“No. I have something very special in mind.”
“The island where you and your father used to treasure hunt?”
He chuckled loudly. “No—that would have been a challenge to pull off.”
“Where, then?”
“You’ll have to wait and see, Miss Bennett.”
They strolled down the street towards the dock in silence.
“Sir, does your family know what happened to your mother?” Brie asked.
“No, and I don’t plan to tell them. At least, not for now. She caused my father’s family too much grief as it is, and I don’t want it tainting our wedding in any way.”
She took his hand. “I’m sorry you’ve had to carry that burden alone.”
“I’m not alone, babygirl,” he said, smiling down at her.
Sir walked Brie to a small house on the beach. She was surprised to see it was full of people. “Your friends, Sir?”
He shook his head as he opened the door. “Not my friends—our friends.”
“Surprise!” everyone shouted.
Brie looked at the group in shock, stunned to see her dearest friends. “I can’t believe you’re here!” she cried as she ran to hug Lea.
“I know—I never knew Nebraska looked a whole lot like Italy,” Lea said with a snicker.
“You liar,” she complained good-naturedly.
Brie looked over her shoulder at Tono, who was standing next to Autumn. “You guys are here too?”
“In the flesh,” Tono replied. “Your fiancé insisted.”
Brie turned to Sir. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“What’s the point of a wedding if your family and friends aren’t there to celebrate with you?”
“Brianna.”
She heard her dad’s voice and searched the room expectantly. “Mom, Dad!” she cried, running to them. “I can’t believe this!”
“Your fiancé is an extravagant man,” her father said, as her mother hugged Brie.
When her mother let go, Brie heard another familiar voice behind her.
“What am I, chopped liver?” Rytsar complained, picking her up and giving her a bear-hug. Brie struggled to breathe in his tight grip.
When he put her down, she laughed. “And I thought you were headed back to Russia.”
“I am, radost moya—after my layover in Italy.”
“Could you stack the cigarettes for me, Miss Bennett?” Mr. Reynolds asked beside her.
“I haven’t seen you and Judy in ages,” Brie exclaimed, breaking out in delighted giggles as she hugged him.
“You two have been busy little beavers,” Judy said, giving Brie a squeeze. “I’m sure we’ll see more of each other once you settle down.”
“I hear you’re planning for a bun in the oven,” Mr. Reynolds whispered.
Brie blushed, surprised that he knew. “Sir told you?”
“He’ll make a fine father. I think he just needed a little reassurance from his Unc.”
She looked over at Sir and nodded. “I agree, Unc.”
Brie squeaked when strong hands covered her eyes.
“Guess who.”
Not only did she recognize his voice, but he had a distinctive scent she’d become familiar with, having visited his home on several occasions. “Master Anderson!”
“How did you know?”
“I smelled you,” she answered.
He sniffed his armpits and shrugged. “Dang, and I even showered today.”
Brie laughed, and her smile widened even more when she saw Mary. She walked over to her and joked, “Long time no see.”
“Bet you didn’t expect to see me here, did you?”
“Nope. Not at all, but I’m thrilled.”
“The doctors said Faelan can’t travel for a while, but he insisted I come, and wanted me to give you this…” Mary surprised Brie by hugging her.
It made Brie all teary—the love of both Mary and Faelan being conveyed in the embrace. She dabbed her eyes afterwards. “Please let Todd know I deeply appreciate his sacrifice letting you come…as well as the heartfelt hug.”
“I’ll be sure to tell him.”
Mary seemed to be glowing with an inner satisfaction, so much so, that Brie felt compelled to say, “I have to admit, woman, you’re looking especially good—all domesticated and docile.”
“You know how to cut a woman down,” Mary complained, but then she smiled. “However, you’re right. I do find myself enjoying the collared life.”
Brie nodded in understanding.
She rejoined Sir, soaking in the joy of the moment. “I don’t think I could be any happier, Sir.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Good. That’s what I was going for, Miss Bennett. Do you know what this is?” he asked, gesturing to the group.
