Cool green eyes rolled. “See, you are the touchiest thing these days. I’m supposed to be the dramatic one in this relationship. I don’t like having to be the logical one. I’m not thoughtful, damn it.” He shook his head and started to walk away. “And I’m playing the Dom while we’re here, too. It wouldn’t do for the students to see me over your knee.”
Gideon felt a smile tug at his lips. Reid’s ass looked good over his knee. God, it had been so long. He was right, though. His switch of a boyfriend was firmly in Dom mode while they were here. Still… “I was thinking more along the lines of tying you to a St. Andrew’s Cross and taking out my frustrations.”
Reid shook his head. “Another time, lover. Somehow I don’t see me giving in quite that easily. Although later you might try. I’m going to see if our last guest is here.” Reid stopped. He turned and, despite his earlier protests, looked very thoughtful. “You know I love you, right?”
“Of course,” Gideon replied automatically. The fact that Reid loved him had been the one constant in his life for years. Even when Reid wasn’t speaking to him, Gideon had known deep down that he wouldn’t leave.
“Remember that.” Reid nodded cryptically and walked away. “And remember you owe me.”
He groaned and turned back to the delightful scenery in front of him. Reid was right. He was sleepwalking through his days. He couldn’t help it. Every time he let his mind wander, Jessica’s face showed up.
What was she doing now? Was she back in Alabama enjoying the day? Was she getting ready for a date?
He couldn’t help but think back to that fateful morning.
“Why?” she’d asked him the morning after they made love. She had pulled the sheet up over her breasts as though disturbed by the thought of him looking.
His first impulse had been to tear that sheet from her hands. She should never hide that body from him. That body belonged to him. It was his to look at. It was his to please and take his pleasure from and, oh, he’d had such pleasure from her. She’d been so soft beneath him. She hadn’t complained or questioned him. She’d taken the pleasure and the discipline he’d given her. She was the perfect submissive, just as he’d always suspected. She was perfect for him and perfect for Reid.
She didn’t even know about Reid.
Gideon had felt panic gnawing at him. He and Reid had hidden their relationship from her for years. She would walk out, just like his family had.
“It won’t work.” He’d forced himself to grind out the words. He wasn’t going through this again, he promised himself. Jessica was too sweet, too naïve to enjoy his lifestyle. It wasn’t fair to try to bring her into it. Just because she was submissive didn’t mean she could handle what he would demand from her.
“It worked fine last night in your office. It worked fine when I drove us back here,” she’d mumbled.
He could see her retreating. God, how was he going to deal with her in the office? How was he going to work with her every day and not take her again? How could he go back to being friends with her?
“It was a mistake.” He’d been in full-on protection mode. He couldn’t see her again. “I had too much to drink. I wouldn’t have touched you if I’d been sober. You’re not my type.”
The tears that had filled her eyes had almost done him in. He wanted to fall to his knees and play her supplicant for once. He’d held his ground. It was a case of being cruel to be kind. He wasn’t an idiot. He knew she’d been infatuated with him for a while. She had no idea he’d been half in love with her since the day they met, and she would never know. He had to let her go. She needed to find someone nice and normal who would buy her a house in the suburbs and never try to share her with his gay lover. His gut had rolled at the thought of Reid. Reid had been pushing him to get close to Jessica. Reid thought Jessica was the one.
Reid was going to be so angry with him, but he couldn’t do it.
“If you’ll give me a moment, I’ll get dressed and get out of here.” Her voice wasn’t quite even, but he could tell she was working hard to hold it together.
He’d nodded and left, planning all the while how to ease her out of his professional life.
He shook his head, coming out of the memory. The crazy part was he’d changed his mind almost immediately. After she left without a good-bye, he’d sat in his lonely house and thought about her. His daily life had revolved around Jessica. She’d taken care of the office and been the bright spot in his increasingly dark life. Jessica’s smile had been as necessary as a cup of coffee to start the day. By the time Monday had rolled around, he’d found himself waiting at her desk with a dozen lilies, ready to beg her forgiveness. He’d made the decision to ease her into D/s and gradually bring in Reid. She’d loved Reid. Maybe, he’d thought, maybe Jessica would understand.