Slave (16 page)

I stripped before walking into the bathroom and turning on the shower. Stepping in, I walked into the spray. The warm water pounded my shoulders, which were begging for relief from the tension they were holding, but I knew the only thing that would do that. Without further pause, I reached down and grasped my already hard shaft in my hand. If my life for the last five years hadn’t been about control, I don’t think I could have managed the last four hours. By thinking of anything but how her body felt against mine, I’d been able to keep my erection to a minimal state while she sat in my lap.

As I increased my rhythm, I let all those feelings go. This woman was doing things to me, and she wasn’t even aware of it. She wasn’t even trying! Her hair, her lips . . . I bit the side of my cheek to stifle the moan that broke through my throat as I exploded all over the wall of my shower.

Letting my head fall forward out of the spray, I waited until my breathing was back to normal before quickly rinsing and shutting off the water. Turning, I let my back hit the wall. I hadn’t jacked off this much since before I left for college. I had no idea what was wrong with me, what it was about her that did this to me.

The next morning, I let her sleep in while I went upstairs to check my e-mail. There was one from Lily, reminding me of the annual dinner coming up in three weeks for North Memorial Hospital that I was to attend. She wanted to know if I’d be bringing Brianna.

It was a question I didn’t have the answer to. I was very proud of the progress she’d made, but she was still very unpredictable around strangers. What if it would be too much for her?

But the fact that she would be starting school this fall made me reconsider. She wouldn’t have me there with her at school if something happened, which I hoped it didn’t, but she would have to interact with people she’d never met before.

Maybe coming with me would not be a bad thing. At least at the dinner, I would be with her. I could intercede if necessary. With my mind made up, I replied to Lily letting her know Brianna would need a dress.

Shortly after I hit send, I heard movement downstairs that let me know that Brianna was awake. I closed down the computer and made my way down the steps.

Hearing me coming, she was waiting, in position, on the floor. Brianna was wearing jeans and a fitted red T-shirt. Her hair was pulled up off her neck in a simple ponytail.

She looked absolutely beautiful as always, and I felt those all-too-familiar stirrings. I pushed them down and walked into the kitchen.

“Good morning, Brianna. You may stand.”

She stood but remained where she was. I decided I wanted some interaction this morning. We would be going out today, and she needed to relax. I knew cooking would do that for her. “Would you like to help me with breakfast?”

“Yes, Master,” she answered and moved quickly to my side.

“I was thinking maybe pancakes. Do you think we can manage that?”

She smiled. “Yes.”

I smiled back, although it went unseen by my companion. “Lead the way, Brianna. Just tell me what you need me to do.”

It was the first time I’d given her clear instructions to take the lead other than the times I’d told her to kiss me. She hesitated for a few seconds, but then began to move.

Brianna disappeared into the pantry and came out with her arms full. She laid her items on the counter, pressed her lips together for over a minute, and then very quietly asked, “I need . . . Could you get one egg and the milk please, Master?”

I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t because in a way it was more sad than funny. I’d told her to tell me what she needed, and even with that, she was still nervous about asserting herself. Getting what she’d requested out of the refrigerator, I laid them down beside the items she’d gotten.

Then without hesitating, she reached into a lower cabinet and retrieved a mixing bowl I’d never seen before. She also turned on the flat surface of my stovetop and sprayed it with Pam. I watched as she flawlessly put exact amounts of each ingredient into the bowl before stirring.

Once everything was all mixed together, she took a ladle and placed three near-perfect circles onto the sizzling hot surface.
Watching her never got old.

While the batter was cooking, she retrieved three plates from an upper cabinet. She laid one plate down on the counter but continued to hold the other two. This was where she stopped.

I realized she was waiting on me to tell her it was okay to leave the kitchen to set the table. Instead, I decided to make things easier. Taking the plates from her, I said, “How about I set the table, while you make sure our breakfast doesn’t burn?”

As soon as I turned my back, I felt her move. I knew she was flipping the pancakes and even now, half done, they smelled wonderful.

It didn’t take me long to set everything out, but when I returned to the kitchen, Brianna had a stack of finished pancakes on a plate and was stirring a smaller pan full of syrup. She stiffened just slightly when I approached but didn’t stop what she was doing. I stepped up behind her and reached around to take the now full plate. The urge to kiss her neck was strong, but I resisted and quickly took the new items to the table along with glasses and milk for the both of us.

