Regarding precisely how he had managed to return home on that fateful day, Julian Sterling possessed absolutely no recollection whatsoever. His memory was a blank slate, washed clean by exhaustion. He had simply fallen into a slumber so deep, so absolute, that it felt akin to a temporary death, his consciousness completely submerged in darkness. He had been entirely at the mercy of the world, leaving Ethan Caldwell free to do precisely as he pleased with Julian's insensate form.
The immediate consequence of that unbridled, chaotic night was swift and severe: Ethan Caldwell was strictly prohibited from crossing the threshold of the master bedroom. Julian had issued a non-negotiable decree, Ethan was banned from the bed for an entire week.
