I pulled an item off the shelf, fishing it from a row of what turned out to be comic books.
“Young Avengers,” I said, reading the title, then flipping through a few pages. “These all comics?”
“I own a comic book shop,” Franklin explained. “But that, actually, is a good reason to keep all of this mess out of the house!”
“I’ll be moving all of this, I take it?”
I stuck the comic back on the shelf. Franklin swallowed, sending his Adam’s apple bobbing, then reached across me to remove it and place it back in its presumably correct spot.
“I’ll be moving all of this,” I corrected myself, “and keeping it in order?”
“That’s right.” Franklin nodded. “And I’ll be helping, too, of course.”
I scanned my eyes across the room. It wasn’t exactly the kind of high adrenaline work I was used to, of course, but why the hell did I move back to Seattle unless it was to get out of that life? My back could handle this job, and a few long days with Franklin by my side sounded fun.
I could get him talking about comic books, I figured. Get him excited and worked up about something he loved.
“I’ve read some comics,” I said distractedly. “Not since I was a teenager. Ghost Rider is a badass, though. I love that guy.”
Franklin’s eyes lit up, sending another jolt of desire through me. “An antihero, yes!”
I shrugged. “I just think the flaming skull is cool.” I glanced around the room one more time, assessing the job. “Shouldn’t take more than a day or two to take care of this,” I said. “We’ll just have to figure out what supplies we need to get started. Boxes, stuff like that. And I’ll have to scrub the room down once we’re done…”
Franklin dropped his mouth into a grimace, the light in his eyes disappearing. “That’s true, although the work doesn’t end here.”
“No?”
“There’s a large shed in the back that perhaps hasn’t received my full attention over the years. My husband thinks it might be a safety hazard, which I think is a bit much, but I do agree that the space would be useful, and the leaks in the bathroom upstairs…”
“Leaks?” I asked.
“You can do a little plumbing, perhaps?”
I chuckled. “I can do a little bit of everything, just about.”
“Good with your hands,” Franklin said. This time, it was up to him to leave an awkward pause while his eyes got wider. “I should have all the supplies we need,” he added quickly. “So with any luck, that will save us some time.”
Before I could continue, I heard the front door open. A man’s voice called out, and a dog yipped a few times.
“That’s Rory and our dog,” Franklin said, brightening back up instantly. “I guess they’re back early.”
The way a grin filled his face when he heard his husband’s voice, I couldn’t even be bothered any more that he wasn’t available. Franklin just looked so fucking happy. He had these creases by his eyes from his smile, and he actually rubbed his hands together in front of his stomach, like he was anticipating a four-course dinner.
God. It would feel so fucking good to have a sexy daddy like Franklin, standing over me with that look in his eyes.
All the good men were married, but a part of me still believed the right daddy would come along, someone single, someone who could give me what I needed. Because that was the thing about mature, experienced men. Those strong hands that Franklin was rubbing together, giving me an excuse to stare at the graying hairs on the back of his knuckles? No doubt about it—he knew how to use those hands.
There was knowledge in those fingers.
His hands must be fucking magic.
“We’re in here, honey!” Franklin called out, his baritone clear and loud. He turned to me, his lips turned up in a smile. “Rory is a professor, and the semester is back on, so he won’t be around much this week.”
“Hello, hello!” Rory said, emerging around the corner with a poodle yipping at his feet. We said our introductions and shook hands, but the whole time, my heart was in my throat and warmth was pooling behind my balls.
Two geek daddies.
Two hot fucking geek daddies.
Had I just won some kind of horny lottery?
I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect other half for Franklin than Rory. He was probably about the same age, in his mid-forties or so. Like his husband, he had the faintest touch of gray in his hair and a solid build to his body. He stood a couple of inches taller, though, looming above both of us, and while Franklin’s eyes were a clear and crystal blue, Rory’s were a swirl of rich browns and steely grays. The colors popped even beneath his round glasses. He wore a cheap white-collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and the hair of his arms was dark against his rich brown skin.
Rory was definitely the head daddy in charge of this relationship, I figured.
But I’d be happy to learn a lesson from either one.
Or both.
A thrill shot up my spine. The thought of both of them over me at once, groping my body and using me for their pleasure, teaching me whatever lessons I needed to learn…
“I am so very, very glad to be working in your home,” I said, offering my hand to Rory. While I kept his eye contact, I used my free hand to adjust my jeans.
If I had known I was going to be stiff as a fucking flagpole the whole time, I would have worn looser denim.
“Oh yes, yes,” Rory replied, furrowing his brow slightly and nodding as he released my hand. “Thank you for your assistance, Asher. Are you two going to be able to get started today?”
“Seems like we’re getting started right now,” I said and forced myself not to wink. They had a kid moving in, after all. Best to at least pretend I could maintain a hint of respectability.
“Wonderful,” Rory replied. “Then Marlene and I should get out of your hair.” The poodle jumped around at his feet a bit, the poofy gray ball that was her tail bobbing from side to side. “I’m just dropping her off, but I’m back to campus for a faculty meeting this evening.”
I stood there, my arms hanging limply at my side and fireworks exploding behind my eyes as Franklin and Rory said goodbye to each other. It was, without a doubt, a totally normal and everyday interaction for the two of them, but it was like live pornography for me. Rory placed his hand on the back of Franklin’s head, then pulled Franklin up for a quick kiss, beards and thick thighs crashing together. Franklin made a soft growl, so low I almost didn’t hear it, and then Rory tapped him on the love handle while he pulled away.
He fucking touched his hip, and I practically leaked precum right there.
“I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around, Asher,” he said with a nod. “And good luck, Frankie. I’ll be home by seven.”
Frankie.
Rory and Frankie.
Frankie and his honey.
Fuck, I cursed internally, steadying my breath the best I could.
Why the hell are all the good daddies taken?
Chapter Two
Franklin
By the time Asher left, the comics from the back room were all neatly packed in cardboard boxes and the shelving disassembled. It was a relief to have it done, especially considering the movers would be arriving with most of Ava’s furniture and other belongings the next morning. We spent six months in Tucson after her mother’s death, giving her space to mourn and to be close with her friends, but finally, the next chapter was beginning.