The Council members were treading careful y, but many of them knew this version of Lyssa, the al -

  powerful queen who had helped establish the Council. As such, it told them their world wasn’t going to be turned completely upside down, just redirected. While that gave them room to relax somewhat, none of them would be giving one of her inner circle a hard time tonight. If Mason decided he wished to set boundaries on Jessica’s participation, it would likely pass unremarked.

  Then Lyssa spoke, and Jacob realized he should have known his lady would take care of al of them in one masterful stroke.

  “Lord Brian has made some valid points, and we need to consider our response to them cautiously.

  We should promote an environment where these bonds can happen more easily. However, the bond between vampire and servant is sacred, and sacred things do not happen in an easy flow, but against strong currents. A vampire must ever be assured that his or her servant’s loyalty is absolute. We choose them based on an intuitive sense that the desire for service runs deep within them, so deep they themselves may not recognize it until we pul back the layers, with seduction or more forceful means.

  “The things we demand of them during a gathering like this is part of that process. However, this is a night of transition for al of us, vampires and servants. I believe our servants themselves can give us a gift to reinforce that. They can show us that, while change might be necessary, some constants wil always form the foundation of who we are.” Lyssa let her gaze slide around the table, meeting each Council member’s eyes in turn. “While we continue our dinner conversation in the main atrium, I’m going to divide our servants into three different groups and position them around the area for viewing. They wil determine how best to entertain us. We wil give them a limited freedom to prove their understanding of the bond we share with them.” She lifted a shoulder. “As always, if we wish to modify the picture, add or subtract a factor, then that suggestion may be made. But let us see what they come up with. Who knows our deepest, darkest cravings better than our servants?”

  There were smiles, chuckles at that. “To make it interesting,” she added, “at thirty-minute intervals, one servant shifts to the next group, stepping into whatever that previous servant was doing, though you servants may decide to change the scene once an appropriate amount of time has elapsed.

  Alternate by gender. First shifting person wil be a female servant, the next a male, and so forth. At a certain point, every servant must have shifted to each group. If that has not been the case, that particular servant or servants wil be cal ed to the center for the entertainment of the vampire master or mistress’s choice. For those of you who welcome such punishments, no feet-dragging is al owed.” Lyssa gave Torrence a pointed look at that, eliciting more chuckles. Helga’s large servant, a known extreme player, offered the queen a half bow, though his eyes sparked at the chal enge. Helga, a fond smile on her face, stroked her hand over his cheek as he bent forward. “No servant is al owed to release,” Lyssa continued. “Not until your vampire Master or Mistress gives you express permission to do so. Have fun with it. We shal certainly enjoy watching.”

  Lyssa didn’t need to see the tight jaw or dangerously stil expression on Mason’s face to know the turmoil within him. Let your servant do this, Mason. She wants to do it, and it is your confidence in her that will get her through it.

  Lyssa could tel the girl was terrified, the ghosts of past demons dogging her heels, but her resolute chin, the clench of her hands, said she had the courage of a Viking warrior and was determined to face this. It told Lyssa what she already knew—the true problem wasn’t Jessica.

  There was a reason Mason had preferred the desert sands for so long, and Middle Eastern cultures that were openly territorial about their women. Unlike most vampires, who did in fact get aroused by watching their servant be compel ed into play with others, he loathed seeing male hands on his servant. In fact, except in situations he orchestrated

  completely,

  it

  inspired

  certain

  homicidal urges that, even for a vampire with his age and control, could be problematic.

  I’ve done the only sanctioned kill today, she noted firmly. There will be no others.

  How about maiming? Are you fine with that?

  She gave him a quel ing look and rose. After she broke the servants into three groups, she signaled the vampires it was time to retire to the atrium.

  Holding Kane in her arms, Lyssa gave Jacob a nod, a curl of that sensual lip, her green eyes as mysterious and compel ing as a siren’s.

  Let the games begin, Jacob thought. God help us.

