Following the directions from the GPS, Gem pulled his rental car up the long winding driveway. What Nix had called a cabin was anything but. Not that Gem was really surprised. He knew that Evan had money not only from his many years of playing professional hockey, but some he inherited.
Okay, Gem might have internet-stalked both Vin and Evan once his little brothers had gotten into relationships. Not that he planned to share that information with anyone. Gem didn’t need to be called overprotective again. Even his mom had acted like Gem was going overboard.
The cabin’s interior lights shone out to where Gem had parked giving the house a welcoming feel. It had been a sketchy drive from the airport, and he was relieved to finally arrive. Snow covered the ground, the house, and, well, everywhere that Gem could see. At least it had stopped falling within the last few minutes of his drive.
He grabbed his phone off the holder attached to the dash and spotted the new notification. Gem’s heart thudded. They’d said they’d both be busy. Busy with family and celebrating the holiday. The daily check-ins weren’t a requirement for the next few days. And yet there was a new notification.
Gem’s fingers shook as he opened the app hidden from the main screen of his phone.
‘I should have told my parents I couldn’t make it. The airport was a madhouse.’
The message might seem mundane to some, but Gem knew better. This was his texter’s way of starting a conversation. The messages always began with a simple sentence before the dynamic changed.
With a swipe of his tongue over his bottom lip, Gem typed out his response.‘Did you get to your parents’ safely?’
The reply was immediate. Had he been waiting on Gem?
‘Yes, sir.’
Beneath his tight jeans, Gem’s cock woke. Just reading those two words had him half hard. And that wasn’t good. Gem was not walking into a house where his two younger brothers were waiting on him with a hard-on. Well, he had already committed to the conversation.
Gem settled back in the driver’s seat that thankfully had a warmer built in. The heater for the car was on high. Neither of his brothers had rushed outside so hopefully Gem had some time.
‘Did you eat breakfast this morning?’Gem questioned.
Again, the reply was instant.‘Yes, sir.’
Gem snorted. The other man knew better than not fully answering Gem’s questions. The rules were in place for a reason.‘What?’Gem demanded.
This time the response came slower, but it did come.‘I grabbed a breakfast bagel and coffee at the airport.’
‘And?’Gem sent.
‘I drank one bottle of water after my workout this morning. I finished my second by the time I reached the airport. Had one on the plane.’
‘Good job.’Gem made sure to send the praise.‘Only two more for the day.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Gem could practically hear the pout in the words. He hadn’t meant to get into a twenty-four-seven D/s relationship when he’d made an impromptu visit to a BDSM event while on a road trip but here he was.
He’d been in town for a game against the Seattle Harbor Seals the next day when Gem hadn’t been able to settle. Aries had been hurt in Vegas. With Gem in the middle of his own season and fighting for the starting goalie position, he hadn’t been able to get to his youngest brother. He’d been assuredrepeatedly by Vin and his mom that Aries was fine, but it had been killing Gem that he couldn’t get to see Aries for himself.
His exclusive membership of a BDSM organization in Boston also came with guest passes around the country to other clubs. And there had been a masquerade event happening that night. He’d worn the black suit he’d packed for before the game and found a mask online from a local store available for pickup. Luckily, it had been close to Halloween.
It was easy enough to sneak away from the team.
Gem hadn’t even needed to sneak about. He’d just walked out of the front of the hotel to an Uber waiting at the curb. Some of his teammates had been out to dinner while others were hanging out in the hotel’s sports bar. No one had missed him.
Once he’d arrived at the warehouse in the Belltown area where the event had been taking place, Gem had slipped his new black leather demon mask over his face. The mask left his mouth and some of his forehead visible, but Gem was certain no one would recognize him as the new rookie goalie for the Boston Beans. Especially since he’d also worn the brown contacts to hide his unique eye color.
The demon theme of the mask had fit Gem’s mood perfectly. He’d entered the event with the intention of finding a sweet sub that he could spend a few hours working over to get out of his own head. Gem had found so much more.
Subs interested in finding a partner for the night had been lined up, with bands wrapped around their upper arms indicating their interests for the night.
Gem had zeroed in on the man in black leather pants with a tight black leather vest and three bands indicating that he waslooking for a D/s session with a full power exchange, including impact play, and was open to sex.
The sub’s black leather mask had been fitted much like Gem’s, hiding everything but his mouth and those amazing dark eyes. Those eyes haunted Gem to this very day. There had been so much need in the depths of that challenging gaze.
