She could picture the way everyone had looked at her, the sideways glances, eyes darting away once she caught them. Even when people approached her to talk, they’d only ask how the shop was doing and once she replied with “fine” the conversation died.
“If you experience another one,” he said, his voice no longer soft, “you will contact me immediately. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night or I’m out of town or you’re working. Understand?”
Once again he made her feel protected. “Yes, Sir.”
“How are you feeling now?”
“Much better, Sir.” She found the words came naturally. It never crossed her mind to say “fine.” “I’m calm and relaxed. I don’t feel panicky at all.”
“Stand up, little one. Be careful; you’ve been kneeling for quite some time.”
She opened her eyes and moved gingerly to her feet, slightly disappointed he was no longer massaging her back. Even so, he kept a hand on her shoulder to steady her as she stood. The afternoon shadows were growing long in the room, and she wondered exactly how much time had passed. Though she didn’t get a lot of sleep the night before, she felt rested.
Cole turned her to face him and then dropped his hands. “A very productive afternoon, I believe.”
“I believe so, too, Sir.” She followed the path of his hand as he slipped it into his pocket and wondered when he’d touch her again.
His lips curled up a bit at the corners. “Does it bother you when I touch you?”
“I enjoyed you rubbing my back.”
“Answer the question, Sasha.”
He wasn’t going to allow her to get away with anything. Already his expression had changed, all the amusement had fled. “No, Sir, it doesn’t bother me when you touch me. I like it.”
“There now, you see, that wasn’t hard at all.” His smile returned. “From here on out, you will always answer the questions I ask. If you don’t know the answer, you may reply with ‘I don’t know, Sir,’ and we’ll work from there. What you may not do is avoid the question or give me half answers. Are my expectations clear?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Do you have any questions about them?”
“No, Sir.”
He studied her intently for long seconds. “I can help you. But I have to have your trust, and that includes your honesty.”
Little by little, he was weaving his way into her mind, just like he’d said. It brought her a startling sense of security.
“If you still want to talk to Julie, I’ll call the main house and tell them you’re on your way.”
“Thank you, Sir. I would like that.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, Sir. And I’ll have the assignment you gave me completed.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said with a faint smile.
• • •
Julie waited for her at the side door of Daniel’s house. Sasha quickened her step. As Julie welcomed her inside, Sasha looked back over her shoulder toward the guesthouse. Cole was just leaving out the front door. He’d changed into shorts and a T-shirt and he raised his hand in a salute before he took off jogging toward the pond.
Julie led her through the kitchen into the living room, and they sat down on one of the couches.“I’m not going to ask if you’re okay,” Julie started. “Daniel said we had to trust Cole, so I’m going to try really hard to do that. Besides”—she gave Sasha a grin—“you seem completely at ease and I haven’t seen you look like that in ages.”
“Probably the back rub Cole just gave me.”
“He took you to the guesthouse to give you a massage?”
“No, we also talked.”
Julie wrinkled her eyebrows and curled up so her legs were tucked under her. “Daniel also said Cole was moving to Wilmington.”
Sasha picked a loose thread on the couch cushion she held in her lap. “He told me.”
“How do you feel about that?”
Sasha shrugged. “Does it matter? This is only a retraining. I don’t have any hold on him, and we’re not in a relationship.”
“But he was the first Dom you showed interest in after Peter, and he is retraining you.”
“No sex, though.”
“You’re blushing.” Julie smiled. “Something’s up.”
Sasha glanced around the living room. “Where’s Daniel?”
“Are you asking because you want to know or are you changing the subject?”
“A little of both.”
“He went to check on something, but he said he’d be back in a few. He wants to talk to you.”
“Do you know why?”
“Hey, Sasha.”
Sasha looked up as Daniel walked into the room and sat in a chair next to her. He had a concerned expression, but after what Julie had said about trusting Cole, she didn’t think he would question her about how she’d spent her time in the guesthouse.
“I didn’t know Peter had called you,” Daniel said.
“What?” Julie’s eyes widened. “You didn’t tell me.”
“Just a minute, Julie.” He held up his hand and turned to Sasha. “Sasha, I wish you would have told me.”
“I didn’t see the point. It was over and done.” But deep inside she knew she should have told someone. If not Daniel, then one of the other senior group members.
“The call triggered a panic attack.” His words were simple, but they were true and from the corner of her eyes, she saw Julie cross her arms and press her lips together.
“I told my therapist.”
He shook his head. “It’s not the same, and you know it. Peter was told he could remain in the group with certain restrictions. But more than that, anytime someone in the group does something to another member that is harmful, I need to know. How am I to keep you safe if I don’t know?”
Sasha had to admit that Julie was a fortunate woman. She’d initially had her misgivings about her best friend dating and later wearing the collar of such an experienced Dominant, but Daniel had proven her wrong. He really was a strong protector, and he loved Julie with an intensity and passion that took her breath away.
“I thought I could handle it on my own,” she admitted.