Chapter Four

Jack

Vale's leg bounced underneath the table. I wondered if he was aware of that. Was it nerves? The ADHD? Or a combination of both? While I knew bits and pieces about that particular disorder I wasn't well versed, though I soon would be.

"Are you expecting sex? That's off the table for me. Not until I get to know a person well. Not that anyone wants to get to know me. The few times I've had it wasn't good, or meaningful. Sex is supposed to mean something, at least to me." The sweet boy sighed. "They just left without taking care of me."

I didn't know whether to rush off and defend his honor or silently cheer for the chance to prove to him how beautiful sex could be. But the time didn't feel right to address that.

"As I mentioned yesterday, sex is off the table for now. Did you get enough to eat?" The Daddy in me wouldn't be ignored and he'd already latched onto Vale in a ridiculously quick time.

"Yes, thank you." Vale wiped his mouth, folded his napkin, unfolded it, then folded it again.

"Something on your mind, Vale?"

"Well, um, yes. How old are you? What do you do for a job? Do you have a boyfriend?" My face widened in a smile at his rapid-fire questions.

"Okay, in order. I'm thirty-eight. I invest in startup companies and I'm single. Your turn."

His shy grin was adorable. "I'm twenty-two, I believe you know what I do, and I likely covered my dating status earlier with the whole lack of filter thing."

"You, dear Vale, are a delightful breath of fresh air." Another sweet grin as he wiggled in his seat. "Any more questions?

"Sooo many, but I have to go. Breaktime is over. What do you need cleaned before I leave?" He glanced around the tidy room. I'd taken care of that prior to our lunch date. Selfish, yes, I wanted all of his time focused on me and not on cleaning.

"Absolutely nothing. Can we do this again? Say same time tomorrow?"

"Okay, yes." Vale readily agreed.

"Great, then it's a date."

"Date? This was a d-date? And you want another one?"

His beautiful light brown, almost amber eyes implored mine as he sought the truth in my words. That poor, mistreated boy. "Yes, Vale. I wish for many more dates with you."

"Eeep!" burst forth quicker than the hand he slapped over his mouth to block it did. "Sorry. But I have to ask, are you sure?"

"Very sure."

"But this is all I can do. We can't like, really go out-go out. Just hidden lunches like dirty secrets. Which we're not. I didn't mean it that way."

"I didn't take it that way. When do you get back to port?"

"Not soon enough."

I'd never held such a position, one aboard a cruise ship, therefore I wasn't versed in the behind-the-scenes part, though I now wondered what happened if it didn't work out with an employee. Did they stick them on a raft and radio the coast guard their location? Lock them up somewhere? Hmm, inquiring minds and all that, and this one needed to know.

"Well, we can tackle that beast when the time comes. In the interim, I'd like to have as much of your time as you are willing and able to give me." Too forward? Too fast? Appears reining myself in wasn't an option no matter the setting.

"Okay. Yes." Vale again answered with a resounding head bob, which I'd come to learn went hand in hand with a yes reply. "But I really have to go." Vale hopped up, kissed my cheek and was out the door before what he'd done had registered.

That lunch date went well. I think…

I spent the rest of the afternoon researching hyperactivity related ADHD and absorbed as much as possible. My mind whirled with ideas to assist Vale even though it kept falling back on pet play. He'd look so adorable as a pup or even a kitten, nudging toys and doing laps around the ring. Hopefully he'd take my advice and peek into the playroom.

The remainder of the afternoon I waffled back and forth between work emails and surfing the pet play sites. It had been forever since I'd been on them, having played with boys who had already established their pets and such. Now this time I searched with Vale in mind, the boy I wanted to be mine.

What kind of boy would I see him as?

What was the ideal pet for him?

I had played the role of a handler who was also a Daddy and I envisioned Vale as my pup. A kitten would be cute and coy, but I saw him as something more. Something more energetic, like a boxer. Or even a monkey. Lord, that boy would make a cute monkey. Jumping off faux trees in the play area. Probably not a good idea, unless they were firmly secured in place, and he was strapped into harnesses to catch his fall. But I bet you anything once we are both ashore we'll find his fit. He might enjoy date nights that included activities such as zip-lining or various kinds of obstacle courses. What a great way for us both to get exercise and enjoy cozy naps together afterward.

The wheels rapidly turned as Vale became another obsession of mine, as all of my business dealings had been. But I'd do well to remember this was a human and not a business and keep the human aspect to the forefront, though the drive to excel as his partner would be no less.

How sad was it that anything I did was compared to a business transaction?

Two days of getting to know Vale and already I was a million miles ahead in the vast world of dating.

Who are you and what have you done with the confirmed bachelor, Jack Barrett?

I stood and stretched and glanced out the balcony door, catching the last glimpse of sunset. My ass was numb, and my hand cramped from jotting down the notes I'd taken as the ideas came non-stop, and I couldn't wait to share these future plans with Vale. But it was time to get out of this room.

The party was hopping as I took a quick walk along the outside deck through the throngs of, well, barely there thongs. Speedos had more to them than the splashes of material these guys had on. When an all too familiar, "Ahoy, Daddy," rang out from a nearby group—great, now he's got his merry band of idiots joining in—I speed-walked back inside and straight into the dining area.

