When Hope finally catches him at the bottom his eyes are shining so bright and his grin almost cracks his face. “Go again!”
Chapter 44
LEANDER
The private vendor I arranged to come by arrives exactly on time, but then, I would expect no less.
Quinn is a discrete non-binary salesperson from my favorite toy-shop in town. It’s a favorite of celebrities in my circle.
They text me when they arrive and I let them in the back door. They have short-cropped shaved hair, a little longer on top, and two big suitcases. One in each hand.
I smile in greeting, then open the door wide and gesture them inside. “Please.”
They walk in, sleek black suit and shining black Doc Martens that squeak on the marble floors.
Other than that, they’re completely silent, though. I let them know ahead of time that there would be sleeping toddlers here.
I lead them down the hallway to the lounge in the back of the house, furthest from where the kids are sleeping.
We pass by Janus, who gives us a wave. He’s staying on kid-watch duty. The last thing we need is for Paul to come wandering in and grab up a pink dildo, then declare it his new favorite toy when we all holler and try to take it back.
I sigh, missing the days when their cribs actually kept them in. But Paul’s a little monkey and he just crawls right over the side now when he wants out.
We tried getting them separate cribs at a year and a half, but every time we came in at morning time, he was curled up with his sister again anyway. Eventually we gave up and started just putting soft pillows on the ground in case he falls during one of his crib-scaling adventures.
I hear Hope’s laugh before we turn the corner into the back lounge. She and Milo are waiting for us there, sitting together on the big, overstuffed leather couch.
Milo’s finally starting to look comfortable here. Our experiment with the pervertibles seemed to help, along with getting him clothes he feels more comfortable in.
The change in him has still been so remarkable. I’m not sure what to do with it, really. He was always the oldest brother, but also the most immature. Except for when he saved our asses after Janus got into trouble for me, stepping in and standing up to his mom like that. But afterwards, it was as if he just regressed.
Now though, he’s like an old zen monk or something, hidden in Milo’s body. There are flashes that make me know it’s still him. But there’s this look in his eyes that tells you he knows shit now.
And I guess, considering what he’s been through, how could he not?
It makes me even more determined to take it easy on him, though. To make sure he and Hope and my whole family have nothing but easy times and pleasure from now on.
Which is why I’m happy to direct Quinn to open their suitcases on the center coffee table in front of Hope and Milo.
I showed Janus the catalog earlier—he helped me pick out what items Quinn ought to bring. Plus Quinn always brings extras, since they like to help clients feel out what they might like.
They open the latch and lift the cases.
Which are stuffed, both along the top and bottom, with all kinds of silicone gadgets, beads, dildos, and other sundry items.
Hope reaches a tentative hand forward, then yanks it back like she’ll get bit.
“No, please,” Quinn urges. “Touch anything. Everything. This is meant to be a sensory experience. What draws your eye? Your touch?”
Hope laughs a little nervously, then her hand extends again.
And I’m glad I’m wearing loose slacks because my dick gets hard when I see her reach forward and caress her fingertips lightly over the ball gag. “I-I think I might like this.”
Quinn nods, a gentle smile on their face. “A favorite of many clients.”
They pull the ball gag out of its tight fitting in the felt case and hand it over to Hope. “I can help fit it or—” They look to me and I nod, moving to sit beside Hope.
Her eyes ping to mine and she smiles self-consciously, then hands the ball-gag over to me. “Will you please?”
And then she opens her mouth and turns slightly so I can fasten it around the back of her head.
Oh fuck, do I love this woman.
Chapter 45
HOPE
Forty-five minutes and a bagful of toy purchases later, we bid adieu to Quinn.
I’m a little nervous. And excited. Which is a feeling I haven’t had about sex since the early days.
Leander went to escort Quinn out, meanwhile Janus comes into the lounge, shuts the door, and puts on some vintage jazz.
He holds out his hand to me as Ella’s sultry voice sings Dream a Little Dream. I smile and rise off the couch. Smoothly Janus spins me, then pulls me into his chest. I laugh as I land against him.