A Desperate Move
Once Sir was assured Brie was fine to move about, he informed her that he had one last meeting to attend. “I do not care for leaving you so soon, téa. You may continue to observe the other scenes or retire in the back to be alone for a few minutes.” He tilted her chin up and graced her with his stunning smile. “I admire your trust in me, little sub. It was beautiful to witness.”
“You have earned my trust, Master. I would do anything you ask.”
“Then I ask that you trust your natural instinct, téa.” He put his hand gently on her chest. “If you ever feel a checking in your spirit telling you to stop, I expect you to honor it.”
She looked into his magnetic eyes. “I will, Master. I promise.”
He nodded. “Good.”
Sir turned her around and smacked her on the ass. “Now, go off and find something you want Master to try.”
She glanced back at him and grinned. “If it pleases you, Sir.”
Brie wandered through the crowds searching for something unusual, something that called to her pussy—so to speak.
“Brie…”
She peered to her left and saw Faelan standing beside her. Her heart jumped into her throat. “Go away!”
“I won’t touch you and I won’t stop you if you walk away, but I need you to hear me out.”
Brie backed away, looking around desperately for Sir, but he was nowhere in sight. “Mr. Wallace, I got in serious trouble the last time I talked to you.”
“You weren’t the only one, Brie, and I am sorry. I should have talked to Davis first as per protocol. However, I did get permission to talk with you tonight in this public area. There’s no reason to be concerned.”
Brie scanned the crowd again, unsure if it was really okay to talk to him, but then she remembered Master saying that he wanted her to meet with someone tonight. Faelan interrupted her thoughts, stating, “Brie, you need to listen. I need you to understand.”
She frowned, not understanding what possible good it could do. However, Sir wanted her to speak with him so it was her duty to listen. “Understand what, Mr. Wallace? Nothing you say can change what’s transpired. I don’t see how talking will help either of us.” She stared at the floor, unsure where to look in a situation like this.
“Brie, I’m sorry for any pain I’ve caused you.” Faelan’s voice caught. “But you should know that you’ve changed my life. Given me direction and hope. I can’t stand the thought of you not knowing the significance of what you have done or how I feel about you.”
She looked up into his soulful blue eyes. “Okay, I forgive you.”
He shook his head violently. “No, I will not be satisfied until you understand.”
Brie crossed her arms, sighing irritably. “Fine! You said you didn’t have relations with Mary. I believe you, but I will never understand why you didn’t tell me that night. Why did you avoid the question and act like I was in the wrong for questioning you about it?”
“Because you were wrong to question me. It was the same as saying you didn’t trust me. I don’t know Mary, why would I jeopardize us, what we had, for a stranger? It upset me that you understood me so little.”
She frowned. “But it wasn’t just that. During the interview, you were so flippant with your answers, as if you didn’t care enough to take the interview seriously—or me for that matter.”
“I thought you were mine,” he answered candidly. “I thought the interview was simply a formality for us.” He moved to touch her, but stopped himself. “You and I… we are meant for each other. Two people cut from the same cloth. I knew it when I met you. Damn it, Brie! I thought you felt the same way.”
She looked at him with renewed sympathy, but stuck to her guns. “You seemed so overconfident that night, like I was more of a conquest, not someone you actually cared for. And then the way you acted with Mary…”
“I fucked up that night, blossom. I admit that. But you need to know where I’ve been, why you mean so much to me.”
Faelan’s potential confession frightened her. Brie glanced around again, searching for Sir in the crowd.
He spoke in a low tone so that others could not hear. “I killed someone, blossom.” She didn’t believe what she’d just heard, so she inched closer to hear him more clearly. “At sixteen, I killed a boy my age while driving home at night. I was lighting a cigarette and the match fell. I ran a red light, but didn’t know it until I looked up and saw the other car just before I crashed into it. The poor kid never had a chance.” He stopped, taking a ragged breath.
Brie said nothing, but in her head she imagined the other kid, eyes wide in horror as his death raced towards him, no way out.
“It should have been me. I should have been the one to die that night. No way should that kid have paid for my carelessness.”
“That’s so awful…” she said sorrowfully.
His blue eyes had a haunted look when he spoke. “I will never forget the terror on his face in the glare of the headlights or the sound at impact.” He shuddered and abruptly turned away from her.
Brie was tempted to touch his shoulder in order to comfort him, but she resisted the urge, knowing it could be misconstrued by others.
When Faelan faced her again, he’d regained his composure. “Brie, I have lived every day since then imprisoned in a wall of guilt and self-hatred. It ruined any chance at a normal life and I often wished I was dead. Until you happened.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t do anything.”
He smiled at her. “The day you fell into my arms I felt a spark of life, a connection. Then when I saw you at the beach and realized what you were training to be, everything fell into place. I knew I was meant to be your Dom and I was single-minded in my quest to win you over. Even Davis agreed. Why else would he allow me to join the training, take me under his wing and give me additional lessons? Why?”
“I don’t know. I can’t answer that.”
