Chapter 1

1

The unmistakable sound of old-fashioned police sirens came from Jesse’s new iPhone, blaring through the house at an unnecessary volume. Jesse barely heard it; he didn’t even think about stopping to see what Derek wanted. He wasn’t exactly in a position to call for a time-out when the arm of the couch was hard against his stomach, and Gideon was plowing into his ass like he was making up for lost time. Even if he wanted to call a time-out, he couldn’t. The tie Gideon had shoved in his mouth just after bending him over effectively stifled any speech.

The iPhone stopped, and for several seconds, the house was silent except for Gideon’s grunts and Jesse’s short, hard breaths. Gideon held both Jesse’s wrists in one powerful hand, and his shoulders were beginning to ache. Just a little bit. Just enough to remind him how strong Gideon was.

From behind him, Gideon’s cell began to trill. Was that Derek’s set ring? Jesse thought so. There might be something wrong.

Jesse pushed the thought out of his head. If there was something wrong, Derek O’Dell was a detective with the Chicago Police Department. He could find somebody to help him out until Gideon felt like letting Jesse answer the phone. As if Gideon could read his mind, he tightened his hold around his wrists and moved his hips in a punishing rhythm.

The trilling stopped, and Jesse’s full faculties turned back to Gideon. His ass burned, and tremors moved from his lower back, down his thighs. He didn’t want Gideon to stop. He wanted to stay right where he was, shaking and sweating and making muffled begs for more.Always for more.

The phone on the desk shrieked. The business line. The one that Jesse always tried to answer if he was in the house. The ability to teleport made it easier to do just that—though Gideon always went slightly sick when he saw Jesse pop out of the kitchen without warning or any obvious reason. He wanted to answer it. He did. And he could have stopped Gideon if he really, truly thought it was important. But the machine would catch it and his balls were throbbing, sending echoes of pleasure all the way up to his throat.

The machine did, in fact, pick up after seven rings—which was the equivalent of about fourteen thrusts. Jesse wasn’t surprised to hear Derek’s voice over the roaring in his ears.

“Jesus, where the fuck are you guys? Wait. Don’t answer that. Just call me back as soon as you can. Jonah’s in trouble. Well, he better be in trouble, because if I find out he isn’t and he’s just screwing around and making us crazy, I’m going to kill him.” Derek let out a long, exasperated sigh. “Just…please. Call me back.”

Jesse spat out the tie. His tongue felt dry and thick. “Did…did you hear that?”

Gideon’s fingers dug into his wrists. His rhythm never slowed. “No. And you didn’t, either.”

“But he…” Even as the protest formed, a voice in his head screamed at him to be quiet. Or, if he had to speak, beg for Gideon to fuck him harder. “He sounded really worried.”

Abruptly, Gideon leaned over his back. His free hand found the front of Jesse’s throat and squeezed over the bite marks on his neck. “And do I sound like I want to stop?”

Jesse moaned, shivering as new pain flashed through him. Derek’s voice was already faded from his mind. “No, no, Sir.”

The faint prick of Gideon’s fangs made his lungs seize. Gideon hadn’t been vamped out when they’d started. Silently, he urged Gideon to bite, even going so far as to tilt his head out of the way to give him more room.

Gideon chuckled. “That’s my boy. Always want just a little bit—”

Jesse’s iPhone started screaming again.

“Damn it!” Letting go of Jesse’s wrists, Gideon reached across to the coffee table to snatch up the phone. He shoved it into Jesse’s ear. “Tell him exactly what we’re doing and that if he calls and tries to interrupt again, I’m going to chain him up and make him watch the next time I split your ass.”

Jesse took the phone, even though it felt more than a little awkward to talk in his position. “Derek? This isn’t exactly a good time.”

“I know. I’m sorry. If I wasn’t so worried, I wouldn’t keep bugging you. But Jonah’s been missing for three days now, and my sister is freaking out. Like calling me every ten minutes kind of freaking out. She’s convinced something’s happened to him, but nobody in London will give her a straight answer.”

“That…really sucks, but…” Jesse bit back a groan as Gideon slammed into his prostate. A reminder that he was straying from the given script? Probably. “Jonah is an adult. And we’re not in London.”

“But you could just pop over there, couldn’t you? Just check out his apartment, that’s all I’m asking. If he’s home, shove a phone in his hand and tell him to call his mom. Five minutes, tops, Jess.”

“You’re not a babysitting service,” Gideon growled.