Chapter 1

1

Jesse knew the penthouse was equipped with a so-called dungeon, but he hadn’t been expecting an actualdungeon. The room was large enough to shelter a small family, and it almost put Gideon’s collection of floggers, whips, chains, bars, knives, candles, and other assorted toys to shame. Almost. But combined with the collection Gideon brought with him from Chicago, it was almost frightening.

Well, it could have been frightening. For Jesse Madding, it was just very, very exciting.

He heard Emma moving around in the bedroom, methodically unpacking her clothes. He didn’t know what Gideon was up to. Securing the perimeter for all Jesse knew. Even though Gideon had spent the last month contacting old friends in New York and looking for the best possible location for their vacation, he was still nervous. Well, Gideon claimed he was just nervous. Jesse thought he was paranoid. But Jesse didn’t say anything about it. He was just happy Gideon had ultimately agreed to a vacation at all.

Three weeks in New York City. Three weeks without clients breaking down their door at all hours. Three weeks of shows, fine restaurants, and sightseeing. And, oh yeah. Three weeks of the dungeon. Of uninterrupted time with Emma and Gideon. It was his first vacation since he began working for Gideon, and it was probably Gideon’s first vacation ever. The vampire had seemed a bit unclear on the concept the first dozen times Jesse broached it, first avoiding the subject, then outright refusing, and then finally letting Jesse sway him into agreeing.

Jesse took a step into the room, and his skin already felt a bit tighter. He didn’t even dare imagine the things Gideon would do to them in this room. The way he would make them bleed, and scream, and cry, and beg for more. He set the bag containing his most personal items on a high bench. The collar Gideon liked to see him wear, its matching leash. The cock ring that always pinched just a little, just hard enough to remind him it was there. The silk scarf Gideon used as a blindfold. The gag that fit between his teeth and held his mouth open. Gideon was in charge of the other items in their collection, but these small objects were his, and his responsibility.

The leather collar fit snugly around his neck as he secured it. Gideon hadn’t told him specifically to put it on, but Jesse knew he’d like to see it. Emma had her own collar she kept with her, and Jesse thought she’d probably slip it on before she finished unpacking her clothes. She enjoyed Gideon’s small smile of satisfaction—the one you’d almost miss because it was just the upturn of the corner of his mouth—as much as Jesse did.

“Well?” The single word drew him around to see Gideon in the open doorway, one broad shoulder leaning against the jamb. Half his face was in shadow, his dark eyes hidden, but the cant of his mouth was hopeful. “Does it pass inspection?”

“Yes. It’s…rather surprising. I hadn’t expected anything quite so big.”

“Funny what you can afford when you don’t take a vacation in…forever.”

Jesse smiled. “I suppose it helps that you’re the stingiest vampire on the planet.”

“I’ll remember that next time I look the other way on one of your book buying fiestas.”

Entering the room, Gideon wandered along its borders, stopping once in a while to inspect a fixture attached to the wall. Though the drive had been long and arduous, forcing them to travel at night over the course of two days, he looked as polished as he always did. His dark trousers were impeccably cut, barely a wrinkle where they molded over his powerful thighs and tight ass, and his pullover only made his broad shoulders seem even broader. In this environment, with these accoutrements surrounding them, the effect made Jesse’s cock thicken.

“Odessa’s got better taste than I remember,” Gideon mused. He’d stopped and was testing a hook on the wall, its mate strategically passed several feet away to allow for a body to be chained in place. “Remind me to send her a thank you gift after we get back to Chicago.”

“I’ll make a note of it.” Jesse crossed to Gideon’s side. “I can definitely imagine spending hours and hours in here.” Looking down at obvious bulge in Gideon’s pants, he added, “And I guess I’m not the only one.”

“Because I haven’t had the chance to touch either of you the way I want since we left.” The glance he cast at Jesse was knowing. “Unlike two people I know who came back from their so-called picnic smelling like come.”

Jesse knew they hadn’t fooled Gideon, of course. He had hoped since Gideon hadn’t said a word about it before, he wasn’t going to say anything about it at all. But apparently, he had only been waiting for the right opportunity.