{"product_id":"sweet-persuasion-isbn-9780425266960","title":"Sweet Persuasion","description":"\u003cb\u003eFROM \u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE BREATHLESS TRILOGY MAYA BANKS \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe man of her dreams would give the orders. For him, she had two words that satisfied them both...\"\u003ci\u003eTake me\u003c\/i\u003e.\" \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor five years, Serena has run Fantasy Incorporated and has devoted her time to fulfilling her clients' fantasies. Never her own. Until now...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHer most secret desire is to give ownership of her body to a man. Someone who will command her, pleasure her, and have complete authority over her. So she seeks out Damon Roche, owner of an exclusive sex club and a man strong enough to make her do anything he wants. \u003ci\u003eAnything. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTogether they'll journey into a world she's only dreamed of. She's given the opportunity to immerse herself in a different life while her normal one waits for her to return whenever she wishes. Damon has no desire to let her go, however. Serena is the woman he's long searched for, and it's up to him to convince her to stay when the game is all over with. He wants their fantasy to become their reality and for Serena to remain his pampered, cherished submissive.Praise for the novels of Maya Banks, author of the Breathless Trilogy and the Colters novels...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[For] fans who prefer torrid temperatures.”—\u003ci\u003eMidwest Book Review \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Definitely a recommended read . . . filled with friendship, passion, and most of all, a love that grows beyond just being friends.”\u003ci\u003e—Fallen Angel Reviews \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Ignites the pages…Exciting erotic romance.”—\u003ci\u003eThe Best Reviews \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Grabbed me from page one and refused to let go until I read the last word . . . When a book still affects me hours after reading it, I can’t help but Joyfully Recommend it!” —\u003ci\u003eJoyfully Reviewed \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I guarantee I will reread this book many times over, and will derive as much pleasure as I did in the first reading each and every subsequent time.”—\u003ci\u003eNovelspot \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An excellent read that I simply did not put down . . . A fantastic adventure . . . covers all the emotional range.”—\u003ci\u003eThe Road to Romance\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A must-read author . . . her [stories] are always full of emotional situations, lovable characters, and kick-butt story lines.”\u003ci\u003e—Romance Junkies \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaya Banks\u003c\/b\u003e resides in Texas with her family. Among other titles, she is also the author of the Breathless Trilogy, the KGI Novels including \u003ci\u003eSoftly at Sunrise,\u003c\/i\u003e and the Colters novels including \u003ci\u003eColters' Promise.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTitle Page\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCopyright Page\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 1\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 2\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 3\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 4\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 5\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 6\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 7\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 8\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 9\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 10\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 11\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 12\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 13\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 14\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 15\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 16\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 17\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 18\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 19\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 20\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 21\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 22\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 23\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 24\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 25\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 26\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 27\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 28\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 29\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 30\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 31\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 32\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 33\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 34\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 35\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMAYA BANKS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A must-read author . . . her [stories] are always full of emotional situations, lovable characters and kick-butt story lines.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e—\u003ci\u003eRomance Junkies\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Definitely a recommended read . . . filled with friendship, passion and, most of all, a love that grows beyond just being friends.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e—\u003ci\u003eFallen Angel Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Grabbed me from page one and refused to let go until I read the last word . . . When a book still affects me hours after reading it, I can’t help but Joyfully Recommend it!”—\u003ci\u003eJoyfully Reviewed\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I guarantee I will reread this book many times over, and will derive as much pleasure as I did in the first reading each and every subsequent time.”—\u003ci\u003eNovelspot\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“An excellent read that I simply did not put down . . . a fantastic adventure . . . covers all the emotional range.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Road to Romance\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Searingly sexy and highly believable.”—\u003ci\u003eRomantic Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBerkley Heat titles by Maya Banks\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFOR HER PLEASURE \u003cbr\u003eSWEET SURRENDER \u003cbr\u003eBE WITH ME \u003cbr\u003eSWEET PERSUASION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished by the Penguin Group\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePenguin Group (USA) Inc.\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003ePenguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada \u003cbr\u003e(a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) \u003cbr\u003ePenguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England \u003cbr\u003ePenguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) \u003cbr\u003ePenguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia \u003cbr\u003e(a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) \u003cbr\u003ePenguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India \u003cbr\u003ePenguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0632, New Zealand \u003cbr\u003e(a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) \u003cbr\u003ePenguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, \u003cbr\u003eSouth Africa\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePenguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCopyright © 2009 by Sharon Long.