Cantrips: Volume #1: Minor Magics Crafted to Amuse and Entertain

by Joey W. Hill

  “A half hour. It’ll take about thirty minutes to get them set up. Shannon knows what her fiancé is giving her, so that part’s not a surprise. But she doesn’t know any details. Just that tonight her Master is turning her over to a vampire and his servant. And that he’s given us her limits and boundaries, and he’ll be watching from an observation room.”

  “All right. I’m going to step into the next room to contact Anwyn and discuss this, because he belongs to her as well.” Daegan shifted his glance to Gideon, nodded, and then pivoted toward his bedroom. When he did, Gideon gave Ella a pinch that made her jump. She shot him a mischievous look and stepped a safer distance away.

  “Sir?” When Daegan stopped and looked back, Ella dimpled. “Do I have permission to resume touching?”

  “Within reason.” His lips quirked. “Gideon knows his limits.”

  Gideon bared his teeth in a feral grin that made her giggle. But when Daegan disappeared down the hall, Ella turned to him, giving him a flurry of smacks against his arm that had him backpedaling, fending her off.

  “Shit,” she whispered. “I thought I’d be talking to you alone, Gideon. Running this by you to get your take before we sprang it on him. I am so dead. Anwyn’s going to put me on closing shift for the next millennium.”

  “No, she’s not. It’s fine.” Looping an arm around her neck, he pulled her to his side and drop a kiss on her head. Then tugged her hair. “I’m sure she’ll just have you publicly flogged and then paraded around in a stock for a month or two.”

  Ella sighed. “Maybe you aren’t experienced enough to do this. Around here, that’s the reward for good behavior.”

  “Sick bitch.”

  She gave him an answering pinch and shoved away. “I’ll take a swallow of that soda. God, my mouth went dry as a bone, seeing him right there. He’s like a thousand kilowatt Dom, you know? If I was Anwyn and had the two of you in my bed, I’d stay in it until I had bedsores the size of pancakes. I’m lucky I didn’t spout complete gibberish in front of him.”

  “Actually, you were on a pretty good jabber roll there…”

  “You…”

  Gideon laughed, sliding toward the kitchen before she could get in another punch. It was good to play with a girl. It helped ease things up inside him. And made him miss Anwyn more.

  §

  Daegan knew how he felt. Gideon wasn’t dead, so he could enjoy flirting with Ella, but Daegan knew his heart as he knew his own. Anwyn was the only woman they wanted.

  There were other things Gideon wanted as well. Though Daegan had regretted Ella’s timing, Fate intervened for particular reasons. He found Ella’s idea…intriguing, for his own intentions.

  He closed the door, so Ella wouldn’t know that he wasn’t dialing a phone, but reaching out with his mind. He and Gideon had made a pact they wouldn’t “dial” Anwyn; they’d wait for her to reach out to talk to them directly when she had time and inclination. One didn’t interrupt a visit with a vampire queen, and Lyssa had low tolerance for hovering. Of course, Daegan had employed the occasional subconscious mind touch to make sure Anwyn was doing well and wasn’t under stress. Since she didn’t typically block Gideon out of her mind, he’d done the same thing, such that they’d received an amused playful “push” back at least once or twice, an acknowledgment of their protective natures, both Master and alpha servant.

  It felt so damn good to actively call out to her on that link, to feel her respond, turn to him. He savored that first touch, the feminine shape of her in his mind, her intelligence and attention, the warmth and love she gave so generously. When he gave her the situation, he saw her immediately recall all the details she’d set up for the couple. He also saw her weigh the idea, while simultaneously being amused by Ella’s intuition and audacity. It made him smile.

  So what about it, cher? Are you okay with this?

  Yes. I hate for Aaron and Shannon to be disappointed. He’s been emailing me for weeks, working out the details, making sure it will be everything she wants. He loves her so much. Damn it, I’m going to shove vitamins down Richard’s throat. I keep telling him he needs to quit smoking and get healthier. Every virus knocks him down. A mental pause as she considered, and then he felt a stroke from her mind, a smile. I assume this doesn’t disrupt the one-on-one you have going with Gideon. He’s still taking direction from you, same way he’d be doing at a vampire affair, interacting with another servant under our combined or individual command. So it’s merely a continuation of the training we’ve been giving him. Plus, I suspect you already have an idea of how to twist this toward your objective.

