Page 63 of Slave

“Thank-you,” I said with sincerity.

He didn’t respond to my thanks. That put me on alert, and I was not disappointed.

“Stephan, I wish you would reconsider getting her professional help. I have no idea what happened to her, but you have to—”

That was it, the last straw. “I am not discussing this with you,” I said, finality in my tone.

This seemed to silence him for a few minutes. I turned to pick up the towel I’d brought in with me and the envelope he’d thrown down on the bench. My workout was over. I needed to get back to my office and shower.

He followed me out into the hall and down to my office. Jamie was still looking wary as we passed, and I tried to send her a reassuring smile.

Continuing to ignore my uncle, I walked straight to my closet, took the suit I’d hung up less than an hour ago, and headed into my bathroom.

The shower felt good. I wanted to linger underneath the spray, but I knew Richard wasn’t finished and would be waiting for me.

Drying off and dressing quickly, I exited my bathroom to find my uncle sitting in the chair directly across from my desk and looking deep in thought.

Taking a seat behind my desk, I looked directly at him, my gaze hard and unwavering. When his eyes met mine, they didn’t hold the hostility I’d expected. “After last Sunday, your aunt is convinced that I’m the reason you don’t come over anymore.”

I snorted. “You’ve made your feelings regarding my choices quite clear.”

He sighed and shifted nervously in his seat. “Just tell me you’re not having sex with her.”

“Brianna? You think I’m having sex with her?”

“Aren’t you?” he asked, but I heard the uncertainty in his voice this time. When I didn’t say anything more, he added, “I mean she’s living with you and, well . . . with your . . . I mean . . .”

“You can say it, Richard. With my being a Dominant.”

“I didn’t mean . . .”

“Yes, you did.” I pressed my thumb and forefinger to my temple in frustration. This was getting us nowhere fast.

I took a deep breath and cleared my head of everything other than the task at hand. “First, she may be living in my house, but she is staying in the guest room. Second, I have not had sex with her. Of any kind,” I clarified. “She is in no mental condition to be making such decisions.”

“But at the house you kissed her,” he stated as if trying to give evidence to his case, but there was no venom behind it.

I sighed. “Yes, we’ve kissed. Kissing is all we’ve done,” I said pointedly. “No matter what you think of me, I wouldn’t take advantage of her like that.”

Silence floated heavy in the air for several minutes before he said, “I’m sorry. I’ve not been fair to you.”

“No, you haven’t,” I answered calmly and without the sting I still felt at his lack of faith.

“Will you come to dinner Sunday? You and Brianna?” he asked. The look on my face must not have been promising when he added, “Diane misses you. Please don’t let me be the reason you are staying away.”

I sighed and nodded.

He smiled at me and then got up to leave. “I’ll tell Diane to expect you around one, then.” When he reached the door he paused, looked back at me, and said, “Take care of her, Stephan.” Then he was gone.

My plan had been to leave work at three so that I could go shopping with Brianna. Originally I’d hoped she would be able to attempt it on her own, however after what happened yesterday I didn’t want to chance it just yet.

But at three, I was only halfway through a report that needed to be finished today, so I picked up the phone and dialed Brianna. She picked up on the second ring. “Hello?”

“Hello, Brianna.”

“Hello, Master.”

The smile in her voice came through the phone. I remembered the first few times I’d called her from work. Her voice had been full of fear. It was nice to know things were getting better for her.

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