  The castle atrium had a glass ceiling to al ow a view of the sky. The several large fireplaces had been lit to fil the room with warmth. The exotic foliage in the atrium made it one of the less bleak places in the castle, and Jacob was sure that was why Lyssa had chosen it. Scattered throughout it were sofas, chairs and other props to make for comfortable socializing.

  And viewing.

  Daegan had absented himself from the group, agreeing to take Kane to their rooms during the more adult after-dinner entertainments. Since he could see the goings-on through Gideon’s eyes or Anwyn’s, the vampire would stil get an enjoyable view of al that would happen, participating through Anwyn’s mind and Gideon’s.

  As the vampires settled in, talking and considering their dessert and wine choices, Jacob knew he was supposed to take the lead here, get things started.

  When Lyssa had divided up the servants, he, Gideon and Jessica made up one of the groupings. His lady’s ability to think quickly on her feet always amazed him. Gideon’s aggressively protective nature toward a fearful female was positively engaged, because he would be directly involved in her first experience, and Jessica knew Jacob the best of any servant here.

  “My lady, if I have your leave to begin?” He murmured it as she paused in conversation with Lord Belizar. She gave him a glance, nodded.

  Moving from behind her chair, he was conscious of the not-so-casual regard of the assembled vampires, mainly because of who he was about to face. He was probably the only servant brave enough to approach Mason when it was obvious what kind of dangerous vibes were pulsing off him. Wel , except for Gideon, and he didn’t count, because he’d always had more guts than brains when it came to spoiling for a fight.

  Mason had helped him through the difficult months of his transition to vampire. He’d taught him how to manage his power, joining Gideon in keeping Jacob contained when his bloodlust and overwhelming need to be with Lyssa had turned him into a mindless, savage animal. But that Mason was not present in the room tonight. Accordingly, Jacob dropped respectful y to one knee before the vampire, where he sat with al the watchful stil ness of a coiled cobra. Jessica stood behind his chair, her hand on the carved head rest near his shoulder.

  “My lord,” Jacob said. “With your permission?” He could feel Jessica’s apprehension and yet anticipation at once. She had a powerful need to validate herself here, and he’d no doubt she’d made that clear to her Master, but she was equal y aware the decision was his. However, if his decision was against it, Jacob knew it would crush a part of her.

  No matter that she understood Mason’s possessive tendencies, the part of her mired and chained to her volatile past would think it was because he didn’t think her strong enough to handle the responsibilities of a ful servant.

  After a long pause, Mason reached up, closed his hand over hers. Guiding her around the chair, he offered the slim fingers to Jacob.

  Jessica let out an unsteady breath, her gaze flicking to her Master with love and gratitude, though of course it didn’t add color to her pale cheeks, or change the fact that her hand was trembling and cold. Jacob expected it was one of the hardest things Mason ever had to do, because in his shoes, he would feel the same damn way.

  As Mason released her, Jacob closed a firm reassuring grip over her. Then he motioned to Gideon. His brother pressed a kiss to Anwyn’s shoulder where she was in conversation with Helga.

  Anwyn paused to give him a Mistress’s look, a softly voiced, “Make me proud.” Gideon responded with a show of teeth, a quick nip on her shoulder, then he came to join Jacob and Jessica.

  The center of the atrium had a platform used for dancing or other activities, like this, that required more elbow room. Perfect. As Jacob moved toward it, the next most senior servant fol owed suit, gathering his or her group to take up position in a different part of the atrium. Right now, they were not his concern, but he noted the next group clockwise had Torrence. Hopeful y, when the first rotation occurred and Jess had to move to that group, Torrence could keep some of his extreme practices in check. Else Jacob expected Helga would need a new servant and the staff would be polishing spattered blood off the leaves of the many plants.

  As Gideon joined them, he put his hand on Jessica’s waist, a calm caress. “Jesus, girl. You’re an iceblock. We’l have to warm you up. Clothes?” he inquired, raising a brow.

  Jacob inclined his head, surprised Gideon was so cognizant of what was required. The first rule of most vampire after-dinner entertainments was they preferred their servants stripped, with the exception of any harnesses or other sexual embel ishments.

