Chapter Two

Jack

The commotion out in the hall caught my attention and right as I opened the door, the cabin steward I'd met yesterday ran inside. One look at him and I knew something was wrong. "Hey," I called out to the group of guys converged in the hallway. "What're you up to?"

"Ahoy, Daddy!" one of them replied. His cute and innocent act was wasted on me. I'd had my fair share of manipulating boys over the years and had served my time. "Just trying to have a little fun with the cabin cutie."

That jackass needed a Daddy to paddle his arrogant ass.

"Cabin cutie is highly distraught, so I'd say his version of fun doesn't match yours. Do I need to report this incident to security?"

"Party pooper," another called out. "Fine, we'll have fun without him." The four of them walked toward the elevator, though I'd not soon forget their faces.

As soon as the elevator doors shut, so did mine. "Are you okay?" He'd taken a seat and was currently bent in half with his head between his legs, his name I'd forgotten. "Is there someone I can call for you?"

"N-no. P-please, d-don't. I'm new. I don't want to get fired."

That poor sweet boy and his nervous stutter.

"Any employer that would fire you for running from grabby hands isn't a good employer to work for. I'm sorry, your name escapes me. I'm Jack."

"Vale. We met yesterday, briefly."

Ah yes, as soon as I'd released him after nearly knocking him to the ground, he ran toward the stairwell and out of sight. "Yes, that's right. I caught you mid-fall." The scent of his bodywash was still fresh in my mind. Lilac with the slightest hint of vanilla. I'd craved sweets all night long after that.

Down, Jack.You've been on enough cruises to know the rules.Don't fraternize with the staff. The knock at the door couldn't have come at a better time before the internal debate engaged in a mental moral war.

"Can I help you?" I asked the uniformed woman who stood on the other side.

"Hello, Mr. Barrett, I'm Darcy, Vale's supervisor. He contacted me about an incident?"

"Yes, please come inside." I stepped to the side, and as soon as she entered she went directly to Vale.

"Vale, are you okay? What happened?" Darcy patted his back as she crouched down beside him.

That boy chattered so fast that I was amazed she caught any of it. Had I not witnessed the end of the altercation I'd have been completely lost.

"Mr. Barrett, you witnessed this?" Her stern gaze met mine, searching, though what for I was unsure.

"The tail end of it and I wanted to call security, but Vale was concerned for his job, so I didn't."

"Understood, but sexual harassment isn't tolerated from staff nor from guests. Are those men staying on this floor?" Her concern for Vale left me breathing a sigh of relief. She wouldn't punish him for this. She was on his side.

"Honestly, I'm not sure, but I can promise I'll keep an eye out for them." That I could guarantee.

"Vale, how many rooms do you have left to clean? I'll help you finish them."

"Oh, um, just this one."

That was interesting, he'd saved mine for last. "I'm good, I don't require any services today." I almost added I don't require daily service but a part of me was intrigued by Vale and having him in my space, even just momentarily, would allow us a bit of privacy to talk without fear of him getting into trouble.

"Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Barrett. If you need anything please don't hesitate to call us." Darcy was very formal and gave nothing away.

"Vale's not in trouble, is he?"

"No, not at all, but if you see those men, please call the steward line and ask for me."

Darcy walked ahead of Vale toward the door, when they reached it Vale whispered, "Thank you, Jack."

Though he said my name, all I heard was Daddy.

"You're welcome, Vale. You're safe with me." What made me add the last bit was a mystery. Vale nodded and once the door closed the room felt far too empty.

What does that mean?

It means you're losing your mind, Jack.

Well, that was a given.

I returned to the desk and the hundreds of emails that I knew my more than capable team would take care of, but constant work was in my blood. It was all I knew, though my inability to relax cost me every relationship I'd made a feeble attempt at pursuing.

Time to find a new start up to invest in, at least then my mind would be occupied until I had it off and running and move onto the next one. While it's nice to sit back and watch the companies prosper and my bank account fill, the satisfaction of a job well done wore off quicker with each endeavor.

That bone-deep ache became unbearable to ignore.

"Jesus," I cursed as I leaned back in the chair. "You're on vacation and yet here you sit, Jack. Alone by fucking choice."

Idiot.

Without another thought, mostly because I'd overthink my decision to enjoy the pool and likely not go, I slid into my swim trunks. With one of the books I'd brought in hand, off I went with a plan to hit the bar and grab a beer then settle in under the warm sun.