After the heavy lunch with Vale, I opted for a chicken Caesar salad to keep it light then spent the remainder of the evening doing a bit of gambling in the casino. It'd been forever since I played blackjack. With a fresh drink in hand, I sidled up to the table and made a wager.

I had no idea why I continued to glance at my phone. The likelihood there was reception in the casino was minimal, nor had I remembered to give Vale my number. Something I'd remedy tomorrow during our next lunch date.

As I placed a bet, my mind wandered back to his sweet smile, and the way he blushed at compliments. Every word was heartfelt from what I'd captured about Vale in the short time we'd known one another. A boy in need of being shown what love and kindness was from a worthy partner solely focused on him and not themselves. With each passing moment, the desperation to be that man intensified. To be the man who claimed their place in his heart and soul.

My focus was shit and even though I was ahead, it was time to call it a night. I took the long way back to my cabin through the common area where the shops and dining were. I loved how they had the open area in the center with trees and plants to make you feel like you were dining outdoors. Beautiful twinkle lights adorned the trees and created a romantic atmosphere. Vendors were hopping, working their way through the extensive lines of patrons they had. This was without a doubt a sold-out cruise.

Of course, in the end, I ended up in the pet room again. The happy animals and their handlers brought me happiness, though the longing intensified with each visit. I hoped to someday be out there. Not necessarily on this cruise but at the Blush, hopefully showing off my new pet.

The little boxer from the night before and his handler who'd spoken with me weren't here. The little ferret was and a couple of new kittens along with an animal I couldn't quite make out. Which was irrelevant. He was having a good time and that's what this was all about. I watched them frolic and play for a while, then wandered next door to the littles' room. But it just didn't hit me like the pets did. When all was said and done, I decided to call it a night.

As I lay in bed, the balcony curtains open and stared out into the moonlight night, I longed for Vale to be here beside me. Flesh on flesh, as I took my time getting acquainted with his body, memorizing every spot that elicited sexy sounds from the boy. To bring him to the edge, time and again before finally allowing him to topple over. He'd come so hard he'd pass out. I'd clean his lithe body and watch as he napped, awaiting his next arousal when we'd begin again.

A man could dream, couldn't he?

Too restless to sleep, and now horny as hell. What else was a man to do but take his own cock in hand and bring about his own pleasure? Envisioning those honey eyes staring up at me, his lips wrapped around my shaft. Up and down his mouth would slide, tongue circling the underside of the crown just the way I liked it. Stray drool escaping between his lips and dribbling down onto my balls.

Fucking hell, that was the hottest thing I've ever imagined.

I stroked harder, faster. The only sounds in the room were my furious hand ministrations and breathless pants. Each time I pictured Vale's debauched face, my balls crept up and tightened uncomfortably.

When he moaned around my shaft, it was as though he was actually there, between my legs, and that sent me careening over the edge.

"Fuck." The release hit me in a furious rush and dream Vale consumed every last drop.

How would I be able to look Vale in the eye tomorrow and not picture his swollen lips and that dream face staring up at me?

My cock made a valiant attempt at recovery but in the end, failed. Second and even the rare third round were harder to obtain at my age. I cleaned myself off, cuddled the extra pillow and fell asleep to pleasant thoughts of the sweet boy I wished were here.

I heard his cart before I saw him as I peeked around the door. Nosey much, I thought to myself, as I tried to guesstimate how much longer it would be before Vale got here. A quick glance in the hallway showed there were about two or three more rooms between us from where his cart stood. I'd already ordered lunch, which would be here soon. The selfish side of me wanted more time with him today, so I didn't tidy up as I had yesterday. I wouldn't have him do all the cleaning himself because that wasn't fair but at least we could still talk while I helped him straighten up.

I hopped in the shower and right as I stepped out, a knock at the door came. I hoped it was catering and not Vale. Thankfully, when I answered it, it was so while the staff set up the table for lunch I hurried and got ready because I knew Vale wasn't far behind them. A few minutes after they left, he appeared.

"Good afternoon, Vale. Come on in." He walked inside and glanced around. The tension in his shoulders said it all, he wasn't happy with the state of the room. "There's a method to this madness, I swear."

"It's not your job to clean your room, Jack, it's mine. I'll get to work."

"It was my hope that we could do it together after lunch. It would give us a bit more time to talk. Shall we eat first?" He nodded and sat in the chair I pulled out. One thing my mother would never allow was for me to not act like a gentleman. She raised me better than that.

"Ooohhh, lasagna. Chef makes the best lasagna."

"Glad you like it. So how has your day been so far?" These weren't scripted questions, I truly cared to hear how his day went.

"Not too bad, but it's pretty much the same routine every day. I think we've got two more days at sea before we dock at the first island, but I'm not positive. I've kind of lost track of time since it's rare that I get above deck and see the sunlight."

"That doesn't sound like much fun." I wished I could take him out for a walk in the fresh air. Take in a sunset together, unwind with a night out.

"No, it's not. But at least it's a job, and hopefully I can keep this one for the duration of my contract."

