“Oh, Sir…”
Broken
Faelan sought Brie out the next afternoon. “Have you seen Mary?”
“She left after lunch. Didn’t tell me where she was headed, though.” Brie could feel his anxiety, but was unsure of the cause. “What? Is something wrong?”
“I suspect she’s with Razor right now.”
Brie had noticed Mary’s unnatural attraction to the fierce Dom. It wasn’t a sexual attraction, but something darker and more insidious. “I’ll help you look for her.”
After searching the main building and barn, they headed out towards the woods. When they heard Mary’s screams, they sprinted in the direction of her cries and found her bound to a tree. Razor was slapping her face with such force that it was already leaving bruises.
“Stop!” Faelan demanded.
Razor looked at him with surprise, but stepped away, growling, “I’m only giving the lady what she wants.”
“I understand. It’s not you I have an issue with.” Faelan said, ignoring Razor as he approached Mary. She was slow to respond, the endorphins having kicked in from their violent play, but she turned her head to face Faelan with a look of defiance.
“Why are you going down this path again?” he asked, sympathy coloring the anger in his voice.
Mary frowned, and replied with disdain, “Fuck you, Faelan.”
“I won’t do this again. You were free of your father’s influence; why are you choosing to return by playing out your past now?”
Her lip trembled for a moment, but she shook it off and lashed out angrily. “You don’t know what I want or need!”
Faelan began untying her from the tree. “You are like an addict, incapable of staying away from the one thing that will destroy you.”
“Don’t be so overdramatic, asshole. And stop treating me like a child.”
As soon as she was free, he pushed her up against the tree. “I told you never to do this again and yet you defy me?”
Her answer dripped with insolence. “Yes.”
“I can’t—I won’t do this anymore with you.” He let go of her. “You have a choice, Mary. You can stop pursuing your past or drown in it.”
She shot daggers of hate in her gaze as she raised her chin defiantly to him.
“Fine.” Faelan backed away from her slowly, with a look of resignation and overwhelming sadness in his eyes. “Goodbye, Mary.”
The words sounded so final that it frightened Brie. “Don’t do this. You’re both upset. Why don’t you discuss this when you’ve had time to calm down?”
Faelan looked at Brie, his blue eyes communicating his resolve. “She made her choice the moment she sought Razor out for this scene. There is nothing more to say.”
He walked away, not looking back when Mary called out to him. When he didn’t respond, she turned to Brie and rolled her eyes. “Such a fucking drama queen…”
“Go after him,” Brie implored.
“He’ll be back.”
“No, Mary. He won’t.”
Mary gave an insolent laugh. “Oh, he’ll be back. The poor boy can’t get enough of me.”
Razor chuckled as he grabbed her roughly by the throat. “Then let’s finish what we started, slut.” He spat in her face as he slammed her against the tree.
“Hit me again.”
Brie turned away. It was heartbreaking that Mary was encouraging her own destruction. She watched in desperation as Faelan disappeared into the woods.
“Damn it, Mary. If you don’t go after him right now, you’ll lose him.”
When Blonde Nemesis acted as though she hadn’t heard, Brie started after Faelan, shouting behind her, “You’re a fucking fool, Mary!”
“And you’re a stupid bitch!”
Brie could not catch up, and lost Faelan long before she made it back to the lodge. She saw Sir talking to a group of Dominants and ran to him, panting for breath.
Sir excused himself and led Brie to a private spot, obviously concerned for her. “What’s wrong, Brie?”
“Todd’s run off. Mary defied him and he says he’s done with her.” Tears started to fall when she confessed, “She needs him, Sir.”
Instead of becoming concerned, Sir pulled Brie into his arms. “I was afraid it would end this way.”
She looked up at him in disbelief. “Why would you say that?”
“Wallace spoke to me about Mary’s attraction to the newest Dom. Unfortunately, the man bears a striking resemblance to her father.”
Brie suddenly felt nauseated. “Oh no…”
“Wallace is doing the right thing. Her defiance of his direct command cemented her fate.”
“But they love each other,” she insisted.
“Wallace has done what he can to ensure her well-being. Now he must concentrate on himself.”
Brie felt a prickling on the back of her neck. “Sir, is there something wrong with Todd?”
The seriousness of Sir’s expression confirmed her fears. “It’s not for me to say. If Wallace wanted you to know, he would have shared it with you.”
Brie’s heart beat wildly, a feeling of panic setting in. “He can’t leave Mary now. She has no idea, Sir. I’m sure of it.”
“He didn’t want to burden her, and ultimately it is his choice.”
“But she would never let him go if she knew. It’s not fair to her. I have to tell him!”
“I don’t believe it would do any good.”
The desperation she felt was overwhelming, and she begged, “Please, Sir.”
He took pity on her, and told Brie, “Wallace went downstairs to pack. You may speak to him if he is still there.”
She raced into the lodge and burst through the door to see Faelan closing his suitcase.
“There’s nothing to be said, Brie,” he barked.
“Whatever is wrong with you, Mary deserves to know.”
His eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“I suspected something was wrong, and Sir just confirmed it but wouldn’t tell me what.”
