Jesse sharply sucked in his breath, and he stiffened. Gideon knew each of Jesse's reactions, and he knew Jesse didn't want him to stop, didn't want Gideon to move away from him. He whispered Gideon's name, his voice strained and full of longing.

Gideon tightened his fingers until Jesse's pulse hammered into him. "You and Emma are everything to me. But I think I need to make sure you don't forget that." Without looking away, he called Emma's name, waiting until she'd risen from the table and come to his side before adding, "Go to the cupboard and bring me the gloves and the white rope."

Emma didn't have to be told what gloves he wanted, and she didn't have to be told twice. Jesse licked his lips as she crossed the room, his eyes darting from Gideon's face to Emma, and then back again.

"What are you going to do?" Jesse murmured.

Gideon cocked a brow. "Well, telling just takes my fun out of it, doesn't it, boy?" When Emma returned, he released Jesse and straightened. "We're going to have to be careful about your back, Em," he said, moving behind her. Taking the rope from her hands, he cupped one of her full breasts as he let the rope unfurl to the floor. "So I'll just have to bind you high."

Her intake of breath was sharp, and she licked her juicy lips. "Whatever you want, Sir."

Though he didn't let his pleasure show, inwardly, Gideon smiled. Emma always did pick up on her role swiftly. She was just as good as Jesse that way.

"Watch, boy."

Doubling the rope up, Gideon began wrapping it around Emma's body, beneath her breasts, going back and forth until it reached the thickness he wanted. He repeated the procedure along the top of her breasts, all the while keeping a close eye on Jesse's reaction. They had only used the ropes on Emma a few times, and never since New York. He wanted to be sure he didn't overstep and create undue anxiety in Jesse too soon.

Jesse did watch. He never shifted his attention from Emma's body, from Gideon's quick hands as he worked the knots. But he seemed to be watching with more curiosity than anything--until Gideon took the ends of the rope over Emma's shoulders and pulled them beneath the strands circling the tops and bottoms of her chest. As Gideon pulled the rope tight, separating her breasts, Jesse straightened in his chair, and the line of his erection was obvious against his pants. He would have been more comfortable if he unzipped himself, but he kept his hands at his side, clutching the edge of the chair.

Emma was panting by the time Gideon was done, and she cried out when he skimmed his palm over her erect nipple. "Isn't she pretty like this?" he murmured. "All the blood is rushing to the surface of her skin. When I touch her with the gloves on, she'll practically burst." Gideon licked up her neck, being careful not to press too close and aggravate her new tattoo. She wasn't nearly as tolerant of the pain as Jesse was; the last thing Gideon wanted was for her not to enjoy this. "But don't worry, Em. I'll clean up whatever mess I make. You have my word."

Jesse didn't move. He didn't even fidget. But Gideon knew he wanted to. Especially when Gideon ran his hand over Emma's nipples again and again. Each time she cried out, Gideon heard the slightest of whimpers coming from Jesse's throat. He remained attuned to each change in Jesse's body, waiting for a hint of anxiety coming from Jesse himself, or being transmitted through Emma's body. But there was none of that. Just sharp desire, growing sharper by the moment.