reasons.
Stupid questions flashed through my head as I wondered if he really saw me as a sexual partner without Bishop there with us, but I managed to hold them back. I could have an existential crisis on my own time. Right now, Ian needed Uncle Cohen and maybe even his friend Cohen to distract him from Bishop’s departure.
And that was probably what I needed as well.
Bishop had become such an integral part of my life in such a short time, I wasn’t sure how it would feel for him to be gone even two weeks. Not that there was an exact time frame for his return…and maybe that was part of the problem?
Pushing away the frustrating thoughts, I focused on Ian as I climbed into the driver’s seat. “So, do you have anything fun planned this week? What about a sleepover with your friends?”
We both needed to stay busy, so that was why I’d given into Preston’s insistent push to go out to dinner later in the week. But honestly, Ian’s sleepover sounded more fun than getting grilled for gossip by Preston…and that was with the chaos the last one had caused.
“Yes, we’re doing it on Friday. If that’s okay with you?” He squirmed in his seat, clasping and resituating his hands like he wasn’t sure where they belonged. “I wasn’t sure if you had plans or…”
He had a legitimate question, but he was so cute.
No smiling, that would send the wrong message.
“I think that sounds like a good idea.” As long as they stayed safer than they had last time. “Then we could spend the afternoon together on Saturday and get some toys for my house?” I didn’t even have cute plates for him, so something needed to be done about that because he couldn’t be expected to pack everything he needed every time he came over.
And he was back to nibbling on his lip.
As I started going through the motions of getting us to the restaurant, I tried to give him some space and not act like I was hanging on every breath he let out.
I was, of course, but he didn’t need to know that.
It didn’t take as long as I thought it might for him to open up, so I was taking that as a good sign about how he saw me. But his tone was more hesitant than I’d hoped…again, mixed signals. “I know we’ve kind of talked about this, but I wanted to make sure you knew you didn’t have to step in as a Daddy figure while Bishop is gone.”
Nodding slowly, I tried to think about what to say and not just blurt out something random. “I know I’m not Bishop. I promise I’m not trying to be, but I liked reading to you. I’m not saying we have to jump right off the deep end together, but having little time with you, watching cartoons and reading books, would not be stressful for me. You’re my cutie too.”
Ian blushed and the way he shifted in his seat that time looked more bashful than nervous. “Alright, but I just wanted to make sure you knew I didn’t have any expectations.”
I knew what he meant, but I couldn’t help scoffing. “Well, I have expectations.”
My dramatic reaction had him barely holding back laughter. “What kind? I didn’t think about that. I’m very sorry.”
I sighed and shook my head as I gave him a very forlorn look. “No one thinks about Uncle Cohen.”
Coughing, Ian took a second to breathe and fight back a smile. “You’re right. I was being very selfish. What kind of expectations do you have? I really want to know.”
Probably so he could giggle more.
Shrugging, I dragged it out, trying to imitate Bishop when he was being teasing and ridiculous. “I guess I assumed you would be having dinners with me and I’d get to do things like read you books. I even bought chicken nuggets. The dinosaur ones.”
Those were ridiculously priced.
I could’ve probably made them for half the cost. But as Ian gave me a beaming smile, I knew they’d been worth it. “Really, Uncle Cohen?”
Nodding, I felt more at ease as the excited little in him bounded to the surface. “Yes, and I found more goodies for pancakes, but if you don’t want to spend time with me…”
As my voice trailed off, I shrugged and aimed for a pout I wasn’t quite sure worked. Ian was too distracted to notice my poor acting skills, though. He nearly bounced in his seat and jumped back into the conversation. “I want more pancakes. I can sleep over this week if you want me to. Then we could have pancakes in the morning.”
Big Ian would probably have a nervous breakdown once he realized what little Ian had said. However, for now I just went along with it because as much as we were all trying to make sure everyone had space, I didn’t really need as much as I’d been getting.
Hoping this would be the point to subtly address that, I nodded. “That would be best. I know people do pancakes for dinner, but that just seems wrong.”
Nodding eagerly, Ian’s words rushed out. “And you can make me muffins or even waffles too if you want.”
Was he being nice or greedy?
It was hard to tell.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” But I was going to need to go grocery shopping. “What kind of muffins do you think we should make? What about zucchini and cheddar?”
I was only half teasing, but I laughed as Ian’s eyes widened. “Oh, Uncle Cohen.”
He seemed more shocked by my choice of muffins than he had when he’d realized I wanted to date him and Bishop both.
“Um.” Shaking his head like he wasn’t sure what fresh hell he’d fallen into, he swallowed. “What about chocolate chip or blueberry? Fruit is healthy.”
“I think zucchini might be a fruit too.” I couldn’t remember where I’d heard that, but it made Ian’s eyes get even bigger. “I think I read that somewhere.”
“Uncle Cohen…” He reached over and patted my shoulder. “I’ll help pick out the fruits. Can that be my job?”
I was obviously not to be trusted with muffin flavors.
What did it mean for our relationship when he’d let me flog him but not pick out breakfast?
****
“No, I’m serious.” I shook my head at the memory. “Eli opened the box and it was some kind of glitter bomb from a pissed-off ex. Preston didn’t let anyone open mail inside for a month.”
