Aces of Hearts

by Li Ace



. . ."Look, I know there is nothing seriously wrong with you. The longer you stay up here, the harder it's gonna be to face them. So get your ass out of bed, get dressed, and get to work," he commanded.

"Work? Oh, I'm sorry, I thought my job description had changed recently," she spat back before she realized what she had said. Automatically, she covered her mouth in shock at her own words.

Cole smiled, cocking a questioning brow at her unwitting reference to her current status. "Okay, granted. You've been promoted out of the stables and into my bed, but you needn't chain yourself to a bed on my account. If I should have need of you, believe me, I'll find you and let you know," he teased, grinning from ear to ear.

"You give new meaning to the word insufferable," she hissed.

"Thank you. Now, are you getting up?" he asked evenly.

"No, thank you. I'm quite comfortable, right here," she answered smartly, turning her attention back to her book.

Cole walked away, disappearing into the dressing room. Lacy was surprised she had won this round so easily and chuckled to herself. Her chuckles died, however, as he reentered the room carrying an assortment of belts and a bandanna, and looking all too pleased with himself. An alarm went off in her head, prompting her next question.

"What are you doing?" she asked apprehensively.

Cole eyed the four large posts at each corner of the bed before answering. "Well, it will be a good stretch from post to post for your legs, but then again, what's a little discomfort. Oh yeah, and this time, we definitely use the gag," he confidently assured her, holding up the bandanna as if to validate his claim.

Lacy's eyes widened in panic as she challenged in a small, breathless voice, "You wouldn't?"

"Wouldn't I?" he returned, raising both his brows in anticipation of her next words . . .