A Dom and His Writer

by Xenia Melzer

  Disregarding the obviously adult-related sites, he scrolled until he found one that appealed to him. Precious Care operated nationwide. According to their site, the nannies they employed all had experience as either children’s nurses or preschool teachers. All of them were at least bilingual, and they were encouraged to further perfect their skills by taking various courses throughout the year. There were no fees mentioned on the site, but a small, unobtrusive text guaranteed absolute discretion. Being with a billionaire and having quite an impressive amount of money himself, Dean knew how important that was. That the company offered a nondisclosure agreement on all their contracts showed how well they knew their well-off customers.

  Dean dialed the number listed on the site and waited for somebody to pick up. After two rings, a woman with a friendly and youthful voice answered. “Precious Care, the place to pick your perfect nanny. This is Cindy. How can I help you?”

  “Hi, I’m Dean Connelly. I’ve been recently appointed guardian for a baby. Unfortunately, I don’t have the slightest clue about handling children. I need somebody to teach me, help me and, if possible, move in with me for the first couple of months.”

  “Where are you located, Mr. Connelly?”

  “In Miami.” Dean rattled off the address to the furiously typing Cindy.

  “Do you prefer a male or female nanny?”

  “To be honest, I don’t care. If the nanny is good with Emily, I don’t give a damn about gender, skin color, or age. I’m gay, by the way, and I live with my partner.”

  “That is good to know, Mr. Connelly. Information like that helps us find the perfect match for you. What second language would you prefer?”

  “Again, I don’t really care. To be honest, I’m so new to all this, I haven’t even considered that a bilingual upbringing could be a good thing.”

  “Don’t worry, Mr. Connelly. You will grow into this, I promise. Don’t let people convince you otherwise. I can see how this is all overwhelming for you, so I’m going to set you up with one of our most experienced nannies. Julio O’Dell has worked for years as head nurse in the children’s wing of several hospitals. He gives courses for young parents and can even teach you first aid for children. As you may have guessed from his first name, his second language is Spanish. He can come visit you tomorrow since he lives in the area. If you feel comfortable around him, we can arrange the contract and the living conditions.”

  “That sounds like a dream. Thank you so much. When will he come by?”

  “At your earliest convenience. How about eight thirty in the morning? That would give you plenty of time to get to know each other.”

  “Eight thirty sounds fine to me.” Dean quickly went over his mental list of things he shouldn’t forget to ask. There was only one question left. “How much do you charge?”

  “That depends on the arrangement. Since you want a live-in nanny for the time being, we would ask for the full fee, which we can talk about once you have met Julio, plus accommodation and living expenses. The nanny is available 24-7 with one day off every ten days. Would that be acceptable for you?”

  Dean had no idea what kind of fee would be acceptable. He only knew that even five-figure sums per month were no problem for either him or Richard, and if that money got him the help he needed, he wasn’t going to negotiate.

  “Sounds fine to me.”

  “Very good. After your meeting with Julio, we can talk about the contract. Thank you for contacting us. It was a pleasure talking to you.”

  Cindy waited for Dean’s reply before she disconnected the call. Of course, she would be pleased with a customer as easy to handle as Dean. If it had been Richard, she would have had a lot more trouble.

  At the moment she was probably running a full background check on him. Once she verified that he was indeed loaded enough to be worth her time, she would go out of her way to make him happy. Dean had seen it happen often enough to know how things worked. Sometimes it made him a little sad, especially when he thought about all the children who could benefit from such excellent care as provided by Precious Care if only their parents had the money to buy it for them. Perhaps he should go and find a charity that dealt with such problems.

  Relived that two of his most pressing problems were more or less solved, Dean returned to his laptop to find out more about the art of taking care of children.

  Chapter 10

  IT WAS already noon when Dean’s phone rang. “Hello, Mr. Connelly, this is Elisa Connor. I’ve talked to the Child Welfare Program office, and they have agreed to send somebody over with Emily. Would 3:00 p.m. be fine with you?”

