Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Oh! I hadn’t considered what that might be. I chewed on my lip as I dumped lime wedges into a container for the bar.
What could push me into a Little mind-set in the middle of a dark forest?
Certainly not the darkness or the forest itself. Pain didn’t do it either, except…
“Hmm.” I leaned over and washed my hands in the sink that separated our workstations. “I think it might be up to you in the end. How you behave around me—because you draw out the Little in me like you were born to do it.”
With my limited experience of regression, I could only say it was a mind-set I allowed myself to sink into when I was home alone. And the few occasions I’d played with a Daddy Dom, but even then…I’d been so careful. With Griffin, on the other hand… He had that magnetic pull. He made me wanna be little all the time.
If last night had revealed anything, it was that we had off-the-charts chemistry.
“Gimme a second to shoot that ego boost right up my veins,” he said, moving on to the seasoning for his blackened shrimp. I smirked and found him very adorable. I just loved how much he’d opened up. He was so honest with me. “Tomorrow, I won’t be a Daddy, sweetheart.” He paused and looked over at me. “You know what I mean, I hope. If you call out for Daddy, I’ll be there in an instant to make sure you’re all right, but I’m letting the primal Sadist take the wheel tomorrow, if that makes sense.”
It made perfect sense, and I appreciated his reassurance about, like, if I called out for him.
“I get it, totally.” I nodded.
He nodded once too. “So what about sex? Last night, you let go of your filters when I came at you harder.”
Crap. He had a point there. If he caught me and started fucking me in the middle of the forest, there was definitely a chance I might revert into a more vulnerable place mentally.
But, ohhhh! A takedown without Daddy fucking me? Come on!
“I can read your fuckin’ mind right now,” he laughed. “It’s written all over your face.”
I huffed and stuck out my tongue.
He just smirked. “I’m not saying we scrap sex, squirt. We could wait. Till after the interrogation.”
I pursed my lips. “Wouldn’t we lose some of the excitement?”
He found that funny, and he gave me a look I could only describe as “ye of little faith.”
“You leave that to me,” he replied. “But to play it safe, I wanna add a safeword. If you, at any point, feel vulnerable and need me to be Daddy—once I hunt you down, you say blue.”
“Blue,” I repeated. Yes, that was a good plan. “Okay, I’ll do that. If I feel the need.”
“Good boy. Then we can—” He stopped when the back door opened, and we both saw Taylor coming in. He looked very surprised—and no wonder! We’d finished all the prep.
“Uh. Hey, Chefs.”
“Hi!” I grinned.
“Taylor, you ready to take over?”
“Yes, Chef. And here—”
“Great, thanks.” I accepted the container of marinade, then grabbed the sampler platter for table nine, and I left the kitchen. Adam and Griffin were busy at the grill. “Number two sampler for table nine, and here’s the marinade, Chef.” I placed the container next to Griffin’s station, where he was blackening shrimp to perfection. Next, I turned to Adam. “Brisket, garlic chicken, and burnt ends.”
He nodded, busy working on sliders.
Fridays were always extra busy, so I grabbed them each a bottle of water and removed the caps. Then I reminded Griffin of the eight-o’clock reservation—a larger party of twelve. They’d be seated upstairs for a birthday celebration, and they were here for Griffin’s seafood. Alessia had also picked up a birthday cake at Treats, because we didn’t offer many dessert options.
“Do you want me to prepare your meal now, Chef?” I asked Griffin.
He exchanged a glance with Adam.
“Yeah, you better take your break now,” Adam replied. “I’ll go after.”
It was settled. Considering how busy we were, I opted for food I could put together quickly, so I borrowed a corner of Griffin’s grill top and added six scallops and a shrimp skewer. Then I grabbed a plate we could share and stole some brisket.
“Two minutes, Chef.”
“Heard,” Griffin responded.
Back in the kitchen, I plated garlic mash, salad, and two bread rolls. “Okay, I’m taking my break now. Jon, can you assist Adam?”
“Yes, Chef.”
He followed me out of the kitchen, and I got the last of the food while Griffin gave Jon instructions. Everything was on the grill already, so Jon just had to be an extra set of hands for Adam. Halibut was delicious, until it was left on the grill for twenty seconds too long.
These two amazing chefs had created several favorites for me on the menu, but I was a burger and sandwich guy. So Adam’s leftover brisket sandwich…? To die for. And Griffin’s halibut and shrimp po’ boy. The latter—man, oh man, the butter he drizzled over had this seasoning that made my mouth water.