Vincent stilled, dropping his hand from the key before he could shut off the ignition. “Not really,” he answered slowly. So much for waiting to have these conversations until after Jasper finished his finals. “A sub chooses what they are willing to give up. But it’s always an exchange. They receive something in return—pleasure, release, grounding, whatever.”
He turned towards Jasper and lightly grasped his chin, coaxing him into meeting Vincent’s eyes. “That is not the same as giving up your right to say no to something because you think it will please me. It won’t,” he added firmly. “And if you do, it will damage what trust I have in you to protect yourself.”
“Okay,” Jasper answered, too soft and far too quickly.
Vincent bit back his frustration, unsure how to get through to Jasper and make him understand. It wasn’t just that Jasper didn’t seem to know how a power exchange worked; it went beyond that.
Jasper didn’t even seem to realize he had all the power in this relationship.
Maybe what he’d seen aseagernesshad really been fear and desperation, and Vincent swallowed the disgust building in his throat. Surely he hadn’t been so blinded by having a new sub that he’d misread everything?
No. Even if some of Jasper’s actions were fueled by his fear of losing Vincent’s interest, even a blind person could see that Jasper was a natural. There was no way he could have forced himself to submit like that for weeks without Vincent or Jasper’s family noticing.
“Let’s eat,” he said, turning off the car and heading inside. The conversation was far from over, but they weren’t continuing it on an empty stomach.
He requested the secluded booth at the back corner of the restaurant, and between the two of them, they ordered five of the specialty sushi rolls. Once they had their drinks, Vincent crossed his arms on the table and studied Jasper. “I want you to repeat after me, pet,” he said, waiting until he had Jasper’s full attention. “I, as the sub, have the power in this relationship.”
Jasper frowned, clamping his mouth shut and keeping silent.
Well. That was interesting. He watched Jasper for several long seconds, to no avail. “Jasper.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why not?”
Jasper shifted in his seat, turning away and staring out the window. Another long minute passed, and then he said, “It feels wrong.”
“Only if you’re looking at it from the wrong perspective.” At least they were getting somewhere. It was no wonder Jasper felt out of sorts if he had misconceptions that needed correcting.
“What other perspective is there?”
“Many.” When Jasper shot him a disbelieving scowl, he sighed. “Would you prefer I have all the power?”
Jasper frowned. “That’s how this is supposed to work.”
“All right. So you would prefer a slave contract?”
Jasper hesitated. “What’s that?”
“You sign over all rights to me. Everything, from how you dress, to what you eat, or what you do with your free time. All of it is decided by me. Slaves have no rights. Sometimes not even the right to say no.” He paused, watching Jasper as he gave him a moment for that to sink in.
“If the Master wanted to piss in his slave’s mouth and make him swallow, the slave would do it, regardless of any protests,” he added, to ensure he drove the point home. He wasn’t going to sugarcoat it, and he wasn’t disappointed when Jasper’s expression landed somewhere between disgusted and horrified.
“So is that the contract you want?”
He expected Jasper to say no; he’d as good as said so these past several weeks together. He didn’t realize how much he needed Jasper to say no right then until Jasper didn’t say anything. For the first time since taking Jasper on, he wondered if maybe this had been a mistake after all.
“Is that the contract you want, Sir?” Jasper finally asked, eyes focused on the center of the table.
Vincent could have said no. Maybe he should have. Instead he asked, “If I said yes, would you become my slave?” Because he had to know, right now, before this went any further, just how far Jasper really was willing to go to please him. If Jasper was willing to let Vincent control every aspect of his life because he thought that was what Vincent wanted….
A minute ticked by without Jasper answering, but his brow was pinched as he continued staring at the table like it had all the answers. Maybe it did.
Their food arrived, and Vincent waited until the server was gone. “Jas?”
With a shuddering breath, Jasper seemed to cave in on himself as he shook his head. “No,” he whispered. “I’m sorry, Sir. I can’t… I don’twantto be a slave.”
“Good,” Vincent said, relief and pride leaving him momentarily breathless. “Good boy.” That was something he could work with, at least.
