Chapter One
Jonah tapped on Ez’s office door, sticking his head around when he realised it was half-open. His stomach twisted with nerves. He’d not heard from any of them in the three days he’d taken off, and part of him worried about his reception now.
He needn’t have. Ez smiled at him, closing his laptop when he saw Jonah standing there.
“I didn’t expect you so early,” he said.
Jonah entered the room fully, heat flashing through him when he remembered the last time he’d been here. “Yeah, well… I wanted to get started. I’ve got a lot of ideas.”
Ez chuckled. “Oh, I know.”
Jonah had sent a list of items he needed over after he’d gone home before. Ez hadn’t responded to his email, but Jonah figured he’d read it – there was a lot on there that needed getting if he was going to show these toys off the way he wanted to.
“I got a room set up for you, though feel free to explore the rest of the building should you wish to,” Ez said, hand settling easily against Jonah’s lower back as he guided him out of his office. “Everything you listed is in there, but if there is anything else you need, let me know and one of us will run out and get it.”
“One of you?”
Ez shrugged. “Finley or Torin, most likely. Rafe is too opinionated, and Damon hates shopping, as you may imagine.”
Jonah snorted, imagining the serious minotaur in the kinds of shops he’d need him to go to. Nothing salacious, of course – not that that would faze him. No. It was more arts-and-crafts when Jonah went hunting for the props he needed.
“I did have one more question.”
“Yes?”
They’d gone upstairs and paused outside a closed door that Jonah assumed was hiding the room Ez had prepared for him.
“I know the toys are prototypes, but can I take them home? Just for a day or two, to get some less… polished videos.”
Heat flared in Ez’s eyes and Jonah felt an answering twist in his stomach. He swallowed hard. As eager as he was for Ez to tear all his clothes off, he wassupposedto be working.
Ez seemed to come to the same realisation. He cleared his throat and nodded. “Of course. We’ve been working on the final product this past week, so there’s a new set in your room. You’re welcome to take them with you.”
“Thanks.”
They both paused for a moment, barely breathing, but the moment was broken when Ez’s phone rang. He pulled a face as he fished it out of his pocket and looked at the name on the screen. “Apologies, but I will have to leave you to discover everything yourself. Come and let me know if you’re missing anything.”
“Thanks, Ez.”
He was gone quickly – and Jonah thought it was only partly down to the call. He laughed to himself and pushed the door open.
Of course, the room was gorgeous. A huge, four-poster bed stood against one wall, and Jonah kicked off his shoes on the way in before he pulled his socks off, too. The carpet was thick and plush under his toes.
He circled it twice. There was a chaise lounge in the centre, perfect for a few of the shots he had in mind. The light, too… He’d have to adjust it later, but the room boasted two large windows, which would be perfect through the morning and into the afternoon.
Boxes were piled up next to a set of drawers and Jonah pulled out his phone before he thought of diving into them. He’d already found the case with the toys inside, prominently placed as it was in the middle of the bed.
Jonah grinned, taking a few snaps of the closed case before he took some selfies of himself next to it. He could use a few of those soon to start building hype, though he frowned when he realised he needed to get some launch dates from Ez.
He made a note of it, then dug into opening the boxes and organising what he’d ordered. He’d planned different vibes based on the different creatures, and in his mind’s eye, he knew how it would all come together.
Who to start with, though?
Jonah crossed back over to the bed and opened the box with the toys in it. His fingers paused on Damon’s, this one coloured a darker hue than the prototype had been. Jonah got batteriesin it and turned it on, laughing when he squeezed, and it started to swell in his hand.
He’d had thatinsidehim.
“Fucking hell,” he muttered.