"Understood. So how was your evening last night?" A change of subject was in order before the dear boy berated himself over lost jobs.

"We worked until ten. By the time we got back to our room, I showered and did some more research on stuff."

I had an inkling that stuff equaled pet play given yesterday's conversation.

"Darcy and I started cleaning out the storage rooms down below. So we're slowly working our way through those while the rest of the team runs the guest calls."

"I can't imagine how long some of that stuff must have been down there. Lost to the catacombs of the ship." I'm sure most nonperishables were stored below deck and at times forgotten. Who knew the age of those items.

"Let's just say I had to put on a mask because there was so much dust." Vale shuddered. "My allergies were out of control."

"That doesn't sound like fun."

"No, it wasn't but the OCD part of my brain does enjoy organizing and setting things right. Plus, it passes the time and wears me out so I can get a couple more hours of sleep than I'm used to. Honestly, Darcy was right about this job. It has helped with that, though I still have never slept a full night."

"Never as in never?" Even given the research I'd done I hadn't come across that side note related to it.

"Never as in never, Jack."

"Have you given anymore thought to pet play? I did some research on ADHD and neurodiversity and I believe it would be a great outlet for you." He paused mid bite and I feared I'd said the wrong thing.

"You-you did that for me?"

"Of course, I did. I mean, I'm kind of hoping this is more than just a cruise fling for you and given what you said yesterday, it doesn't sound like that's the way you operate. I know you don't know me well, but that's not how I work either." Had I misunderstood? I sure as hell hoped not.

The tension he'd been carrying in his shoulders relented and they dropped. "You don't know how happy I am to hear that. I was so afraid that I was nothing more than someone to pass the time with while you were on the ship. I mean, I know you leave the room because I've come by before and cleaned when you weren't here. Well, that one time. But still…"

"I think I know where this is going so let me set the record straight. As already discussed, I'm not seeing anybody else. Not that we're really seeing each other, but I like to think that we are, if that makes any sense." When he nodded, I knew I hadn't lost him and continued. "When I go out at night, it's alone. When I come back to my room, it's alone. And I don't go to anybody else's room either because the only person I want to spend any time with on this ship and even once this cruise is over is the very person sitting across from me right now." That cute blush reappeared. I reached across the table and placed my hand over his. "Vale, I'd like to see where this goes when you're back on solid ground. If that sounds like something you'd like to do, that is."

"Yes, please and thank you."

"Such a sweet, polite boy."

"I try and my mom wouldn't like it if I acted any other way."

"Well, that's the perfect segue into our next conversation. Tell me about your family."

"Not much to tell. It's always just been me and my mom. No brothers or sisters. Well, kind of my pseudo sister, Darcy, who you've met. My mom adores her. Other than that, there's no one else. Well, cousins here and there but we don't see them much. What about you?" I loved the way his thoughts came out, completely unfiltered. No time to cover anything up, just the plain, simple truth. So rare to find in this day and age.

"Similar story, although my parents are still together, and they live on Whidbey Island. I actually plan to go there for a couple of weeks once the ship docks back in Seattle. I'm a workaholic, though I'm working on that. No pun intended." Vale smiled. "I'm learning to let go and enjoy life while I'm still young enough to do that. I've worked for as long as I can remember. Basically, doing the same thing my father has done and he was able to retire young. I've always admired him and enjoyed going on adventures as I called them when he'd take me on business trips. It was a no brainer I'd follow in his footsteps after college. Thankfully, he had many lucrative deals already in place when I stepped in and from time to time when I need him, he's there for me to pick his brain. For the most part, all of our investments operate like well-oiled machinery."

"Wow, that's awesome. And you're still so young. I mean, in your thirties and you're only halfway to retirement age and now you could technically retire."

Most dates, boys, whatever you wanted to call past conquests, when they learned what I did I could see the literal dollar signs in their eyes. But not with Vale. Awe, interest, excitement—those were some of what I saw in his.

"I could, but retiring without a partner just doesn't sound like much fun to me."

"True, but you could travel like you're doing now and see the world." Vale got a faraway look in his eyes as if envisioning places on his bucket list.

"Truth be told, my assistant and my chief of staff booked this trip for me and kinda shoved me onto the boat. That was their not-so-subtle way of telling me to take a vacation and get out of their hair." Diana, my assistant, had to have been the mastermind or it never would've been executed.

Vale giggled. "I don't even know them, and I already like them. So, tell me about all the places you've been and where else you want to go."

He held on to my every word, enthralled with the stories and the life I've lived as he absorbed every bit of it. I'd never garnered such attention from someone who didn't earn a paycheck from me, and it was a welcome change.

"I'm not sure we have enough time for that, and I don't want to get you into trouble, so I'll just hit the highlight reel. I've been to every continent, but not every country. I've never taken a date with me to any of them. Every trip I've been on has been business related, even though at times I did take a couple extra days and did a bit of sightseeing. So long story short, I've never gone on a destination vacation outside of this one that wasn't work related. I find little to no appeal to visit places alone, but I think the idea behind this trip was that I would find someone, if only for the duration of the cruise and that was better than nothing to them. Little did they know that I would find someone that I still wished to see once I got home."