Chapter 12
JASPER TUGGED at the hem of his shirt as he followed Vincent up the stairs to a large cabin, the slight rough-soft texture of the Shibari rope rasping against his skin with every breath.
The door swung open before Vincent even knocked, and a short, lanky man with black hair looked them over with a critical eye.
“Well, well, aren’t you a catch,” he said with a grin. “Gorgeous. The rope’s pretty too.” He reached out and hooked an arm around Jasper’s before he could respond and tugged him inside. “I’m Zach, by the way.”
Jasper glanced at Vincent in bewilderment, but Vincent merely shook his head and shut the door behind them.
“I asked you not to scar him.”
Zach ignored that as he called out, “Aaash. Come meet the sweet little thing Master Vincent finally found.”
Jasper helplessly followed Zach to the combined dining room and kitchen where a short blond man was chopping vegetables at the counter.
When he turned Jasper got a good view of the black leather collar around his throat.
He wasn’t sure why, but he’d instinctively marked Zach as the sub in the relationship, but the collar suggested otherwise.
He managed a weak “Hi” when Zach finally stopped moving.
Ash glanced over with a nod and quiet greeting. “Nice to meet you,” he said with a British accent that took Jasper by surprise.
Zach patted Jasper’s arm as Ash returned his attention to chopping. “Sexy accent, yeah? Too bad he doesn’t talk much,” he said with fond exasperation. He turned them to the living room and pulled Jasper down to sit beside him on the sofa.
Jasper glanced back at the kitchen, where Vincent was quietly talking with Ash, until Zach drew his attention back with a poke to his cheek.
“So how long have you been together?” Zach asked, eyeing Jasper with a sly grin.
“A few months. Almost five.”
His grin widened. “Ohhh. Second contract, then.” He patted Jasper’s arm again. “And he’s treating you well?”
Jasper reflexively tensed. “Yes,” he said and wondered if he was going to have to fight Zach for speaking badly of Vincent, but he only laughed.
“Master Vincent is one of the best men I know. You’re lucky you caught his eye.”
The fight went out of him, and Jasper slumped against the sofa.
Maybe he’d only been expecting the worst because the people he lived with and knew Vincent better than he did disapproved of their relationship.
Matt openly hated Vincent, and Amber and the others avoided talking about him as if they were allergic to his name.
It was nice to finally meet someone who actually liked him. “How do you know him?”
“Oxford.” Zach chuckled when Jasper’s eyebrows shot up.
“We both went for a business degree. His grandmother hates my guts since a lowly American could never live up to her standards,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
He leaned in with a conspiratorial whisper. “You should hear his British accent.”
“I heard that,” Vincent said from the entrance of the room.
Jasper turned towards him with wide eyes. “You’ve been denying me the chance to hear your accent, Sir?”
Vincent scoffed as Zach snickered. “Absolutely not,” he said, moving to sit on the love seat.
Jasper started to get up to join him, but Zach still had an arm looped around his, and it was kinda nice being around others who weren’t being assholes. He resorted to pouting instead. “Is it a bad accent? Like Keanu Reeves’ Dracula bad?”
Zach hummed and tapped a finger against his chin in exaggerated consideration. “I don’t know… Is it that bad?”
Vincent narrowed his eyes, which only made Jasper more curious and determined to hear it.
“Pleaaase, Master Vincent?” he tried, which earned a startled look from Vincent while Zach failed to stifle his laughter.
Vincent scowled at them both before sighing. “What do you want me to say?”
Zach leaned in to whisper in Jasper’s ear, and he dutifully repeated, “Bottle of water?”
Vincent glowered at Zach. “No.”
“Aww, you’re no fun,” Zach huffed.
“Tell me you’re going to tie me up and spank me.”
Zach whistled.
Vincent turned a heated gaze on Jasper. When he spoke his voice was deeper and his words were softened by longer vowels. “I’m going to string you up, spank you till you scream, and take my time tormenting you.”
Jasper’s pants were suddenly a bit too tight. “That was really hot, Sir.”
Zach nodded. “Definitely going to help you get laid tonight.”
“I do not need help getting laid,” Vincent replied, still with an accent, and Jasper grinned.
“No, but if you talk to me like that in a scene, I might not be able to control myself.”
“You two are so disgusting,” Zach cooed. “I like him,” he said to Vincent. “Much better than fuckface.”
Jasper couldn’t control his reflexive sneer. “You mean douche canoe?”
“Oh, you’ve met him.”
“Unfortunately.” And he hoped it was the only time since he still wanted to punch the bastard in the face.
Zach rubbed Jasper’s arm. “Don’t worry. You’re prettier.”
“Don’t encourage him.”
“Yes, encourage me,” Jasper said, leaning into Zach with a forlorn sigh. “Master Vincent is so mean to me.”
Zach gasped and wrapped his arms tight around Jasper as he glared at Vincent. “How dare he torment such a sweet soul.”
Vincent tipped his head back. “I knew I would regret this. Just so you know, I only came so I could borrow Ash for the photo shoot.”
“And here I thought you were going to ask for new furniture.”
“I might have before you turned my sub against me.”
Zach made a shooing motion at Vincent. “Oh, go bother Ash with your photo ideas and spare us your foul mood.”
Vincent eyed them both with suspicion but finally stood and went back to the kitchen.
Jasper watched him go, though he wasn’t nearly as apprehensive about being left alone as he was a few minutes ago. Zach poked his cheek, and he turned his head. “What?”
“Ohhh, nothing. Just glad to see he found someone who makes him happy.”
He tried not to let that go to his head. “How do you know?”
Zach snorted and flicked his fingers. “’Cause I’ve seen him miserable. Even with fuckface he was miserable, but in a different way.” He sighed and propped their shoulders together. “Please tell me you’re a brat. He needs a proper brat in his life.”
Jasper couldn’t stop his grin, and Zach cackled.
“I knew it,” he said, lifting his hand for a fist bump. “So, here’s what you wanna do….”