Brie Masters Love in Submission: Submissive in Love (89 page)

“Nothing.”

“
Nothing
… Okay, ’cause I swear I saw you gazing all lovey-dovey into each other’s eyes. It makes me wonder if that’s how you ‘cared’ for Faelan.”

Brie slammed on the brakes and pulled to the side of the road. “Don’t even go there.”

Mary shrugged. “Hey, I only call it like I see it.”

“Tono died on the table during surgery, Mary. I bet you didn’t know that. Well, I still haven’t gotten over the shock of it.”

“Look, I don’t care if you’re two-timing Sir—I won’t tell. But you’d better not be pulling that shit with Faelan.”

“What would it matter if I was? I asked you to come to Denver to care for him, but you’re planning to dump him instead? I don’t get you at all!”

Mary glared at her. “Let it go, Brie… Get your fucking errand done so I can go back and get this over with.” She looked visibly shaken and turned away to hide it.

Brie was at a loss, but remembered Tono’s assertion that there were things she didn’t know about Mary—and might never know. Pulling back onto the road, she continued on her mission.

“What the hell is this place?” Mary grumbled when Brie parked the car in an old neighborhood north of Denver.

“A no-kill animal shelter. I owe Master Anderson,” Brie answered, without explaining further.

Brie headed straight into the large home that had been converted into a shelter for dogs and cats, leaving Mary behind. She stopped just inside to watch a glassed-walled room full of tumbling puppies. She figured Mary couldn’t resist such adorableness, and smiled to herself when Blonde Nemesis walked through the door and stood beside her.

“Aren’t they the cutest?” Brie asked, giggling when one of the pups nipped its own tail and started running in circles.

“They may be cute to look at, but they’re a pain in the ass to care for,” Mary answered.

“Puppies are a lot of work… Oh, my gosh, did you see that? The little Golden just fell into the water bowl.” Brie giggled.

“Get whatever you came for so we can get the hell out of here.”

Mary pretended she didn’t enjoy the puppy’s antics, but Brie knew better. As she walked away to talk to the staff, she looked back and noted that Mary chose not to return to the car, staying to watch the adorable puppies instead.

Animals are good for the soul
, Brie thought, and it made her that much more excited about her gift.

She spent nearly an hour observing and playing with many of the tiny creatures, wanting to make sure she picked the right one for the sexy Dom, being in no hurry to return to the hospital with Blonde Nemesis.

When she was convinced she’d found
the
one, Brie talked to the owner personally to set up delivery for her special gift. She walked out grinning like an idiot.

“Don’t tell me you spent all that time in there for no apparent reason,” Mary complained when Brie showed up empty-handed.

“Actually, I found exactly what I was looking for and am having it delivered to Master Anderson tomorrow.”

“You’d better pray he doesn’t kill you.”

“I’m sure he won’t. I got
exactly
what Master Anderson needs, I’m sure of it.”

“Says the girl who fucked with my life.”

“How did I fuck with your life? All I’ve ever done is try to support you. Please explain what I did wrong here. I’d really like to know.”

“I never have met Faelan if it weren’t for you.”

“And how was meeting him a bad thing?”

Mary’s countenance changed. She shook her head and looked away, unwilling to look Brie in the eye.

“Talk to me, Mary. I want to understand.”

Her voice was barely audible when she confided, “I finally give my heart to a guy…and he’s going to die on me.”

Brie put her hand on Mary’s shoulder. “He isn’t going to die.”

Mary jerked away from her, turning on Brie, her eyes flashing with anger. “I saw him, bitch! Don’t lie to me about that. You brought me here to watch him die.”

Brie was stunned and just stared at her.

“So here’s what’s going to happen. You’re taking me back to the hospital. I’ll tell him goodbye and then I’m out of here—and you’d better hope to God I never come across you again.”

Heartbreak

I
t was disturbing that Mary seemed serene as they drove back to the hospital, as if the task ahead meant nothing to her. It pissed Brie off.

Faelan needed support, and here Mary was intent on stabbing the poor guy in the heart when he needed her most—because she loved him.

“You’d better be kind,” Brie warned as they entered the hospital.

“I’ll be quick and to the point.”

Brie groaned inwardly when she saw Faelan’s parents standing outside his room, their faces glowing with excitement. Mrs. Wallace immediately walked up to Mary.

“You must be the girl. You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”

Mary stood there, a look of panic on her face.

Mr. Wallace held out his hand to Mary. “What a pleasure to meet you, Miss Wilson. Although my son is close-mouthed about his personal life, it’s easy to tell how much he cares for you.”

Brie had to nudge Mary to take his hand.

Mary laughed nervously as she shook it, then looked back at Brie, a frozen smile on her lips.

Oh, hell, this was going to be so much worse than Brie had imagined.

Better to get it over with now—like ripping off a Band-Aid
, she decided. “Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, Mary and I would like a chance to talk to Todd privately. I hope you don’t mind.”

Mrs. Wallace beamed with delight. “Of course not. He’s expecting you.”