  Dean’s grip on the phone tightened. He was going to see Emily! “Of course. Whenever it is convenient for you.”

  “Then we’ll see you at three.”

  Dean had just put the phone aside when the doorbell rang.

  He hurried to open. It was Peyton with two men in tow Dean recognized as Peyton’s favorite carpenter, Jeff, and his brother, Mike, who owned a construction company. Both men had done practically all the work in their apartment, so Dean knew they were probably the best in their respective fields. He greeted them with an open smile.

  Peyton sauntered past him in the direction of the guest room.

  “Since I got the impression that you don’t have time to waste, I brought these two over as soon as possible. I did some research, but, honey, most of the things I found were simply awful. We have to do this from scratch, following our instincts.”

  Dean grinned broadly. This was exactly what he had hoped for. When Peyton followed his instincts, the outcome was fabulous. “I leave it completely to you.”

  “You’re a smart one, aren’t you?” Peyton patted Dean’s cheek before he opened the door to the guest room. He then started talking to Mike and Jeff. Dean knew from experience that he was invited to listen but not to interfere.

  “This is going to be a child’s room, so it has to be stripped completely. I’m already positive on the color scheme and what kind of furniture I want. Since Emily is so small, we need only the best and healthiest options for wall paint, carpet, and, of course, the wood for the furniture. No nasty poisonous stuff in here.”

  Mike inspected the room and whistled. “This is one spacious place. Almost three hundred square feet, you said?” He looked at Peyton, who nodded in affirmation. Dean felt a smile tugging on his lips. They only called this place the guest room because they hadn’t found another use for it. Compared to the rest of the apartment, there wasn’t much inside. A double bed, a wardrobe, a TV. A door at the far side of the room led into a bathroom with a shower and a tub. Both rooms were rarely used, and it showed. Peyton clucked his tongue in disapproval. “I want this to be light and friendly. As long as Emily’s so small, she’ll be sleeping in a crib, but later I want her to have a real princess bed, right there.” Peyton pointed toward one of the walls. “The diaper-changing table is another temporary item, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have class. All the ones I’ve found so far are either butt ugly or a far cry from functional. As you know, I’m greedy. I want both. Massive wood, of course. Spruce, I think, all natural, the surface just oiled. Several drawers for clothing, shelves for the baby-care stuff like diapers and….”

  On and on Peyton went, evoking a detailed picture of a child’s room that would be the envy of the town. Mike and Jeff trailed behind Peyton, taking notes and sometimes making suggestions. Dean went into the kitchen to prepare coffee for the three. While he waited for the machine to come to life, he texted Richard about the appointment.

  Emily will be here at three.

  The reply was immediate, which Dean thought was a good thing.

  I’ll be there.

  AT QUARTER to three, Richard entered the apartment. He still wasn’t sure if he wanted to be there when Dean met his niece for the first time. The entire day he had pondered the pros and cons of staying away under the guise of work. What had tipped the scales in favor of attending this appointment was the fact that he and Dean had
never fought before. They were of one mind most of the time, and if they weren’t, they always talked it out. What had happened this morning was practically a heated argument, and as much as Richard loved to fight with his partners and opponents in business, he couldn’t stand the thought of arguing with Dean.

  That, and he needed to regain control. If he was present, he had a much better chance of interfering immediately when things got out of hand.

  Dean greeted him in the living room, clearly nervous. He had problems making eye contact, and his hands were fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. Richard opened his arms. It was an automatic reaction to seeing his boy so flustered. With a sigh of relief, Dean fell into Richard’s embrace. “Hello, Master.”

  “Hello to you too, boy. How was your day?”

  Dean snuggled even closer. “Exhausting. Peyton left only a few minutes ago. The good news is, the nursery is all sorted out. I also contacted a nanny service, and I’m going to meet with the potential nanny tomorrow. I researched the company. It’s going to cost us, but they provide a full-time service.”

