Chapter 5

Dark green eyes shining with amusement, Lawson motioned to the chairs in front of the desk. As usual, his black hair was neatly styled, his perfectly pressed, custom-fit charcoal suit giving him that ever-present, commanding air. “For a start, let’s make sure this one knows what he’s in for.” He glanced over at his sub, who had his hip braced on the arm of his chair. “Matt, get me one of the contracts. And the limit list.”

“Yes, sir.” Assessing Danny with a glance, in a way only Matt could, the sub went to a file drawer and drew out two packets, piling them together and bringing them to his Dom. His own outfit was more casual, some nice jeans, and a slim-fit maroon polo shirt with one button undone, but he always managed to compliment his Dom with his calm presence.

Or not so calm bite of fire. The two were a damn good match.

“I made sure he can read.” Jacks’ lips twitched as he delivered the news. After the reaming he’d gotten for that with Jamie…

Yeah. I won’t make that mistake again.

Gaze fixed on Danny, Lawson gestured to one of the two chairs in front of the desk. “Have a seat. Hood down. Would you like Jacks to stay with you for this?”

Practically falling into the chair, Danny smacked himself on the forehead trying to get the hood off his head. His mouth worked. Then he nodded. “Yes, umm...please?”

“Hm,” Lawson observed him for a moment. “Matt will stay as well, so long as you’re comfortable with his presence. Observing the other subs around here will make things much easier for you. Don’t you agree, Matt?”

“Yes, sir.” Matt threw Danny a small smile, like he’d decided he was all right.

Until he figures out who he is. Or whose friend…

Jacks sat in the leather and wood Craftsman chair to Danny’s right. It had been a long time since his own intake, and he hadn’t had the opportunity to participate in one for a sub. It would be an education for them both.

Holding up the collar, he nudged his chin at Lawson. “I thought I’d keep him under my protection while he’s here. Just until he gets used to things.”

“That’s a very good idea.” Lawson rested his forearms on the desk, observing Danny, who stared down at the contracts like he might be asked to sign them in blood. When Lawson snapped his fingers, Danny’s head came up and he shrank into the chair. “Why did you decide you wanted to join The Asylum? And feel free to begin filling out the personal information while we talk.”

“Oh, yeah…” Danny held his bottom lip between his teeth, looking for a pen, grinning when Lawson slid one over to him. “Thanks, man. I—”

“Try that again.”

Leaning close, Jacks murmured “Sir, always sir,” in Danny’s ear. “Unless you’re told otherwise.”

“Sorry… Sir, yes, sir. Thank you.” Danny began writing fast. “Trevor heard all about this place from Jamie and it sounded really cool and exciting. Like something I wanted to experience for myself. I’ll be around while we’re recording new music and I’ll probably be exhausted at the end of each session, but this seems like it would be a nice place to unwind. Uh...sir.”

Jacks ran his hands over the leather armrests, the motion releasing the sweet scent of tobacco. Everything in the office was sturdy, well-crafted. A showpiece for new and returning members who had business with the men who owned The Asylum—though the space fit the man who sat across from him now most of all. Seeing Danny in here, dwarfed by the massive furniture, his demeanor one-hundred-percent soft submission, sent a surge of heat through Jacks’ veins.

“I’m glad Noah and his boy came to an agreement.” Jacks gave Lawson a knowing smile, then glanced over at Danny. “Last I heard, after that interview while he was in L.A., he wasn’t going to do the project. He’ll be happy to see you, I’m sure.” Speaking of which… He pulled out his phone and sent a quick text. “In the office. Can one of you bring the clothes?”

Reaching over the table, Lawson took the page Danny had finished as Danny began reading over the next one. He handed it to Matt. “Bring this to Wren, please.”

Matt, who had been studying Danny as if he couldn’t place him, took the paper absent-mindedly.

“Please, in your own good time. Curtis got a new cane and I’d like to be the first one to try it out.” Lawson eyed Matt, an unimpressed expression on his face.

Red cut across Matt’s cheekbones. He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. Went out the door, jerking it behind himself fast enough that Jacks expected it to slam. Except it stopped an inch short, closing silently.

