Chapter One

   Sasha stretched, sighing in pleasure as Cole’s arms tightened around her. He kissed the back of her neck.

   “You’re still awake?” he asked. “I thought for sure you’d be asleep.”

   It was a Friday night, and they’d both had long weeks. On a typical Friday night, they would not be in bed so early. In fact, at 10:30 P.M., they were usually in the middle of a kinky scene. But tonight, after dinner and a walk outside, they both decided to turn in early.

   At the time, it had made sense. But suddenly Sasha wasn’t so tired anymore. She wiggled her butt against him, delighting in the groan of pleasure he gave in response. “It appears as if I’m not able to go to sleep without sex anymore,” she said.

   Behind her, Cole chuckled. “Good to know what I’m useful for.”

   “I didn’t mean it like that.”

   “Seriously, is that why you keep me around? So I can ensure you get a good night’s sleep?”

   He was teasing her. One of his favorite pastimes. She decided to play along.

   “Yes.” She turned in his arms so she faced him. “That is exactly why I keep you around. That and nothing else.”

   He told her recently that he liked her playful side. That he liked it when she joked with him and played around, because he said it proved how comfortable she was with him. And she was, surprisingly enough. Cole made her comfortable. Which is something she would have never imagined months ago. Now, being around him was as easy as breathing.

   “Nothing else?” His eyes danced with joy. “Nothing you can think of?”

   “Well, you do cook really well. I guess those are two reasons to keep you around.”

   “Sex—but only to help you sleep—and food. I see.”

   “But it’s really good sex.”

   He ran his fingers down her arm. “Is that right?”

   “Really, really, really good sex.”

   He leaned closer, and she could almost taste his lips. She closed her eyes.

   Cole’s phone rang.

   “Bloody hell,” he said, pulling away. “Who could that be?”

   “I don’t know, but you should ignore it,” she said, but he was already reaching for the phone.

   “It’s from the UK.”

   That didn’t sound good. She sat up so she could see him better.

   “Hello.”

   He was turned away from her so she couldn’t see his reaction to the call. The person on the other end was doing most of the talking. Cole was relatively quiet. She calculated the time difference in her head. It was very early morning in the UK. No, this didn’t sound good at all.

   “Excellent,” Cole told whoever he was speaking to. “Send everything in an e-mail. I’ll sign and get back to you within a few hours.”

   He disconnected and turned back to face her. She breathed a sigh of relief at his smile.

   “Everything okay?” she asked anyway.

   “Yes.” He pulled her to him. “Everything is very much okay. I’m buying my childhood home. I’d heard it might be going up on the market and, because there’s such interest in it, I told the agent to ring me as soon as he heard something.”

   “Really?”

   “Yes. In fact, how you like to go see it?”

   “Go to England?” She’d never been to the UK and the prospect of going with Cole sounded fun.

   “Yes.” He rested his chin on the top her head. “I’d like for you to see it. To share with you that part of me.”

   He had told her a few things about his childhood home. The way he’d described it made it sound like a castle right out of the pages of a romance novel. He’d spoken longingly of the massive grounds and the imposing stone structure that he said had been a happy home right up until his father left him and his mother for another woman.

   But if he bought the house . . .

   “Are you going to move to the UK?” She tried not to panic. She knew he’d never do anything like that without talking to her. But still, it was no small thing to buy a house, especially one in a foreign country.

   “I’m not going anywhere without you, little one, and I know you’re settled here.”

   It wasn’t until her body relaxed that she realized how tense she’d been over the possibility of Cole moving.

   And, of course, he felt it, too. “Did you really think I’d plan something like that and not tell you?”

   “No, Sir. Or at least, the rational part of me knew you wouldn’t. The little part of me that keeps thinking being with you is a dream I’m going to wake up out of? That part worried. But just for a second.”

   “I can assure you this is not a dream.”

   Though she’d been sleepy when they first made it to bed, with the phone call and the ensuing conversation, she was wide awake. And very aware of the man currently holding her.

   “I think I need a bit of assurance about that, Sir.”

   His eyes were kind, but hungry with lust. “I think I can help with that.” He dropped his head and softly brushed his lips across hers. “And I’m going to start with that little part of you that thinks this is a dream. I’m going to pleasure you so much, you’ll never want to dream again because sleep only means you’re separated from me.”

   She whimpered low in her throat as he shifted them so she was on her back with him above her. God, she loved him so much. Loved how he was fierce and protective, while never losing the part of him that was her demanding Master.

   He dragged his finger along the silk strap of her gown. “New rule,” he said against her neck. She shivered at the scruffiness of his cheek. “You’re to be naked in bed from now on.”