  You know me well. As I know you. Daegan’s lips curved. You’re more comfortable with him touching a sub, or her touching him, under the command of two Masters. A Mistress would be an entirely different matter.

  You have no proof of that.

  He sensed her mental sniff and chuckled. I’ve seen your staff subs treat him like their big adopted pit bull. Ella’s wrestling with him now. Whereas the Mistresses treat him with courteous warmth…and no touching.

  I have nothing to do with that.

  Mm-hmm. You’re possessive of your servant, and they know it.

  Our servant. And before you get too smug, I’d like to see your reaction to another Master touching him. Fucking him.

  Daegan had no conscious response to that, but he was sure she was aware of the predatory heat that rippled through his blood. He chose the graceful way out—introducing an entirely different subject. How long do you think he’ll continue to believe it was a spontaneous decision, rather than a carefully engineered plot, the two of us here alone this weekend?

  Her delicate snort echoed in his mind. I expect he’s already figured it out, but being Gideon, he’s just ignoring a lot of things. You know how hard it is for me not to be tuning in to what you two have been doing? I expect a play-by-play detail when I return.

  “It will just make you wet, cher. Wet and hot for both of us. We’ll have to fuck you for hours to sate you.” He spoke the words, knowing it increased the timbre of it in his mind. When he felt her shiver of reaction, he ached for her. God, he hated it when she wasn’t here, and he knew Gideon felt the same way. But he knew she needed this weekend. And he had his own goals to accomplish here, some essential training they both knew their servant needed. He made his tone more teasing.

  Go back to your shopping and girl talk. You know Gideon is fervently hoping for some girl-on-girl action to report.

  Her laughter wrapped around him, and he held onto it, closing his eyes. But she knew him too well. She left a lingering whisper in his mind.

  He’s getting there, Daegan. It’s there already, just waiting in his mind.

  He’s stubborn as a castle wall.

  While you are as relentless as time itself. I know who will prevail. And we all will win. I love you.

  She was not a creature of great sentiment, one who gushed I love yous. She was a Mistress, after all, so he held the words like the treasure they were.

  Try to get into a little trouble. I want to have a reason to punish you when you come back.

  Her laughter again, the lightness of it a good sign. She was having fun, she felt safe, wasn’t worried about seizures. All was well. If she could have that, he wouldn’t begrudge her a couple days away from him and Gideon. Much.

  Breaking the link, or at least turning the volume down, he turned to leave the room. Time to tell Ella that Shannon was going to get her vampire and servant fantasy.

  Already looking forward to the vampire hunter’s reaction, Daegan grinned, imagining his response: We’re going to fucking do what?

  Part Six

  Round Six

  Gideon paused at the security view window, but didn’t look into the private playroom. He wanted to take a second. He still couldn’t quite believe they were doing this and, to be honest, he needed to be sure this was what Anwyn wanted, no matter how much of a pussy Daegan thought he was for checking.

  The vampire brushed behi
nd him, a shadow among the shadows, but Gideon felt his hand slide along his nape. You think I would tease you about your oath to your Mistress, Gideon? If you ever fell one inch short of total devotion to her, I’d flay you alive.

  Same goes. Even if I had to sell my soul to Satan for the superpowers to kick your ass.

  He sensed Daegan’s grim smile, then he flushed like a damn girl as the male gripped his buttock and squeezed hard before his hand slid away.

  Anwyn. Just speaking her name in his mind, a deliberate reach toward her, loosened the weight around his chest. It was amazing how much he fucking missed her. In some way, everything he and Daegan had shared today was a striving for that connection, an extension or part of it. He couldn’t really explain it, so like most things he couldn’t vocalize, he chose to focus on this one thing. I need to know what you want, sweetheart.

  He winced. He had a habit of forgetting, using the endearments instead of the honorific, but as she wrapped her thoughts around his, she only gave him tender amusement. Fuck, he missed her.