\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll rights reserved. \u003cbr\u003eNo part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form \u003cbr\u003ewithout permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in \u003cbr\u003eviolation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions. \u003cbr\u003eHEAT and the HEAT design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePRINTING HISTORY \u003cbr\u003eHeat trade paperback edition \/ June 2009\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLibrary of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eISBN: 9781101078631\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1. Sexual dominance and submission—Fiction. I. Title. \u003cbr\u003ePS3602.A643S83 2009 \u003cbr\u003e813’.6—dc22 2008055290\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCHAPTER 1\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eD\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eo you know of anyone who fulfills sexual fantasies?” Serena James asked.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eQuiet descended. The hands massaging her tense shoulders stopped. Serena cracked one eye open to glance over at Faith Malone, who was lying on the next massage table, and then she craned her head to look over her shoulder at her masseuse, Julie Stanford, who owned the all-inclusive beauty salon Serena and Faith went to on a weekly basis.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Uh, honey, you’re the fantasy fulfiller,” Julie remarked in a dry voice. “And do you have to talk about sexual fantasies while I’m giving you a rubdown?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Quit your bitching and keep massaging,” Serena grumbled.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe closed her eyes and relaxed back onto the table. She should have known better than to bring up what was occupying her mind lately. A quiet sigh escaped her lips when Julie began kneading her muscles again.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The time to talk sexual fantasies is when I’m giving Nathan Tucker a massage,” Julie said in a dreamy tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith laughed next to Serena. “Is he a regular now?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Yep. Twice a month,” Julie said cheerfully. “Now \u003ci\u003ethat\u003c\/i\u003e is a job I’d do for free. I have to be careful not to drool on his back.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Not the front?” Serena mumbled.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJulie chuckled. “He only lets me do his back. Pity. I’d pay him to massage that chest.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Only his chest, huh?” Faith said.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Why only his back?” Serena asked.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJulie’s hands shook as she laughed. “He’s embarrassed, I think. Doesn’t want me to see his hard-on.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHer hands moved more firmly over Serena’s back, and Serena groaned in pleasure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“But enough about my obsession with Nathan Tucker. I want to know why you’re asking about sexual fantasies.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Yeah, me too,” Faith piped up. “Thinking of expanding Fantasy Incorporated?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena chuckled. “Uh, no. Paying people to fulfill other people’s \u003ci\u003esexual\u003c\/i\u003e fantasies is called prostitution, no?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Then why do you want to know about it?” Julie persisted. She patted Serena’s shoulder to let her know she was finished and then moved over to Faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena sat up and reached for a bathrobe, wrapping it around herself as she perched on the edge of the massage table. She stared over at Faith as Julie started her massage. Why \u003ci\u003ewas\u003c\/i\u003e she asking about it?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt was a slip of the tongue, one made by her ever increasing frustration that her life’s work was all about fulfilling other people’s fantasies—some frivolous, some the culmination of lifetimes of hope.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe was proud of her work. She made other people happy. And maybe that was why she was frustrated by her own lack of contentment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Maybe I just need to get laid,” Serena muttered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn amused grin split Julie’s lips. “Don’t we all. Well, except Faith here. I’m sure Gray is giving her all she needs in that quarter.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Hey, no hating,” Faith protested. “I can’t help it if I’m irresistible.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena threw a hand towel at Faith’s head, and Faith reached up, snagged it from her hair and threw it back.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“When are you getting married anyway?” Serena asked Faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Oh, no, you don’t,” Faith said as she cracked her eyes open to stare at Serena. “We were talking about \u003ci\u003eyour\u003c\/i\u003e sexual fantasy question.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Yeah, we were,” Julie said pointedly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena let out an exasperated breath. “You two are worse than a dog with a bone.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Yep,” Julie said with a grin. “I have no life, remember? I have to live vicariously through my clients. Now spill.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena bit her bottom lip then shrugged her shoulders. What the hell. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I have some pretty . . . interesting fantasies.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJulie snorted. “Don’t we all.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena could see Faith’s blush start at her feet and creep up her body. She grinned. “Apparently Faith does, judging by that blush.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith gave a mortified squeak and hid her face. “We’re not talking about me,” she said in a muffled voice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“No, but I wish we were,” Julie muttered. “I bet that sweet, innocent exterior shields a twisted mind.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Serena. We’re talking about Serena,” Faith pointed out.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJulie turned back to look at Serena. “So spill, honey. What’s so interesting about your sexual fantasies, and why would you want to know if someone we knew could fulfill them? As gorgeous as you are, you wouldn’t have to walk far to find any number of men more than willing to take directions.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena gave her a dark look. “I haven’t told you what my fantasies are.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Ooohhh,” Faith exclaimed. “Hurry up, Julie. This sounds like it’ll be good.