Page 49 of Slave

“Thank-you.”

When I’d gotten everything set up he invited me, as he always did, to eat with him. I ate faster than I normally did and with an excitement I hadn’t known since I was little.

After dinner, we would go sit in his chair, and I wanted to thank him for the car. He noticed my excitement, of course.

“Are you hungry tonight, Brianna?” he said with amusement.

“Yes, Master,” I answered back still smiling.

Master didn’t say any more as he finished his food, but I could tell he was in a good mood, which made me even happier. Once he was finished, he walked over to his chair while I cleaned up.

As soon as I was done, I came to him, and he opened his arms to me. I sat down and relaxed as Master’s arms wrapped around me.

“What’s on your mind tonight, Brianna?” he asked.

“Thank-you for the car,” I said shyly.

My head was lowered so my hair was slightly obscuring my face. His hand rose to brush it out of the way. I liked it when he touched me like this.

“You’re welcome. You’ll need the car for school and to go shopping.”

At his mention of shopping, I stiffened a little. He noticed and brought my chin up so that I was looking at him. Master didn’t say anything. I could see everything I needed to know in his eyes. “I forgot about . . . shopping,” I whispered.

He didn’t say anything for a minute but released my chin once he was sure I wouldn’t look away again. “You’re nervous about going alone.” It was a statement, not a question.

“Yes.”

Nodding, he tightened his hold on me a little. “I know being out alone is hard for you, but I want you to try.” Then he brought his fingers up to trace the front of my collar. “You have a part of me with you at all times.”

I pressed my lips together, but finally I nodded.

“Good,” he said.

I felt him take a deep breath before he said his next words, “When we were at the zoo last week, why did you get upset?”

What? I was confused. And then I wasn’t. The snakes. He wanted to know about the snakes.

But why?

No. I couldn’t tell him. He’d . . . He’d . . .

I couldn’t breathe! Why couldn’t I breathe!

Slowly I began to register his hands on both sides of my face. I hadn’t realized I’d been shaking my head until now. He was murmuring something, but I couldn’t make it out at first, and then the words filtered through my brain and started to make sense. They were the same ones he’d said that day to calm me. And just like then, they did.

I had no idea how long it took me to breathe normally again, but I was still on his lap. My head was lying on his shoulder while his hands gently stroked up and down my arm and face.

“Are you better?”

I closed my eyes tight, wishing the last several minutes hadn’t happened. But they had, and I knew I’d yet to answer him.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Do you think you can talk to me now?”

“I . . . I don’t know,” I answered honestly.

“Please try, Brianna. I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”

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