Brows shooting up, Jacks sat back.

“Where were we?” Lawson’s tone was mild, as though nothing unusual had happened. “Danny, have you ever been part of a power exchange before?”

Still staring at the door, Danny turned slowly, then blinked at Lawson. “Like...having a boss? Well, there’s the director for my last play. My agent is pretty bossy. Trevor and Jamie could be too, but it was part of the lifestyle, you know? They had a lot to deal with and the wrong move could end everything.”

Could the sub be any more adorable?

Jacks met Lawson’s gaze, biting back a smile. “I have no idea.”

A slight curve to his lips, Lawson tapped fingers on the desk. “With a partner, boy. A boyfriend? If you’re bisexual, perhaps a… No, not that then.” He gave a slow nod as though he’d read the answers printed out in bold on Danny’s forehead. “You’re not required to fill out certain parts of the form, as indicated, but we’ll save the limit list until you have more experience. With the temporary collar, Jacks can make sure you’re not drawn into anything you’re not ready for.”

“I don’t know what just happened.” Danny’s voice was very, very quiet. Almost as if he was speaking aside to someone off-stage. “I didn’t actually say anything.”

Jacks chuckled quietly. Lawson had a way of reading people, whether they wanted it or not. The Asylum’s first line of defense, he kept the membership process running smoothly. Jacks tilted his head, remembering not everyone who joined played upstairs, or at all. Which begged a question he hadn’t really thought about before. “What do you do if someone isn’t into the sex and submission side? Do they fill all this paperwork out?”

“Yes.” Lawson gave him a level look. “They might change their minds. It’s rare this process needs to be done more than once. The only access restricted is subs going to the dungeon on their own. Having members who haven’t made it clear they understand all the rules can be...problematic.”

Lips twitching, Jacks nudged Danny’s arm. “Hear that? If you decide you’re a Dom, you can let Lawson know.”

That got him an unamused glance from the other Dom. “He won’t. But if you find the temporary collar too restrictive for you, please come see me.” Lawson’s expression softened as he met Danny’s eyes. “There are a few other Doms who can offer you protection and guidance. I’ll see to it you find a good fit.”

Possessive instincts Jacks hadn’t realized were a part of him, much less for a sub he’d just met, roared through his veins. Fingers curved over the chair arms, nails digging into the wood, his eyes narrowed. “That won’t be necessary.”

The door opened and Matt returned carrying a pile of clothes that he put on the edge of the desk, a little breathless. “Fight in the bar.”

Standing, Lawson shrugged off his suit jacket, hanging it over the back of his chair before folding the white sleeves of his shirt over his forearms. He walked by, tapping the pages in front of Danny. “Finish reading every word and leave it here once it’s signed. You are not to enter The Asylum without that collar during your probationary period. Membership fees are due by the end of the week.” With that, he followed Matt out.

Jacks looked at the sheet Danny read. “Feel free to ask about anything you don’t understand.”

Hands rubbing his thighs, Danny seemed uncertain where to start. “What’s a limit list?”

“Things you will or won’t consent to do, and to what degree.” Jacks tried to be as specific as possible.

“So…” Danny flipped to the next page. “Since I’m not filling one out, I won’t be doing anything?”

One side of Jacks’ mouth lifted as his brain filled with a great many images of all the things he could do without that limit list. “Well, for a scene it’d require more negotiation. As far as punishments go, it doesn’t affect anything at all.”

Eyes wide, Danny looked up from the page. “It doesn’t? But… Okay, dude mentioned a cane. Do you have any idea how much damage that could do? That sh… Nope. No swearing. I choose life.”

A full on belly laugh struck Jacks mute. Falling back into his chair, he laughed until he cried. Sobering, he wiped his eyes, then chuckled again. “Sorry. That was adorable. I swear, I’d keep you if Shea wouldn’t kill me. Jamie too. You’re better than that puppy Rhodey brought back from Chicago.”

Wrinkling his nose, Danny shook his head. “I’m going to get this right. Should be easy. And I’m not adorable.” He signed the last page. “There goes my soul.”

