“I went easy on her.” Adam’s mouth turned down. “I didn’t leave her completely naked.”
Jake turned. “Maybe I shouldn’t have left you in charge of her clothes.”
“Give me a little credit. I didn’t want to scare her away. I left her a miniskirt and a corset.”
Just like that Jake’s dick jumped. His leathers suddenly felt too confining. Fuck. How the hell was he supposed to keep his hands off her? He had a hard time when she was fully dressed. What the fuck was he going to do when she walked out wearing next to nothing and looking like his wet dream?
Adam put a hand on his shoulder. He was still in street clothes. He had a job to do. “You can handle this. It’s one very curious woman who is likely to also be deeply shy. You’ll probably stand at the edge of the crowd the whole time.”
Jake threw his partner a look. Serena could be deeply shy, but Jake had the feeling that once she got in the dungeon, her shyness would battle with curiosity, and there was no way shy won. Serena was too interested in everything. He’d watched her corner a waiter who’d mentioned he’d spent some time in Iraq. She’d had a million questions. She hadn’t been too shy to talk to him.
“So, where’s the client who no one here is fucking?” Ian stepped beside Jake, his massive body crowding the space. Ian was dressed for play in motorcycle boots and his leathers.
“She’s in the locker room with Eve. I’m pretty sure Eve’s not fucking her, either.” Adam just had to push it with Ian.
Ian just smiled and one eyebrow cocked up. “Let’s not be hasty. I might actually watch that show.” He sighed. “So, I heard from Liam there was some movement today. I got a frantic call from Lara. She’s really worried about this. She also said she got a call from a local TV station. It seems someone’s smelling blood in the water, and they think it might make a good story.”
A hard knot formed in the pit of Jake’s stomach. This was what he’d been worried about. Serena didn’t seem to want the publicity. She hadn’t called the press. So who had?
“Cool it, Dean. Don’t you know reporters routinely pump police for interesting cases?” Ian always could read his mind.
Adam jumped on that little fact like it was a lifeline. “Of course. It’s an interesting story. Writer’s private life mirrors her books. I can see a reporter wanting a piece of that. And I’ve checked her phone. The only people she’s talked to are her friends and her agent. She’s practically a damn nun.”
Ian’s face creased. “Yeah. See, that’s what I want to hear. Of course, she’s not exactly wearing a habit right now. Damn.” He growled a little as Serena walked out. “There’s no fucking way you don’t fuck her. Goddamn it. I was happier when you two were playing gay.”
Jake would never be able to play gay with this client. His cock jumped as he caught sight of Serena. To call the skirt she was wearing a mini was being deeply generous. It was more like a piece of spandex she’d wrapped around her luscious ass. It would be so easy to push it aside and bend her over. He could shove his cock deep without ever having to remove the thing. And her breasts looked like they would spill out of the corset. It was a vibrant red, her porcelain skin making a sharp contrast against it. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders. In her everyday life, she wore it in a ponytail or she would use a pen to form a loose, messy bun, but now the soft brown hair made a waterfall down her back. He could sink his hand into it and use the hold to guide her where he wanted her to go. He could force her to the floor, kneeling in front of him, that glorious mouth lined up to accept his cock.
“You look beautiful, Serena.” At least Adam still had the power of speech.
“You look like someone’s serving you up to a big bad Dom. Adam, did you forget to put the cherry on top?” Ian asked, sarcasm flowing.
Serena flushed.
“Not at all, boss. But little Serena there has a cherry of her own. It’s not on top, if you know what I mean.” Adam laughed, but the husky quality told Jake he wasn’t unaffected.
Serena shook her head. “I don’t know what you…oh, my god, you’re talking about my bottom.”
Ian laughed. “Look at the little sub blush. After reading some excerpts of your books, I would have sworn you didn’t have it in you. You use some rough language.”
Serena straightened up. Jake was just about to tell Ian to stuff it. She’d had a hard day, and the last thing she needed was Ian’s comments on her books. But Serena frowned and took it straight to the Dom. “If you can’t handle a little rough use, maybe you should stick to vanilla books.”
Ian laughed. “Oh, I like a brat, honey. I like to eat them for lunch. Mind your manners, sub, or you’ll find yourself over my lap. We’ll see if you turn your bratty mouth on me then.”
“Back off, Ian.” Jake took her by the hand and pulled her close, half shoving her behind his body. He wasn’t about to stand here and watch Ian flirt with his sub. Fuck. She wasn’t his. Except she was for the night. He had her collar in his hand. Thin and delicate, it was a training collar. It was the only piece of her wardrobe he’d been responsible for, and he’d taken two goddamn hours to pick it out. Ian had been yelling at him to leave Serena alone, and now the asshole was staring down at her like a hungry hawk who’d eyed a particularly juicy bunny. No fucking way. A deep possessiveness took hold in his gut. “I told you no one else is disciplining her.”
Ian shook his head. “This shit had better work out, Dean. I don’t want a lawsuit. You make sure she’s taken care of. And try to think with your brain and not your dick. Did she sign a contract?”
Jake could feel Serena behind him, her head peeking from behind his shoulders.
“I did, but they wouldn’t let me take a copy with me. I should get a copy, don’t you think?” Serena asked as though the man hadn’t just threatened to spank her ass.
Ian stared down at her. “So I could see it written into your next book? I don’t think so. Tell me something, Serena. Are you interested in the lifestyle because BDSM sells books, or are you interested for your own sake?”
“She’s interested, Ian,” Jake explained. “She’s been trying to find a mentor. Unfortunately, she found Dom Douchebag.”