  You’re a creature of intuition. Feel what I want, Gideon.

  Her desire unfurled in him, way beyond gut level. She wanted him to get lost in this, wanted to see him pleasure this female sub, to let primal male lust, his drive as a sexually confident alpha male, take him over in the face of a trembling, aroused female. It would please Anwyn because he would be acting upon her will and command. It was an act of service to her, his Mistress. Every ecstatic cry he wrested from the woman behind this door would be a tribute to her.

  Anwyn locked it into place with a caressing whisper. I trust you, Gideon. When I return, you will convince me of your devotion. I will chain you to the bed, straddle your face. You will replay your time with her in your head, moment by moment, while you bring me to climax with your mouth. It will be very…stimulating.

  His cock hardened, like he needed that area to be any more noticeable. According to the specifications of the fantasy, he’d changed into nothing more than a pair of black snug brief shorts that covered his ass and upper thighs, barely, and made it clear he had enough of a package to make a woman happy. He’d felt a little foolish until he saw Daegan’s expression. A shot of heat had gone through those dark eyes, making Gideon feel…well, a little cocky, no pun intended. Ella’s jaw had dropped at the sight of him, but Chantal had pushed it closed. Then she’d handed the young woman a light oil to spread over his upper body, to make it gleam.

  Maybe it had been Anwyn’s command, what she wanted from him, but he felt differently toward Ella than the usual affection, laced with harmless flirtation. When she approached with the oil, he had a predatory restlessness, knowing she was going to slide slick fingers over his body. She’d sensed it as well, because instead of teasing him, she’d kept her eyes lowered, her lips pressed together, a little nervous. Daegan’s focus stayed on him, picking up that heightened sexual aggression.

  Once Ella had her hands cruising over him, though, she got less nervous. Her own nature stirred, such that she deliberately lingered over his biceps, his pectorals, stepping in close enough he knew she could feel his breath on her hair. With every passing moment, the stretch of those shorts got more of a workout. He was close to letting out a growl. When her fingers slid a little low on the abdomen, cruising toward the waistband, Daegan did growl.

  Gideon lifted his head, met the male’s weighted stare. Daegan slid that stern glance Ella’s way, sending her scampering. Before she slid from the room, Gideon caught her mischievous smile, flicked his way.

  But now he returned his attention to the present. Daegan was dressed in his signature black, but uptown sharp. Silk shirt open at the throat, belted slacks, all dangerous elegance. Though Chantal was conferring with him on some final details, he gave Gideon a nod.

  Go on in and get it started.

  Gideon moved to the door to the private playroom, but when he put his hand on the doorknob, he paused. He couldn’t go in yet. He didn’t have everything he needed.

  What Anwyn had given him was part of it, but not all. The realization was unexpected, but then a lot of things were taking him off guard tonight. Something sexy and perilous moved in Daegan’s dark eyes, seeing his dilemma. Leaving Chantal with a murmured word, he came to Gideon and put a firm hand onto his shoulder. He brushed his mouth over Gideon’s.

  “I do not doubt your devotion to me, either. Everything you do in that room will be the will of your Master and Mistress. Do not doubt yourself. We don’t.” Unleash that part of you Anwyn loves. The male animal that will not be tamed.

  Gideon had his hand curled in the fancy silk of that collar before he realized it. His next move was pure response to what was building in him, a domino effect of Anwyn’s thoughts, Ella’s teasing touch, the challenge in Daegan’s eyes. When he slammed his mouth on the vampire’s, Daegan was ready for him, already digging his fingers into Gideon’s hair, tugging, giving him a cut of fang that drew blood on his lip and had Gideon drawing away with a feral sound of his own.

  The urgency of the kiss reminded Gideon of everything he and Daegan had done tonight. Particularly that confusing edge they’d approached several times, each near miss increasing the demand in his gut. What they were about to do, it was still part of it. He felt that from Daegan, the same way he’d felt it from Anwyn. They’d said it outright. With every breath, every act, he served their will. There was no thinking to it. He knew it, because they were in his soul.

