What the hell?
“Sasha?” he called. Where was she? He went to the morning room, where he’d found her earlier, but she wasn’t there. Nor was she in their bedroom. He stood near the window, trying to think of where she might be. A movement outside caught his attention.
The greenhouse.
He made it there in record time, and she gasped when he pushed the door open. She caught herself on her hands before she fell over into the pot of dirt she was mixing.
“You’re back sooner than I anticipated,” she finally said.
“Yes, and you’re not in the dining room and you’re not naked.” He crossed his arms and gave her the same look he’d given Mary Catherine moments before.
“I thought—”
He held up his hand to stop her. “I don’t care what you thought. I’m going to be in the dining room in three minutes and you better be in there, completely naked.”
She opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, but apparently thought better of it. She stood up, brushed her knees off, and hurried out the door.
He waited for thirty seconds and then followed. He had a table to christen.
Chapter Five
Cole waited outside the front doors as the car holding their guests for the week pulled up. Sasha watched him from her place off to the side of the door. She brushed her hands over the uniform Cole set out for her, and they trembled just a bit in excitement.
The week Cole had planned for them all was so unlike anything she’d ever done and she couldn’t imagine any of the players had done anything similar, either. He hadn’t told her much, just to expect a little bit of role play. She rather liked being dressed up in the servant’s outfit Cole had selected specifically today for everyone’s arrival. Especially wearing Cole’s collar. It wasn’t exactly like when he trained her in slave service for two weeks, but it was close enough.
Since that time, she’d done everything she could to get to the root of why she liked being Cole’s so much. In fact, she’d filled half a notebook with thoughts. On one hand, she felt like she shouldn’t like it. After all, she was a small business owner. She was intelligent and self-sufficient. So why did she get off on serving Cole?
She’d never questioned her submissive nature before, but once she’d experimented as his slave, she couldn’t help but question the way that experience made her feel. She’d found everything about serving him twenty-four/seven made her feel at peace and content. Even though he’d told her that they weren’t going to be in a Master/slave relationship at this point in time, her belly still quivered with excitement simply thinking about it.
Maybe that was why she had so looked forward to this week. No, it wasn’t exactly like being a slave, but it was pretty close. Already she could see Cole’s eyes grow dark with lust and wanting when he looked at her in the uniform. Even though it was only for role play. Of course, he probably also liked the fact that she didn’t have anything on underneath her short skirt.
“When you least expect it, I’m going to push you against a wall, lift your skirt, and fuck you good and hard,” he’d told her when he set out the uniform.
“Yes, Sir. Please and thank you and can you do it now?” she’d asked, but he just laughed, gave her backside a swat, and told her to be patient.
Cole opened the car door and let Abby and Julie out. The two women had their heads together looking over the huge house. The driver of the car let Daniel and Nathaniel out and then got the bags from the back. Cole motioned her forward.
Game on.
She scurried down the stairs to where Cole stood, talking with the foursome. “Ah,” he said when he saw her. “Here’s my servant girl, Ms. Blake. Ms. Blake, will you take the ladies up to their quarters? I’m sure they would like to refresh themselves after such a long journey. The gentlemen and I would like drinks in the library in thirty minutes.”
Thirty minutes. She hid her smile. Even though it was a role play, he was giving her time to chat with her friends. “Yes, my lord.” She curtsied and didn’t miss his wink as she stood. “Mrs. West, Ms. Masterson, if you don’t mind following me.”
Both ladies bid the men good-bye and walked behind Sasha as they all made their way to the entrance. They kept the roles up until they crossed the threshold and the heavy wooden doors closed behind them.
“Girl, look at you,” Julie said. “You look hot dressed like a maid.”
Abby nodded. “I have got to get me one of those uniforms. Nathaniel would die.”
“It has definitely fueled a few fantasies,” Sasha said, tugging at the short skirt. “I’d be lying if I said otherwise.”
“And look at this house.” Julie walked around the foyer. “It’s huge. How old is it, anyway?”
“I think Cole said at least a couple hundred years. It’s been renovated a few times.” Sasha motioned the women to follow her. “Come on upstairs. Let me show you your rooms.”
“Definitely won’t find anything like this Stateside,” Abby said. “It’s stunning.”
“Wait until you see the gardens. I think we’re doing something out there tomorrow. Cole won’t tell me all of his plans.”
Was it her imagination or did a look pass between Julie and Abby?
They didn’t say anything else, so she led them upstairs to the massive bedrooms. She stopped at the first one on the right. “Abby, you and Nathaniel will be in here.” She pointed across the hall. “Julie, you and Daniel are in there.”
Julie’s eyes danced with merriment. “And where do you sleep?”
“Servant’s quarters are up another flight of stairs.”
“Avoiding the question?” Abby asked.
The front door opened down the stairs and the sound of masculine laughter filled the air.