Adam appeared crestfallen, but Vincent suspected it was as fabricated as everything else about him. “I’ll come back later.” He eyed Jasper with a faint sneer before adding, “It’s important. Don’t try my patience.” The threat might have been amusing—Adam held no power or leverage over him, not anymore—but Vincent wouldn’t put it past him to have found something he thought he could use.
He’d have to contact his lawyers to make sure he hadn’t missed anything when he’d cut Adam out of his life.
Once Adam was gone, Vincent blew out a long breath. First order of business was to deal with Adam’s access to the club and find out if he’d come in as a guest. Then put him on the banned list. The drama that was sure to follow him had no place here.
Jasper shifted, pressing into Vincent’s chest and turning his head. “Sir?”
Vincent turned his attention back to where it belonged for the moment, noting the uncertainty in Jasper’s eyes and tightening his grip in response. “You were amazing, pet.”
“Yeah?” Jasper grinned and let Vincent take most of his weight. “That guy had douche canoe written all over him.”
Indeed. “Hopefully you won’t have to meet him again.” He had no hopes of that for himself. If Adam was back, he was after something, and he wasn’t the type to give up because he’d been told no. He noticed Jasper’s questioning look and sighed softly. “That was my ex.”
Both of Jasper’s eyebrows went up. “Not a past sub?”
“He was. He’s the reason I started using actual contracts.” He could see the questions forming, but this wasn’t the time or the place. He’d figured he would have to tell Jasper all this at some point if they moved beyond the first contract, but he never expected to have to deal with Adam in the flesh. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know at home,” he said, pressing a kiss to Jasper’s temple when he relented with a nod.
“How’s the suit fit?” he asked, pulling back enough to enjoy the sight. He wasn’t too worried about it; Richard did amazing work. And the suit design really did look breathtaking on Jasper. He dragged his fingers down the length of the tie with a smile, as pleased that Jasper had learned to tie it as he was disappointed at not having an excuse to do it himself. He glanced up as Jasper’s breathing hitched, a smirk settling on his lips as he gave a light tug.
Maybe he should consider getting a collar and leash.
Before he could get too carried away, he let go and smoothed the tie back into place. “Come on,” he said, turning to continue walking the floor. Having Jasper beside him in the club, dressed in a suit like Vincent, was its own kind of thrill. His last few subs had preferred fetish gear, which he thoroughly enjoyed, but there was something about a sub in a suit that lit up some of his buttons. And the way Jasper responded to the members who stopped to chat—nervous but polite, even with the subs, and openly curious—filled him with a pleasant hum of approval.
By the end of the night, he wanted nothing more than to pin Jasper to the wall, kiss and tease him senseless, and leave him disheveled and begging for release.
He made a stop at the security room to request the feed for the evening be logged and sent to him so he could review it later, added Adam to the No Entry list, sent a message to his lawyer requesting a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, then took Jasper home.
“Tonight was nice,” Jasper said softly, stretched out and utterly relaxed in the passenger seat.
“You didn’t mind being stuck at work with me?”
“Uh-uh. I liked seeing you like that, and… it was nice. Knowing everyone there knew I was yours.”
Vincent glanced over with a smile. “I liked it too.” He certainly wouldn’t mind if it became a regular occurrence.
Once he’d parked in the garage, he shut the engine off but made no move to get out. “If you have questions,” he started, fighting a grimace atthe thought of talking about Adam, “I’d rather answer them here.” Adam had no place in his life, and he certainly had no place in Vincent’s home, especially now that it was starting to belong to Jasper.
Jasper unbuckled and shifted in his seat. “You said he was the reason you started using contracts. What’d he do?”
“A lot of small things.” He’d gone over and over the details with his therapist, pinpointing all the manipulations and toxic behavior. “He forgot to do things I’d asked. All the time. Used sex as a bargaining chip. Insisted on eating at the most expensive restaurants and going to exclusive events so he could schmooze the elite. Refused to meet any of my needs until I was near a breaking point.”
He paused, debating on whether he should even mention the scars, but Jasper had already seen them and hadn’t brought them up since. “I think the worst was him constantly arguing with me to get cosmetic surgery on my scars.”
“Thatsonof a motherfucker!”
Vincent nearly jumped at the vehement response, eyeing Jasper in surprise.
“If I see him again, I’ll punch him in the face.” Jasper leaned across the center console, fisted a hand in Vincent’s shirt, and yanked him closer to crush their lips together. “There’s nothing wrong with your scars,” he growled, nearly biting Vincent’s lip.
Relief and gratitude unfurled in his chest. He slid a hand into Jasper’s hair and pulled him into a deep kiss. “Thank you,” he murmured against Jasper’s lips.
Jasper nuzzled against his cheek. “What was he trying to talk to you about?”
Vincent shook his head with a sigh. “I have no idea. Hopefully my lawyers can figure it out before there’s an issue.” Hopefully Adam had only sought him out in a moment of desperation after his latest victim kicked him out.
“Any other questions?” he asked when Jasper remained silent.
“Not really. He’s a little bitch, and you looked disgusted by him, so I don’t think I have anything to worry about.”