She shook her head, smiling.
“This is our wedding party. Rytsar is my best man, Lea your maiden of honor, Anderson and Nosaka my groomsmen, Mary and Autumn your bridesmaids, your parents, and my uncle and aunt acting as my parents for the ceremony.”
Brie looked them over with a sense of awe. They were an incredible collection of people, and each had significantly influenced their journey.
All the sadness surrounding Ruth’s death and the tension caused by the civil ceremony melted away that evening as Brie and Sir celebrated their upcoming nuptials with their closest friends and family.
I Do
Brie and Sir left Isola d’Elba early the next day. He insisted that she wear a blindfold for the trip. She found it romantic and adored the BDSM feel as he led her around in broad daylight.
Whenever strangers asked why, Sir explained that he was surprising his soon-to-be bride, and they gushed with congratulations. It seemed everyone loved a wedding, even when they didn’t know the bride and groom.
Sir had her stand on the deck of the ferry so she could feel the ocean breeze on her face. “As you know, one of my loves is the ocean,” Sir told her.
Brie nodded. “It has a life of its own. I feel like I’m breathing in its energy.”
“That’s an excellent way to describe it. The ocean does give off an energy all its own.” He kissed her on the shoulder and asked, “Would you like to know where you’re getting married tomorrow?”
She laughed. “No, Sir. I’m not curious in the least.”
“Fine.”
When he said nothing more, she begged, “Please, Sir, any little hint would be appreciated.”
He chuckled, kissing her other shoulder. “My family has a long history here. Many generations, going back to the eleven-hundreds.”
“I can’t imagine having a family line with that kind of history,” Brie confessed.
“It means I’m related to influential people who are honored to help out Alonzo’s son.”
“You have my curiosity piqued, Sir.”
“Good—then I’ll leave it at that.”
Brie stuck out her bottom lip. “Such a cruel Master.”
“I prefer to think of myself as a devoted fiancé.”
Once the ferry had docked, Sir guided her down the long flight of stairs and off the boat, telling her the blindfold must remain.
“You’re lucky I get off on this kind of thing, Sir.”
He chuckled. “I do have method behind my madness, babygirl. I want to you to be fully aware of your surroundings. The smell, the temperature of the air, the sounds, even the feel of the ground beneath your feet—not only what you see. This land is a part of me, Brie, and I want you to be familiar with every aspect of it.”
She did as he asked and took in everything, appreciating the language of the people as they walked by, the sound of the birds above her, the mechanical smell of the train station—everything. She was determined not to miss a single characteristic of his Italy.
After a lengthy train ride, Sir transferred Brie into a tiny convertible, which he drove way too fast once he got out of the metropolitan area. She could tell by his laughter that he was having fun as he whipped around the corners of the win
dy roads. She laughed along with him, loving the aromatic air and the quiet of the country roads once they left the bustling city behind.
When Sir finally pulled up to their destination he slammed on the brakes, causing a cloud of dust to swirl around them. “Do you have any idea where you are, Brie?”
She didn’t answer him until she got out of the car, noting the freshness of the air after the dust had settled. It reminded her of the mountain air of Colorado, but there was an added sweetness to it. She listened to the chirping birds and the buzzing of bees nearby. She slipped off her shoes and felt ticklish grass between her toes and announced, “I think we’re in hill country, but I don’t know where exactly in Italy, Sir.”
“Fair enough. Hold out your hand.”
Sir walked her to a wall and placed her hand on it. “What do you think this is?”
She felt the rough surface. Believing they were in farming country, she guessed it was a simple building made of stone. “Is it an old barn?”
He laughed. “Definitely not a barn, but it’s a reasonable guess.”
Sir led her through an entryway and she felt the coolness of an enclosed room around her. There was a slight echo to it, hinting that it was large.
“You may take off your blindfold now.”