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“My magic hands are being dumped for her demented fantasies?” Julie asked in an exaggerated hurt tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Like you aren’t every bit as eager to hear as she is,” Serena drawled.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJulie grinned. “True. Okay, Faith, all done. Better get dressed. You have no idea what Serena’s fantasies involve, and I have to think Gray would object to a lesbian threesome.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith blushed bright red, and it looked like her insides were squeezed to the bursting point.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena rolled her eyes. “You’re way too easy, Faith.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“You only think I’m all sweet and innocent,” Faith mumbled as she pulled on a robe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“What was that?” Julie asked, pouncing on Faith’s statement.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Serena. We’re talking about Serena. Remember?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe phone rang, and Julie held up a finger for them to wait as she walked over to answer. Serena sat there with her feet dangling down the side of the table. In the weeks the women had been meeting for massages and then lunch, they’d discussed a lot of outlandish topics, but never had those included the personal details of Serena’s deep, dark fantasies, and she honestly wasn’t sure she was prepared to unveil them. Even to her two closest friends.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut if not them, then who?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExactly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe sighed. Maybe she should just forget about them and continue on fulfilling other people’s hokey fantasies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJulie returned, a look of apology darkening her pretty features. “I’m sorry, guys. I can’t do lunch today. That was one of my clients in need of an emergency overhaul.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“That’s too bad,” Faith said with an unhappy grimace.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Overhaul? That doesn’t sound good,” Serena remarked.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJulie grinned. “It’s her own fault. She went to another stylist to get her hair done, and now she’s ten sorts of sorry and is crawling back to me.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Just like you like them,” Faith said as she hopped off the table.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“You two go on without me. But,” she said, pinning them both with a glare, “I’ll expect a \u003ci\u003efull\u003c\/i\u003e report later. As in nothing left out. Don’t make me hurt you.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena rolled her eyes and got down off the table to go dress. “Trust me. It’s not that juicy, Julie. As if anything in my boring-ass life would be.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJulie studied her with a speculative stare. “Oh, I don’t know, Serena. It’s always the boring ones who turn out to have the most shocking secrets.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAgain, a rosy blush stained Faith’s face, and Serena and Julie both burst out laughing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Obviously we haven’t been pressing Faith enough for hers,” Serena said dryly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Make her tell you at lunch,” Julie suggested. “Then you can call me later with the dirt.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Oh, she won’t do that,” Faith said innocently. “Because then I’d have to give you the dirt on her.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Somebody had better give me the scoop on both you deviants,” Julie warned. “I’ll withhold all services until I get it. And you, my dear, are due for a wax soon.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Crap,” Faith grumbled.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena linked her arms through Faith’s and started to drag her toward the dressing room. “We could always find a new salon, you know.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJulie snorted. “Sure, if you want to look like a scarecrow.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“She’s arrogant, isn’t she?” Serena said in a loud whisper as they exited the room.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJulie’s laughter followed them into the changing area.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena veered off into her cubicle to dress, and a few minutes later she met Faith out front where Julie was already soothing her distraught client. As Serena and Faith headed for the door, Julie caught their gaze and rolled her eyes heavenward. Serena blew her a kiss.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The usual?” Serena asked as she and Faith walked out to the parking lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith shook her head. “If we’re going to have a down and dirty conversation, I don’t want to go to Cattleman’s.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena lifted her brow. “Why not?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Because any one of the guys might be there,” Faith said.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Good point,” Serena mumbled. The men that Faith worked with, gorgeous specimens of men all of them, regularly haunted Cattleman’s, a local pub and grill. The last thing Serena wanted was an audience. Although if one of them wanted to step up and volunteer to man her fantasies, she wouldn’t complain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Where to, then?” she asked as they stopped at their cars.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“How about my apartment?” Faith suggested. “It isn’t far, and I can warm up some leftovers.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena sighed. “And there’s plenty of privacy for the juicy conversation you’re going to make me have.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith grinned impishly. “Exactly.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena followed Faith into her apartment. She’d only been inside Faith’s home once before, right after Faith’s fiancé, Gray Montgomery, had moved the majority of his things in.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Excuse the mess,” Faith said as she stepped around a box on the floor.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Moving?” Serena asked.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith’s smile lit up her entire face. “Gray and I are buying a house. We hope to move in as soon as we get married.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Julie is still mortally offended that you aren’t having a huge church wedding so she can make you look like a million dollars for the occasion,” Serena said as she settled onto a stool at the bar in the kitchen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith made a face. “Neither Gray nor I was crazy about a big fuss. Not after everything that happened.” Her smile faltered as pain flitted across her brow. “Pop wanted a big wedding too so he could give me away, but honestly, Gray and I just want to be together. The sooner, the better.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena smiled. “I think that’s great, Faith. You deserve to be happy after all you went through.