The Master Read Online Free PDF

“A bit of a warning next time, Cole?”
    Cole was already halfway down the stairs. “Pardon, I didn’t mean to scare the wits out of you. Are you all right, Julie?”
    “A little shaky.” She peeked out of the shelter of Daniel’s embrace. “No worries.”
    Daniel kissed her cheek and they all walked up the stairs. Julie still had the faint glow of a thoroughly satisfied submissive about her, and Cole started to doubt his decision to swing by. He had obviously walked in at the end of a scene and, though it had been a while since he’d observed Daniel play, he didn’t get the feeling his friend had finished aftercare yet.
    Cole waited in the kitchen while Daniel walked with Julie into the living room. From his seat at the bar, Cole watched as he sat her on the couch and then turned to him.
    “Come in here with us,” Daniel called, sitting down and pulling Julie into his arms.
    He should leave. Daniel wasn’t ready to leave Julie alone, and Cole wasn’t going to talk about Sasha in front of her. He walked into the living room and stood by the couch. “I’ll come back later. I have a few things I want to discuss with you, and this isn’t a good time.”
    Daniel nodded. “I can stop by later this evening.”
    “I’ll be there. Probably going for a run now.” Running always helped clear his mind. He had a feeling he would be doing a lot of running for the foreseeable future.
    “Give me about an hour,” Daniel said. “I’ll—” he started, but was interrupted by the doorbell. “Hell, what is this, Grand Central Station?”
    “Let me get it.” Cole crossed the floor. “I’ll send whoever it is away, and then I’ll show myself out.”
    He opened the door, prepared to tell whoever it was that no one was interested, but the words died on his tongue as two surprised green eyes looked up at him.
    “Sasha?”
    Did she come by to see him? No, not likely with her eyes as wide as saucers. Apparently she was just as shocked to see him.
    “I . . . I came by to see Julie.”
    Of course. If she’d been looking for him, she’d have gone to the guesthouse. He hardened his expression, not wanting her to see any emotion.
    “Right.” He stepped aside to let her in. “She’s in the living room with Daniel. They just left the playroom.”
    She paled, and sweat beaded on her forehead. “Oh. Then maybe . . . maybe I should come back later. I’ll just . . .” She turned back around and ran into his chest.
    Instinctively, his hands shot out to steady her. Her arms shook and her lip trembled. He dropped his hands. “Sasha? Are you okay?”
    “Yes, Sir,” she whispered.
    “Look at me.” He waited until she lifted her head. “What just happened?” When she hesitated, he added, “Sasha, I can help you, but you have to be honest with me. It was my nonnegotiable condition.”
    “I’m sorry, Sir.” She swallowed in deep breaths. “I just need a minute. Can I sit down?”
    “Come in here,” he said, leading her into the living room. He wasn’t sure what the hell happened in the foyer, but he would get to the bottom of it.
    “Hey, Sasha.” Daniel looked up from where he was whispering to Julie. “Give me a bit longer, and she’s all yours.” He glanced over at Cole, then back to Sasha. “Assuming you did come by to see Julie?”
    Sasha nodded and sank into the nearest chair.
    “You look a bit pale. Are you okay?” Daniel asked. “Cole?”
    “We haven’t had a chance to talk about it yet.” Cole didn’t want to discuss anything with Daniel without talking to Sasha first.
    Julie studied Sasha with a weary expression on her face. “Sasha, did something happen?”
    Her tone was polite and friendly, but Cole could read between the lines. She was asking if something had happened between him and Sasha. Her concern was lovely, the mark oftrue friendship, but he didn’t care for the insinuation he would harm Sasha.
    “I’d planned to discuss this with you privately,” Cole said, addressing