  That brazen edge died back, leaving him a bit overwhelmed. But he wasn’t going to turn all chickenshit now. He managed a casual shrug, one that put a wry, knowing curve to Daegan’s lips. Then he turned away. He could do this. Hell, he’d hunted vampires and stood fast before the Vampire Council. Pleasuring a beautiful, willing woman, making her sexual fantasy come to life—no way he was going to admit that could make his stomach flipflop like a trout, merely because he’d gotten used to belonging exclusively to two people.

  Everything you do in that room will be the will of your Master and Mistress.

  Gideon stepped into the room.

  The gray stone floor and stone façade for the walls, illuminated with dim electric torch light and candles, gave the room a sinister look. There were weapons mounted on brackets embedded in the stone. The weapons were mostly fake, but they looked pretty good, the metal caught by the gleam of the candles. Chains and various types of restraints hung from hooks at key points among the weaponry. A wooden stock in one corner and an iron maiden in the other were the obvious Martha Stewart choices to flank the unlit fireplace. But there were other, different choices. A couch draped in silk and pillows, several viewing chairs. A faux bearskin rug soft as the real thing, because Anwyn had one in her playroom, and she’d taken him on it more than once. It had felt pretty good on his ass, to tell the truth.

  The room focused its occupant on power and pleasure…and the dangerous edges of both. The main feature of the chamber underscored it—a steel, freestanding frame anchored to the center of the floor, with a variety of hooks and eyebolts to maximize restraint and suspension options.

  Since Gideon could scent the arousal and nervousness of the woman currently positioned in a vertical spread-eagle and cuffed to that frame, he’d say the room was doing its job in spades.

  Shannon was an attractive woman, about five-seven, slim but with the kind of generous curves that attracted his gaze, particularly when she was stripped completely naked, as she was now. The entry door was behind her, so as he closed it, Gideon took his time, something lazy and dangerous unfolding in him as his gaze coursed down the line of her raised and stretched arms, the hint of breast he could see at this angle, the slope of her back, the flare of her ass. He did like a nice ass, especially one tilted up and framed like this one was. That was the effect of the stilettos and waist cincher she wore, respectively, and the way her legs were spread and cuffed.

  Velcro straps held the shoes on her feet, wrapped over the top of them and beneath the soles. Damn if that kind of foot bondage wasn’t hot
. His cock was staying hard as steel, keeping him appreciative of the genius who had come up with Lycra shorts. He’d be strangling in denim, no matter that it was his usual preference.

  Across the room was a large mirror. Aaron, Shannon’s fiancé, was behind that glass, watching everything as it unfolded. Now that the game was in play, Ella would be with him, ready to help him understand things from a submissive perspective, as Shannon reacted to what happened in this room. But a lot of what Ella planned to do involved standing quietly against the wall of that small room, so he could get as lost in the experience as they hoped his fiancée would.

  You were listening to the strategy session with Ella and Chantal. I thought you were too busy freaking out to pay close attention.

  He decided to ignore that smartass remark from the world’s most arrogant vampire in favor of some better things. As such, he also dismissed the other viewing room from his mind. If he had the choice of paying attention to a naked, bound girl or thinking about some guy he’d never met who was getting to see him in tight shorts with a huge cockstand, he’d take Door Number One, please.

  Shannon had smooth tan and olive skin, evidence of her mixed Maori heritage. See, I did listen to Ella’s book report. Somewhat. Experiencing it firsthand was nice, though. Shannon’s waist length brown hair was wavy, curling a bit. The way it brushed against her skin made a man want to wrap his hands in it, use it to hold her fast as he fucked her from behind while pushing her down on all fours.

  Jesus, had that come from him? Well, it was hardly his fault. She was all tied up and obviously hugely turned on by it. She had that little trembling nervousness, a mixed-signal, 100% aphrodisiac.

  Was that why Anwyn and Daegan had given him his head here? Anwyn had affected him like no other woman had, taking him over, commanding his submission, but before her, and even now, it was the delicate ones, the submissive ones, like Ella or this woman, who could call a different side of him, an alpha who might not be a Master, but who definitely knew how to hold the reins in the bedroom. He had a compelling, implacable desire to make a woman lose her mind, claw his back to shreds and beg him for more.