Brie opened the door for Mary, but the girl stopped abruptly as soon as she entered the room, causing Brie to walk into her. “What the heck, Mary?” she complained, and then she saw the reason why…

Faelan stood before them, dressed in a suit, with his hand gripping the IV pole.

“What the—?” Mary gasped.

Brie noticed the white-knuckled grip he had on the IV pole, and understood the sheer effort he was making for Mary.

“Mary Wilson,” Faelan stated, “you are mine.”

Mary shook her head slowly, opening her mouth to speak.

Don’t do it…
Brie silently begged.

“Faelan, I—”

“I know you’re scared, Mary,” he interrupted. “I could tell it when you came in this morning. You probably thought you were looking at a dead man, but you’re wrong. I’m not going anywhere.”

Tears filled Mary’s eyes.

“Tono Nosaka donated his kidney so that I could have this second chance.”

“I don’t…”

“Bow at my feet,” he commanded. “It’s either now or never, Mary. Make your choice.”

Brie could see the inner battle Mary was fighting. The risk of loving him only to lose him was more than she could bear.

With great effort, Faelan took a step towards her and commanded again, “Bow to me, Mary.”

Brie held her breath as Mary slowly approached Faelan, her eyes locked on his. She paused for a moment before gracefully lowering herself to the floor, kneeling before him. As an added gesture of obedience, she lowered her head until her forehead touched his feet.

Faelan undid the belt of his dress pants. “Look at me,” he ordered. With painful determination, he looped the belt around Mary’s neck, pulling it tight.

Mary gazed up at him with an expression Brie had never seen on her beautiful face—a look of pure joy.

“You are mine. From this day forward, you answer only to me.”

“Yes, Faelan.”

“Stand now and kiss your Master.”

He tugged on the belt when she stood, bringing her lips hard against his. While they kissed, Faelan let go of the pole to caress her cheek. “When I get out of this hospital, I will get you a proper collar.”

Mary smiled. “I don’t care.”

He brushed her bottom lip with his finger. “But I do. I want the world to know you are my cherished submissive.”

Mary kissed Faelan again, with such passion that Brie lowered her eyes. When she started towards the door to give the couple privacy, Faelan called out to Brie.

“Don’t leave just yet.”

Mary turned to face Brie, but her loving gaze remained locked on Faelan.

“You have been a true friend in every sense of the word, blossom. I thank you for your diligence.”

Brie smiled, tears coming to her eyes. She thought back to the man who had stood so confidently before her, expecting to receive her collar on Graduation Night. She would never have guessed how things would turn out. “It’s been my pleasure.”

He tugged on the belt, forcing Mary to kiss him again. Brie took his cue and quietly exited. There was just one more task to take care of before she could return to Sir’s side.

Lea did not have much time to spare before heading to work at the Academy, but she agreed to meet, knowing Brie was headed to China in the morning.

“Okay, okay…we have to start this on a positive note,” Lea stated when Brie opened the door to let her in. “What do you call a Chinese billionaire?”

“You’re kidding me. I haven’t even invited you inside yet.”

Lea grinned. “Come on, Brie. What do you call a Chinese billionaire?”

Brie rolled her eyes. “I have no idea.”

“Cha-Ching.”

“No, no, no…that was terrible!”

“Did you hear what happened on the opening day at the newest Chinese zoo?”

“I’m shutting the door now,” Brie said, pretending to close it on her.

Lea stuck her foot out to block it. “It was Panda-monium!”

Brie laughed in spite of herself. “Barely redeemed yourself with that second one. I guess you can come in.”

Master Anderson was finishing up his meal in the kitchen. “Don’t be late, Ms. Taylor. You have a big scene to perform tonight.”

“Don’t worry, Headmaster. As much as I love me some Brie, work always comes first.”

“I won’t keep her, I promise,” Brie assured him.

“See that you don’t. Baron would look awfully silly trying to play the part of Lea in front of the training Dominants. I’m not sure he would ever forgive you.” He pointed to a plate on the counter and smiled. “By the way, I made you brownies.”

“Oh, thank you, Master Anderson!” Brie squealed, as both she and Lea descended on the plate.

“Have fun, ladies,” he said, tipping an imaginary cowboy hat before leaving them.

“Isn’t Master Anderson the best?” Brie purred, taking a huge bite of a warm brownie.

“Yes…oh yes…” Lea moaned in ecstasy, sounding freakishly similar to when she was having sex. “I’m sure gonna miss that man.”

Brie jumped on the comment, a natural transition to the reason she’d called Lea over. “You don’t have to miss him…”

Lea smiled. “I know.”

“Have you seriously considered moving back to LA?”

Lea took another bite of brownie and finished chewing before answering her. “Sure, I’ve thought about it. I mean, LA
is
awesome, but I have my reasons for staying here.”

“If it’s because of Autumn, you may want to rethink that. Who knows what’s going to happen with Tono now that she’s caring for him for the next few weeks? I’ve definitely seen some sparks fly between them.”

Lea sighed. “Yeah, I’ve noticed that myself. I’m happy for them, don’t get me wrong, but whenever people hook up, friends seem to get the short end of the stick.”