Tipping up the boy’s chin with a knuckle, Jacks leaned over to study his face. Might as well start off on the right foot. “Did you just contradict me, boy?”

A hard swallow and Danny shook his head. “No, I really don’t think so. That was someone else. Looked a lot like me, but I definitely wouldn’t do that.”

The scent of Jacks’ own shampoo on Danny couldn’t have been more erotic if they both lay naked in a tub full of water sipping Scotch and jerking each other off in slow, wet strokes. Heavy lidded, he dipped his gaze to Danny’s lips. “So, you’re adorable?”

“Umm...yes?” Danny licked the full roundness of his bottom lip, hardly breathing. “Sir?”

“Good boy.” Sitting back, Jacks dropped his hand, widening his legs as he pointed to the floor. “Kneel.”

Slipping off the chair, Danny thunked down on his knees and scooted forward, his expression saying he had a feeling he was doing it all wrong. He huffed, pulling his hood over his head and bowing his shoulders. “Sorry. And oww.”

If Shea had been here, he’d have made the boy do it over until he got it right. Elegantly. But no one could fault the submission in every move Danny made, every word he spoke, even when he was being a cheeky little thing.

Yeah. I’m half in over my head already.

Gently unzipping the thick cotton hoodie, Jacks slid it off Danny’s pale shoulders, revealing the plain white tank top beneath. He knelt behind Danny, surrounding him with his knees. Smoothing the collar against soft skin, he buckled it, then inserted two fingers to test the fit. The moment kicked through Jacks’ blood, as if the collar connected to a leash, its other end jerking at his midsection.

Jacks cleared his throat. “Comfortable?”

“Yes, sir.” Danny’s voice was a soft whisper. “Thank you.”

“Hm. I think you can thank me properly.” Not giving him time to respond, Jacks cupped Danny’s chin with the heel of his hand to turn his head around. Searching Danny’s gaze, Jacks noted the ring of raised blue and wondered at the color of the boy’s eyes—

My boy’s eyes.

—before he lowered his lips to claim a deep kiss.

Danny relaxed back into him, his breathing shifting from anticipation to arousal, deepening with his sigh. His mouth opened willingly, tongue timid as it twined around Jacks’ own, experimenting, tasting, testing.

Blood thundering in his ears, and lower, Jacks groaned, tearing his lips away. No way did he want Lawson to come in and find him fucking the boy on his Persian carpet.

“Wow. Okay. Yeah.” Moving back, Jacks ran two fingers over his brow. “You can change into the rest of the clothes and we can find Jamie.”

Lips pressed together, Danny looked up at him, a little dazed at first. Then blinked, tugging at his hoodie. “Uh, yeah. I mean, yes, sir.”

Turning his back, Jacks pretended to read the spines of all of Lawson’s many, many journals. After a while, he realized they held dates. Nothing more. Out in the bar, the faint thump of music sounded. No shouts made it through the thickly padded door—hopefully, the fight had been over quickly. The sound of clothes rustling, zippers lowering, raising, brought back the image of all that naked skin, wet from the shower, slick to his touch. Now that Jacks knew the boy tasted as good as he looked, keeping his distance was nearly impossible.

And people think I don’t have any self-discipline? Ha!

“Finished.” Danny breathed in noisily. “Damn, it’s been a while since I had to dress like this. Everything’s so...tight.”

Jacks chuckled, turning, to find his sexy little street urchin had turned into...a member of the internationally famous all-boy band, Glam Grenade. He blinked at the transformation. The collar still rested at Danny’s throat, offsetting the glittering white, skintight shirt and lending a depth to the blue of the very expensive skinny jeans. The higher heels on the boots, the way he stood, made the soft roundness of Danny’s ass stick out more.

I should just...punch myself in the dick.

Because Jacks was never going to make it through this night without doing something drastic to get rid of this hard-on. Like seduce the newbie sub. A vision hit him so hard he struggled not to groan. Danny on his knees, mouth open, Jacks’ own fist pumping his shaft until he came all over those rosy lips.