I'd never seen so many pride flags and signs in my life. It was as if the retail gods shipped all they'd had directly to this cruise ship. Every inch of the deck was filled with pride, literally. Many wore flags as capes of honor with hardly anything else on.

Five minutes in line at the bar and I'd regretted having left the sanctuary of my room.

"Well, hello again, Daddy."

I scanned the familiar annoyance, though he took that as interest and not the disgust it was meant as.

"Buy me a drink, Daddy." The more he flirted the less I cared for him.

"No. I'm not contributing to any further bad behavior from you."

"Boo-hoo." His mock pout was ridiculous. "But, Daddy, I'm so cute and I always come with a happy ending. I'll even let you punish me for being naughty."

"I'll pass. A boy who thinks sexual harassment is a game isn't the boy for me."

Blink. Blink.Deer in the headlights as he scoured that pretty and very clearly empty head of his for his next words. Obviously getting turned down was rare and my doing so stunned him stupid. "We were just having a bit of fun."

"He wasn't and he was working. He could've been fired for your asinine antics."

"Oh, I didn't know that."

"It's true so make sure those so-called friends of yours know it, too, and leave Vale alone."

Past Jack would've wined and dined that hot little twink and finished the night with dessert between his cheeks. But now all I saw was a selfish, shameless imp flaunting his outer beauty to make up for the lack of inner beauty.

In a past life, had I been so blinded by orgasms I never saw beyond a sexy ass and false fa?ade, or had I merely ignored it?

What an enlightening day this had been and it was only three pm.

He stumbled off without another word and thank fuck for that. I'd had about all of his slimy come ons I could manage. Beer in hand, I snagged what appeared to be the last available lounge chair on deck and settled in. This boat was packed which had the analytical part of my brain attempting to calculate the weight load.

Not a wise choice given there was no visible land in sight.

Read, Jack. Ignore everything around you and immerse yourself in a book just like you used to do.

And so, I did, until the combination of the pool party and the heat became too much, and I returned to my room. One freshly showered body and shaved face later I decided, what the hell, and took myself out to dinner.

"Table for one, sir?" the ma?tre d asked.

"Yes, please."

Within moments of being seated, the waiter appeared. "Good evening, sir. My name is David and I'll be your waiter tonight. Would you like to start with something from the bar?"

"Yes, please. I'll have two fingers of bourbon. Neat."

"Excellent choice, sir. I'll leave you to the menu while I get your beverage."

With my palate set on surf and turf, I placed my order before he walked away and gazed out the windows at the vast ocean while I waited. Nothing but clear blue water and one of the best views of an absolutely stunning sunset. As day turned to night, the waiter appeared with my drink as if summoned by magic.

"Thank you."

"Enjoy, sir."

My gaze returned to the sea, though now it was too dark to really see. A clear view I didn't need as my mind was otherwise engaged. Here I was on a glorious vacation, alone. When this was over I'd return to my condo in Bellevue. Alone. Maybe a trip to Whidbey Island to visit my parents was in order after my return. It'd been far too long since I'd paid them a visit.

A stroll around the deck after a fabulous dinner led me to the dungeons. I'd had my fair share of leather and impact play over the years, though it wasn't where my heart lay. Having a boy was. A bit of play in the bedroom spiced things up, but the full-on leather scene wasn't what I was after. Burying my dick in tight tushes, reddened with my handprint was what I craved. Filling my boy to the brim while he came on my cock was what the best slice of heaven.

"Now, Master Patrick will demonstrate the proper use of a flogger." I wasn't familiar with the MC nor Master Patrick so I made a quick walk through the dungeon, bypassing their demonstration as I walked through the connecting rooms in the conference center. The next room was packed full of happy littles and their Daddies and Mommies, but I was most interested in viewing what they'd erected for the Pet Play area.

Wow. Color me impressed.

They had an area stanchioned off for onlookers. Behind it there was a climbing wall, which surprised me, but each pet who wished to utilize it was properly harnessed and strapped in by the staff members manning it. It appeared to be a permanent fixture and if I had to guess, this area was part of the gym which had most likely been condensed to accommodate our kinky fetishes.

In another section they'd set up a series of tunnels and mazes for the pups and one curious ferret to run through. Various kittens tumbled around the open area chasing toys and jumping at mice that dangled from the ends of sticks their handlers teased them with. Watching all of this unfold filled my heart with a sense of longing.

