"5 Hearts!...The writing duo known as Jamie Craig has continued this excellent series from where it left off in Book 6. The incomparable lovers, Jesse and Gideon, continue to build their partnership...Reading this story is a lot like picking up a book about old friends to find out what mischief they may be getting into this time..the story is well crafted...The authors have given us another winner that pulled me in from first page to last. I can’t wait to see they will do next!"--Dee Dailey, The Romance Studio
"...With a heavy cast of Guardians, vampires, humans and other, it’s an anything goes and everything wild kind of group to read about...The storyline is intricate, the cast is large and The Age Of Retribution is not the place to start reading this series. Too much has already gone on for readers to fully grasp the characters motivations, etc...Well written with a multi-layered plot and great characters...Followers of this series are going to be thrilled to read more about Gideon and Jesse and their adventures!"--Lisa, Joyfully Reviewed
"4 Stars!...Readers new to this series will find this book a very satisfying stand-alone read, but to completely appreciate the rich nuances of this multi-layered plot, you'll want to pick up the previous books. Readers following the series will love seeing the new kinks in Gideon and Jesse's relationship now that Jesse is a Guardian...Jamie Craig (pen name for writing partners Pepper Espinoza and Vivien Dean) writes an explicitly sexual cliffhanger here. Suspense, clever plotting, and heat in the form of consensual bloodplay, BDSM and multiple partner vampire sex make the reader not want to put this book down."--Carole, Rainbow Reviews
...Jesse shivered at the thought of the irons closing around his wrists and ankles, biting into his skin until small streams of blood traveled down his arms and into the waiting mouths of the vampires surrounding him. The smell of the blood would drive the vamps into a frenzy. Jesse didn’t think any of them knew that he wasn’t a mere mortal. He didn’t want them to know and he doubted Gideon would have broadcast the news.
He had expected something ornate. There were certainly enough ropes, chains, benches, and devices in the club to keep him immobile for the rest of the night. But the set up Gideon had requested was about as basic as he could get. There were four shackles attached to two pillars. They were spaced far enough apart to stretch Jesse’s limbs, exposing every inch of his body, without becoming too painful. But it would definitely leave him vulnerable to every creature in the room.
There were less than a dozen vampires in all, more men than women, all familiar faces though Jesse couldn’t put names to some. In Sangre, names weren’t important. Here, he was the toy to be used, the hole to be filled, the body to be taken. He gave himself over to them, trusting Gideon to keep him safe. Though they knew his name, few cared. He was Gideon’s pet. Within these walls, that was all he wanted to be.
He waited patiently as Gideon greeted the others, chatting and laughing for indeterminable minutes, all the while ignoring Jess. The other vampires didn’t. They kept stealing glances in his direction, licking their lips, fidgeting. A slight young man with blond hair that kept flopping over his forehead braved advancing, though one look from Gideon stopped him from getting too close.
“Are you going to let him fuck anybody tonight?” he asked Gideon, his blue eyes blazing with hunger.
For some reason, this amused Gideon, and he cocked a single brow. “Why? You want his cock, Frankie?”
“Fuck, yes.”
The answer came so quickly, Gideon laughed. “We’ll see.”
Jesse’s cock twitched at the thought of burying himself in Frankie’s ass. Gideon had allowed him to fuck women in Sangre, but never another man. But Jesse sensed that Gideon was going to be in a very indulgent mood, which meant he wouldn’t keep a firm hand on the vampires using Jesse’s body. He was glad Gideon thought to fit him with a cock ring before they left the house, because he was certain that without it, he wouldn’t have the control to stop himself from coming too soon. The sharp points studding the ring dug deep into his growing erection, each second of pain already accentuating his arousal.
“Tell you what.” Gideon was still addressing Frankie. “You get the rest of his clothes off, while I pick out what whip I’m going to use on him.” His gaze was heavy when it came to rest on Jesse. “I want to make sure it hurts when he bleeds.”
Frankie didn’t waste time approaching. He crouched in front of Jesse and ran his hands over the lacework of scars mottling Jesse’s torso. “I’ve wanted your cock in my ass since the first time I saw Gideon jerk you off.” He reached the briefs and tore them off, catching Jesse’s shaft in the palm of his cool hand as it came free. “Every time you fuck Monique, I hate her a little bit more.”
Something about the vampire pricked at the back of his mind. The blond hair, the blue eyes, the bold, almost challenging, declaration of how much he wanted Jesse’s cock. It only took a moment for it all to click. The vampire reminded Jesse of Derek’s nephew, Jonah, right down to the shade of his eyes. The realization coupled with the vampire’s touch sent a new wave of arousal through him. Frankie’s nostrils flared in response.
“Up, boy.”
Gideon’s order sent Frankie scurrying out of the way, leaving Jesse to obey automatically. He kept his hands behind his back, his head bowed, but not before he caught sight of the single-tail leather whip dangling from Gideon’s hand.
“Cuff him in.”
Monique was the one to grab Jesse’s leash and lead him between the two posts. Gripping his wrist, she pulled it up and to the side, locking him into a heavy iron manacle. She did the same with his other wrist and both his ankles, until he stood in a stretched X position.
“First rule.” Gideon addressed the vampires who had pressed closer for the show. “You want to play, you wear fangs. At all times. That means if you kiss the boy, you wear fangs. If you suck his cock, you wear fangs. If you lick him clean, if you do anything, you wear fangs. Don’t, and you go home.”
Some of the vampires nodded. Some licked their lips. Some just continued staring at his vulnerable body, their eyes glowing with hunger. Jesse tensed slightly at the first rule, but it was an automatic reaction, his flesh responding to the threat, even if Jesse viewed the rule as more of a promise...