Brie was swaying to the music, facing Thane’s bed as if he were her dance partner. Her movements were expressive and passionate as she poured out her soul in her movements.
Tears welled in Brad’s eyes as he watched her twirl with her hands close to her chest while the haunting lyrics “I never, I never want another…” played in the background, then Brie made the motions of calling Thane back with tears running down her cheeks as the words “Come back, come back to me, my lover…” floated in the air.
Thane just lay there, eyes open but oblivious to her heartfelt pleas.
Brad had to swallow back the tender emotion her dance inspired. The love Brie had for Thane was powerful and priceless. It seemed cruel that such devotion wasn’t rewarded by Fate.
He turned to Abby and quickly explained, “I need to get something before I disturb her.”
Brad headed back to his truck, determined to put a smile on Brie’s tear-stained face. He drove to the flower shop close to The Submissive Training Center where he knew the owner personally. Brad asked Mabel to make a special bouquet.
“Make it big. No, jaw-droppingly huge,” he instructed. “I want the woman to know how much I admire her.”
“Is this for a new love interest?” Mabel asked with a smile. “I only ask so I can make sure the arrangement meets the mood you’re trying to set.”
Brad shook his head. “No, no…it’s for a friend who really could use a smile right now.”
“Very well.” With graceful, yet meticulous hands, Mabel took simple flowers and created a living piece of art before his eyes. When she was done, Mabel stood back and grinned.
“What do you think, Master Anderson?”
Brad stared at the tall, slim arrangement of purple, yellow, and cream flowers with magnificent Birds of Paradise scattered artfully throughout.
“It’s a showstopper, Mabel.”
“Do you think your lady friend will like it?”
“She’ll be absolutely blown away by this.” Brad handed her an extra-generous tip, wanting to show appreciation for the skill of the flower artisan.
“I can’t accept this,” she protested.
He smiled. “I insist. I can’t wait to see the look on Brie’s face when she beholds this creation.”
Master Anderson struggled getting the large arrangement in his truck without damaging the delicate flowers. He carefully buckled the vase in.
Turning on some deep bass on his stereo, he made his way back to the hospital. While he was driving, he came to the realization that he wasn’t doing it for Thane—or even for Brie. Truthfully, this gesture was purely selfish on his part. If he could get Brie to smile, he’d be giving a finger to the bitch called Fate.
He saw too late what was waiting for him when he crested the hill overlooking the hospital. A bent, little old lady in a housecoat was standing in the middle of the road for no apparent reason. Brad slammed on his brakes but knew impact was inevitable. Without giving a second thought, he swerved to avoid hitting the old woman, heading for the ditch on the side of the road.
“Oh fuck…”
The truck pitched into a roll. He knew, without a doubt, it was going to end badly for him and his Chevy.
His very last thought before everything went black was of Shey Allen.
Brad woke up in a white, sterile room and found himself tucked in crisp linen sheets. He turned his head and was surprised to see a familiar face. “Is that you, Nurse Abby?”
“Oh good, you’re awake. Mrs. Davis is going to be so relieved. I thought she was going to have a total breakdown when she heard you’d been admitted to the emergency room.”
“The old woman?”
“She’s fine, as is the turtle she was trying to save.”
Brad shook his head. “Well, at least my truck didn’t die for nothin’.”
Abby looked at his leg, frowning sadly. “You aren’t going to be driving anytime soon, I’m afraid.”
“Damn, this really fucks things up. Excuse my language,” he amended quickly.
“No need to apologize,” Abby said, waving away his comment. “All of the nursing staff are concerned for you. We’re here however you need us.”
He shook his head. “Don’t worry about me, it’s Mrs. Davis who needs support.”
“Well, she’s going to have to live without yours for a bit. With your right leg out of commission, you won’t be up and about for a while, but at least it was a clean break.”
Knowing that Lilly was still out there, Brad couldn’t leave Brie alone and defenseless—not for one second.
“I need to make a call.”
Abby handed him the portable phone sitting on the hospital tray by his bed.
He stared at it for a while, unsure who to call.
The first person who came to mind was Rytsar Durov. Although he hadn’t recently heard from the man, he was a sound choice. However, Brad was unsure how the Russian would fare with a hurting Brie under his care. She already had a strong sexual bond with the man. It would be extremely easy for Rytsar to fall into the trap of wanting to comfort the girl, thereby allowing the emotional bond between them to take on new life. The Russian was a passionate man by nature.
Although Rytsar was an honorable Dom, this precarious balance had been hard enough on Brad, and made him cautious about his decision. It wasn’t so much that Brad didn’t trust Rytsar as much as he felt putting the two together would only set them up for failure.
For Brad there was really only one man who could provide Brie with the guidance, love, and calming support she needed—and still be trusted to keep his focus.
“Hey, Nosaka…”
Brad explained the entire situation, excluding the details behind Lilly’s threat, letting the Kinbaku master know just how serious things were for Brie.
“There is no one else she needs more right now than you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I’ve noticed she’s taken to wearing the white orchid in her hair each day. She strokes it obsessively when she thinks no one is watching. She is not well, Nosaka.”