  When Jessica swal owed, Jacob met her gaze.

  “Close your eyes. Just get lost in it. That’s the key.

  Remember, everything you’re doing is for the pleasure of your Master. Though he might not realize it, you have the ability to make him feel that way. You can make this work for both of you, Jessica. You have that power.”

  She nodded. Closing her eyes, a shudder ran through her, but also a deep, deep breath. Moving slow and deliberate, but determined not to treat her like a breakable egg, Jacob pushed the clinging fabric of the black dress down her body. He revealed her demi bra that pushed up her breasts in tempting display, then the brief thong panties and gar-tered stockings. Christ, she was a vision, al toned, smooth muscles from her work with Mason’s horses. Gideon dropped to a knee, taking over the removal of the dress over her spike heels. Jacob steadied her as she stepped out of it, though he left on the shoes to make the display al the more delectable.

  Good. They al knew what they were doing.

  Though he and Gideon had a better sense of what would turn the vampires on, Jessica had an intuitive sense of what fascinated her Master.

  As Gideon removed the dress, he dropped it to the side and then leaned forward, pressing his mouth to one buttock, nipping her. When she jumped, he turned it into a flick of his tongue over the silky skin, his large hand sliding along the curve, caressing her. Her head dropped back in response, Jacob setting his hands to her waist to hold her. As he did, he bent to those tempting breasts in the demi-cups. Sliding his mouth over the plumped-up curves, he teased her nipple inside the bra, curling his tongue around it, the friction of his tongue and the lace making her draw in a breath.

  He was rewarded with the first tentative scent of arousal, her pussy dampening beneath the thong panties. In the meantime, Gideon went right for the intimate act that would warm their nervous girl.

  Those few months of intense training he’d spent with his new Master and Mistress showed now. Teasing between her buttocks with his mouth, he used his tongue against the thong strap, pushing it against her rim and licking her with that covering to increase the friction and sensation. She gasped. The fact her Master took her often meant her body would respond to skil ed lovemaking. Jacob expected she was helping it along by imagining Mason’s hands, his mouth. It was what he’d done at the beginning himself, imagining his lady’s touch. Her desires.

  Even now, what drove him overal , despite the delectable provocation of a female as beautiful as Jessica, was the fact this was commanded by his lady. Despite the casual flow of conversation, he knew Lyssa was watching him, fol owing every movement with razor-sharp attention. In addition to enjoying the visual stimulation of it, she was likely also imagining when he’d done things like this to her.

  He knew she took a possessive pleasure in it, watching him exercise skil s she’d nurtured as he offered them to another servant, by her wil . Even as she imagined it would be her later, the one who owned al that skil , taking advantage of it, marking him as hers anew. And that never ending spiral stirred him further as wel .

  “Undress us, Jessica,” he commanded. “Make us hard. Make every male vampire watching you hard, including your Master.”

  She started with him. As Gideon continued to distract her in ways that had her making little jerks of movement, she unbuckled Jacob’s belt, her fingers drifting across the soft stuff of his slacks. When she leaned into him, her mouth closed on his throat, teeth pressing into the jugular.

  “Tease,” he muttered, and was delighted by the curve of Jessica’s lips against his skin. She was pul ing out of her fear enough to think about the things that particularly aroused a servant . . . and a vampire. “It wil make al the lady vampires get wet,” she whispered.

  Gideon chuckled against her flesh, bit her hard enough she gave a tiny yelp. “Gotta watch her, Jacob,” he said, glancing up at his brother. “She’s meaner than she looks.”

  As she slid to her knees and opened his slacks, Gideon rose behind her, fingers playing in her hair.

  When the slacks dropped onto the rise of Jacob’s buttocks, she kept the belt threaded, holding him to her as she pushed the fabric out of her way. She tongued his cock, stretched out long and thick in front of her.

  As good as that felt, she wasn’t dealing with two true submissives. After her provocative use of the belt and her taunt, they took the lead away from her.