Ian couldn’t seem to decide whether to laugh or sympathize in horror. “Glitter?”
Just the word made me wince. “Everywhere. Eli said he was crazy, but Preston said they were both nuts.”
I shrugged and continued. “I didn’t know the actual details, but it was insane and I was picking glitter out of my hair for a week. The carpet in Preston’s office had to be professionally cleaned three times, and if you look at it in the right light, you can still see sparkly pieces.”
Ian nearly snorted with laughter. “You’re lying.”
“Nope.” I raised my hand and shook my head. “I swear on Eli’s lingerie.”
Giggling, Ian leaned back against the booth and let out a huff. “That’s the most sacred thing to swear on that you know?”
I scoffed, ready for it. “The point of swearing is to let someone know you’re serious and you expect god or nature or something intimidating to smite you down. Eli is the scariest person I know, and he’d kill anyone who destroyed his pretties.”
Ian paused, his head cocking as he considered it. “Alright. I think that’s fair.”
Grinning, I held my hands out palms up in a what can I say gesture. “Check out the floor next time you’re in Preston’s office.”
Snickers of laughter escaped Ian, but they turned into a groan as he looked down at the table and studied the remaining pizza. “I shouldn’t take another piece. I’m stuffed.”
Neither of us needed another piece.
As the honorary Daddy in charge, I was fairly certain it was up to me to save my sub from himself.
“How about we take it home and have it for breakfast?” The question came out before I realized exactly what that would mean…another sleepover.
Little Ian had thought that was perfectly fine and seemed to be indicating he wanted several sleepovers if his breakfast list was anything to go by, but grown-up Ian went very still. I had to remind myself that it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing as I waited…and waited.
“Um, it’s okay to tell me no about stuff I get excited about when I’m little. You know that, right?” His response was so unexpected, I turned into the one who was thinking in silence.
He should’ve been grateful it didn’t take me as long to answer him.
“I understand that, cutie. But I was being genuine.” I gave him a sheepish grin. “I hadn’t really thought about how rude it would be to make assumptions about staying over at your place, but—”
Before I could finish my apology, Ian interrupted, looking somehow both nervous and excited. “It’s not rude.”
Blushing, he lowered his voice as he glanced around to see if his outburst had garnered us an audience. “You can make assumptions.”
When he realized no one was paying us any attention with the low hum of voices that filled the restaurant, he sat straighter and his voice gained more confidence. “Sleepovers are on my list.”
His list.
“That’s right.” There were lots of fun things on his list…and this was clearly at least a strongly worded hint that the list he did for Bishop applied to me as well. “Then how would you like leftover pizza for breakfast, and later in the week, we’ll do the pancakes I promised.”
Talking about another sleepover had his cheeks going pink and he nibbled on his lower lip as he worked through something. It only took a few seconds for him to nod, sending relief through me. “I like that plan…but…but would it always be a little and Uncle Cohen sleepover or…or a grown-up one too?”
Assuming grown-up meant romantic and not like the chaos he and his friends got up to, I tried to project calm and confidence as I answered. “I think spending time with you either way would be fun. Little Ian nights or boyfriend Ian nights, I would enjoy it.”
And he blushed again, but as nervous as he was, he stayed big and didn’t let his nerves paralyze him. “Okay, good. Daddy…Daddy said…he said he wanted me to remind you about the rule.”
The rule?
Oh.
I’d gotten a similar lecture, just not as carefully worded.
“Thank you for the reminder.” Stretching my leg out under the table, I just rested it against Ian’s as his cheeks got even redder. “Firsts are all together, but cutie, there is a lot we can still do while we wait for our naughty pup to come home.”
Ian looked like he was either going to orgasm or die from embarrassment, so I decided to tease him a bit and hopefully get his brain off the roller coaster it was on. “And if we run out of ideas, I’m sure Bishop can help.”
Groaning, Ian hid behind his hands and gave a low laugh. “You’re evil. You’d do it.”
I scoffed, rolling my eyes as he peeked out from behind his hands. “Of course I would. He’d love it and I think so would you.”
His head dropped back against the tall booth as he huffed. “As long as I didn’t die first.”
“There’s the spirit.” My cheerful answer had him shooting me the cutest glare.
“Evil. Just evil.” His words said one thing, but his sparking eyes and the way he was rubbing his foot against my leg said another.
Those mixed signals were going to be the death of me…but sometimes they were fun.
Synopsis:
Ian knew something had to change when he couldn’t remember the last Daddy he’d dated. Unfortunately, while his work had subs popping out from behind every camera lens, Leashes & Lace didn’t have an abundance of Daddies wandering around…or at least they didn’t until a new pup came bouncing into town.
As the whirlwind of coming together with Bishop and Cohen finally settles down, Ian is left wondering what to do when Bishop heads out of town for a few days, leaving him and Cohen alone for the first time. With his Daddy gone, Ian has to turn to Cohen for stability, laughter…and just maybe love.
When the Daddy’s away, it’s the Dom’s turn to play…and to figure out how to care for a cheeky little who has both him and Bishop wrapped around his finger.
Author’s Note: This is book three in the Our Love series and should be read in order.