It was time.

Each area was separated by low, see-through dividers that served to keep the pets safe but made it possible for those who watched to have a clear view. I must admit, they did a great job with all of this. Granted, the lifestyle areas were set up and operated by the local Seattle BDSM club I was a member of, Blush, but the accommodations were more than adequate for the cruise.

One jolly pup with a case of the zoomies did laps around the tunnel area while his handler stood nearby and kept a watchful eye.

"They really did a great job, didn't they?" another voyeur addressed me. "I'm Dave."

"Jack. Nice to meet you. And yes, they did. I'm familiar with the club overseeing it out of Seattle. They run a tight show." I neglected to mention my active, yet recently unused membership and partial ownership there.

"Do you have a pet out there in the zoo?"

An untamed sigh escaped. "Sadly, no."

"Same," he replied. "I'm in the market for a new boy."

So was I, though I didn't dare curse it by saying the words aloud.

"Been playing with the little boxer running through the tubes on this trip." He smiled fondly at said pup. "Makes the cruise a bit more fun with a plus one."

"I could imagine." I was starting to feel a bit of the melancholy pain myself of being sans plus one. "Quite energetic, isn't he?"

Maybe that was the boy for me. One who was over-exuberant and full of bountiful energy. For years now I'd gone after the calm ones, ones that already had their lives in in order and didn't need a hand in organizing or even wanted a Daddy to take it over for them. My natural nurturer instincts and internalized OCD—who was I kidding, nothing about me was internalized. Shifting gears in search of a boy with similar needs as mine would be tricky, but doable.

I had faith.

I thought.

It was time to refocus on more than just sex and playtime and strive for a long-term commitment.

A partner in search of his forever.

A pet who wanted a Daddy to ease his burdens.

Did I really need to live in a condo? Wouldn't a house be better for that lifestyle? I could set up one entire room as their playroom with a miniature obstacle course and anything else they would need.

Cart-horse, Jack. You're getting wayyyy ahead of yourself.

Meh, not like I couldn't have both. Living on Whidbey, a place I loved and near my parents, was a viable option. Then keep the condo in Bellevue for anytime we go into the city. Or sell it. I wasn't in love with the place as it was.

Making plans for a life I didn't have. How pitiful was that?

The longer I stood there and watched the pets and their handlers, or Daddies, the longing became more, rendering it nearly unbearable.

Was I thinking with my head or my heart?

Where did one begin and the other end?

My thoughts were so convoluted I was incapable of sorting them.

On the way back to the room, I stopped by one of the many bars for a quick nightcap. When I walked inside my cabin, the desk lamp was on and there in the center of the perfectly made bed, not the way I left it, sat the most adorable towel origami figure in the shape of a bear.

Oh, sweet boy, you paid me a visit.

Could it be?

Or was I merely projecting?

Either way, my sights were set to learn all about that shy boy who sought solace in my room this morning. If a sense of security drew Vale from his shell, then I was just the Daddy for the job.

The remainder of the night was spent formulating a plan to learn as much as I could about Vale. With only the limited time we'd have while he cleaned my room each day, my questions had to be rapid fire and straight to the point. No lingering depth, that I'd save for later. But if I could at least get a feel for what he desired in a relationship in step one, then I'd have a baseline in which to implement step two.

My mind whirled until near sunrise when I finally drifted off and woke with a start when I heard the keycard reader on the door beep. I bolted across the room, nearly tripped over my shoes in the process, and hurriedly shut the bathroom door.

"Mr. Barrett?" Vale called out.

"Yes, I'll be with you in a moment." I splashed my face with water, brushed my teeth and hair, then realized I had nothing but my boxers on. Well, shit. With a towel wrapped around my waist, I stepped out.

"Good morning, Vale."

"Good morning, Mr. Barrett. I'll just be a moment."

"Please, call me Jack." He blushed and turned away, though I caught a faint smile before he did. "I'm afraid I'll require an extra towel or two, please."

"Not a problem, sir."

While Vale got to work, I returned to the bathroom and dressed, reemerging a few moments later. I nearly reminded him I didn't require daily service then remembered my goal to get to know him.

"So, Vale, what do you do for fun when you're not working?" I crossed the room and sat at the desk, well out of his way.

