He didn’t comment on the uncertain tone. Even if Jasper was interested, it wouldn’t happen today. He gave a light tug on the rope, humming softly when Jasper rocked onto the balls of his feet, his pupils dilating. “Go fix your hair,” he said and let go to get dressed himself. As much as he preferred a suit, he didn’t need to give Zach even more ammo to add to his ample supply.
He pulled on black jeans and a heather gray graphic tee with “The Rabbit of Caerbannog is my Spirit Animal” scrawled across it in fancy black script. It earned an amused eye-roll from Jasper, and he couldn’t resist hooking a finger in the Shibari to pull him closer, which only amused him more.
“You like that entirely too much, Sir.”
Vincent huffed softly and didn’t bother to point out that Jasper likely enjoyed it more. “A leash would be better.” He slipped his fingers down to tweak a nipple before heading for the door. They’d be a little early, but at least with others around, he’d be slightly less tempted to torment his pet.
Chapter 12
JASPER TUGGEDat the hem of his shirt as he followed Vincent up the stairs to a large cabin, the slight rough-soft texture of the Shibari rope rasping against his skin with every breath. The door swung open before Vincent even knocked, and a short, lanky man with black hair looked them over with a critical eye.
“Well, well, aren’t you a catch,” he said with a grin. “Gorgeous. The rope’s pretty too.” He reached out and hooked an arm around Jasper’s before he could respond and tugged him inside. “I’m Zach, by the way.”
Jasper glanced at Vincent in bewilderment, but Vincent merely shook his head and shut the door behind them.
“I asked you not to scar him.”
Zach ignored that as he called out, “Aaash. Come meet the sweet little thing Master Vincent finally found.”
Jasper helplessly followed Zach to the combined dining room and kitchen where a short blond man was chopping vegetables at the counter. When he turned Jasper got a good view of the black leather collar around his throat. He wasn’t sure why, but he’d instinctively marked Zach as the sub in the relationship, but the collar suggested otherwise. He managed a weak “Hi” when Zach finally stopped moving.
Ash glanced over with a nod and quiet greeting. “Nice to meet you,” he said with a British accent that took Jasper by surprise.
Zach patted Jasper’s arm as Ash returned his attention to chopping. “Sexy accent, yeah? Too bad he doesn’t talk much,” he said with fond exasperation. He turned them to the living room and pulled Jasper down to sit beside him on the sofa.
Jasper glanced back at the kitchen, where Vincent was quietly talking with Ash, until Zach drew his attention back with a poke to his cheek.
“So how long have you been together?” Zach asked, eyeing Jasper with a sly grin.
“A few months. Almost five.”
His grin widened. “Ohhh. Second contract, then.” He patted Jasper’s arm again. “And he’s treating you well?”
Jasper reflexively tensed. “Yes,” he said and wondered if he was going to have to fight Zach for speaking badly of Vincent, but he only laughed.
“Master Vincent is one of the best men I know. You’re lucky you caught his eye.”
The fight went out of him, and Jasper slumped against the sofa. Maybe he’d only been expecting the worst because the people he lived with and knew Vincent better than he did disapproved of their relationship. Matt openly hated Vincent, and Amber and the others avoided talking about him as if they were allergic to his name. It was nice to finally meet someone who actually liked him. “How do you know him?”
“Oxford.” Zach chuckled when Jasper’s eyebrows shot up. “We both went for a business degree. His grandmother hates my guts since a lowly American could never live up to her standards,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. He leaned in with a conspiratorial whisper. “You should hear his British accent.”
“I heard that,” Vincent said from the entrance of the room.
Jasper turned towards him with wide eyes. “You’ve been denying me the chance to hear your accent, Sir?”
Vincent scoffed as Zach snickered. “Absolutely not,” he said, moving to sit on the love seat.
Jasper started to get up to join him, but Zach still had an arm looped around his, and it was kinda nice being aroundothers who weren’t being assholes. He resorted to pouting instead. “Is it a bad accent? Like Keanu Reeves’ Dracula bad?”
Zach hummed and tapped a finger against his chin in exaggerated consideration. “I don’t know… Is it that bad?”
Vincent narrowed his eyes, which only made Jasper more curious and determined to hear it.
“Pleaaase, Master Vincent?” he tried, which earned a startled look from Vincent while Zach failed to stifle his laughter.
Vincent scowled at them both before sighing. “What do you want me to say?”
Zach leaned in to whisper in Jasper’s ear, and he dutifully repeated, “Bottle of water?”