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Enough about me,” Faith said brightly as she began taking containers out of the refrigerator. “We’re here to talk about you and these deviant fantasies of yours.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena groaned. “Who the hell says they’re deviant?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith chuckled. “The best ones always are. So what gives,  Serena?” Faith’s expression became more somber as she gazed at her friend. “You haven’t been yourself lately. You seem withdrawn, like you’re unhappy about something.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena plunked her elbows on the counter and cupped her jaw in her palm. “I’ve just been doing a lot of thinking.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“About?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The fact that I put so much time and effort into making other people’s fantasies come to life, but I ignore my own. And then I realized that I wouldn’t have the first clue how to make them come true anyway. Other people’s fantasies are so . . . normal compared to mine. My mother would have heart failure if she knew the girl she’d raised to be a self-sufficient, depend-on-no-man-for-your-security, successful businesswoman secretly fantasized about being a man’s sex slave.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith choked then coughed delicately to mask her reaction. “Sex slave?” she squeaked.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Yeah, knew you’d get a real kick out of that one,” Serena said glumly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Uh, no. I mean it’s just that’s the last thing I expected you to say.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Go ahead and say it. I’m crazy as a bat.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith set a plate of lasagna in front of Serena then settled onto the stool across the bar. “You’re not crazy, Serena,” she said calmly. “But sex slave? Are you talking one night of hot sex where you play the slave to the master, or is this something else entirely?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena felt warmth invade her cheeks. Damn it. Unlike Faith, she was not a blusher.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Well, preferably it would be longer than one night, but not permanent or anything. I mean, I think I’d like it. The idea turns me on, but I might hate it too.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith was silent for a long moment, and Serena fidgeted uncomfortably as she picked at her food.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“You’re wondering where on earth I came up with this, aren’t you?” Serena mumbled.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Quit being defensive, and don’t apologize for your desires,” Faith scolded. “God, don’t women do that enough? I’m just trying to figure out how serious you are about this. I mean if you just want to play out a fantasy, you could always hire a . . . What do they call a male prostitute anyway?” Faith asked with a giggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena closed her eyes. “I’m not hiring a damn gigolo. I want someone halfway normal. Preferably someone who hasn’t already made it with half the women in Houston. And I’d like more than one night. I don’t know, maybe a month. I won’t be able to discover anything about the reality if it’s only one night.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith gave her a thoughtful look. “I know someone who might be able to help you.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena’s mouth gaped open. “You?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith stuck her tongue out and scowled. “I’m not as innocent as you and Julie like to think.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena laughed. “Oh, I know, girlfriend. It’s always the sweet, shy ones who are the real dirty birds.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Dirty birds?” Faith sputtered. “Need I remind you of who is plotting to become a sex slave?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena grinned. “It has such a forbidden quality, doesn’t it?” She put a forkful of lasagna in her mouth and closed her eyes. “You’re a wonderful cook, you know? I can’t even boil water. I bet Gray thinks he’s in heaven.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“He’s not marrying me for my cooking,” Faith said dryly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Admit it. You’re a total dirty bird,” Serena coaxed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFaith flashed an unrepentant smile. “I can give you Damon Roche’s phone number.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Damon Roche? Is he the guy you think can turn me into a sex slave?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Not him personally,” Faith corrected. “But he owns a . . . hell, I’m still not sure what to call it. I suspect Damon wouldn’t appreciate me calling it a sex club.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Sex club?” Serena raised one brow and stared at Faith in surprise. “What the hell are you doing hanging out in a sex club?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“It was only once,” Faith muttered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Clearly you’ve been holding out on me.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“It didn’t exactly come up in conversation,” Faith said with a laugh. “Anyway, back to Damon. If you called him and told him what you wanted, I bet he could help. There seems to be something for everyone at his . . . establishment.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Is it safe?” Serena asked doubtfully.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Extremely. Damon has very tight security, and he screens his members very thoroughly.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Does Gray know about this Damon guy?” Serena asked, more to make Faith blush than any real curiosity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInstead of blushing, Faith smiled broadly. “Gray knows all about Damon. Damon is flying us to our honeymoon on his private jet.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The sex club business must be lucrative,” Serena murmured.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Oh, The House is a side diversion. Damon’s a business-man.” Faith frowned. “You know, I don’t think he’s ever told me what it is exactly that he does.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Oh, great. He’s probably a drug dealer.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“He’s not a drug dealer,” Faith said in exasperation. “Call him. Tell him what you want. He’s very easy to talk to.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“You’re not going to try and talk me out of my insanity?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSerena asked. “You’re my friend. You’re supposed to be mean and give me lectures so that later we can go on \u003ci\u003eOprah\u003c\/i\u003e and talk about what soul sisters we are.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Or I could go on \u003ci\u003eAmerica’s Most Wanted\u003c\/i\u003e after I kill you and dump your body in the gulf,” Faith muttered.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303434735845,"sku":"NP9780425266960","price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780425266960.jpg?v=1767737665","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/sweet-persuasion-isbn-9780425266960","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}