He shrugged. "Not much. My best friend Darcy, the one you met the other day, has worked on cruise ships for a while so when she's out to sea I just hang out with my mom. Now, I'll be at sea for the next four months."

It had escaped me that crew members signed contracts for these jobs. Four months on, one month off. Not the life for me.

"Do you live in Seattle or is the port you get on at in another state?"

"Seattle, technically north of it in Lynnwood. Do you live in Seattle?"

"Belleview." Think. Think. Think. No coffee, no clear thoughts. "I'm ordering breakfast, would you like anything?"

"No, thank you. I already ate."

"Are you allowed to partake in any of the on-board events?" Way to dive right in, Jack. What happened to questions about him?

"Oh, um, no, sir. We're not allowed to be in the passenger areas unless it's to perform the tasks for which we were hired."

Okay, I'm batting a thousand here and sinking fast.

Not the best metaphor to use while out to sea…

"Have those guys from the other day bothered you anymore?"

"No, sir. I've only seen one of them and he went off on something about a Daddy and hands off. He lost me but he wasn't mean if that's what you're asking?"

The entire time he answered he faced away from me and I desperately wished to have his full attention.

"Vale." That did it. "If I were to have lunch here around noon tomorrow, would it be possible for you to clean my room then?"

"Oh, I don't take the dishes away. The catering team has a crew that does that."

"That's not what I meant. It was my way of asking if you'd have lunch with me."

"No fraternizing with the guests and I'm not part of the entertainment, sir." The hint of sadness in his voice was more than I could bear. Had he thought I just wanted him to pleasure me in some way?

"I didn't mean to insinuate that, nor would I use you in any way. I would like to get to know you better and just so we're clear, sex is off the table. I'm aware of the rule and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize your job. I'll understand if you decline, though I'd like to get to know the real Vale."

"I-I," he stuttered and took a moment to compose himself. "I could clean your room at noon. If you want. For tomorrow."

So adorable.

I watched as he flitted around the room. As he completed each task, he'd check it off the list on his clipboard then move onto the next. He tied the trash bags twice, fluffed a new one twice, then placed it in the bin and did the same with the pillowcases. Vale was unique in the way he completed his duties, though maybe it was because I was watching.

"I don't need the linens changed." I tried to stop him before he got too far. "How much time are you given to clean each room?"

"Twenty minutes."

Well, shit.

"What would you like to eat tomorrow then? Italian? Hamburgers? Steak? Any favorites?" Throw me a bone here, sweet boy.

"I'm not picky but seafood is my favorite. You really don't need to feed me. We get free food working here and it's a big menu, with all kinds of stuff. And we can eat anytime day or night," Vale rambled on.

"Understood, and I'm glad to hear that but I'd like to eat with you, and this seems the only possible way." Did that come out like a beg? Was I begging?

"True."

He mumbled to himself as he finished his work. I couldn't take my eyes off him. Every move he made, everything he touched. Mesmerized. There was no other way to put it and no way my dreams and goals wouldn't revolve around this amazing boy in front of me.

Did he know he was a boy? Had he been someone's boy or was he someone's boy?

"I should really clarify. When I asked you to lunch tomorrow, I meant as a date. You're not seeing anyone, are you?"

"No. No one dates me more than once."

"More than once?" What did I miss here?

"Yeah. I've been told I'm not dating material. Too much to handle. Talk too much. Can't sit still. You name it, they've said it." The sweet boy uttered those horrible words with resignation, and acceptance. Unacceptable in my book.

As I watched him finish his tasks, it hit me. "Are you ADHD?" It lined up with everything I saw.

"Yes. If you want to cancel tomorrow I'll totally understand."

"Cancel? Because of something that's out of your control? I'd be a sad excuse for a human if I did that." Jesus, I wasn't sure whether to celebrate this win or hunt down every jackass he'd ever dated and put the fear of God into them.

"Yeah."

"Vale, look at me." Currently he stood across the room, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, wringing his hands. When I saw the sadness reflected in his eyes, I crossed the room in three steps and drew him into my arms. At first, he stiffened but finally relented and relaxed into me. "I'm sorry you've only met assholes, but I can assure you, I am not one of them." He clutched the back of my shirt and nodded. "I want to get to know you, Vale, the real you. This isn't a way to pass the time on a cruise for me. I'm interested in you and I'm hoping once you return to Seattle, we can go out on a proper date in the real world."