He chuckled angrily. “Leave it to you to notice, when Mary didn’t.”
“She would never let you go if she knew, Todd.”
“It makes no difference and wouldn’t have changed what happened today.”
“Trust me, if Mary knew—”
“This is something I have to face alone. She doesn’t need to know and neither do you.” He looked at Brie sternly. “I don’t want Mary to know anything about it.”
“But—”
“Do not defy me in this.”
His tone took her certainty down a notch or two. Faelan was right. This was his life, his decision. It wasn’t her place to intervene. “Fine, Todd. I won’t.”
“At this moment, Mary is basking in the belief that she has one-upped me, but once she realizes what she’s done, she’s going to fall hard.” He looked at Brie with compassion. “If she reaches out to you, promise me you’ll support her.”
“But I’m so pissed with her now!”
“Feel free to hit her between the eyes with how you feel, the same way she would you, but be there for her nonetheless. I’m afraid she has chosen a path she won’t recover from.”
The look of loss on Faelan’s face undid Brie. She walked over to him and placed her hand over his heart. “I’m sorry.”
He looked at her with ocean-blue eyes haunted by deep sorrow. “I don’t understand why I was spared on the day of the crash and not the boy I hit, because nothing I’ve done since has amounted to anything.”
“No, that’s not true,” Brie protested. “I’m grateful to know you, and Mary is a better person because of you. Don’t doubt that—never doubt that.”
He shrugged. “Just be there for her, Brie. You’re the only real friend she has.”
“Of course. Can I at least ask where you’re headed?”
He smiled sadly, shaking his head. “No, that’s just between me and the powers above.” He slung his duffle bag over his shoulder and grabbed
the suitcase. “See you, blossom.”
Tears blurred her vision as she watched him go, the lump in her throat making it impossible to speak.
But in her head she was crying, Don’t leave!
Skeletons
Mary avoided Brie like the plague the last few days of her stay, choosing to bunk with another couple in a room at the other end of the lodge. Whenever an accidental meeting occurred, she treated Brie as if she didn’t exist, although she acknowledged Sir.
“You are being very patient with her,” Sir complimented Brie.
“I understand Mary. Despite her bravado, she knows she messed up—and bad. She just isn’t ready to admit it yet, especially to me.”
On the last day, however, Mary sought her out while Brie was taking in the mountain scenery from the bridge; the same bridge where Faelan had met with Brie on the first day.
“So you’re headed back into the vanilla world, huh?”
“Yes, but I’m going to miss this place.”
“Yeah, you’re going to wish you could come back here, I bet.”
Brie smiled, glad they were talking. “I’m sure I will.”
Mary shifted uncomfortably on her feet. It took her several minutes before she built up enough courage to say, “If you see Faelan, tell him I’m sorry.”
“I will.” Brie didn’t have the heart to tell Mary that she had no way to pass on the message.
Mary looked broken when she confessed, “I don’t think he’s coming back.”
Brie felt tears prick her eyes. “No, I don’t think he will.”
Mary glanced around and stated, “Here I am, living the dream, and it doesn’t mean a damn thing without him.”
“Brie,” Sir said, walking up to them, “Gannon wants to speak to us before we leave.”
“Certainly, Sir.” She reached out to hug Mary and clasped her hand instead when the girl tried to pull away. “Look, I’m here for you. You can call if you need to talk, even though you’ll have to head into Whitefish to do it.”
Mary rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
Brie took the arm Sir offered and they headed towards Gannon’s office. Mary called out to her, “You’d better accept the charges if I call, Stinky Cheese.”
Brie turned around and laughed. “I make no promises, Mary Quite Contrary.”
Master Gannon had an unexpected surprise for them when they reached his office. Brie had assumed he wanted to go over last-minute issues concerning the footage she’d shot. Instead, he handed Sir a large envelope. “It just arrived.”
Sir took it from him and looked at the address of the sender. He glanced at Brie. “It’s from my lawyer.”
Brie held her breath, afraid she already knew what it said. Sir tore open the envelope and read through the first letter with a questioning look. He shook his head and handed it to her while he read the second.
She looked it over with a growing sense of dread.
Dear Mr. Davis,
I didn’t want to bring this issue to your attention until I was certain it was a legitimate concern. I received this letter a week ago and requested she submit a genetic test to verify her claim. Normally, that is enough to deter scam artists, but she has agreed to the test.
I await further instructions at your earliest convenience.
Harold Thompson, Attorney at Law
Brie looked up and saw Sir with an expression of disbelief on his face. He read the letter again before handing it to her. Brie didn’t want to take it, based on the look he gave her. She was sure it could only mean one thing—he was a father.
Brie noted that the woman’s penmanship was as exquisite as Sir’s.
Dear Thane Davis,
It is with a racing heart that I pen this letter to you. I have lived my life believing I was an only child. My mother, Ruth Elizabeth Meyers, never spoke of you, never once mentioned her life before my father, Jake Robert Meyers.
I can hardly think straight, and apologize if this letter makes no sense. I only just learned that my mother lies dying in a hospital in China. Even worse, I have been told that you may be seeking to end her life.