While the man was digesting that news, Master Anderson added, “Lilly poses a serious threat to Brie. Is there any way you can take a flight out today? I’m not kidding when I say time is of the essence.”
Tono Nosaka did not hesitate for a second. “I will be there as soon as possible.”
Brad let out a sigh of relief. “If anything happened to Brie, I’m afraid I’d completely lose it. She’s in a fragile state right now and could shatter at any moment.”
“I will make the necessary arrangements. Should I head to the hospital when I arrive?”
“No, go directly to the apartment. I’ll call ahead so the front desk will be expecting you. Everyone’s on high alert because of Lilly’s actions.”
“What’s going on?”
“I’ll let Brie give you the details when she sees you.”
“How long I should plan on staying then?”
“Once I’m back on my feet, I can take over. Maybe a couple of weeks.”
Abby tsked at him.
“I stand corrected. The nurse is telling me it might be a bit longer.”
“Fine. I will seek out someone to temporarily care for your place while I join you in LA.”
“Sorry about the inconvenience.”
“Not an issue. That’s what family is for.”
“You’re a good egg, Nosaka.”
“Brie’s well-being is of utmost importance. I’ve felt unsettled for quite some time, but was told by Sir Davis’s aunt that there was no need for concern.”
“That came as a direct order from Brie. She didn’t want anyone worrying about her.”
“It will actually be a relief to see her in person,” he admitted. “Know that I’m glad to help in any way while Sir Davis recovers.”
“I’m warning you, Nosaka, it’s not looking good.”
“It will eventually, Master Anderson. There are always calm seas after a tempest.”
>
“See? Now that’s the kind of shit Brie could use.”
“I help where I can.”
“I have a piece of advice for you after having looked after Brie myself. She’s a hurting unit right now. The pain is just under the surface and is easy to read even though she puts on a strong front. I don’t mean to offend you when I say this, but it’s imperative to comfort her without being overly comforting. Especially considering your history together. Do you get what I’m saying?”
“I do, Master Anderson. I understand fully what is being asked of me. Fortunately, I have been down this road with her when I was asked to take on the role as her temporary Master by Sir Davis when he was away on business.”
“That’s why I called you. If Thane trusted you then, I know I can trust you now.” He paused for a moment. “It’s just that I found the situation more challenging than I thought it would be. You can’t help but want to wrap that little girl in your arms and take all the pain away.”
“Knowing the challenge is there makes it easier to avoid,” Nosaka stated.
“Exactly. I resorted to humor and cooking soup to circumvent the issue whenever it arose. I don’t know what your tools are, but they worked for me.”
“I assure you I will be thoughtful in my interactions with her, Master Anderson. I desire to increase her harmony and peace, not distract from it.”
“That’s what she needs—along with your protection. Lilly is unbalanced.”
“I will keep Brie safe in both mind and body, Master Anderson.”
Brad believed Nosaka and felt good after hanging up. The Asian Dom was an uncommon man with the ability to center those around him.
“Hell, even I could use his brand of shit,” he confessed to Nurse Abby as he handed her the phone. “You’re going to like this Nosaka person, I guarantee it.”
She smiled as she finished up with him, pushing the tray next to his bed before she left.
Brad stared long and hard at the phone sitting there, thinking back on his accident.
Damn…to call her now would only invite complication into his already complex life. He didn’t need Shey’s pity, but he yearned to hear her voice.
“Oh, what the hell… You only live once.”
Unexpected Visit
Brad heard a soft rapping on the door.
“Just leave it on the doorstep, whatever it is,” he called out, tired of getting fruit baskets from the staff and administration at The Center. He understood it was meant as a kind gesture, but what was he going to do with all that rotting fruit? He was only one man, for goodness sake.
To his irritation, the rapping continued. He was about to yell, “Go the fuck away!” when he noticed Cayenne walk up to the door.
“So you know this person…” Brad stated with interest as he grabbed his crutches and painfully pushed himself from the couch to head toward the door. “I’m coming, I’m coming,” he grumbled.
He was slow to unlock the bolt, moving between the door and Cayenne to prevent her escape as he cracked the door.
His jaw dropped when he saw who it was.
The redhead smiled up at him shyly, wearing his black Stetson on her head. Her cheeks were flushed with a pleasant pink.
“Shey?”
She giggled lightly. “It’s me, in the flesh.”
He quickly ushered her inside, his mind not quite registering that the redhead was actually standing in front of him. “You didn’t have to come, you know.”
“Of course I did. As soon as you told me you were in an accident I started making plans to visit.” She tentatively touched his shoulder. “But it looks like it wasn’t only your truck that suffered in the crash. Why didn’t you tell me you broke your leg?”
Brad laughed uncomfortably, shaken by the fact he’d felt chills when she touched him. “Don’t mind me, I’ll mend soon enough.” Making his way back to the sofa using his crutches, he motioned Shey to sit. “What really brought you down here?”