After breakfast, we headed to the university. I’d gotten a list from Karen of the books Brianna would require, and we also needed to get her photo taken for her student ID. I knew it was early, but given what she’d been through, I wanted to give her plenty of time to prepare and get used to the idea. On the way there, I’d told her where we were going and why.

As we got closer to campus and began seeing signs indicating various UM landmarks, her excitement seemed to get the better of her. I was excited for her, too, but she needed to keep her focus. She knew better than anyone how dangerous this world could be. I needed her to do her part to stay safe.

I kept an eye on her as we walked into the campus bookstore. We passed a group of guys on the way in, and they each paused to look her over briefly. I didn’t need to read their thoughts to know what they were thinking. And with that knowledge came that feeling of wanting to mark what was mine.

It was stupid, considering the situation. I tried to shake it off. Putting a hand on her back, I guided her the rest of the way.

Brianna stayed by my side the entire time. I could tell she was very aware of her surroundings, which was good. She needed to be.

We walked out of the bookstore with more books than I thought possible for a twelve-week course. Brianna was holding onto her bounty with zeal. I loved seeing her this happy.

Next, I took her into the admissions building, where they took the student ID photos. An upperclassman sat behind the desk doing some paperwork when we came in.

He greeted us pleasantly enough. After telling him what we were here for, he ushered Brianna into a small room that had been set up for pictures. She went with him, but I could tell she was reluctant to leave my side.

I could see them both through the open doorway. The student worker took his position behind the camera. “All right. Just look right up here,” he said, smiling at her.

I watched her clamp her lips together, and then she surprised me by reaching up to touch her collar.

Then, with a deep breath, she relaxed, looked up at the camera, and gave a small smile. If I’d ever had doubts about collaring her, they were now gone.

“Okay, all done,” the student said, walking back to his desk. “It usually takes about ten days for the ID to be ready,” he said, “so you can come back to pick it up any time after that.” He handed her a paper to sign. She did so and handed it back to him.

Looking it over quickly, he set it down on the desk and looked back up at her and smiled. “Welcome to the University of Minnesota, Brianna.”

I felt her move closer to me. “Thank-you for your help,” I answered for her and hurried us back out the door.

Once we were outside, she seemed to relax again. She hadn’t reacted this way with the woman in the bookstore, so that told me it was the fact that it was a man. That wasn’t surprising, but it could become problematic, as I had no idea if her teacher would be male or female.

We got into the car, and I navigated back out of the campus area, heading straight to my favorite BMW dealer. The car was already purchased. It was just a matter of signing some paperwork.

I didn’t tell her where we were going, so when I pulled into the dealership her eyes widened in surprise. She didn’t question me, but I knew she wanted to.

Getting out, I went to her door and opened it for her. She followed me silently into the dealership where Joel greeted us. “Mr. Coleman, you’re right on time. I have everything you need over here.”

As we sat down, I asked, “How’s your mom doing, Joel? Is she still undergoing treatment?”

“No, Mr. Coleman. She got the all clear from the doc six months ago.”

“That’s great.” I smiled as I took the papers from him. “I’m glad she’s doing better.”

Reading over the paperwork took a while, but Brianna sat stoically by my side. Once everything was signed, Joel made copies of everything and handed me the packet of ownership information I’d need. “The car arrived this morning. Would you like to see it?” Joel asked.

“Yes. I think Brianna would like to see her new vehicle.”

It took her a minute, but then she managed. “Yes. Thank-you.”

We walked to the back of the parking lot until we came to the 7-Series I’d ordered for Brianna. It was exactly the same as mine, except hers was blue, where I had classic black.

The woman in question stayed close to me but remained silent as I made my way around the car. I went to the driver’s side and opened the door. New car smell hit me full in the face.

After giving the inside a cursory look, I turned to Brianna. “Would you like to have a seat in your new car?” She was pressing her lips together again, but after a brief pause she nodded.

Brianna slid into the car. She sat motionless for a few minutes. I debated whether or not to prompt her but decided to wait her out. Finally her hands came up and touched first the steering wheel and then the center console and dash. Her fingers were reverent as they explored, and I had a sudden flash of what it would feel like to have her touch me like that.

