Snowed In

“It’s not. They closed the road,” Gideon explained.

Yet another crappy thing to happen in a crappy day. If this kept going, she’d be electrocuted by the hair dryer. “How long will that last?”

Reid was the only one who seemed vaguely amused at the news. “It could be days. Looks like we’re all snowed in. Whatever shall we do?”

Gideon rolled his gray eyes. “We’ll teach our classes, Reid. Maybe you’ve forgotten, but we have fifty paying guests. Some of them are only here to mingle, but we already have some full classes. My class on the single tail filled up immediately.”

Reid grinned at her. “That’s a bull whip.”

She pulled the wine glass out of Reid’s hand. She needed it far more than he did. He didn’t complain, simply poured himself another one. “Well, I’m so sad I’ll be missing that one.”

“It wouldn’t be for you, pet,” Gideon said, distracted by something. “A little sub doesn’t flick the whip. She takes it.”

“Again, so sad I’ll miss it,” Jessica said sarcastically. She pointed to the door. “You’ve done your duty. I’ll stay in my room until the snow clears. I’m sure Reid will find ways to amuse me when he’s not spanking the students.”

“I’d rather spank you, love,” Reid said with a wink. “I know how much you like it. And I wouldn’t leave you unsatisfied the way mean old Gideon did. Did he get you all hot and bothered? How wet were you after that spanking, Jessica?”

She pinned Reid with a glare. “Do I need to open that trunk? I have more shoes, you know.”

Gideon stared at the trunk. “Do you have an extra person in there?”

He sounded normal. The wry teasing tone took her back to the days when they were friends. This was why she had turned in her notice. She’d known that if she’d gone to work, she wouldn’t be able to stay angry with him. She loved him too much. “Go away, Gideon. My luggage is my business. I’ll be out of your hair as soon as possible. I promise to remain utterly hidden away so you don’t have to answer how the fat chick got in.”

Gideon stopped. He frowned the way he did when he was thinking through a problem. “I deserve that. I never meant to make you think that way about yourself. I was an ass. I was trying to protect myself. Please, if you can’t accept my apology, at least understand that I think you’re a beautiful woman.”

There wasn’t any point in arguing with him. It would just make her look desperate and prolong this painful encounter. Being in the same room as Gideon Michaels couldn’t end well.

“Thank you,” she said evenly. “I appreciate it.”

The blond hunk didn’t seem to know what to make of that. He stood there with his hands on his lean hips. “Good. I’ve thought about what you said. I was wrong. If you want to attend the seminar, you’re more than welcome.”

That didn’t seem like such a good idea now. Learning from Gideon would probably cost her more than she was willing to pay. He’d probably brought along a gorgeous, slender sub to show off. She didn’t know if she could handle that. “I think I should take a pass, but I appreciate the offer. It’s better I stay out of your life, and you stay out of mine.”

“Are you afraid?” Gideon pinned her with his gaze. “Are you afraid I’ll hurt you again?”

“Yes,” she replied with a laugh. It should be blatantly obvious. “I might be submissive, but I’m not a masochist.”

“That’s a shame,” Reid pouted. “And a little untrue. You liked getting your nipples pierced.”

Gideon’s face flushed. “You pierced your nipples?”

He seemed to be trying to see through her sweater. She fought the urge to cross her arms over her chest. “That’s none of your business.”

Reid’s fingers rubbed together as though he were playing with her nipples. “They’re pretty gold rings. She wanted silver, but I convinced her gold would look prettier against her skin. One of these nights I’ll get her drunk enough and we’ll pierce her hood.”

“There is not enough vodka in the world, Reid Chandler,” Jessica shot back. Her clitoris was staying piercing free.

“A little barbell would be so pretty,” Gideon was saying. His voice had taken on a distinctly husky tone. He sank down on the bed next to Reid.

“Or another ring. We could run a chain through her nipple rings down to her clit. It would stimulate her every time we yanked her chain,” Reid continued.

They were sitting together on the bed now looking ridiculously decadent together. Gideon leaned in. He looked comfortable being so close to Reid. She gulped down the nice Bordeaux and wondered where her martini was. They talked about how they could stimulate her, and all she could think about was jumping in the middle of them and begging them to take her. This was the man who ripped her heart out of her chest and pissed on it, and her best friend.