“Of course you can’t,” he said in a reasonable voice. “Because you and I are meant to be together.”
“No! I did my best not to lead you on,” she protested.
“But it made me want you all the more. You felt the chemistry between us, you can’t deny it.”
“Chemistry does not equal love—”
“We hardly had any time together, Brie. I am certain if we spent quality time together, you would feel differently.”
Brie growled in frustration. “You’re not thinking straight. I have already made my decision. There is no going back now. That’s the problem. You’re so sure about things that you never listen.”
He held up his hands in agreement. “Okay. You’re right. Go ahead, it’s your turn to talk. I’m listening.”
Brie knew her words would not be easy for Faelan to hear, but she needed to be completely honest with him. “Yes, it’s true. I felt an attraction towards you, but my heart was already taken. Even I didn’t realize how completely until the night of the ceremony.”
“You said ‘felt’ as if in the past. Are you saying you don’t feel attracted to me now? Can you honestly say that?” he insisted.
“There you go again… listen to me, Mr. Wallace. I am in love with someone else. I have already chosen the man I will serve. I’m sorry about what happened to you in the past, truly I am. But it doesn’t change anything. You have to move on.”
He shook his head and smiled sadly. “Brie, you and I never had time to get to know each other on a personal level. I want that. I want you to know the real me. Reject me if you must, but do it with a full understanding of who I am. Do not base it on a few encounters during a couple of scenes.”
The vulnerability he was displaying physically hurt Brie. She had never suspected the depth of his feelings. It made what she had to do so much harder.
Brie took a deep breath before beginning. “I believe that everything that happened on graduation night—”
Then she heard his voice behind her. “What are you doing, téa?” Sir’s tone was controlled, but accusatory.
Brie felt her stomach drop, realizing she had made a terrible mistake. “Mr. Wallace… said you gave him permission to speak with me. I thought he was the one I was supposed to meet with tonight, Master.”
Sir’s reply was simple and direct. “Have I given you permission to speak to Mr. Wallace?”
Brie’s lip trembled. “No, Master.”
Sir faced Faelan and shot his next words at him. “Mr. Wallace, you have ignored my edict. I directed you not to speak with my submissive. The fact you had the audacity to lie to her on top of it illustrates your lack of maturity and decorum. Leave now. But let me be perfectly clear, you are not to communicate with Miss Bennett or come within fifty yards of her. Do you understand?”
The entire club had become silent as the scene played out between the three of them. The crowd respectfully watched the confrontation. Faelan glanced around, possibly looking for supporters among the group, but found none. He nodded curtly to Sir, but his eyes traveled back to Brie. “Don’t reject me, blossom. Not without getting to know me first.”
“That’s it!” Sir roared. He gestured to the manager of the club and two staff members surrounded Faelan, taking hold of his arms and physically forcing him out of the club.
As he was being dragged out, Faelan yelled, “I love you, Brie! I love you more than he ever could. You have to give me a chance. We’re meant for each other…”
Sir’s neck pulsed with rage, but he did not respond. Instead, he turned his attention back on her. “You were told not to speak to Mr. Wallace.”
It was humiliating having the entire club witness her mistake, but Brie was far more crushed having failed Sir a second time. Would he disown her now?
She wanted to fall at his feet and beg forgiveness, but it would only anger him further. So she stated with conviction, “I was misled, Sir. I will not let that happen again.”
He snarled, “It is obvious that the boy is in need of correction.” Sir looked around and motioned the club owner to him. “Until Mr. Wallace learns respect, he has no business being amongst others in the community.”
“Understood, Sir Davis. You don’t have to worry about seeing his face around here again.”
Brie couldn’t help hearing the discontented sighs of several of the submissives around her. Faelan was a favorite among the eligible subs.
“It’s time I teach Mr. Wallace I mean business,” Sir announced to the club owner before leaving Brie’s side and heading out the door. Several people tried to follow after him, but the owner shooed them away. “Nothing to see here, folks. Go back to what you were doing.”
A sub next to Brie muttered, “God, she is such a bitch! Just had to ruin it for the rest of us. Already has Sir and now she’s taken away Faelan from us.”
Brie glanced over, half-expecting to see Mary, but it was a short-haired blonde who stuck her tongue out at her.
What had started out as the perfect evening had quickly deteriorated into a humiliating spectacle. She wanted to escape, needed to escape from the resentful stares of the submissives surrounding her and the utter disgrace she felt. However, Brie remained where she was, staring blankly at the scene before her, wondering what was going on between Sir and Faelan. The Domme was enthusiastically whacking the jiggling buttocks of her submissive with a wooden paddle. The crack of the paddle broke through Brie’s anguish, helping her not to cry. Just concentrate on them, Brie commanded herself.
Until she overheard, “Do you think he will publicly disown her when he returns?”
Her greatest fear voiced out loud ruined her resolve. Tears streamed down her face as she ran through the crowds to the back of the club, seeking out a private room. Once found, she collapsed on a chair, wiping away her tears. Sir is a good Master. He will not disown me. He won’t…
“Brie, are you okay?”