“Let’s um…” Jacks cleared his throat of its hoarseness, waving vaguely at the door. “I’ll show you around. Don’t call anyone ‘dude’ unless you’re absolutely certain they’re not a Dom. Most of the core guys find it super disrespectful. Respect…” He tried to remember where words came from and why they were needed. “Respect is necessary and important to be...good.”

Focused on Jacks like he was giving stage directions, Danny nodded. “Got it. No ‘dude’ or swearing or… Anything but ‘sir’ because ‘man’ didn’t go over too well either.”

“Exactly.” Adjusting the leg of his leathers, trying to create some room, Jacks opened the door, ushering Danny through, his palm curving around the back of his boy’s neck. He looked around for Shea first, but there was no sign of him at the bar.

“Hey, Reed.”

Reed flipped a bottle in his hand, almost missing his catch as his gaze flicked from Jacks to Danny. His automatic smile turned to wide eyes and parted lips. “Holy fu—Jacks, for real? Do you want to die?”

Jacks frowned. “What? I collared him first. He doesn’t belong to anyone else.”

“He doesn’t belong here at all. Noah is going to lose his damn mind.” Reed put down the bottle, all the friendliness usually in his tone gone as he bent over the bar. “How’s your girlfriend, Danny-boy? She know you’re here?”

“Enough.” Stepping in, Jacks looped a finger in Reed’s collar, tugging him forward. “Don’t you dare start, Reed. We clear? This one is off limits for your bullying.”

Blue eyes lost all their sparkles as they narrowed. “Bullying? Are you serious? Look, whatever, do what you gotta do, but Jamie promised Noah he wasn’t working with or talking to that one or his backstabbing buddy. Don’t be surprised if your new little toy doesn’t get a warm welcome.”

Unhooking his finger from Reed’s collar, very slowly, Jacks leaned in. “I don’t care what you think you know, boy, your Dom and I are going to have words about your attitude. You might assume you can mouth off to me because I’m the nice one, but if you think it means I’ll tolerate this kind of disrespect, you’re sadly mistaken.”

“Yes, sir.” Reed ground his teeth, sliding Danny one last cold look before cutting across the bar to take an order.

Watching him go, Jacks gave a minute head shake. “That one.”

“It’s okay.” Danny moved his hands like he was looking for his hoodie pockets to stuff them into and suddenly realized they were gone. “But… What if he’s right? Jamie promised his husband we weren’t working together? He’s not going to be happy to see me. I just… Ugh.”

“Nope. This place is full of gossip and miscommunication. He loaned you the clothes, didn’t he?” Hand on Danny’s shoulder, Jacks guided him toward the gym.

A little bit of trepidation about seeing Noah and his boy was normal. Both could spell trouble faster than a dictionary on a supercomputer. Jacks started to push the door open, heard the crowd at the edge of the fight, and paused.

“Up.” He bent down, inviting Danny up on his back.

The uncertainty faded from Danny’s eyes and he grinned, getting into position faster this time and snuggling close. “You’re a lot cooler than I thought you’d be. Models are usually mean and stuck up.”

Hoisting his cuddly little thing up, Jacks entered the gym, skirting around the edge. He scanned the crowd as he made his way toward the dance club on the opposite side, a laugh escaping him. “They kicked me out of L.A. for not being bitchy enough.”

Which wasn’t far from the truth. Except he’d kicked himself out, tired of fighting everyone for a place in a world he’d found less and less satisfying as the years wore on.

His attempt at humor got him a little giggle as Danny buried his face against the side of Jacks’ neck. “That I believe. I know Trevor. He’d fit right in on the days he has to wait for anything. Not that I don’t get it, I mean his schedule is insane. Smartest thing to do is throw sugar-free chocolate at him and stand way, way back.”

Sounded like good life advice for dealing with most of the entertainment types Jacks knew. Making a mental note to keep a pocketful of diet-friendly treats with him, he finished his circuit around the room, grinning at Shea and dancing a little with Danny on his back, just to make the man give him that look.

Yeah, Shea could scowl all he wanted. The boy wasn’t going anywhere if Jacks could help it.

Danny is here to stay.