Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

know."
    "You talk too much," Jack said. He nodded at Zach. "Go on. You're doing fine."
    The praise settled Zach down. He'd realized a while back that he was addicted to the flash of heat an approving word from Jack produced. "Two guys at once, no. The kinky stuff...I wish. The three men I dated in college never seemed interested and I wouldn't go there with a one-night stand. But it turns me on like nothing else. Just never thought I'd get the chance to see how I liked it for real."
    "Good to know you had that much sense. There're some weird fuckers out there and no, we're not two of them. We've never invited someone else in before, and we keep what we do to ourselves. What's on offer? Tonight seems like it's something we're all in favor of. Let's just take it from there." Jack tilted Zach's chin up. "Two things. This stays between us."
    "I promise. Not a word to anyone. Hey, I'd have plenty to lose as well."
    Jack's gaze was searching, but Zach meant it and that must've shown on his face. "Good. Second; at work, nothing changes. If this is just a one-off or if it becomes a regular thing, it makes no difference. I'm your boss, you're my assistant, and I expect you to remember that. Cross the line and I'll fire you."
    "Unless you go on your knees and suck him into a forgiving mood," Taylor put in. "And if that happens, I want to watch."
    Jack's breath hissed out, his face twisted with exasperation. "I'm starting to really lose my patience and my temper here, Taylor. You know what happens if I do. You really want to risk that just for the fun of running that smart mouth of yours?"
    "What?" Zach blurted out. "What do you do to him when you're really mad?" Visions of whips and chains swirled darkly in his head to a background of screams. Too much.
    Taylor sighed. "Nothing. Ever. That's another Jack rule. He gets angry for real, he walks away. You want to know what a real punishment is? Seeing him drive off when your dick's about to shoot and knowing he won't turn around and take care of you the way you're craving because you're a stupid fucking asshole sometimes."
    The yearning in Taylor's voice and the soft appeal in his eyes made Zach feel a stab of pity for him. "This should be your night, the two of you," he said impulsively. "You've been apart all this time. I'm just in the way. How about I go and we can do this another time if you still want to?"
    "You're a sweet kid," Taylor told him."Noble and unselfish. And an idiot."
    "But we appreciate the offer," Jack added.
    "Twenty-three next month. I'm not a goddamn kid."
    "True. So, do you want this? A taste of what we do and you've been thinking about?"
    "You won't hurt -- I mean, how far do you go?"
    Jack shrugged. "Not as far as you probably think and if we're doing it here, not far at all. Any time you're uncomfortable, just say and it stops. Well, it stops for you. Not sure we'd call it quits. You'd have to leave."
    "I don't get a, uh, a safeword?"
    "You don't need one. You just tell us you've reached your limit, get dressed, and go. There won't be anything stopping you."
    "Oh."
    "He wants a safeword, dumb ass," Taylor said, rolling his eyes. "Let him have one."
    "Call me that again, and you'll be using yours."
    Zach frowned. "Do you ever follow through on any of what you say? Because seems to me, he walks all over you."
    As soon as he'd said it, he wished he hadn't. Fuck, way to put Jack down and get his ass tossed out in one slip of the tongue. Then he realized they were both grinning.
    "It might seem that way," Taylor told him, "but trust me, once things start, I'm a changed man and so is he. I'm on a real long leash, but it's still tight around my neck. That's the way we both like it. Why do you think he got so worked up over you at the interview? I'll give you a hint. You sassed him and stood up to him even when you were probably dying to go down on your knees. He likes that. Not when things get serious; you'd better show him some respect then, but outside of the scenes, he gets a kick out of me mouthing off."
    "Because I've got all sorts of interesting ways of shutting you up," Jack said pleasantly. He ran his fingers through his hair, then took off his jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves. "Okay. Taylor, lock the outside office door and this one. Leave the keys in the doors." He glanced at Zach as he walked over to drape his jacket across the back of his chair. "Okay?"
    Zach nodded. He'd feel better with the doors locked too, and really, if they wanted to