I walk through the hallway of Lucian’s penthouse, my chest heaving with excitement, my heart pounding with anticipation. I’m feeling nauseated, and I don’t know what from.

Things are different. Yesterday was different. The rules have changed. At least for me they have. I was too chickenshit to tell him that I want him as a partner, a boyfriend, whatever he wants to call it. I need more than a Dom. But I think he knows that. Maybe I’m just pretending. Playing house so that I don’t have to believe that I’m just his pet. Just a Submissive he bought at the auction. It feels like so much more though, at least to me.

I’m too afraid to put a label on us. I’m afraid of what he’ll say.

I key in the code and open the door. Just like I’ve done every day for almost a month, it feels natural. Setting my purse on a stand in the foyer, I stop for a moment to touch the necklace at my throat. Lucian gave it to me this morning. It’s beautiful, made of gold and diamonds and has a bold, but elegant thickness to it. He wants me to be collared at all times. And he’s obtained a variety of them for me. I’m spoiled. I’m very well aware that he’s spoiling me in the jewelry department.

Reaching up behind my neck, I delicately take off the chain and slip it into my purse, grabbing out my new Sub collar in its place and locking it around my neck. This one is even more beautiful, with spiked diamonds and gorgeous gold accents dotting the sumptuous, cream-colored leather. It’s very flashy, and I would never wear it unless I was alone with Lucian.

I continue down the hallway on my way to the playroom, when I see him standing at the foot of the double-sided staircase. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of him. He’s never home when I get here. I’m supposed to wait for him. For a moment fear grips my chest, and I think I must be late. But he smiles at me as he walks toward me. No hint of a punishment in sight. He’s looking fucking hot as hell this afternoon, which shouldn’t be surprising since I saw him earlier this morning and he looked fucking hot as hell then, too.

It’s obvious he’s been waiting for me, and I’ve shown up exactly when he wants me to. My pulse begins to pound between my ears, and my legs tremble slightly as his gaze falls on me.

I quickly kneel, falling easily to the floor and submitting to him. I place my hands on my thighs and wait for him obediently. It’s the position he first made me get in on our first day. The memory puts a small smile on my face.

“Come here, treasure,” he commands in a voice I can’t deny.

I drop onto all fours and slowly begin crawling my way over to my Dom. It feels awkward. I’ve never crawled to him before, but I’m his Sub right now and I think this is what I’m supposed to do. I don’t want to mess up. I jolt slightly when he commands me to stop, his voice harsh.

“Don’t crawl,” he says, a hint of irritation in his voice. “I don’t want to play right now. Get up and walk over to me.”

Ashamed, I climb to my feet, my cheeks burning. I hesitate, feeling insecure now, my anxiety returning.

“Now, treasure,” he demands with even more authority.

My stomach twisting with apprehension, I walk over to stand in front of him. Up close, I can see something’s off about him. His whole body seems tense and he looks like… just worn down, like he’s had a rough day. At least, I hope that’s what it is.

My contract is almost over. Maybe he’s about to tell me he doesn’t want to renew it. That he’s ready to move on.

I’m filled with nausea over these thoughts, and it’s hard to keep my composure. Before I can ask him what’s wrong, he pulls me into him, kissing me on the lips passionately. Sighing softly, I melt into his arms, letting him hold me, surrendering my entire body to him.

When Lucian pulls back, my chest is heaving as I release breathless pants. That kiss was intense, and it goes a long way in calming me. Lucian obviously isn’t calling things off. Yet.

“What was that all about?” I ask breathlessly.

“You asked for more. That was me giving you more.”

I try to respond, but I’m not sure how. I didn’t expect this. This can’t really be happening.

I part my lips to say something, anything, but Lucian places his fingers against them, quieting me. “Shhh. This is about me and you right now. Let me give you what you asked for. We’re not going to the playroom tonight. Tonight, it’s just us.”

Just us? I stare at him in shock, hardly trusting what he’s offering. Lucian appears to be dangling everything I could ever want, right in front of me. I should be jumping for joy, yet I’m still worried that this is all some sort of cruel joke.

“Will that make you happy, treasure?” he asks, looking me straight in the eyes and making me weak in the knees. I can’t believe it. I want to clarify what more means to him. But I can’t. I’m afraid of the answer, and the deadline approaching us.

“Yes… Lucian,” I respond softly.

* * *

“You’re doing well,” Lucian whispers in my ear, his breath hot on my neck as he places his large hands atop mine and gently guides them in kneading the big ball of dough on the cutting board in front of us.