Brie untied it and let the silk fall into her hands. She gasped when she saw the intricately painted scenes of rolling vineyards on the walls, with gold accents on the ceiling above. “What is this place?” she asked in awe.
“A castle owned by my great, great, great grandfather.”
“We’re getting married in a castle?”
“A castle in Tuscany,” Sir answered, kissing her on the lips. “I wanted to wow you, babygirl.”
“Consider me wowed…”
Sir pulled out two rings from his pocket. “Tomorrow, at the ceremony, we will be exchanging these rings. I wanted you to see yours before we do so.”
Brie picked up the delicate ring, the entire band encrusted with diamonds. “It’s beautiful, Sir.”
“Look at the inscription inside.”
She tilted the ring and saw an outline of a condor and the word Mine written on it. “It’s perfect, Sir. Did you look at the engraving on yours?”
Sir shook his head, examining his wedding band closely. Brie had picked that particular ring because she liked the combination of black tungsten and white gold. It had a manly look befitting a Dom.
Sir read the inscription out loud, “Condors forever.” He chuckled, charmed by the similarity. “Although we won’t say vows for the civil ceremony, Brie, I want you to think about what you would say to me. Tell me with your eyes when we exchange these symbols of our commitment.”
“That’s so romantic, Sir.”
He leaned down to kiss her, and the two remained locked in the embrace—lost in their own little world.
After a morning of feminine pampering, Brie was met by Lea, Mary and Autumn who’d come to collect her. They led her through the labyrinth of halls in the castle to an isolated room, where her mother was waiting for her with the wedding gown.
It looked even more beautiful than Brie remembered. Her mom held it up proudly for her to see, but Brie noticed an odd expression on her mother’s face as she stared at the back of the gown.
“Did something happen to the dress?” Brie cried.
Her mother smiled. “Something most definitely happened to the dress. I have to assume your fiancé had something to do with it.” She turned it around to show Brie.
The beautiful lace gown now had three long strands of white pearls set at the shoulders, the loops draping down the back. The addition artfully complemented the shape of the scooped back and added an extra element of sophistication.
“I can’t believe he did that,” Brie said as she ran her fingers over the pearls. “They have a special meaning to us,” she explained to her mother.
“I must say Thane has excellent taste, sweetheart. Shall we see how it looks on you with the new embellishment?”
“Yes please.” Brie’s heart skipped a beat as her mother lifted the dress over her head with Lea’s assistance. The silk of the lining slid down over her body, caressing her with its soft embrace as the lace train pooled behind her.
Brie turned her head to admire the added loops of pearls caressing her back. Her mother was about to remove the cloth covering the full-length mirror, but Brie stopped her. “No, Mom! In Italy, the bride isn’t allowed to see herself before the wedding.”
“What fun is that?” Lea complained. “You should see how beautiful your ass looks in that dress. You’re looking mighty fine, girlfriend.”
“Actually, Brie, a bride can look in the mirror if she takes off one of her gloves,” Mary informed her.
Brie rolled her eyes. “Ah…I’m not wearing any gloves, genius.”
Mary had a superior look on her face when she fished out a long, thin box from her purse and handed it to Brie. “I happen to have a gift for you, although I am unsure now if you deserve it.”
Brie smiled as she opened the box and took out two fingerless gloves made of delicate lace. “They’re exquisite, Mary.”
She shrugged. “I bought them just in case you wanted to play by the rules, but feel free to use them with Sir if you prefer.”
Brie giggled as her mother turned a deep shade of red. Brie could only guess what she was imagining. The funny thing—whatever it was—she was probably right.
Lea slipped both gloves onto Brie’s hands, stating, “Let’s play by the rules, then. ’Cause you’ve got to see yourself in this dress.”
She took off one glove and held it in her hand as her mother pulled away the cover from the mirror.
