Page 41 of Daddy's Lesson
“You both decided, or Bain decided?” I asked, watching my friends’ expressions carefully. Bain was the only one of us who’d truly come from money prior to our record-breaking lottery win a decade prior.
“Well, I mean Bain did, but I’m not complaining. I can take a job whenever I want, but I don’t have to. I do a freelance gig here or there and save the money, just so I have some of my own, but…” She reached up and patted Bain’s cheek. “He likes taking care of me, and I have to admit it's a nice change from being the one taking care of everything all the time.”
“I do like taking care of you, and that means giving you the release you so desperately need.” Bain rose and scooped Jasmine up over his shoulder, strolling out of the room and into the main club while she squealed, squirmed, laughed, and waved.
“Welp,” Bas said, also pulling himself to his feet and wrapping his arm around Nyla’s shoulder, “I guess that’s our sign that this meeting is officially adjourned and it’s time to venture into the club. Looks like we’ll have a good show to watch.”
“Daddy,” Nyla whined with a pout, “I thought we were going to put on a show of our own.”
“That we are, babygirl, that we are.” He reached behind her to smack her ass, smiling when she jumped, and led her out of the lounge.
Archer and Audrey were right behind them. I lingered a minute, pouring myself one last shot, then followed suit. When I got to the door, I looked back at Theo, poking the edge of my loafer out to kick his. “You coming, bro?”
“Huh?” He looked up, blinking as he stared at me blankly, then glanced around the room as if noticing for the first time that everyone had left. “Oh yeah. I’ll be out in a few. I’m just gonna…” He lifted his hand, gesturing at the other that was holding his phone, as if that gave me enough information to finish the sentence. It didn’t, but oh, well.
“Okay, dude. Don’t be a loner. See you out there.”
I left him alone and joined my friends in our usual booth.
“I think I’m going to have a drink,” Bain announced as I sat. “Just a shot, though, something to smoothe the nerves a bit. Anyone else want anything?”
Nyla and Bas shook their heads, Archer held up the drink he was still nursing and Audrey said, “I’m good, thanks.”
Bain looked at me. “Lennon, my man, what about you? What are you drinking tonight?”
I opened my mouth to put in an order, then thought back to Zoe’s guarded expression the night before with the wine incident and shook my head. It would take at least another three shots before I’d even approach a good buzz, but the last thing I wanted to do was come home schnockered and make her upset. I could limit myself until I knew just how deep her aversion went. It was definitely something we needed to explore.
“I’m done for the night,” I said.
Six heads swiveled as all of my friends turned to gape at me.
“I’m sorry, what?” Nyla yelled, loudly enough that several Doms paused their scenes to look over at us.
“Shoot,” she swore under her breath, waving at them with a smile. “Sorry about that. Everything’s fine. Carry on.”
Bas rubbed his forehead and shook his head.
Archer was the next person to say something as he leaned over and turned his palm, laying the backside of it against my forehead. “He doesn’t have a fever,” he announced to the group.
For some reason that annoyed me more than Zoe’s proclamation had. “Oh knock it off, would ya?” I shoved his hand away. “I had a few shots. Just because I’m not drowning my imaginary sorrows in a bottle doesn’t mean you need to get all motherly on me.”
“Okay, but the night has barely started. I can see not wanting to get thrashed, but nothing wrong with having something to sip on while you watch.”
“Nothing wrong with sipping water, either,” I countered.
“No, there’s not, but it’s a Friday night, and it’s you we’re talking about. So what gives?”
“What’s going on?” Theo joined us, bleary-eyed and wobbly on his feet, and sat down hard in the empty chair next to mine.
“Lennon isn’t drinking,” Archer announced.
“Wait, what?” Theo squinted at me. “You feeling alright, bro?”
“I'm fine. Worry about your own self.” He smelled like a distillery. When had he even drank that much? He must have started before he got to the club.
Bas shut up, and Theo looked like he was about to pass out then and there, but Archer refused to drop it.
He stomped over to the bar, had a conversation with the head server, and came back with a tall glass and a top-shelf bottle of whiskey. My weakness. He poured it and shoved it in front of me, watching expectantly.