The Exposure

   “I’ll tell you later. When I’ve had less wine.”

   “There we go.” Sasha put her phone down with a sigh. “He said no. He wants my head to be clear. Though I don’t know why. It’s not like he’s here.”

   “Julie,” Dena said. “Before I forget, will you let Bo and Ace out? They need to go out one more time for the night.”

   “Sure.” Julie hopped up. Not quite as gracefully as she had before the wine, but still steady.

   “Sasha,” Abby said. “Are you okay? Is something wrong?”

   “Remember how you once told me Doms had a reason for everything they did?” Sasha asked.

   “Yes.”

   Sasha stood up and put her hands on her hips. “What could possibly be his reason for not letting me drink tonight? I mean, he’s not here and it’s not like I get together with you guys a lot. It feels like he’s just doing it to be a pain in the ass.”

   “I doubt he’s being a pain in the ass,” Abby said.

   “Maybe I’ll have a glass. He’ll never know and you guys won’t tell.”

   Dena laughed. “Girl, they always find out.”

   Sasha sighed. “True. Ugh. It’s like he has Dom ESP or something.”

   Julie returned from letting the dogs out, but she wasn’t alone. Cole stood behind her and since they were both behind Sasha, she didn’t see him. Meagan tried to get Sasha’s attention, but Cole held his finger up to his lips. He was just intense enough looking that Meagan obeyed.

   “Seriously, he’s worse than Santa Claus. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out he’s got elves stationed everywhere as spies.” She sat back down with a huff.

   “In that case, why don’t you come sit on my lap, so you can tell me if you’ve been naughty or nice?” Cole asked, an amused expression on his face.

   Sasha gasped and as Cole approached her, she came up to kneel and bowed her head. “Sir. I wasn’t expecting you.”

   “Obviously.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “I decided I didn’t want to spend the night in the city. I came by to see if you’d like to go home like we originally planned. If not, you can stay and drink.”

   “That’s why you wouldn’t let me have a drink?”

   “We’ve never played intoxicated. We’re not going to start tonight.” He rocked back on his heels. “Assuming you come home, that is.”

   Though she had seemed content with staying overnight with the girls, Meagan couldn’t help but see the delight in Sasha’s expression—heck, her entire being—at the prospect of going home with Cole.

   “Let me get my things.” She stood up and kissed his cheek. “Take me home, Cole,” she said in not quite a whisper.

   “Don’t you want to stay? Visit with your friends?”

   “I want you.”

   He gave her a sultry grin and then in a surprise move, he grabbed her around the waist and dipped her low, giving her a long and passionate kiss. “I’m not going to argue with that,” he said once he had her back upright. He glanced at Dena. “Tell Jeff we’ll come by and get her car tomorrow.”

   Dena sniffled and waved her hand at the couple. “Damn pregnancy hormones. Go. Don’t worry about the car.”

   Sasha quickly told everyone good-bye and good night and though the other women hugged her and said they were happy for her, Meagan could tell Sasha had one thing on her mind: get home with Cole. He stood off to the side, waiting patiently while she got her things together. Sasha gave Julie an extra-long hug and nodded at something she said. Then she turned toward Cole with an infectious smile.

   “Let’s go home, Sir.”

   He snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her close, and giving her a quick kiss, before saying to the group, “Good night, ladies. I’d say I’m sorry for stealing Sasha away, but I’m not.”

   When they heard the front door close, Julie broke the silence. “I would never in a million years have thought they’d be good together, but every time I see them, I can’t imagine them with anyone else.”

   “She grounds him,” Dena said. “I haven’t known him for as long as Daniel, but she soothes him, for lack of a better word. There’s a peace with him he’s never had before. Even with Kate.”

   “Kate and Cole were in a twenty-four/seven relationship for eight years,” Abby told Meagan.

   “I think it’s because she accepts who he is and doesn’t try to change him or make him something he’s not,” Julie said. “And he does the same for her.”

   “That’s so important,” Abby said. “If you go into a relationship trying to change that person, you’ll never be content.”

   It was a simple truth, one Meagan had heard numerous times before. But for some reason, hearing Abby say it thrust it in an entirely new light. How many times had she gone into a relationship with that mind-set? Granted, it was never as cut-and-dried as “He’s okay. Let me fix XYZ and he’ll be perfect,” but the intention was there.

   And how many times had she been in a relationship when the guy tried to change her? Too many to count.

   If Sasha and Cole had found in the other person someone who accepted them, she was thrilled. And jealous.

   Her phone buzzed and she pulled it from her pocket. Luke. She’d told him she was going to the bed-and-breakfast, but hadn’t told him about her change of plans.

   “Hey,” she said, answering.

   “Hey.” He didn’t sound right. Not really as though he was angry, but there was a hint of something in his voice.

   “Something wrong? You sound off.” She prayed silently that he hadn’t found out about The Taskmaster.