This was getting ridiculous. I wasn’t a teenager anymore.

It was Joel who broke me out of my lusting thoughts. “What do you think, miss?”

She jumped a little at his interruption, but answered him. “It’s very nice.” Short, simple, polite, that was all Brianna gave when out in public. I could get more out of her in my chair but sometimes even that took work.

After she got out of the vehicle, she moved as close to my side as possible without touching me. I finished up with Joel, and before we took our leave, I confirmed that the car would be delivered later today. As soon as we were both inside my car, I placed my hand over hers, waiting to feel her relax.

It happened almost instantly. I smiled, removed my hand, and set the car in motion to take us home.

Stephan

Brianna was quiet the entire ride home, and I wondered what she was thinking. I caught her clamping her lips together a few times, which told me she wasn’t just passively watching the buildings go by.

When we arrived back at the condo, I went upstairs and let her know she was free to do as she wished until it was time to make dinner. As I logged onto my e-mail, I could hear her moving around downstairs and wondered what she was doing with her time. My mind seemed to be on little else but her these days.

Never had one woman dominated my thoughts as she did. I had no idea what it meant, but I had to know everything I could about her. As the search engine appeared on the screen in front of me, I typed in the name
Brianna Reeves
.

After only a second, a list of options popped up. Many of them were irrelevant, but I did find the obituary for her mother Carrie. Clicking on the link, I read through the article. There was no mention of a husband. What piqued my interest, however, was that Carrie and Brianna did not share the same last name.

Reaching in my drawer for the stack of papers I’d taken with us to the DMV, I began reading.

Brianna Lynn Reeves

Transferred

Sophomore

Emergency Contact: Jonathan Reeves – Father

Brianna said she grew up in Dallas, however the school records I now held in my hand were from Two Harbors, Minnesota. She was a transfer into her sophomore year, which would place it just after her mother’s death. It made sense. She’d obviously moved in with her father after her mother’s passing. But why hadn’t she mentioned him? Every time her family had been brought up in conversation, she’d shut down. The next name I typed into the search engine was
Jonathan Reeves
.

When the list of links popped up on my screen, I was more than surprised. If this was the same
Jonathan Reeves
, and from the location I would have to assume that it was, he was the county sheriff. My eyes drifted to the stairs that would lead me to the broken woman who had recently entered my life. Was she scared of what he’d think of her now? Was that why she hadn’t mentioned him? Didn’t want to go home? Or was there something more?

Just the thought that her father could have had something to do with her ending up with Ian made my blood boil. How could anyone do that to one’s own flesh and blood?

The sound of plastic cracking brought me back to my senses. Looking down, I saw I had split the side of my keyboard. It didn’t look like any keys were damaged, thankfully, but I would most likely need to buy a replacement.

Shutting everything down, I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes. I’d known this was a conversation we needed to have, but I’d been waiting. The last thing I wanted was to send her back into herself. Maybe starting with something else would be better.

Deciding I wasn’t ready to go back down to her yet, I reached up and removed the key I had hidden on an upper shelf of my desk. Getting up, I walked up the three small stairs and turned to the locked door I hadn’t opened in a month.

The key fit snug in the lock, and I twisted the handle in my palm. As I pushed the door open, I could smell the polished leather that filled my playroom.

The chances of Brianna coming upstairs to find me were slim, but I closed the door behind me just to be sure. This room would open up an entirely new dynamic to our relationship that she wasn’t ready for and might never be.

Walking across the room, my fingers trailed across first the whipping bench and then the restraints close by. I could see her here, spread out naked before me, with me standing over her. Her eyes were filled with trust and longing. For me.

It was then that I realized just how much I wanted this, her, here. I wanted her to want me. All of me.

Brianna

As I put dinner on the table, I was still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that he’d bought me a car. A new car. An
expensive
new car.

Okay, it wasn’t really my car, it was his, but he’d bought it for
me
to use. I felt a smile on my lips.

“You’re in a good mood, Brianna,” he said as he entered the room.

“Yes, Master,” I answered while finishing my task, still smiling.

He took a seat at the table. “It looks wonderful as always.”

“Thank-you.”

