The Claiming by Tara Sue Me

door. Too late, she wondered what they were going to do if the door was locked, but it opened up to an empty kitchen.
    Certain at least the first part of the escape plan was clear, she ran back to the maze.
    â€œAll good,” she said. “Let’s go.”
    They all three ran together and she didn’t think any one of them took a breath until they were safely in the kitchen.
    â€œI don’t like it,” Julie said. “It’s too quiet. They have to be somewhere.”
    â€œMaybe they decided to finish the game,” Sasha said.
    â€œRight.” Abby stuck her head out into the hallway. “And they just decided to ignore the fact that we ruined their fun. No, I agree with Julie. Something’s going on.” She looked back over her shoulder. “Looks clear. Do we go through the pantry or down the hall?”
    â€œPantry leads directly to the ballroom. Hallway’s more exposed.” Sasha checked to make sure the pantry was empty.
    â€œI vote we stay in the kitchen and bake something to say we’re sorry.” Julie pointed to her left. “Sasha, I think those are carrots over there. Why don’t you get started on them and we’ll make a carrot cake?”
    â€œYou’re lucky I don’t throw one at you. Pantry, you think?” Sasha asked.
    â€œPantry,” Abby and Julie said together.
    They stepped into the pantry. It was only a short walk to the back entrance of the ballroom. But as soon as they stepped into the large room, Sasha knew something was off. The room was pitch-black, which didn’t seem right. Normally, the front double doors were open to let in light.
    â€œUh-oh,” she said, right at the exact moment the room suddenly lit up.
    When her eyes finally adjusted, all she could focus on were the three men in the middle of the room. She froze, trying to decide if she should turn back and run into the pantry or stay where she was.
    â€œYou know,” Cole said, and she couldn’t hear any emotion in his voice, “if you look out from the upstairs office, you can see directly down into the maze.”
    â€œDamn it,” Abby muttered behind her. “I didn’t think about looking up.”
    â€œRookie mistake,” Sasha agreed. “We’d suck as spies.”
    â€œThe hallway’s exposed. Go through the pantry.” Julie glared at Sasha. “Brilliant plan.”
    â€œYeah, well, I didn’t hear you come up with anything other than a carrot cake,” Sasha reminded her.
    Daniel was trying to hide his grin. “Carrot cake sounds pretty good.”
    Julie perked up. “I’ll go make one!”
    â€œNo,” Cole said. “You ran off together, you can deal with the consequences together. Besides, Sasha doesn’t cook. Especially with carrots.”
    â€œDamn,” Julie said.
    â€œYou brought it on yourself.” Nathaniel crooked finger at Abby. “Come here, Abigail.”
    Abby didn’t hesitate. “Yes, Master.”
    She seemed to almost glide as she crossed the floor to where her husband stood, holding up the blindfold she’d unwrapped earlier. She knelt down before him and he wasted no time covering her eyes.
    He stood back. “You look very, what’s the word?
Bewitching.
Yes, you look very bewitching like this.”
    â€œSo bewitching,” Cole said. “I think Sasha and Julie need blindfolds, too.”
    Julie and Sasha exchanged an uh-oh look.
    Cole lowered his voice. “Now.”
    They both hurried to their respective Doms and knelt.
    Cole’s hands were quick and efficient as he blindfolded Sasha. “Now, my naughty girl, you won’t able to see what’s happening or who’s doing it.”
    Her mouth grew dry.
Who?
Did that mean either Nathaniel or Daniel might touch her? She wasn’t sure she liked that, and even though playing with others wasn’t a hard limit, she thought it was for the other two