She looked up to see Tono standing in the doorway.
“What are you doing here?” She could just imagine Sir walking in on her talking with Tono. “Go away!” Then she remembered who she was talking to and corrected herself, begging him. “Please, Tono. Please go away.”
He left without further question. A short time later, Sir strode into the room. Brie fell to her knees, “Sir, I did not mean to disobey. I’m sorry.” She bowed her head to the floor, swallowing her tears.
“Stand up, Brie.”
She slowly got on her feet, but kept her head lowered.
“Look at me.”
Brie bravely looked up and was greeted with a grave expression, but she took heart at the tender look in his eye.
“I understand why this happened.”
A single tear fell from her cheek.
“There is no need for tears. I did say you were to meet with someone tonight.” He brushed the wetness from her cheek, chuckling lightly. “Tono said you ordered him away.”
Brie nodded, unsure why that was funny, but she was relieved to see his smile.
“He was the one I wanted you to speak with tonight.”
“I didn’t know, Sir.”
“No, you did not. It is fortunate that you chose not to speak with Tono due to that very fact. You are learning, téa.” He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips.
He sat down on the couch and Brie naturally knelt down at his feet, laying her cheek against his strong thigh. Once Sir touched her, all worry evaporated.
“Brie, I know you have lingering feelings for Tono and I am not threatened by them. He is a mature Dom who respects your decision.” The tone of Sir’s voice softened as he stroked her hair. “I know you, téa. I understand that you suffer from guilt. I’d hoped tonight your heart would be eased by speaking with him directly.”
His hand stopped mid-pet. “Naturally, I did not foresee Wallace’s breach of protocol, but that will end.” Sir lifted her chin to look her in the eye. “If he comes anywhere near you again, you are to ignore him and leave. If he dares to follow you, seek protection from the nearest person you trust. Although we reached an understanding tonight, I am not entirely convinced he will leave you alone. He admitted to me he has the misguided hope that he can still win you over, even though you are collared. Until he understands that reality no longer exists, he will remain a problem.”
“Sir, I’m—”
“I do not blame you, do not apologize again. But I want to know what he shared with you tonight.”
“He told me about the accident.”
“Yes. A terrible circumstance indeed, but do not let it color your feelings towards him. One must come to terms with one’s past to be effective as a Dominant. It should never be used to garnish sympathy from a sub.”
Brie was hesitant to voice the one thing that Faelan had stated the first time he’d cornered her that still played in her mind. “Sir, he claimed I am his reason.”
Sir shook his head in disbelief. “He is a fool to put that burden on another. I understand his desperation having been there once, but it is still no excuse. Wallace will be good to no one until he works through his demons.”
It was so easy to be open with Sir that she shared her biggest fear. “I am afraid Mr. Wallace will turn away from his natural talent. He has often said we were cut from the same cloth and in a way, I agree with him. He didn’t realize who he was until he met me.” She looked up at her Master. “Well, Sir, I didn’t realize who I was until I met you.”
“The difference, babygirl, is that you have not been solely dependent on me. I am certain that if I had truly turned you away at the Collaring Ceremony, you would have found another. I cannot imagine you stalking me out of desperation, hoping to win my affections. You are confident in who you are. Wallace isn’t there yet.”
Brie looked down at the floor, a twinge of fear stabbing her in the gut. “What if he doesn’t recover from this, Sir?”
“You are not responsible for the world, Brie. Wallace is stronger than you think and the call of dominance will not let him rest. At this point he sees you as his, but he will come to realize you were only a stepping stone to his true mate.”
Sir’s words brought comfort to Brie’s soul. “Thank you, Master.”
“The challenge is getting him to see beyond his own desires so that he can embrace the future.” He cupped her chin. “However, that is not your job. You will only hinder his growth if you intervene in any way.”
“I understand, Sir.”
They were silent for several minutes. Brie basked in her Master’s soothing caress. It comforted her that he did not react to Faelan with irrational jealousy. In all things, Sir remained the teacher, seeking the best conclusion for all the individuals involved.
“Now Tono is a different story,” Sir stated.
Brie looked up at him questioningly.
“Tono is a good man. I have nothing but respect for him as a person and a Dom. I believe it would be in the best interests of both of you to sit down and discuss what happened the night of the ceremony.”
“If it pleases you, Sir,” she answered doubtfully.
“It is easy to underestimate the power of closure. I have found that loose ends tend to cause needless doubt and pain.”
Despite his bravado, Brie wondered if it would hurt Sir on some level to see her with Tono.
He laughed under his breath. “If it is my jealousy you are worried about, téa, let me assure you that is not a concern. I have faith in your commitment. You asked to be collared of your own free will, despite the risk of rejection. I am confident in your love, just as you should be confident in mine. I am a condor, my dear.”
Brie was unsure what the reference meant. Condors were not handsome birds and, as far as she knew, they were carrion eaters. Not romantic in the least, but she was reluctant to ask because of the look of tenderness he bestowed on her. She would definitely have to google it.