around the back of Danielleâs nape. âOnly one way to find out.â She leaned in and pressed her soft lips against Danielleâs, giving her a moment to process before intensifying the kiss. Danielle found herself responding, parting her lips and sighing into Gracieâs open mouth. She tasted like banana. And chocolate. Milk chocolate if she wasnât mistaken. Danielle wondered where she could find some more of that chocolate in this place, because the apple had done nothing to diminish her appetite.
Gracie abruptly ended the kiss. âAnything?â
No racing heart. No throb between her thighs. No desire to do it again. Kissing a woman hadnât nauseated her, but it did nothing for her other than make her crave a candy bar. âNot really. I mean, itâs not that youâre not attractiveââ
âIf your Master wanted you to do it, would you?â Still smiling, Gracie didnât seem to take offense. âI canât tell you how to answer, but itâs something to think about as you complete your questionnaire. Remember, itâs our role to serve our Master, but not at our own expense. Itâs like a mirror. Our happiness reflects on him, and his on us.â
Danielle felt as though Gracie was talking in riddles. If kissing a woman didnât excite her sexually, why would she do it for her Master? âI donât understand.â
âDonât worry. By the time you finish your training, you wonât remember a time you didnât understand. Just keep an open mind and an open heart, and youâll find answers to questions you didnât even know you sought.â Gracie hopped up from the bed. âIâll let you get settled, and then Iâll come by later so we can have dinner together. If you need anything, press one on the phone to call my cell, two for Adrian, or zero for Master Cole.â She threw her arms around Danielle and hugged her tight. âIâm glad youâre here. Iâve been waiting to meet youâI mean, someone like youâfor a long time. I have a feeling weâre going to be good friends.â
After Gracie left the room, Danielle removed her coat, lay back, and stared at the chandelier. Everything here was so confusing. She rubbed her temples. Her vision blurred from exhaustion, and her head ached slightly from lack of sleep, food, and the stress of knowing her stepmotherâs life was at risk.
In her purse, her cell phone rang. With dread, she retrieved it, then answered the unlisted number. Her stomach plummeted, and her pulse went into overdrive. âHello?â
âYouâve been a good girl and followed my directions,â said a voice she recognized as the man whoâd been in her bedroom last night. âI canât wait to reward you. But first things first. You need to get into DeMarcoâs private residence. The only way to get to it is through a secret room, which is behind the bookcase in his office. The password to enter that room is âbenediction.â From there youâll need a key to get upstairs to his residence, and DeMarco is the only one who has it. Once you get in, youâll need to find a jewelry box. Your locket will open that box, and inside youâll find a trust document in your name, along with information on an offshore bank account. When you get it, youâll call me at 313-555-2468, and Iâll give you further instructions. So far, Tasha is safe. Itâs up to you to keep her that way. Tick-tock , Danielle.â
Chapter Five
S HE SHOT FROM the bed, her gaze darting around the room and the nape of her neck prickling. Despite Coleâs assertion there were no cameras in the bedrooms, Danielle couldnât shake the feeling of being watched.
Nothing made sense. Why was there a trust in her name hidden in Coleâs residence in a box that only her locket could open?
Danielle had very few items of her motherâs, which was why the