Brie Masters Love in Submission: Submissive in Love (16 page)

“Yeah, yeah…” Brie conceded.

Lea dragged her to a couch and sat her down. “So tell me what happened in Japan. I was devastated to hear about Tono’s father.”

Brie quickly caught her up, but she purposely left out the confession Tono’s father had made, as well as her disappointment that Tono was staying in Japan to care for his mother.

“So Tono can really sing, huh?”

“Oh yeah, Lea, you wouldn’t believe it. He could sing professionally if he wanted to.”

“Who knew the man was multitalented?”

“I know! Can you just imagine him and his father belting it out in secret?”

Lea shook her head. “No, I can’t. I really can’t.”

“Well, I couldn’t have either until I visited his father this last time. I saw a whole new side to him.”

“That’s good…and kind of sad.”

Brie sighed. “Yes, it is. I didn’t come to understand the man until he was dying.”

“I came across a joke recently that made me think of Tono.”

Brie knew that was Lea’s way of trying to add some lightheartedness to a tough situation, so she sacrificed for the team. “Okay…let me hear it.”

Lea squealed. “Great! You can share it with Tono, if you want, the next time you see him.”

“I will, but only if it’s funny.”

“Of course it is! Do you know why I didn’t enjoy my time at the bondage club last night?”

“No, Lea. Why didn’t you enjoy your time at the bondage club last night?”

“All I wanted was sex with no strings attached.”

Brie groaned. “Boo!”

“Ooh, ooh, I’ve got another one!”

“I’m not sure I can handle another one.”

“Bondage is brilliant!” Lea exclaimed, wrapping her arms tightly around herself. “Truss me.”

Brie groaned as she shook her head. “Those were both terrible.”

“But they made you smile,” Lea insisted.

“Only because they were so bad.”

“Exactly! That’s the beauty of a good bad joke—you can’t help but love them.”

“The only thing I love is you. The jokes? Not so much.”

“Aww, aren’t you just the sweetest stinky cheese? Wait! I’ve got one more.”

“No more, Lea. Please, no more.”

“But this one’s for you,” she said, pouting.

Lea was hard to resist, so Brie relented against her better judgment. “Fine, but I’m only letting you because I love you.”

“I love you too, Brie,” she cooed, giving her a tight squeeze. “So…did you hear about the French cheese factory that exploded?”

“Nope.”

“All that was left was de Brie.”

This time Brie actually laughed.

“De Brie! Isn’t that great?”

“It’s stupid, but I love it,” Brie admitted. “Thanks, Lea.”

“Anytime, girlfriend. So what are your plans while you’re here?”

“Well, I’m hoping to film a few scenes at the Academy. But mostly I just want to spend every minute I can hanging out with you.”

“Me too! But…not tonight.”

Brie was crushed. “Why not?”

“I already made plans with another friend.”

“Can’t I join you?”

Lea hesitated. “She’s extremely shy, Brie. It’s taken me weeks just to get her to agree to go out with me tonight.”

Brie thought she understood and asked in a hushed tone, “Is she a new
girl
friend, by any chance?”

Lea rolled her eyes. “No, silly. She’s a really cool person I want to know better but if I ask you to join us, she’ll bail on me.”

“But Lea,” Brie whimpered, “I haven’t seen you in like…forever. I’m only here for a week.
Please
don’t leave me hanging tonight.”

In answer, Lea gave Brie another squeeze. “I know this stinks, but if things go well tonight I’ll ask if she’d like to meet you. I make no promises and you can’t be offended if she says no.”

Now it was Brie’s turn to roll her eyes. “What, is this girl a mountain hermit or something?”

Lea hemmed and hawed before answering, “You could say that, I guess.”

Her best friend was being so weird and secretive that it turned Brie off. Even if this mystery person agreed to meet, Brie wasn’t sure she would like the girl. “I only have a week here,” she reminded Lea.

“I know, I know! But remember, I had no idea you were coming until you threw off your hood today.”

Brie giggled. “Oh, my goodness, wasn’t that nuts?”

“Master Anderson is so bad!” Lea agreed. “It’s another reason I love it here.”

“Do you think Ms. Clark will forgive me? I was really surprised she handled it so well.”

Lea suddenly became serious. “Although Mistress Clark still maintains her strict demeanor, around the staff she’s been much more open and fun.” Lea mused out loud, “It seems she’s less tortured than before. I’m unsure if it’s moving to Denver, Master Anderson’s crazy antics or what, but whatever the reason, it’s nice that others are getting to see the person I fell in love with.”

Brie wondered if letting go of Rytsar Durov had been the biggest contributing factor for the change in the Domme’s attitude. “Are the two of you finally an item now?”

Lea shrugged. “She’s still trying to find her way. I don’t think even
she
knows what she wants, but I’m willing to wait. In the meantime I’m having tons of fun getting to know the other Dominants and submissives in Denver. They’re a friendly bunch, let me tell you.”

Brie clasped her hand. “I’m happy to hear it. It sounds as if I’ll have to be content with seeing you tomorrow, then.” She stuck out her bottom lip and whimpered, “But I don’t know how I’ll survive.”

Lea held out her little finger and grinned. “I promise to make it up to you—pinky swear.” Brie wrapped her pinky around Lea’s and they shook to seal the deal.

Baron peeked his head into the room. “Ms. Taylor, Master Anderson has requested that you return to the staff room.”

Lea got up reluctantly. “I’m sorry I have to leave you, Brie.”

“Don’t concern yourself,” Baron replied smoothly. “I’m taking Miss Bennett to the Rocky Mountain Brewery while you attend the meeting.”