  While Gideon removed her hands from the belt, Jacob slid it free of the loops and let the slacks drop.

  Tightening his hand in her hair again, Gideon held her off his brother as Jacob toed off his shoes, got rid of the pants. She glanced up at him out of long-lashed hazel eyes, her lips moist. Jesus, any male with an ounce of Dom in his blood would kil to have her. And since vampires were al Dom, it was no wonder Mason was so protective.

  Gideon guided her so she went back down on Jacob’s cock, though she had to do it with mouth only because Gideon knotted the belt around her wrists at her lower back. Stripping off his own clothes, he tossed them aside and then knelt behind her anew, guiding those bound wrists so her hands closed over his own cock blindly to stroke as he pushed her farther onto Jacob. Jacob took over the grip in her hair.

  With the brothers’ intuitive senses, a pure submissive female was a pleasure to read. The more they subjugated her to their needs, driving up her pleasure, the more she’d get lost in it. Jacob dared a glance toward Mason. He was sitting on the fringes of a group, and it appeared Lyssa was drawing him into the conversation. The subject was mostly about the erotic scenarios around them, since the vampires were ful y engaged in the display.

  Though Mason stil had that unfathomable, vaguely homicidal look, it was obvious that watching his servant service two males in ways she’d serviced him was having an arousing effect on him. Jacob hoped Jessica had some energy left when it was al over, because he sensed Mason would later ruthlessly drive her to that mindless edge again and again, imprinting his claim on her once more.

  Jessica had a skil ed mouth and he was close to coming in no time. Mindful of his lady’s order, and again blessing and cursing her insight, he slid his cock free of those sinful lips. Her hands were equal y skil ed, because his brother looked like he’d been fighting a similar battle for control. But they weren’t the only ones. When Gideon removed the belt and helped Jessica up, her mouth was sensual y bruised, her eyes dazed. Jacob had pushed the bra down when suckling her, and her exposed nipples were erect. Slick arousal marked her thighs.

  “Want to practice some of those sparring skil s I showed you now?” He kept his voice low, teasing.

  “See what you can handle under distraction?” She got her breath back enough to manage a spirited look at them both. “I’m not the one carrying a tree branch between my legs. I think I have a shot at landing a punch or two.”

  She was a scrappy street fighter, for al that he and Gideon could outmatch her. Since they both knew how to pul back to pace their opponent, they could make it an engaging match. One the vampires would enjoy, watching the volatile interplay of naked bodies.

  However, before they could move into position to engage, Jessica let out a soft moan, rocking forward. Her eyes closed as she slid one hand to her breast, cupping the curve and teasing the nipple.

  The other slid down to the juncture of her thighs, dipping into that wetness and rubbing it over her clit with nimble fingers. Lyssa had given each vampire latitude to change up the game as desired, and it appeared Mason had just taken over, to assert his command. Her lips wordlessly formed his name, confirming it.

  “Fuck,” Gideon muttered, watching her body undulate precariously. “Let’s lay her down, so she can keep doing that.”

  Jacob took the hand that had been caressing her pussy. Lifting it to his mouth, he sucked the honey off her fingertips. She moaned again, throat working.

  Whatever Mason was saying was sending her close to the edge. If she teetered over it without his leave, then she’d be al his again, subject to his punishment. In a way, it was cheating, but Jacob knew if she was his, he’d do exactly the same.

  As they began to lower her down to the ground, she writhed in sudden abandon. It slid Jacob off balance, and as she rol ed off his hands, she landed a hard punch to Gideon’s side, sweeping his legs from the floor and slamming him down to his ass.

  Twisting behind Jacob, she knocked him in the kidney with a solid kick before she bounced back on her feet, eyes sparkling.

  “I haven’t forgotten what you taught me on the beach at Mason’s,” she told Jacob. “But apparently you have.”

  “Oh, it’s on now,” Gideon promised, getting to his feet with an anticipatory grin. “You’re going down, girl.”