Chapter Ten: Oscar

O ne of the many things I love about working for Rob is that he isn't one of those employers who runs his workers into the ground. He believes that happy employees are the most productive employees, so he gives us a fair, rotating roster, expecting us to work our asses off for two weeks, then we get one week off.

So, I spend the full week and a half following my night with Ryan balancing my usual long hours with texts and the occasional late-night call to my new boyfriend. I haven't taken him on a date yet, but I don't feel right calling him anything more casual than that. Not after the quality of the time we've shared together.

I don't just open up to anyone, and I get the feeling Ryan is the same. For whatever reason, we have connected with each other, and I feel like we could have something really special if we work for it.

And we do have to work for it.

It's difficult knowing that he's only a few hours' drive away while I have to work from dawn until dusk every day. But he's busy, too, doing calls to various farms and stations and also working with the domestic animals that are brought to his practice. It sounds like his business is booming, which is great, but it only adds to the list of reasons we can't see each other.

"I'm considering hiring another vet. Maybe someone fresh out of uni looking to learn the ropes on owning their own practice," he tells me over the phone one night as I lean against the outer wall of my bunk house. Dusty's snoring in his bunk inside, and it wouldn't be right to keep him up with my late-night conversation. "That's…how I met Maddy, actually."

" Ohhh ," I tease, "was there some inappropriate boss/employee hanky-panky? How scandalous."

His laughter is rich and warm as it travels down the line and I wish I could see the matching joy on his face, to count the laughter lines in the corners of his pretty eyes and kiss his smiling lips.

Oh, man. I'm seriously gone for this Boy.

"No, nothing scandalous happened. Sorry to burst your bubble. I asked him out, we had dinner a few times, then we kissed for the first time…it was all very vanilla and above board, I'm afraid."

There's nothing vanilla about him now, though. I guess that came with time.

I make a show of sighing exaggeratedly. "Well, maybe I can come visit you at work on my days off and we can do some scandalous things in your office."

He's quiet for a moment, and I'm worried that I might have overstepped before his voice turns seductive and he asks, "What kind of scandalous things," he pauses, then adds, " Daddy? "

I groan and, casting cautious glances to the left and right to ensure that I'm alone, palm my cock through my jeans. "You're not playin' fair, darlin'," I accuse, hearing the breathlessness in my own voice. "You know what you do to me."

"Maybe you should answer my question, then. Tell me what you'll do to me."

"Keep bratting me, honey, and I'll paddle your ass the next time I see you."

The low, drawn-out moan that rumbles down the line only makes me harder. "Oh, you like that idea, do you?"

"Fucking hell," he pants out. "Yes. Yes, I do."

"Hmm," I rub the heel of my palm over my straining erection, wishing I could do more, but I don't want to accidentally give one of the other guys a free show out here in the open, "maybe I need to think of a more suitable punishment, then. Maybe a cage? Restraints? Make you watch me jerk off without being allowed to touch —or come— yourself?"

He gasps and whines with every suggestion, but the last one has his breath hitching and a strangled keening sound meets my ears.

I still my hand on my pants and ask, "Sweetheart, did you just come?"

His silence is punctuated by heavy breathing.

I can't help but smile. " Ryan ," I press firmly, using my best Daddy Dom voice, "answer me."

"I…" I hear him swallow. "Yes, Daddy." Fuck, I can hear his embarrassment and my heart trips over itself.

He's so sweet and perfect.

"That's so hot, baby," I tell him, already planning on taking myself in hand when I get into my bunk. I commit the sounds he made to memory. "So, you like those ideas?"

"You know I do."

Oh, he gets sassy when he's embarrassed. It's adorable.

"Then I guess I'd better start planning my days off."

"Will you stay at my place for the week?"

I freeze at his question, not having expected the offer. I was planning on free camping in a local rest area, but the idea of sleeping beside him in his bed instead of on my own on a mattress in the back of my pickup is too nice to pass up. "I'd like that a hell of a lot," I answer carefully, "but only if you're comfortable with me staying with you."

"Oscar," all traces of playfulness are gone from his tone, "I call you Daddy. I'd say we're already way past that awkward early dating stage. I mean, I'm fifty-one and after Maddy…well, let's just say I don't want to play games and waste time beating around the bush. We're dating, right? And we're exclusive? So of course you're welcome to stay with me."

My heart squeezes again, and I nod, though he can't see me. "I love the way you think, darlin'."

In fact, I think I'm rapidly coming to love a lot more than that.

* * *

Ryan's home is wonderful. It's a two-bedroom, one-bathroom beachside villa, with the primary suite situated loft-style above the rest of the home, and the way he had described it over the phone really undersold how great it is.

Painted white with a blue roof, it gives off airy Greek island holiday vibes, not that I'd ever been out of the States before I came to Australia. From the back deck, there's an unimpeded view of white sand and crystal blue-green water. I drop my duffel bag on the white couch in the cosy living room and whistle as I slowly spin on the spot, taking it all in.

"You live in paradise," I admire.

"It's not that impressive."

"Rye, baby, it's a beach house. I always fantasised about livin' on a beach like this when I was a kid."

"You did?"

I turn to face him, wrapping my arms around his waist and looking him in the eye. "I did. But, I gotta say," I look around again, frowning, "I'm a little worried that you're a vet and you don't have any pets."

He snorts a laugh. "I work long hours. Some days, I'm only here for a few hours' sleep and then I'm gone again. That's not fair on a pet."

"Not even a turtle?"

"Not even a turtle," he answers with a sigh. "I'd love a dog, but it's not on the cards for me until I retire."

"What if you got a dog and took it with you to work and on house calls and stuff? I've seen vets do that."

He tilts his head from side to side. "That is an option…"

"And then you'd hopefully remember to eat properly because you've got to take care of another living creature, too."

Ryan stares at me for a moment, smiling widely, his tongue stretched into the corner of his lips, toying with the top row of his pearly white teeth. "You're such a Daddy," he eventually says, his tone bright and amused.

I kiss the tip of his nose then rub my own against it affectionately. "Guilty as charged. And, as your Daddy, I need to make sure you're lookin' after yourself when I'm not around."

"I've been looking after myself just fine."

"Uh huh." I raise an eyebrow and let him go, stalking over to his kitchen —which is basically just an L-shaped counter running along the back and side wall of the living/dining space— and open his gleaming, stainless-steel fridge. The contents are just as bare as I'd imagined, and I look back at him expectantly. "Let me guess," I drawl, "today's your usual grocery day?"

I shut the fridge door and open the freezer section on top. A wealth of frozen microwave dinners is stacked neatly on the top shelf.

"Baby," I sigh and pull out one that declares itself to be ‘Spaghetti Bolognese'. I crinkle my nose at the package and slide it back on top of the pile, shutting the freezer door. "Those things ain't good for you."

"They're not—"

"This isn't up for discussion, darlin'. I know you're time poor, but your health is important to me. We'll come up with a compromise, but you're going to start eatin' right."

He bites his bottom lip, and I hold his gaze. Eventually, his lips twitch upwards into a tiny smile, and he nods. "Yes, Daddy."

"That's my good boy," I praise, loving the instant reaction it earns me. His skin flushes, and he shivers as his eyes darken with lust. Striding back over to him, I cup his jaw between my palms and kiss his lips. "Now, give me the rest of the grand tour."