Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

S ilas walked into the Funky Bean, looking around for the party he was meeting and grinning when he saw the group of Daddies at two tables, while the boys had pulled extra chairs around a single table, their heads together.

He found himself whistling. He did enjoy these get-togethers, even when he and Bran didn’t have a boy of their own. It was good to have people to talk to who got you.

He gave everyone a wave and went to the counter to put in their order. His lover Bran would be along shortly.

A sweet barista blinked up at him, sherry eyes big as a doe’s. “Good afternoon. What can I get you?”

He felt that gaze in his guts and in his balls. Sexual and Daddy attraction. It was a heady combo. He stared for a moment, taking the boy in. Then he shook himself mentally and placed his order. “Hi there. I’d like a large caramel latte with whip cream and a caramel hot chocolate with whip cream, please.” His Bran didn’t do coffee. Silas liked to tease that was the reason he was grumpy in the morning. However, he didn’t tease in the morning because hello—already grumpy.

“Absolutely. What name goes on the order?”

Silas could eat him up.

“Silas. With an s at each end.” It was amazing how many ways people tried to spell it. Especially when he considered it a pretty easy name to get right.

“Silas. And s at each end. Got it. That’s thirteen fifty, please.”

“Morning, Silas!” Christian bebopped up and kissed his cheek. “Can I have another squirt of whip, James? Please?”

“You’re hard on my cream quota, buddy.” But James squirted more cream into Chrissy’s mug.

“Hey, Christian. Are you and the boys having fun?” He’d never seen Chrissy in a bad mood, not since he’d hooked up with Jerusalem. The man was a fantastic Daddy and he loved the hell out of Christian.

“A ball. A total ball. This was a great idea to meet here for a change. Mix things up a little.”

“I’m so glad. I’ll see you there once my coffee is ready.”

“I’ll bring it to you, if you’d like,” the barista offered, and he almost got a smile. Almost.

“That would be very kind, thank you.” He spent another moment admiring the lad. He couldn’t wait to hear what Bran thought of this James. No this Jamie, that felt more right to him than James.

Christian led him over to the table. “Look who I found, Daddy.”

Jerusalem looked over and gave him a grin. “Silas!” Jerusalem got up and gave him a hug. “Where’s your better half?”

“He’ll be here soon.”

“Come and have a seat. Do you want Chrissy to get your coffees?”

“The boy behind the counter is bringing them.” And he didn’t want to miss that. He took a seat next to Jerusalem. There was enough room for Bran to sit next to him when he showed up.

“So how have you been? It feels like it’s been a hundred years since I saw you last.”

“I don’t think it’s been quite that long, but it is true we haven’t been here in a while. We needed a little bit of time to ourselves after saying goodbye to Geoffy.” They’d nursed the boy back to health, taught him to trust again, to live again, then found him his forever Daddy. Some of the boys they took care of were harder to let go than others and while they both knew Geoffy wasn’t theirs , it had still been wrenching to say goodbye.

Jerusalem shook his head. “Oh, man. You two are angels to have helped him, but… You need something of your own.”

“And one day we’ll find him. Until then, it does our hearts good to help where we can.” They loved each other dearly, but they both needed to be a Daddy. It made them better.

Bran walked in, his silver fox stalking through the door like the stud he was, gaze dragging over everyone in the room until they found him.

He gave his lover the smile he shared with only Bran, and was given one in return, Bran heading right for him.

He saw the accident in time to gasp, but not in time to stop it. The little barista stepped out with the coffees as Bran moved toward him, and they crashed together, the coffees going flying.

Damn. He’d wanted Bran to notice the boy, but not like this! He surged up and headed for them, his heart warring over who to go to first.

“Oh god. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“What the hell? You could have hurt someone!” Bran’s roar shook the coffee shop.

Silas winced. This was definitely not the way he’d wanted Bran to first see Jamie.

He stepped in between Bran and Jamie, putting one hand on Bran’s chest. “Easy, Bran. No one was hurt.” His lover wouldn’t have been roaring so loudly if that wasn’t the case. Then he turned to the poor boy and wrapped a hand around his arm and spoke in the calmest of tones. “You didn’t do it on purpose. And the coffee is replaceable.”

“I’ll remake it right now and clean up. Is your shirt okay?” The soft voice was full of trembles.

Silas turned to Bran and raised an eyebrow. Please, lover, I need you to see what I see.

“It’s a T-shirt. It’s fine.”

“I’ll get more drinks.” Jamie turned and ran, cheeks bright red.

Silas rolled his eyes but took a breath. “And now you smell like an enticing mix of coffee, chocolate, and caramel. It could have been much worse,” he teased.

“He could have burned the shit out of us both. He needs to watch where he’s going. You didn’t get splashed, did you?”

