“I knew it would happen eventually,” Brie sighed. “I just hope she doesn’t say too much. None of us should be forced to relive that nightmare just to entertain the public.”
“I agree with you a hundred percent, girlfriend. That’s why I’m not going to ask you a damn thing about it. You can share whatever you want when you want, or nothing at all! The only thing I care about—and let me repeat this so you don’t miss it—the only thing I care about is you.”
Brie felt the warmth of Lea’s love and sighed contently. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Stinky Cheese. To the moon and back!”
“I know you care about Mary, too,” Brie told her. “And I want you to hear it from me, not some reporter trying to make a headline. Captain and Candy are giving her the support she needs right now. Although she’s really struggling, Mary is a survivor.”
“That girl is like a cockroach, and I mean that in the best possible way.”
Brie’s chuckle was tinged with sadness. “Yeah, I can see that. No matter what she’s suffered, Mary is too strong and fucking stubborn to ever give up.”
“I appreciate you telling me. I was worried about Mary, but I knew she would never pick up the phone to call me for a joke.”
Brie laughed, knowing it was true.
“Still, she really needs my jokes. Maybe I could just mail them to her?”
“I think that is a wonderful idea, my friend,” Brie said.
Even if Mary never read any of the jokes, just knowing Lea was reaching out could make a difference.
Brie took a long, warm bath to relax and ready herself for her scene with Master Anderson. She was looking forward to the encounter and was excited by the simple scene he had planned.
Sir had already made arrangements with her parents for childcare and insisted on staying in his office with the door closed during their session. “I want you to know that I am here if you need me, but I do not want to act as a distraction.”
“You could never be a distraction, Sir.”
He smirked, slowly running his hand down the swell of her breast to her pelvis before grabbing her waist possessively.
Tingles coursed through her body. “I stand corrected.”
He winked at her before glancing at his watch. “Anderson should be here in a few minutes. Take this time to ready yourself mentally for the scene ahead.”
“I will, Sir.”
After she watched his office door close, Brie went to kneel in the foyer to await his arrival. She closed her eyes, remembering the first time she’d met Master Anderson at the Training Center. He had been invited to serve on the panel in a temporary position because he planned on starting up a new training center in Colorado.
At the time nobody could have guessed that Master Anderson would soon take Sir’s place on the panel after Thane stepped down as Headmaster to collar Brie at the end of her training.
Brie stilled those thoughts, concentrating instead on the scene about to take place. Although Master Anderson was incredibly funny and known for his practical jokes, when it came to playing out a BDSM scene together, he was a demanding Master.
It made submitting to him exhilarating and a little scary. She didn’t want to disappoint him—or herself. To prepare, Brie not only knelt by the front door but also chose a pose that signified her willingness to submit.
When the doorbell rang, she stood up gracefully, her whole focus centered on serving Master Anderson well. Opening the door, she bowed her head. “Welcome, Master Anderson.”
“Hello, young Brie,” he replied warmly. “Do you mind taking this bag from me?”
Brie glanced up to see he was holding a grocery bag out to her while juggling a ton of others with his other hand.
“Of course! I’d be happy to take more.”
“One should do,” he assured her, as he followed her inside. “I swear I’ve been to every corner of LA this morning getting the supplies I need.”
She set his bag down on the counter. “You didn’t need to go to all of that trouble.”
“This is an important occasion,” he stated, setting all his bags down. “I understand the significance of our scene today.” Putting his hand over his heart, he told her, “I am honored that you chose me.”
She bowed low at his feet. “I must thank you again for your help rescuing me, Master Anderson.”
When he didn’t say anything, Brie looked up and noticed he had tears in his eyes.
He quickly turned and swiped them away, saying in a gruff voice, “You may stand and serve your Master now.”
Brie watched as he set a huge variety of fresh ingredients on the counter. He had also brought a small pillow and a bouquet of flowers.
She caught Shadow gliding down the stairs as if he were on the prowl. He snuck up to the kitchen, crouching low, his tail swishing back and forth.
“Don’t think I don’t see you there, blacky,” Master Anderson told the cat. “You can stare me down all you want.” He waved around the chef’s knife in his hand. “But, I’m the Master in this kitchen today.”
Shadow seemed unimpressed by his declaration and glanced at Brie, blinking his yellow eyes slowly.
“I’m good,” Brie told the cat with a grin.
Without looking back at Master Anderson, Shadow turned and walked down the hallway to the stairs.
“He’s kind of become my watch-cat,” she explained.
“Well, I can’t hold that against the cuss,” he replied with a wink.
“May I help, Master?” Brie asked.
“For now, you have only one duty.”
“What’s that?” she asked, eager to fulfill it.
Master Anderson turned to face her as he took off his cowboy hat and ripped off his shirt. Placing the hat back on his head, he flexed his chest muscles. “Admire your Master while he works his magic in the kitchen.”
Brie immediately sat on a nearby barstool and rested her chin on her folded hands, happy to admire his fine body. “I remember being mesmerized by your cooking skills when I stayed with you in Denver.”
“Those were good times, weren’t they?”
She smiled and then giggled. “I’ll never forget the fun we had with your neighbor.”
Master Anderson threw back his head and laughed. “The look on her face when she caught us weeding—it was pure gold.”
Brie couldn’t stop grinning as she watched him work. He started the rice before slicing raw fish into impossibly thin and concise pieces. He was like a ballet artist in the way he moved about the kitchen, prepping for the scene.
Once all of it was assembled, he turned to her. “Are you ready, young Brie?”
She suddenly felt her nerves kick in as an image of kneeling before Holloway and eating out of his hand suddenly filled her mind.
“Take as much time as you need, darlin’,” Master Anderson replied.
His warm voice helped to calm her. Brie understood if she was ever going to free herself of the shackles Holloway had placed in her mind, she had to take this first step toward her freedom.
Standing up, Brie bowed her head in respect. “I’m ready, Master.”
“Do not be afraid to call out your safeword. I will not be offended. Triggers can happen at any moment, so you must acknowledge them whenever they crop up.”