“Oh, shit,” she breathed.
He wasn’t out of control. There was nothing wild about Gideon’s eyes. They were focused, and she now had his complete attention. There wasn’t a hint of indecision in his gray eyes. He had a course, and he would follow through. His long legs ate the distance between them in no time at all.
“Gideon,” Jessica began.
“Too late,” Reid said under his breath.
She lifted her hands in front of her in a vain attempt at warding him off. He pulled her wrist up and sank down to the nearby sofa in one smooth move. Jessica found herself over his lap in an instant.
“Have you spanked her yet?” Gideon asked.
She squirmed as he flipped up her skirt. She wished she’d been practical and had worn jeans. She had to try to impress Reid with her fashion sense. She protested as Gideon started to tug at her panties. He paid her zero attention.
“No.” Reid’s voice was husky and dark. “I haven’t had to.”
“She minds you better than me,” Gideon said with a certain bitterness. He dragged the panties down her thighs.
“You never gave her a chance,” Reid protested.
If he said anything else, she didn’t hear it. There was a loud smack as Gideon’s hand came down on her bare ass. She shrieked. She couldn’t help it. It hurt. Then…it didn’t so much. The pain sank deep into her muscles as a sensual heat. Just as she was starting to enjoy it, he struck again.
There was no shriek this time. She moaned as he smacked her cheek and then caressed the spot he’d hit. His hand slid over and around her cheeks. His fingers closed in on the perfect spot and just when she thought he might stroke her, he struck again.
“No, she’s not submissive at all.” Reid’s sarcasm seemed a distant thing. All Jessica could think of was where he would touch her this time. She wriggled her ass up trying to tease him into spanking her again. If he just hit the right spot, she knew she would go off like a rocket.
“What the fuck am I doing?” Gideon’s voice pulled her out of the nice place she’d been starting to find.
Jessica felt Gideon pull her panties up and over her ass. She was on her feet in a second. Her legs were wobbly. Only Reid taking her arm kept her from falling over. Her whole body was humming. She looked around and realized they had drawn a crowd. Her face flushed. She looked for condemnation in their eyes, but realized they were, at worst, curious and at best aroused.
Gideon stood up, looking no worse for the wear. She was practically panting and he looked like he was taking a leisurely stroll.
His gray eyes slid past her to focus on his partner. “Get her out of here. She doesn’t belong at this conference.”
He began to walk off. Jessica found her balance and pulled away from Reid.
“Why?” She shouted the question because she only had one shoe left, and she wasn’t sure how else to get his attention.
He didn’t bother to turn. He just stopped and answered her question with a low growl. “You don’t belong here. It won’t work. I don’t want you following after me. I told you, it’s over.”
She clenched her teeth and really thought about throwing the other shoe at him. Why had she loved him?
“You are such an ass, Gideon,” she spat out, letting the venom fly. It felt good, actually. “I didn’t know you were going to be here. I didn’t come for you. I came for me. But, no, you’re the only one allowed to figure out who you are. You’re the only one allowed to experiment and find out you’re kind of a freak. You’re the only one allowed to seek out what you want.”
Gideon turned and looked at her seriously for the first time.
“She didn’t know you would be here,” Reid explained quietly. “I didn’t tell her because I knew she wouldn’t come if she knew you were here. I’ve been hanging out with her for six months, man. She’s never even bothered to mention your name.”
Jessica was somewhat satisfied with the light stain in Gideon’s cheeks. It made her bold enough to ask the question she really wanted the answer to. There was no rage in her query, merely honest curiosity. “Why, Gideon? What did I do that was so horrible that I deserve your scorn? I loved you. I gave myself to you the only way I knew how. When you didn’t want me, I left and didn’t bother you again. So I need to know what I did to offend you. Why would you deny me the right you give to everyone else? I came here to find out stuff about me. I came to see if I could find someone who wants me, the crazy, freaky me I’m discovering. Why is that so wrong?”