“Yes, Sir. And only.” He got kisses to his knuckles, one at a time.
His phone rang, interrupting them, and really it was just as well because he was about ready to haul Ryder off to the bedroom. He dragged his phone off the coffee table. “It’s Victor. Hello, Victor.”
“Charles. I was just checking in with you about tomorrow night, and the new sub?—”
“Roper,” he offered, glad he hadn’t put Victor on speaker.
“Yes, Roper. Typically we have an interview with a new sub that might be interested in being paired with a Dom.”
“Oh. Hm.” That complicated things a bit, but it did make sense. “Well, we can make time for that, I’m sure.”
“I’m assuming there’s some…awkwardness about this situation?”
He chuckled softly. “You’re a perceptive man.”
“That’s my job. How would you like to address this? A luncheon tomorrow or supper tonight with a small group of us? I know your boy is…tender.”
Tender, what a clever way to put it.
“Would dinner tonight give you enough time to properly…evaluate things?” It would change their plans slightly, but sightseeing would be there for another evening.
“I believe so. We will know how to proceed in the best way for all involved, and that’s what we need.”
“Text me a time and place.” He’d sell it to Ryder, and hopefully Roper would appreciate the care Victor was taking with him.
“I can absolutely do that, yes. How do you feel about Thai?”
“Perfect. Ryder loves it.” He looked at Ryder and smiled.
Ryder had a quizzical expression, but he smiled, winked, and nodded.
“Excellent. I’ll text you in a bit.”
“Sounds good. Thanks, Victor.” He ended the call and put his phone down. “Slight change of plans for dinner. Victor has invited us all for Thai with some of the men from the club.” He tried to keep his tone very casual. “They want to meet Roper before we go there tomorrow night.”
“Oh. Cool. I guess they’d met me at the party, so that makes sense. We both love Thai food, you know?” Ryder nodded and leaned hard, hand on his thigh, petting him. “I’m going to get green curry.”
“I may join you.” It was Ryder’s favorite. He’d always gone for the peanut sauces, but he might just be a convert. “They’re probably going to ask him a lot of questions. Some of them will seem very personal, and maybe not what you and I would discuss over dinner, but everyone wants what is best for Roper. Agreed?”
“Yes. And you and I can enjoy our curries and chat.” Ryder winked at him. “That’s one of my favorite things, Mister Charlie. Chatting with you.”
He didn’t know when Ryder had come up with Mister Charlie as a nickname. He’d never been called Charlie in his life. Not by anyone, not even friends at school. He’d always been Charles, and he’d even corrected people if they’d shortened it to anything.
He had no intention of correcting Ryder, however. Ryder used it as a lovely term of endearment, and he accepted it for everything it was.
But he also understood what Ryder was saying. He wanted no part of that conversation.
“We’ll talk about our sightseeing plans for tomorrow.”
“Yes. And I want to get a special ornament for our tree at home.”
Ryder was so good at making a house a home. “Oh, that’s a great idea. Do you know what you want to find?”
“No. I want to find it together. We’ll know it when we see it.”
“Wonderful.”
Charles picked up his phone again, then glanced over his shoulder. “You should probably check on Roper, and I need a shower before dinner. Hm?”