“I was at the table over there when it happened,” he said drily, and waved toward where the guys were all gathered, watching them with wide eyes—Daddies and boys both. “And I know he should have been more careful, but you roared, love. Roared .” There was no other word for it.

“Sorry, guys. He startled me.” Bran sat with a growl. “How are you all?”

Silas sat next to his lover with a sigh. Clearly there had been no magical moment for Bran. Not even a hint it seemed. He didn’t pout, instead focusing on the conversation at their table.

Another barista came and brought their coffees as Jamie mopped the floor. “Sorry for the accident. Your coffees are free. We’ve refunded them to your card.”

Silas frowned. “Is that on the company, or does it come out of his salary?” He nodded toward Jamie.

“I—I’m sure it’s fine?” The barista was obviously unsure what to say.

But he wasn’t. The coffees were not cheap, and he imagined if Jamie was being charged for the ones they had, then he was also being charged for the ones that had been dropped. “I’d appreciate it if you charged them to the card again, please.”

“Are you sure? It was totally our fault.”

He was not used to being questioned about his decisions by strangers, and he growled a little as he answered. “I’m absolutely sure.”

The guy nodded and scrambled, and then both baristas disappeared in the back.

Jerusalem chuckled softly. “They’re not going to let us back in, guys.”

“And lose out on the income of over a dozen customers? I imagine they won’t ban us.” He wasn’t concerned about that. Besides, even if they did get banned, coffee shops were a dime a dozen. Needy boys on the other hand…

Jamie was back out behind the counter and not looking toward them, the lean cheeks stained bright red.

His heart went out to Jamie, and he was more sure than ever that the boy could use him and Bran, that he could flourish in their care.

“Where are you, Si? You’ve gone far away.” Bran’s hand was heavy and warm on his knee.

He placed his own hand on top of Bran’s. “Thinking of a boy.” He looked back over at Jamie.

“What? Who? That… the barista?” Those blue eyes were wide.

“You don’t feel anything at all?” Silas asked. If Bran didn’t, then he didn’t, and Silas would move on. It was just that the pull was strong, and he was kind of shocked that Bran didn’t feel it at all. They were usually in sync when it came to these matters.

“Let me go look. I mean, he’s shut down.”

“No kidding. He had a run in with a customer who proceeded to shout at him.”

“Shut up, you.” Bran rolled his eyes and kissed him with a smack. “He could have been hurt.”

“He could have. But if you’re going to correct him, you should follow up, no?”

“Oh, you’re mean. Are you coming, then?”

“Absolutely.” He got up and took Bran’s hand. Together in this as always.

Bran headed over, and Jamie glanced up and turned, heading toward the back.

Did he call out for Jamie to stop? And if he did, would Jamie actually obey or would he run?

“Excuse me.” Bran’s voice brooked no argument. “We’d like one of the almond croissants, please.”

“Of course.” Jamie carefully didn’t meet their eyes. “Heated or not?”

“Which way would you suggest is best?” Silas asked.

“I pr-prefer not.”

“Then that’s fine with us.”

Jamie pulled it out and put it on a plate. “It’s on the house.”

“Why?” Silas asked. If it was guilt, they would pay. If Jamie wanted to treat them, that was another matter altogether.

“Because I’m a nice guy. Enjoy.”

Oh, that was a good answer. “Thank you, boy.”

“You’re welcome. Have a good day.” Then the boy headed for the back. Running away from them.

He turned to Bran. “Well? What do you think?”

“He’s pretty, for sure.” Bran actually grinned at him. “You’re sure he’s a boy?”

“You’re not ?” Surely Bran was teasing him.

Bran’s deep chuckle filled the air. “I didn’t say that, did I?”

He punched the man in the arm. “Butthead.”

“Uh-huh. So, what’s your next move, Si?”

“I suppose marching into their breakroom and nabbing him is off the table?” He wasn’t thinking of it as a serious option. Not really.

“Probably yes. They call that kidnapping in the real world, love.”

“Even if we’re doing him a favor, eh? Shame.” He bit his bottom lip, watching the door where Jamie had disappeared as he pondered the situation.

“Come on. Let’s sit. He’ll come out, and we can talk to him.”

The boys were all sitting, whispering to each other, gossiping.

“You’re sure he’ll come out?” He wasn’t sure he had Bran’s faith. Maybe they ought to ask the boys. They’d have insight into another boy. Damn. Jamie had knocked him off his game if he wasn’t trusting his own instincts.

“Where else is he going to go?” Bran winked at him.

He started to chuckle, the sound starting soft and growing. “So you’re saying, we’ve backed off on kidnapping, but have moved into stalking?”

“Shut up, you.” Bran kissed him, good and hard, drawing catcalls. He didn’t care. The others could tease all they wanted, Bran’s kisses were worth anything and he simply reveled in it, his fingers curling around Bran’s shoulders.