  Richard frowned at all the things Dean had already organized. He was used to his boy relying on him for practically everything that had to do with their daily lives. Seeing him act so independently unsettled Richard more than he cared to admit. He wanted to say something but was interrupted by the doorbell. Dean practically flew to the door.

  “They’re here!”

  He sounded both excited and terrified. With his hand resting on the frame, Dean exhaled deeply before opening the door. “Welcome.”

  He took a step aside to let two women in, one of whom carried a small bundle. Richard watched both women closely. The one who had first entered was obviously the lawyer. She gave off that special vibe, and along with her business dress, the unobtrusive, yet definitely expensive, pearl necklace, the tight no-nonsense bun on the back of her head, and the confident look in her pale blue eyes, it was not that hard to guess.

  When Richard glanced over at the other woman who was holding the baby, he instinctively got his defenses up. Being an out gay man had become easier during the last few years, but there were still those out there who outright hated everybody different. Richard had honed his senses to recognize those people instantly. The look of disapproval in the strange woman’s eyes was more than obvious. She was about fifty, with a pixie cut that was more practical than stylish, large, coke-bottle glasses that made her look like an owl, thin lips that gave her face a perpetual look of disdain, and a body that surely had once been curvy but now suggested she wasn’t getting enough exercise.

  Dean didn’t see any of that. His gaze was locked onto the little bundle in the woman’s arms, making him oblivious to everything else.

  The lawyer stepped forward, her hand outstretched. She and Richard shook. “Hello, I’m Elisa Connor, from Connor and Partners, and this is Meredith Denton from the Child Welfare Program. She’s taking care of Emily until you decide whether you want to take her in.”

  Elisa stepped aside, motioning Dean toward Meredith. “And this is Emily.”

  Dean approached Meredith slowly. To her credit, she held the baby out to him without hesitation or any show of negative emotion.

  Dean looked down at the tiny, heart-shaped face with so much awe and love in his eyes, Richard felt a sting in his heart. He was actually jealous of a baby!

  “Can… can I hold her?” Dean’s voice shook. Meredith regarded him for a moment, as if she was seriously contemplating his request; then she smiled.

  “Yes, of course. Why don’t you sit down over there”—she indicated the couch—“and I’ll show you how to do it.”

  Together they went into the living room. Dean sat down, his arms outstretched. Meredith placed Emily in his arms, showing him how to support her head. The baby was awake, staring at the grown-ups with incredibly blue eyes from under a shock of blond hair.

  “Look, Richard! She has my hair color.” Dean said it as if this alone was reason enough to keep her. Looking at the eager, awed look in his boy’s eyes, Richard realized he was in trouble. Until now, Dean had only gotten so emotional with him. Seeing his boy’s focus on somebody else, even if that somebody was an infant, made Richard grit his teeth in anger. He had always known he was a jealous bastard, but the depth of his emotion surprised and shocked him. He decided it was time to learn more about his tiny opponent.

  “So how does this work? I was given to understand that Tricia appointed Dean guardian in her will. As you can see, neither of us has any experience with babies. Are you just going to leave her here?”

  Meredith frowned. “Of course not, Mr. Miller. That would be irresponsible. Today we’re here so that you can get to know each other and to talk about certain details. I need to check where you intend to set up the nursery and to help you with all the necessities.”

  “I already organized a few things.” Dean was still busy staring at his niece. His voice had a faraway quality. “I can show you the nursery. Or rather, the room where it’s going to be. Our interior designer said it can be set up in less than two weeks. All the furniture will be made of solid wood, the colors for the walls are especially for nurseries and children’s rooms, and all the cloth comes from organic sources. I also contacted a nanny service, Precious Care, and one of their staff is coming over tomorrow morning. If we get along, he’s going to move in here for the first couple of months to help us get settled.”