When I’d gotten everything set up he invited me, as he always did, to eat with him. I ate faster than I normally did and with an excitement I hadn’t known since I was little.

After dinner, we would go sit in his chair, and I wanted to thank him for the car. He noticed my excitement, of course.

“Are you hungry tonight, Brianna?” he said with amusement.

“Yes, Master,” I answered back still smiling.

Master didn’t say any more as he finished his food, but I could tell he was in a good mood, which made me even happier. Once he was finished, he walked over to his chair while I cleaned up.

As soon as I was done, I came to him, and he opened his arms to me. I sat down and relaxed as Master’s arms wrapped around me.

“What’s on your mind tonight, Brianna?” he asked.

“Thank-you for the car,” I said shyly.

My head was lowered so my hair was slightly obscuring my face. His hand rose to brush it out of the way. I liked it when he touched me like this.

“You’re welcome. You’ll need the car for school and to go shopping.”

At his mention of shopping, I stiffened a little. He noticed and brought my chin up so that I was looking at him. Master didn’t say anything. I could see everything I needed to know in his eyes. “I forgot about . . . shopping,” I whispered.

He didn’t say anything for a minute but released my chin once he was sure I wouldn’t look away again. “You’re nervous about going alone.” It was a statement, not a question.

“Yes.”

Nodding, he tightened his hold on me a little. “I know being out alone is hard for you, but I want you to try.” Then he brought his fingers up to trace the front of my collar. “You have a part of me with you at all times.”

I pressed my lips together, but finally I nodded.

“Good,” he said.

I felt him take a deep breath before he said his next words, “When we were at the zoo last week, why did you get upset?”

What? I was confused. And then I wasn’t. The snakes. He wanted to know about the snakes.

But why?

No. I couldn’t tell him. He’d . . . He’d . . .

I couldn’t breathe! Why couldn’t I breathe!

Slowly I began to register his hands on both sides of my face. I hadn’t realized I’d been shaking my head until now. He was murmuring something, but I couldn’t make it out at first, and then the words filtered through my brain and started to make sense. They were the same ones he’d said that day to calm me. And just like then, they did.

I had no idea how long it took me to breathe normally again, but I was still on his lap. My head was lying on his shoulder while his hands gently stroked up and down my arm and face.

“Are you better?”

I closed my eyes tight, wishing the last several minutes hadn’t happened. But they had, and I knew I’d yet to answer him.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Do you think you can talk to me now?”

“I . . . I don’t know,” I answered honestly.

“Please try, Brianna. I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”

He wanted to help me. It was strange, but I believed him. “Okay,” I said weakly.

Master sighed. “Why are you afraid of snakes? Can you tell me?”

His voice was gentle. I knew he was trying not to scare me, and that gave me courage.

“They crawl on you,” I whispered, trying to keep the shaking out of my voice.

He tightened his hold around me, and I felt safer than I’d ever felt before. “Why were they crawling on you?”

I swallowed. Could I tell him? Would he be mad at me? But then again, maybe he was the only one I could tell.

“I . . . I did a bad thing and Master Ian . . .”

He didn’t let me finish before asking. “What did you
do
, Brianna?”

I heard the extra inflection he placed on the word
do
, and I wasn’t sure why that was.

“I . . . I tried to get away.” And then I felt like I needed to apologize. “I know I shouldn’t have, but . . .”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said cutting me off sharply. I flinched, and his voice softened. “So you tried to get away and then what happened?”

“I . . .” I paused trying to find the right words. “He caught me . . . trying to squeeze through the gate,” I said in a hushed voice. “He said that if I was going to slither on the ground like a snake . . .”

And then I shivered as I remembered it.
Ian grabbing a fistful of my hair in his hands and dragging me back to his house. Taking me downstairs.
I felt the tears coming and there was nothing I could do to stop them.

“You’re doing fine, Brianna. Remember you are safe. What happened after he caught you?”

“He . . . he took me back. Ch . . . chained me . . . p . . . p . . . poured snakes . . .” I could feel them on me, and I couldn’t breathe again.

Suddenly I was moving. And then I was sitting on the floor with Master’s face right in front of mine.

“You are safe, Brianna,” he chanted. “You are safe.”

Finally I began to calm, remembering where I was. I was with Stephan, not Ian. I was okay. I was . . . safe.