He heard soft footsteps, and then Chrissy said, “Hey, James? You want to come have tacos later?”

“I don’t know…”

He stayed leaning against Bran, eyes focusing on Jamie. Such a lovely boy, and the need poured off him like a waterfall. He licked his lips.

“You should come,” Jerusalem said. “Tacos are better shared.”

“Maybe. I have to go shower. I’ll call and see if you’re still here when I’m done?”

“Of course. We’ll probably still be here,” Chrissy said, turning to his Master.

Jerusalem nodded. “We can wait.”

“Oh, please don’t. Just do whatever…”

Chrissy hugged Jamie. “James, dude. Tacos. Our treat. Go get on a real shirt.”

Silas chuckled, then turned to Jerusalem. “You’re inviting us to taco night, right?”

“Are you kidding? I’m going to watch taco night with advanced interest. This is going to be fun.”

Silas rolled his eyes, but he didn’t care really. He was just pleased that they were going have a chance to get to know Jamie better.

“You know we are living for this, don’t you?” Jerusalem winked over. “We love seeing you interested.”

“He’s a lovely lad.” And he wanted Bran to feel the same way he did.

“He—” The boys all looked at each other, then began to whisper and chat together.

Silas raised an eyebrow. He was torn between demanding to know what they were going to say, and wanting him and Bran to discover everything about Jamie for themselves. He settled on the latter. It was much more exciting that way. Besides, how boys perceived another boy was not always how a Daddy—or Daddies in their case—saw the same boy.

This was exciting, arousing, and he was buzzing. It was amazing. He looked at Bran, grinning. Was his lover feeling it too?

“You are incorrigible,” Bran teased him. “Utterly incorrigible.”

“But you’re going to be incorrigible with me, right?”

“Always.” There it was, that absolute truth.

He leaned in and kissed Bran in front of their friends once again.

The catcalls and hoots made Bran grin against his lips. He smiled right back, then slipped his tongue in to touch Bran’s. He loved this man, so very much.

“They’re so pretty together,” one of the boys sighed.

“He’s the pretty one,” Silas said, pointing at Bran. His silver fox was absolutely stunning.

“I’m the grumpy one.” Bran cupped his jaw. “Tacos, hmm?”

He nuzzled into Bran’s hand. “No one can be grumpy eating tacos.”

“No. Tacos are amazing. So, tell me something amazing that you’ve all done this week.” Bran was a curator at a gallery, but not just of art—of people—and he loved hearing about people’s days.

Jerusalem opened his mouth, but one of the boys jumped in with their answer, and soon they were all one-upping each other with the amazing things they’d done.

It was adorable—both the enthusiasm and the knowledge that they were safe to laugh and push and tease and play.

He thought that Jamie could use some of that in his life. The boy didn’t seem all that easy in his own skin.

The other boys seemed to like Jamie, though, were comfortable with him. That was a good sign.

He was eager to get to know the boy better, to see if his instincts were still bang on. To see how they could help Jamie. To see if Jamie was the boy for them, long term. They’d helped a lot of boys but had never found one of their own, and he yearned to find their very own boy.

He leaned against Bran, feeling suddenly melancholy.

“Shh… you’re going to make yourself sick with worry.”

“He needs us,” he told Bran quietly, so only his lover could hear him.

“Then we help him. Maybe we need him too.”

He met Bran’s gaze and nodded. His lover did feel it. “I can’t wait.”

“Then we won’t.” That was his Bran. Always giving him what he needed.

“Well, we have to wait for him to come back,” he teased, his lover’s words easing his nerves enough he could.

“Right? I’d hate to move into this coffee shop,” Bran teased back.

He managed, “Well, there are worse places to live,” before he cracked up.

“True. They have good pastries here.” Dan, one of the daddies, grinned over. “How do you get your hair to sparkle like that, Bran?”

“He washes it,” Silas answered for his lover. “It’s all natural. Isn’t it amazing?” His Bran was a stud from the tip of that gorgeous hair all the way to his toes.

Bran shrugged. “I started going gray early, so I’m glad it works, right?”

Silas ran his hands through it. “It’s beautiful, love. Like you.”

“You’re biased.” Bran winked at him. “Completely.”

“Just because I’m biased doesn’t mean it’s not true.” He looked around the table, and at the boys. “He’s beautiful, isn’t he?”

“Yes, Daddy Silas!” they spoke in unison.

He gave Bran a smug look. “See? It’s true. You’re beautiful.”

“You boys are rotten.” Bran winked at them, and they all laughed, so easy in their skins.

It was a good group. Daddies who cared, boys who owned their needs. That’s what he and Bran wanted. A boy of their own to spend the rest of their lives with. And Jamie… well, he felt deep inside, that just maybe Jamie was that boy.

Maybe Jamie was going to be the last block that built their family.