I beg you to spare her. Whatever your relationship was with my mother, you should know that she has always been good to me. I love her with all my heart, and cannot bear to lose her.
I hope you will agree to meet with me. Hopefully, we can come to a mutual decision concerning her future care and unravel the secrets she’s kept hidden from us both.
I have no idea why she kept her past from me but, now that I know you exist, I feel desperate to meet you.
With earnest sincerity,
Lilly Meyers
Brie was stunned, and handed the letter back to him listlessly. He took it and read through it a third time.
Sir has a sister…
Why did that fill her with such foreboding?
Sir kept his cool, shaking Master Gannon’s hand. “Thank you, Gannon. We have both enjoyed our stay here. You’ve created an environment for true community and sexual freedom that I didn’t think possible. I’m impressed.”
“I believe it should be the norm, not the exception.” Master Gannon stated. He turned to Brie and shook her hand. “I hope the exposure you bring to my vision will incite change.”
“That is my hope as well, Gannon. I will do my very best.”
“I expect no less.”
When they left Master Gannon’s office, Rajah was there to meet them. Brie looked down when she felt the black cat rub against her leg. She smiled and picked him up, scratching under his chin.
Rajah looked at her strangely.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, squeezing the cat against her.
“Shadow doesn’t come to anyone but Master Gannon.”
Brie smiled as she continued to pet the cat. “Really? He’s been my friend during the entire stay here.”
Rajah raised his eyebrow. “Master Gannon will find that fascinating.”
Brie tried to hand the cat to him, but Shadow jumped out of her arms and ran out of the door. She giggled and shrugged. “Cats…”
“Pussies continue to remain a mystery to me,” Rajah replied with a poker face as he handed Brie her car keys and cell phone. He then addressed Sir. “I’ve put your luggage in the trunk as well, Sir Davis. You are free to leave.”
Brie asked Sir, “Didn’t you drive here?”
“No, my dear. I flew in by private plane and landed a few miles from the commune on the morning of the dungeon event. Gannon picked me up personally. You had no idea that I was speaking to you from inside the main building when you called from Gannon’s office?”
Brie shook her head. “A man of many surprises.”
He looked at the papers in his hand. “Some I’m not even aware of.”
Once they were on the road and could talk privately, Brie asked, “Do you think there’s a possibility the woman’s telling the truth, Sir?”
He glanced at her, shaking his head. “Frankly, I was expecting a false paternity suit.”
Brie didn’t want to admit she’d immediately assumed he was a father. She felt guilty now, knowing it showed a lack of trust in his honor that Sir did not deserve.
He continued, “Having a sibling was never a consideration. I will not give it another thought unless the test results confirm her claim.”
“Do you want to head back to LA, then?”
“Brie, there is no need to concern ourselves about this when all we have to go on is a simple letter. The world is full of unscrupulous people. No, we move forward with our lives as if nothing has happened.”
“As you wish.”
“I’ve been looking forward to seeing Durov again, and we have yet to make use of the birthday present he gave you,” he said, taking her hand and putting it to his lips. “Which is long overdue, babygirl.”
The Parents
Once they were in the air, Sir explained that he had a short detour planned for them. Brie was elated, thinking that not only was she getting a trip to Russia, but an a
dditional surprise as well. Those happy feelings died when she started noticing the familiar landscape of Nebraska outside the airplane window.
“We’re visiting my parents, aren’t we?”
“Yes. Although we’ve spoken to them about the wedding date, your parents deserve to be part of the planning process. It’s tradition, is it not?”
“Yes, but normally the bride knows where she’s getting married.”
Sir smiled charmingly. “Nothing about us is normal, babygirl.”
“You aren’t planning on telling them the location, are you?”
“Naturally.”
“How is that fair?”
“This is not about being fair, Brie.” He kissed her hand, grinning with a mischievous glint in his eye. “It’s about planning an event that will enchant you.”
“But I hate surprises.”
“No, you don’t,” he corrected. “You hate having to wait.”
A young boy peeked his head over the seat and stared at them.
Sir continued, “As I am a responsible Ma—” he looked at the child and amended his next word, “…man, I must provide you with lessons in patience.”
“You try my patience, Sir,” Brie replied, pouting.
He chuckled, nodding to the child who was staring at him so intently. “I must continually provide her with lessons because she’s such a stubborn pupil.”
The little boy’s eyes grew wide at actually being acknowledged by Sir, and he quickly popped back down in his seat.
Brie grinned. It was heartwarming to see her Master interacting with a child.
Sir turned to Brie. “I firmly believe in the saying ‘Spare the rod, spoil the child’.” He kissed her on the lips and whispered huskily, “But it may be because I enjoy using my rod on you—repeatedly.” Her stomach fluttered at his words.
She could only giggle when the little boy popped his head up again.
As they pulled up to her parents’ home, Brie’s stomach trembled for a different reason. “This should be a good visit, right?”
Sir held out his hand and helped Brie out of the car. “I’m unsure. Although your parents have accepted your choice of husband, I don’t get the impression they’re happy about it.”