Brie was stunned by her own reflection. The princess neckline accentuated her full breasts, making a beautiful backdrop for the Italian lace that covered the entire dress. She turned to the side to admire the back of the gown. It was even more beautiful than she’d imagined. The strands of pearls accentuated her back and seemed to direct the eye downward to her shapely bottom, but Brie suspected it was really meant to draw the eye to the brand that barely showed. She knew with certainty that Sir’s eyes would be riveted to that particular spot.
“Wait, the dress is too short,” her mother lamented as she examined the hemline.
“Nope!” Lea announced, handing Brie a small silver box. “Your fiancé has something he wanted you to wear instead of heels.”
Brie giggled with delight as she lifted the lid. Inside was a set of golden jewelry for her feet, accented with tiny pearls.
“He says he wants you barefoot for the wedding.”
Barefoot and pregnant? Brie wondered, smiling to herself.
“What an odd request,” her mother complained.
Lea helped Brie to take off her heels and stockings, replacing them with the jewelry that looped around her second toe and attached around her ankle. It made an enticing jingling sound when she moved her feet.
Brie knew it was slave jewelry and loved the symbolism behind his gift, even though she still wore her collar. On this most vanilla of ceremonies, Sir was reminding her that she was his beloved submissive.
“What girl gets married in bare feet?” her mother protested.
“I’m sure it’s an ancient Italian custom, Mom.”
Mary piped up, “No one will think it strange but us, and we’re the only ones who know.”
Her mother nodded. “I suppose you’re right. The dress will cover her feet.”
“It makes your feet look so darn adorable with your pink toenails, girlfriend,” Lea squealed. “I could just kiss those cute little piggies.”
“Probably what Sir plans to do tonight,” Mary said, adding under her breath, “among other things.”
Brie’s mother blushed again and awkward silence ensued.
Luckily, there was a knock on the door and Sir’s grandmother entered the dressing room. She took one look at Brie and tears came to her eyes.
Brie reached out to her. “Nonna…?
??
The old woman held a small silk pouch, which she handed to her. “Qualcosa di blu.”
Brie caught the word ‘blue’ and opened the pouch with excitement. Inside was a tiny antique stick-pin made of gold with a single blue crystal. Brie smiled at her, knowing it was meant as good luck. It seemed some traditions were universal.
Sir’s grandmother took it from Brie with her frail hands, to pin it on her wedding dress. To Brie’s surprise, she let out a small gasp while she was pinning it. Sir’s grandmother touched the lace of the gown with a look of wonder. She called out excitedly, and called out again when no one came.
Aunt Fortuna ran into the room, looking upset. “What, Nonna? Why the big fuss?”
Sir’s grandmother pointed to Brie’s dress, speaking excitedly.
Aunt Fortuna had the same look of amazement as she lovingly stroked the lace. She gazed up at Brie, shaking her head in disbelief. “Where did you get this?”
“I found the dress waiting for me at a little dress shop in Los Angeles.”
Aunt Fortuna put her hand to her lips, looking like she was about to cry. “I made this lace, Brianna. The fact that this dress found you…that is destino.”
Brie threw her arms around her. “Then I must thank you for helping to create my gown.”
Sir’s grandmother joined in on the hug. If there had been any misgivings before about the wedding, they all seemed to wash away in that moment.
Rytsar walked in on them, looking devastatingly handsome in his smoky gray suit with matching vest and light-gray tie. The refined Italian suit took Rytsar’s rough, masculine charm to a higher level.
“Well, you certainly look handsome, Mr. Durov,” Brie complimented.
A slow smile crept over his lips. “Radost moya, you are perfection.”
Brie gave a little bow. “Thank you.”
She noticed that all the women were staring at him, the younger ones in playful longing and the older ones in open admiration.
“Did you need something, Mr. Durov?” Brie’s mother finally asked, breaking the spell he had created with his presence.
Rytsar snorted. “Your future husband wanted me to ask if you received his gift.”
Brie lifted her gown to show off the slave jewelry gracing her feet. “Tell my future husband that I love his gift and will walk out to meet him wearing them proudly.”