The Master Read Online Free PDF Page B

Sasha. “Unfortunately, by bringing you into the living room, I’ve managed to worry everyone. So we’ll have to do this now.”
    Sasha seemed to curl into herself. He wondered if he should have had the discussion privately, after all. Maybe she didn’t feel more comfortable with her friends.
    “You had what appeared to be a mild panic attack when I mentioned Daniel and Julie had been in the playroom. What happened?”
Stay with me, little one, let me help.
    Her spine straightened in resolve, but he had a feeling it was all for show. “I’m sorry if I worried anyone. Sometimes I have these little episodes. I never know what’s going to bring one on.”
    “I remember you mentioning them when we talked about you rejoining the group,” Daniel said.
    Julie cocked her head. “But you said they were rare. I didn’t know you were still having them.”
    “Probably due to lack of sleep and everything that’s happened in the last twenty-four hours,” Sasha said.
    Silence filled the room.
Cole Johnson,
the stillness seemed to whisper.
He’s what’s happened in the last twenty-four hours.
    “Maybe you need more time,” Daniel said. “We may have jumped into the retraining too quickly.”
    “It’s okay if you want to wait, right, Daniel? There’s no rush.” Julie looked expectantly at her Dom.
    What the fuck was she doing asking Daniel?
    Sasha seemed to sink further into the seat and in thatmoment, Cole knew he would have to change his approach. He cleared his throat.
    “Excuse me, Master Covington,” he said. “But I believe everything pertaining to Sasha and her retraining was placed under my oversight.”
    “Yes, but—” Daniel started.
    Cole held up his hand. “You’ve known me long enough to know I don’t take kindly to anyone second-guessing me. Now, I’m very aware everyone is concerned with Sasha’s well-being, but the group has entrusted me with her care. As such, unless Sasha says differently,
I
will be the one to decide how and when she is retrained.”
    “My apologies,” Daniel said. “You’re correct.”
    “Sasha, do you still wish for me to dictate the terms of your retraining?” Cole asked.
    Her reply was immediate. She looked . . .
pleased
with the way he stood up for what he wanted. “Yes, Sir.”
    “I would like for everyone in this room to acknowledge the meaning of Sasha’s acquiescence. There will be no more discussion of this.” He met Daniel’s eyes first, then Julie’s. At their nods, he turned to Sasha. “There’s been a change to your schedule. I’ll be in the guesthouse sitting room in ten minutes. You’ll be waiting for me there, fully clothed, and on your knees.”
    •   •   •
    O
h, shit. Oh, shit. Oh, shit.
    The two words repeated themselves in Sasha’s head, drowning out all other thoughts. Realistically, she knew there was nothing to be worried about. Cole had asked her to fill out a new checklist, and she had fully intended to note the rare panicattacks she experienced. And though he had told her to kneel and wait for him, she knew they weren’t going to do a scene.
    However, all that knowledge paled in comparison to Cole’s calmly spoken, but don’t-even-think-about-doing-differently command. Especially when it was delivered in that smooth-as-silk accent of his. She didn’t know if her body was closer to panic over kneeling for someone or melting into a puddle of goo over him issuing the command.
    She let herself into the guesthouse. Since Daniel’s place was a popular location for both group meetings and play parties, she’d been in the house numerous times before. She didn’t bother to look around to see what changes, if any, Cole had made, but went straight to the sitting room and knelt on the rug.
    She’d hoped that somehow her body would calm down once she made it to her knees. But it wasn’t to be. Her arms shook even after she placed her hands, palms facing up, on top of her knees. He had discussed positions earlier in the