“Considering I’ve been single-handedly blowing his mind since junior year?” He gave me a wide smile. “Considering I broke him out of his shell and helped introduce him to an entire world of sinful deviancy? My advice is exactly what you should be listening to.”

“All right then,” I said, folding my arms and crossing my legs. “Teach me what you know, Mr. Volkov.”

He gave a slow exhale, shaking his head. “Oh, sorry, you got me thinking of how fun a dirty teacher roleplay would be…”

“Come on, focus, weed-for-brains! Tell me!”

He slammed on the brakes so abruptly that I gasped. Luckily, there was no one else on the long country road ahead of us as Vincent leaned over to my seat, his long fingers gripping my jaw.

“I think you’re forgetting some rules,” he said, his tone so different from his usual jovial one that fear tickled my stomach. “It’s all fun and games, Jess, but don’t make me remind you to show the proper respect for me. If you think that just because I smoke, I’m going to let you get away with that smartass shit, you’re in for a very uncomfortable awakening. Unless you want to spend some time hanging by your ankles and getting acquainted with a snake whip, I suggest you change your tone.”

“Ooooh, shit.” I barely realized I said it out loud until he grinned. “Yes, sir, I’ll change my tone.”

“That’s better.” He kissed my mouth before he let me go, driving on like nothing at all had happened. Except now my heart had quickened, and I was sweating even more, my bare thighs awkwardly clenched together.

“Here’s the thing, Jess,” he said. “It’s not about the ears. It’s not even about the costume. It’s about subservience.”

“Subservience? What, like he wants me to serve him? Be his slave? That’s familiar.” I stopped myself short of saying something sarcastic. I desperately needed to get my tongue under control.

“Trust me on this, because I know it’s not something you’re good at.” He gave me a sly glance as he turned onto the dirt road toward his house. “Be a good girl for him. Okay?”

“That’s it?” I said. “Just be good? Don’t be a brat, you’re saying?” He nodded, and I sighed softly. “You’re right. I’m not good at that.”

“He’d still enjoy you even if you were your regular sassy self,” he said. Their front gate was already open, so he was able to pull straight into the yard. “But I’m telling you this for your sake. Jason has a paddle in his room that I’m not sure you want an intimate meeting with, but he’d gladly introduce you.”