  Richard saw Meredith nodding in approval. His gay-hater radar still pinged when he looked at her, but she seemed to be genuinely interested in ensuring Emily’s well-being. Richard caught himself staring again at his tiny rival. The utter devotion on Dean’s face was usually reserved for him, and the little intruder had no right to steal it from him. Dean was his. As were his heart, body, and soul. Always. Richard clenched his fists. He had to get a grip on himself. With a faked smile, he zoned in on the conversation.

  “You have done a lot of work already, Mr. Connelly. And Precious Care is an excellent choice. There are not many who can afford their services, but I can assure you, they are the best in their field. If your meeting with their staff goes well, we can schedule another visit tomorrow afternoon.”

  Dean beamed at Meredith. “That sounds fantastic! Shall I call you?”

  Meredith handed him her card. “Around noon would be a good time. Then we can see when we’ll meet.”

  She held out her hands. “I need to take her back.” Her words came out gently yet firmly. Dean’s grip on Emily tightened for a moment. He leaned in on her, his lips touching her forehead in a light, loving kiss.

  “I’m going to miss you, princess. See you tomorrow.”

  Emily made a soft mewling sound. Her eyes were trained on Dean as if she knew who he was. With pure longing in his eyes, Dean handed her back to Meredith, who cradled her close. Then she held out her free hand to Dean. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Connelly. I’ll wait for your call tomorrow.”

  “It was my pleasure as well, Ms. Denton. Thank you.”

  The women shook hands with Richard as well before taking their leave. Richard was still stunned by his inability to take charge of the situation. He was always in control, always. But one look at Dean with Emily in his arms and Richard had been so overcome by jealousy and anger, his brain had ceased to function.

  “I think it went quite well, don’t you?” Dean was standing halfway between the door and the living room, an insecure look on his face. At that moment he was seeking out his Dom for reassurance. Richard was glad that he could still do something for his boy, that Dean still needed him. There was no doubt things were going to change. Richard had a sinking feeling about talking Dean out of taking Emily in. He was too determined, too much in love with the baby already.

  If Richard wanted this to work, he had to take back control. Not just over the situation but also over their relationship. He had to be there. For his boy and for himself.

  With new determination, he opened his arms. Dean practically flew into his em
brace. When Richard held his boy tightly, he could feel the shivers running down Dean’s spine.

  “It’s fine, boy. It went really well. Ms. Denton was impressed. Everything will be okay.”

  Dean suppressed a sob. “This is all so damn much. Tricia’s death. Emily. I feel like I’m drowning.”

  Richard felt a twinge of self-loathing. Dean had suffered and he hadn’t been there. What kind of Dom put their own petty feelings over the well-being of their collared sub? “I have you, boy. Always. Let me take care of you.”

  Chapter 11

  DEAN WOKE in the warm embrace of Richard’s arms. It was his favorite place to be. They hadn’t done a scene the previous night; Dean had been too mentally exhausted for that. Instead Richard had made love to him like they were some plain vanilla couple. Dean had loved every second of it. He could sense how much Richard resented the way their life had changed in the course of a single day. Not having the full backup of the person Dean loved more than anything or anybody in the world was an added blow to all the bad stuff that had gone down on him, but he had no idea how to fix it. There was no way he could force Richard into this. He had to come around on his own. Waiting for his lover and Dom to accept the new reality unsettled Dean beyond words.

  He was devastated by losing Tricia and terrified of the responsibility he now had for Emily. Fate had decided to throw him into the deep end where the sharks were waiting, and the man who could pull him through it all was hesitant. For the first time in their five years together, Dean felt alone.

  Deciding self-pity wouldn’t get him anywhere, he got up to follow his morning routine. First he went to the bathroom to have a shower and brush his teeth. Then he put his yoga mat down in the living room and did half an hour’s worth of routines. The smoother his muscles moved, the more relaxed he became. After he felt settled, Dean prepared his and Richard’s breakfast, which he then brought to the bedroom. Waiting on his knees next to the bed had been awkward in the beginning, but as their relationship progressed, Dean had learned to appreciate the quiet moments before his Dom woke. Quite a few good books had come to him while he was on his knees.