Page 16 of Roguefinder

And he’d know. His area of study was World War I but he knew all kinds of obscure shit about the past.

Lightning flashed outside, momentarily lighting up the living room. Rain splattered the windows. A second later, thunder shook them.

“Maria was a beautiful woman,” Jesse said. “After several years of marriage, Carlo found her in bed with her lover. He stabbed them both repeatedly. Contemporaneous accounts say he left the palazzo only to return and continue hacking at the corpses. Witnesses say he didn’t believe they were dead.”

“What happened to him?” I asked. “He went to prison?”

Jesse shook his head. “His title and wealth protected him, and he was acquitted. The stories say he spent the rest of his life regretting his actions. Allegedly, he ordered his servants to beat him as a form of penance.”

“Damn,” I said. “That’s dark.”

For the first time since I’d entered the living room, Jesse shifted position. Sitting forward, he rested his elbows on his knees and gave me a solemn look. “The vampires only turn humans with exceptional beauty or talent. They recruited Gesualdo because of his musical abilities. His sadistic streak was undoubtedly a bonus. He runs his empire from his opera house in the heart of Rome. At over four hundred years old, he’s one of the most powerful master vampires in the world. And now we have to go see him.”

Icy fingers trailed down my spine. “I won’t be careless again.”

Jesse let that sit for a moment. “You’ll follow directions?” he asked finally.

“Yes, sir.”

He gave me another long look. Then he stood. “Stay,” he said before heading into the kitchen.

Tension eased from my shoulders. Now he’d fuck me. All things considered, my punishment hadn’t been that bad. My dick certainly hadn’t minded.

I looked down at it. “You’re the problem.”

Footsteps made me clamp my mouth shut. Jesse returned with a rocks glass filled with ice and clear liquid. In his other hand, he carried a bright purple dildo.

My mouth went dry. The dildo was…realistic. Someone had taken their time with it, creating a shaft with veins and girth. A prominent slit bisected the bulbous tip. Testicles bulged above a suction-cup base.

Jesse set his drink on a coaster next to the sofa. Then he moved past me and stuck the dildo to the coffee table. It stood up like an ultraviolet Oscar, the veins catching the light from the windows. He pulled a bottle of lube from his pocket, flipped open the cap, and gave the dildo a generous coating.

Then another.

My heartbeat did more bass drumming in my ears. I stared as he worked the shaft, my gaze fixed on his long fingers, square nails, and the light dusting of hair on his knuckles. His hands had rendered me mute and helpless since our first night together, when I’d watched him make me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

He’d served me a brownie that night, too. The junk food kind with multicolored candies and thick, processed frosting. Then he’d bent me over his counter and jerked me until I made a mess all over his floor.

He gave the dildo a final stroke, pocketed the lube, and resumed his seat on the sofa. Producing a cloth from somewhere, he made a leisurely business of wiping his hand. Then he snagged his drink from the end table and took a slow sip.

Rain beat a steady rhythm on the roof. Or maybe that was my heart trying to bust through my ribcage.

Jesse lowered his drink. “We’ll start now.”

It took me a few tries before I could manage a choked, “Start what?” But of course I fucking knew.

His expression was patient. “You said you’ll follow directions.” He used the glass to gesture to the dildo. “Go have a seat.”

The dildo glistened in the dim light. “On that?”

He took another sip, his thick throat working. “Is that a problem?”

My safeword hovered. My Get Out of Jail Free Card was always within reach, ready to save me from slippery situations.

So to speak.

But I didn’t want to say it. Even as my heart raced, need coiled like a cobra in my stomach. Blood pumped to my cock. Precum swelled from my slit.

“No, sir,” I heard myself say.