The pink blush became more intense when she answered. “I finally did it. I took your advice and had a real talk with my parents.”
Cayenne jumped on Shey’s lap and began purring, so Brad reached out and scratched the feline’s head as he continued to stare at Shey.
She’s really here.
“After I explained that you were in an accident and how I felt about you, I was overwhelmed by my parents’ response.”
“What did they do?”
“They both practically pushed me out the door.”
“Why?” he asked, chuckling.
“I guess they’d been worried I would remain a spinster forever.”
“So all this time you’ve been worried about your parents, and they’ve been equally worried about you?”
She laughed. “I guess. They bought me a new car and told me in no uncertain terms that I need to fully explore California…” She paused, the pink shade of her blush suddenly turning red. Shey slumped on the couch as if she had something more she was embarrassed to tell him. Finally, she whispered, “As well as my relationship with you.”
He had to hide the shit-eatin’ grin that threatened to take over his face and answered simply, “I see.”
Shey took a deep breath. “I hope I’m not being overly forward, coming here unannounced like this.”
Brad smirked, ticking the brim of her hat. “Are you kidding me, Shey? I’ve been waiting for you to knock on this damn door ever since I left Vegas.”
Her laughter filled the room, and she nodded with a pleased smile. “Good.”
“So where are you staying?”
“I’m staying at a hotel nearby, but will be looking for a studio apartment once I get settled. Mr. Nyte hooked me up with a job out here.”
“You could always stay here with me,” Brad suggested. “Got a guest room just waiting for ya.”
Her eyes widened, her face frozen in a look of complete shock.
“What? Did I say something wrong?”
Shey tilted her head. “I…mean, I know we got off to a quick start when you came to Vegas, but that’s not normal for me.”
He’d momentarily forgotten that she wasn’t one of his kinky friends who would think nothing of an offer to stay with him. “Look, I’m sorry, Shey. I definitely didn’t mean to overstep with my offer. I want to take it as slowly as you want—even if that means no sex until six months down the road. In my eyes, it was a simple offer to a friend.”
She swallowed hard. “Okay, because I’m not like the other girls you know. I’m kind of old-fashioned, despite what transpired between us that night.”
He nodded. “I totally get that. You’re looking for a strictly vanilla relationship.”
She laughed. “Not exactly. I like the idea of exploring BDSM with you, but I want to be treated like your girlfriend, not a sub. At least not in the beginning.”
He raised an eyebrow. “But you are open to the idea.”
She shrugged with a coy smile. “Sure, if it’s something I feel called to do.”
“I respect that.”
“The only thing I’m not sure about…and I still can’t wrap my head around…is…” Her voice trailed off.
“Are you talking about what I do for a living?”
She took a deep breath. “Yes, that.”
“Is it the fact I scene with my students or that I have intercourse during the sessions?”
“Both, if I’m completely honest. However, it’s the latter that truly bothers me.”
He stared at her perplexed. “Why have you come then, Shey? You know that’s part of my job.”
Her smile crumpled. “I don’t know… I’m hoping you can convince me it’s okay somehow.”
Brad chuckled but shook his head slowly. “You’re an old-fashioned girl—no amount of convincing on my part is going to change your heart.”
Shey wiped away an unwanted tear. “I was afraid of that, but…I had to come see you, Brad. I have to at least try.”
He held out his arms to her and sh
e settled into his embrace. Kissing her gently, he murmured, “I’m glad you came.”
Even though he was laid up with a bum leg, Brad still had to fulfill his responsibilities at The Center. Every night, Baron would make the drive to pick him up and take him to work.
“I hate that you have to do this,” Brad complained. “I’m only like ten minutes away from the damn place.”
Baron grinned at him. “Since you can’t drive, it would take an hour or longer on those crutches.”
Brad snarled. “I hate feeling like a helpless baby, but…thank you.”
“Anytime, Headmaster.”
Plans for the students’ upcoming graduation was on the agenda for the meeting after class ended that night. Since the crash, Brad had headed all the sessions. However, Baron and Marquis had been forced to pick up the slack where physical training was concerned.
Tonight, Nosh had to be called in as Brad’s replacement since a third trainer was needed for a unique scene planned for one of the pupils.
Brad was feeling restless just minutes before it was set to start, and quietly left to grab a glass of water. He smiled at the students as he passed, ignoring the sympathetic expressions on their faces. God, he couldn’t wait to lose these damn crutches and rip the fucking cast from his leg.
He growled under his breath as he pulled out a bottled water from the fridge and took a long drink.
“What’s wrong?” Mr. Gallant asked, walking into the trainer’s lounge. “Nothing to do with the students, I trust.”
“No, it’s a personal issue I’m dealing with.”
“Not with Mrs. Davis, I hope.”
“No, Nosaka keeps in touch with me daily and says Brie is actually doing well—considering.”
Mr. Gallant looked up at him with gentle but penetrating eyes. “What is it then?”
He let out a long sigh before confessing, “I haven’t told anyone.”
“Your confidence is safe with me,” Mr. Gallant assured him.
“Well…I met a girl.”