Brie loved the idea of getting to spend time alone with Baron, and waved goodbye to her best friend. “I’ll be fine, woman. Go have fun with all that behind-the-scenes stuff you do.”

“Later, ’gator,” Lea called, throwing a kiss before traipsing out of the room.

“So, kitten, which do you prefer—dark or light beer?”

“I like it dark,” she answered with a cheeky grin.

“Indeed.”

He took her to the local brewery within walking distance of the training facility. It was lovely to stroll beside the handsome Dom under the blue skies of Denver. “Do you like it here, Baron?”

“It’s different from LA. I’d say it’s more laid back and more outdoorsy, but the people seem genuine. Yeah, I like it well enough.”

“But your heart’s still in Los Angeles?” Brie asked, detecting a hint of sadness in his voice.

“I miss the places and things that remind me of Adrianna.”

It hurt Brie’s heart to know that Baron was missing his submissive. She could only imagine how she would feel if she ever lost Sir. “Do you mind me asking how she died?”

“No, kitten, but let’s get a beer and sit down first.”

When they entered the Rocky Mountain Brewery he ordered two of their darkest brew at the bar, then settled beside Brie at a booth near the window, sliding a glass over to her.

Baron took a long drink and licked off the foam that rested on his upper lip. It was casually sexy, an unintended effect that made it all that much more charming.

“You were saying?” Brie prompted.

“Adrianna…” He said her name in a wistful, anguished tone. “She was my dream made flesh. Sir Davis invited me to her graduation party and introduced us personally. I knew then that she was the one. Our courtship was quick, her submission unconditional.” He looked up from his beer. “I knew the love of a good woman, and it is because of that I survived the aftermath of her death.”

Brie was gutted to see the love and pain expressed in his hazel eyes. “What happened to her?”

“Wrong place, wrong time… Adrianna and I had gone to a late-night movie at our neighborhood theater. It was raining, so I went to get the car. Three hoodlums walked past Adrianna while she was waiting. They attempted to mug her, but when she wouldn’t give up her purse they beat my baby unconscious. I pulled up to find her on the pavement, bloody and unresponsive. Although I rushed her to the hospital…” He paused, looking away when he added gruffly, “My baby never woke up.”

Brie grasped his hand. “I’m so sorry, Baron.”

He smiled sadly at her. “As penance for not being there when she needed me, I’ve dedicated my life to protecting other women from the scum of the Earth.”

“So that’s why you were at the Kinky Goat…”

“Yes, but the last thing I wanted to see was you there.”

Brie hung her head in shame. “It was a terrible mistake.”

“You did nothing wrong, other than meet with your friends at a place you weren’t familiar with. In some ways it was similar to what happened to my Adrianna—wrong place, wrong time.”

“She must be so proud of you now. Proud of your strength to carry on, proud of the many women you’ve helped.”

He furrowed his brow, his eyes dull with unresolved pain. “I hope she has forgiven me for not being there.” He shook his head. “Every time I think of that night, I hear her crying out my name, trusting I would save her—but I never came.”

Brie swallowed down the lump in her throat. “Adrianna wouldn’t have blamed you. I only have to put myself in that situation to know how she felt. Although she would have been praying you’d come in time, she died knowing she’d see you again, and that would have brought her peace.”

He blinked away the tears that welled up in his eyes, and took another draught of beer. “Thank you, kitten,” he said hoarsely.

Brie nodded, picking up her glass. “Do you think you’ll end up going back to LA?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’m uncertain at this point. Mentally I understand the benefits of moving on, but my heart does not. It’s not an easy thing to do.”

“Do you like being a trainer at the Denver Academy?”

He chuckled. “I do enjoy being in the trainer role. It’s much less formal than the Submissive Training Center, but I appreciate Master Anderson’s vision.”

Brie grinned, nodding in agreement. “He’s no Master Coen.”

“No, he’s not. However, they both have their place.”

“Agreed.”

“Whether it’s fair or not, I will always compare the Headmasters I work under to Sir Davis.”

“He was amazing in that role, wasn’t he?” Brie agreed, squelching the guilt that threatened to rise.

“I was saddened to hear about his troubles.”

Brie felt a chill run through her and she slowly put down her glass after taking a drink. “What do you mean?”

He stared at her for several moments before replying, “I’m talking about his mother, kitten.”

She breathed an inward sigh of relief. “I’m telling you, that woman is insane! However, I admire how Sir handled the situation with her.”

Baron’s hazel eyes penetrated her with their intensity and she squirmed under his gaze. Had she said too much? Brie picked up her beer and sipped it nervously.

Thankfully, Master Anderson walked through the doors and straight over to their table. “Are you ready? It appears I’m to be your entertainment for the evening, young Brie.”

Blast from the Past

“D
on’t feel you need to take me out, Master Anderson,” Brie told him, as she jumped into his massive truck.

“It’s the least I can do. After all, I was the one who wanted to keep your arrival under wraps. I’m responsible for the fact you have no friend to hang with tonight.” He started up the vehicle then turned to her. “I’ll show you some of my old haunts so you can get a native’s feel for Denver.”

Brie forced a smile. Although she was appreciative of his offer to entertain her, she would much rather have hung with Lea. However, she realized it was a rare chance to get to know the Dom on a more personal level, and readjusted her attitude. Even though Sir was good friends with Master Anderson, she knew practically nothing about the man other than the fact that he was a jokester, a skilled expert with the bullwhip and an excellent cook.

He drove her into Denver so she could admire, in passing, the tall buildings of the downtown area as well as the charm of horse-drawn carriages on the 16
^th
Street mall, before taking her to an older neighborhood lined with tall trees.