“I didn’t exactly consider it a possibility,” Jasper replied, hyperaware of Vincent’s fingers brushing his throat as they worked his tie off. He’d had sex outside of a bedroom, but this was different. This wasn’t a bathroom in some club with deafening music. This was an expensive suit shop where respectable businessmen could walk in. And while the idea of offending a snobby rich man’s sensibilities amused him, at the moment he was completely out of his depth.
Vincent pulled the tie free with a whisper of silk and draped it over his arm. “And now?” he asked, sliding the jacket down Jasper’s arms and settling it over the tie.
Jasper shivered, tipping his chin up as Vincent started unbuttoning his shirt. After a week of not having Vincent’s hands on him, he was willing to do almost anything to keep even that little bit of contact. “Is public sex something you like to do?”
“It has its perks.” Vincent slid his palm over Jasper’s chest as he removed the shirt. Before Jasper could say yes to anything, Vincent stepped back. “Bring the rest when you’re done,” he said… and left.
“Wha—” Jasper stared at the door when it closed. He wasn’t sure if he was more relieved or disappointed, but he hoped that wasn’t a sign of how the rest of the day would go. With a sigh, he finished changing and took the pants and shoes to the register. He made the mistake of glancing at the price and couldn’t help the strangled sound that escaped his throat.
Four figures. For a suit.
No wonder Terrance called Vincent a sugar daddy.
He took the bag with the shirt, shoes, and tie and let Vincent lead the way back to the car. He settled in his seat with his hands clasped between his knees, watching Vincent from the corner of his eye. He might have said never mind earlier, but he really was curious if this was something Vincent did for all his subs, or if Jasper was special.
Not that this was anything more than a couple of months of some amazing sex and getting his feet wet with the whole kink thing.
“Hungry?” Vincent asked.
“I could eat.” He curled his hands into fists until his nails bit into his palms, silently counting to keep from saying something stupid. By the time they arrived at a café, he’d nearly bitten through his tongue to keep quiet.
He didn’t need to know. It wasn’t like he was eager to talk about his own exes.
They settled at a table, and Jasper pretended to be absorbed in the menu.
“Does it bother you that much?” Vincent asked.
Great. He’d managed to make a fool of himself anyway. Jasper silently cursed and peeked at Vincent. He needed some kind of excuse for his silence, but they all died on his tongue.
“I won’t force you into something you don’t want.”
Jasper sighed. “It’s not that.” He liked the suit, but spending that much money on something he’d rarely wear…. “Do you do that with all your subs?”
“Only the ones who are okay with it.”
“Who wouldn’t be okay with you spending money on them without even caring about the price?” he muttered, ignoring the fact that was part of exactly what was bothering him.
Vincent set his menu down, brows drawn together in confusion. “The suit?”
That wasn’t the reaction he’d expected. Jasper dropped his own menu to the table, giving up the pretense of reading it. “You weren’t talking about the suit….” Of course he wasn’t. Why would he be? But Jasper couldn’t for the life of him think what else Vincent would be talking about.
“I am now,” Vincent said, but then their server came for their order. Once they were alone again, Vincent turned his full attention to Jasper and studied him a moment. Somehow Jasper managed not to squirm beneath the intense gaze. “Is it the price or the suit itself that bothers you?”
Jasper opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. Finally he managed a soft, “Neither?” When Vincent raised an eyebrow, Jasper shrugged. “It’s just, that’s a lot of money to spend on someone you barely know.” He was tempted to say they probably wouldn’t know each other for very long either, but stopped himself. Barely.
Vincent didn’t respond immediately, tapping his thumb against the table instead. “Do you need to set a new limit?”
“For what?”
“The contract says I’ll provide anything needed for our time together. I consider the suit an acceptable expense, but I’ve been told some of my tastes are excessive.” He paused for a moment, but when Jasper didn’t reply, he added, “If spending that kind of money makes you uncomfortable, then set a limit.”
Vincent made it sound simple.
Maybe it was, but even after two and a half years of living with his cousin, the thought of asking for anything still made Jasper nauseous. He managed a nod anyway and instead asked, “What were you talking about, if not the suit?”
A hint of amusement tugged at Vincent’s lips. “What we were discussing in the dressing room.”
“Oh,” he said before the words really sank in, then, “Ohhh.” He cleared his throat, but kept silent as the server returned with their food. He pulled the toothpick out of his sandwich and took a bite. “I don’t think I’d mind,” he said after swallowing.