For dinner, Lucian wanted to pass on takeout and bond over making homemade pizza. I was apprehensive about it as I’ve only made it a few times before, and it’s never turned out well. But Lucian assured me it would be fine, that I had all I needed, chiefly him to guide me. Turns out he was right, the dough is almost perfect. And the experience has been one of the most pleasant things I’ve done in a while.

I could learn to love this, I think dreamily, enjoying the sensation of Lucian’s closeness.

A soft sigh escapes my lips as I’m pulled out of my thoughts and feel the heat of his body behind me, his hands guiding mine in a very sensual and deliberate manner, and his big hard dick pressing up against my ass.

“Do you like that, treasure?” Lucian says in my ear, nibbling on my neck, gyrating his cock gently up against my ass cheek, while pressing my hands into the soft dough, molding it into a flat surface.

“Yes,” I moan, my pussy clenching repeatedly with need. “Please give it to me, sir.”

Lucian kisses me several more times on the neck before saying, “Uh-uh, treasure. Not until we finish this pizza.” He huffs out a small chuckle in my ear. “Or at least get it in the oven.”

I feel like this is cruel and unusual punishment, pressing his big cock up against me, and then telling me I can’t have it until we finish. But I know better than to argue. I just need to get this pizza crust done pronto, throw on the sauce and toppings: pepperoni, sausage, bell peppers, onions, four cheeses, and then throw it in the oven. So I can get all of that big fucking cock.

I continue to let Lucian guide me with molding the dough, and by the time we finish the crust I’m completely covered in flour. But worse than that, my panties are soaked.

“See, treasure?” Lucian asks, stepping out from behind me and filling me with disappointment. Unlike me, Lucian only has flour on his hands and a little bit on his blue apron. He nods at the crust we made and places it on the pizza pan next to the cutting board. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

I shake my head, blushing, wishing he were still behind me. “No, I enjoyed it. A lot.”

Lucian gives me a hooded look filled with desire, and a promise of what is to come and my breath quickens. “As did I.”

I blush harder and I’m about to reply when my cell, which is lying on the end of the counter, goes off with rapid dings. Lucian glances at it and then gives me a look.

I shrug, wiping my hands off with the towel and wondering if it’s my mom. Maybe she changed her mind about Christmas.

Before I can take two steps, my phone goes off several more times and I pause. It’s unusual I get that many texts in such rapid fashion. Maybe I should check to see who it is. Wiping my hands on a dishrag, I walk over and pick up the phone, but I almost drop it a second later when I see the series of texts, a cold chill striking my spine.

“Oh my God,” I gasp, my heart pounding wildly in my chest, dropping my phone to the counter.

Lucian tears his eyes away from the stove and settles them on me. “What’s wrong?” he asks with concern.

I place a hand over my chest to calm my rapidly beating heart. “Those texts I just got... they were from my mom.”

Lucian goes rigid and he clenches his jaw, but I’m too freaked out to really respond to his strange reaction. “And?” he asks.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my pulse. “She said my uncle was found dead...” my voice trails off as my mind races in disbelief. My blood heats, and my breath is coming in short pants. The person who’d caused me so much grief is now dead. It doesn’t even sound real. He’s gone.

Lucian doesn’t immediately respond, but I take his silence as shock.

“I can’t believe it.” The words fall from my lips as I read the texts over and over.

I glance at Lucian, noticing that his entire demeanor has changed. The playfulness I enjoyed while we made the crust is gone.

His face is emotionless. I’ve seen the look before. It’s his mask. He’s hiding what he truly thinks. A wave of a chill runs through my body, turning my blood to ice. I almost ask him if he knew. He doesn’t look surprised. He seems to be waiting for something. Or hiding something.

My heart thuds hard in my chest as I tear my eyes away from him. The thoughts in my head are just paranoia; horrible suspicion pressing down on my chest, a suspicion I desperately don't want to believe.

“Lucian?” I say his name as a question although I can’t ask what I really want to know. Something deep down in the pit of my stomach is telling me he did this. Maybe he’s not the one who pulled the trigger. But Lucian murdered him.

I swallow thickly as his heavy footsteps approach me.

I have to hold on to the counter to keep myself upright, suddenly feeling like I’m going to faint.

“Are you alright, treasure?” Lucian asks, concern returning to his voice as he walks over and wraps his arms around me, holding me close. I feel awful for leaning into him. For even thinking he did this. The club is full of powerful men. You don’t want to be their enemy. Carla’s words echo in my head as he rubs soothing circles on my arm.

Swallowing back a wave of uncertainty, I reply, “I’m fine.”