Page 67 of Slave

For one moment I let myself imagine what it would be like to have her feel for me what I did for her. To be able to show her how I felt. Just thinking about it made my heart race like never before.

The memory of her spread out naked on her bed flashed in my mind, and I had to force it away. As much as I wanted her, I couldn’t have her. I had to face the very real possibility that she would never want me like I wanted her. Never be able to look at me as anything more than the person who bought her.

My head fell into my hands and I groaned. Just the idea caused me pain. I would let her go, though. I loved her enough to let her go.

After spending several minutes pushing my fear of losing her deep inside, I made my way back into the main room to find her sitting on the couch. Glancing in the kitchen, I could see that everything was put away and in its place, not that I’d expected any different. Brianna took her responsibilities very seriously.

She didn’t look up when I came in, but I could tell she was aware of me. Good.

Brianna kept her eyes lowered as I made my way over to my chair. I sat down, placed my hands on the armrests, and told her to sit on my lap.

Her progress amazed me. She was gaining confidence every day. Brianna was the strongest woman I had ever met.

She sat on my legs with hands folded loosely. Her posture was alert but relaxed.

With my left hand I brushed her hair back away from her face. “You did very well this evening at the restaurant. I was impressed.”

She nodded. “Thank-you, Master.”

I saw a small smile play at her lips. She was obviously impressed with herself as well.

My hand moved up and down her arm slowly. I needed to touch her in some way, to show her how I felt, even if I couldn’t tell her with words. “You started to panic at first. What changed?”

She didn’t answer me right away, but I could tell by the look on her face that she was thinking so I waited. We sat for at least ten minutes before she finally said, “I don’t know. I was . . . scared,” she said and then paused for several seconds. I was sure she was gauging my reaction to her confession.

When I didn’t respond in any way, she continued. I saw a light blush color her cheeks as she said, “Then I . . .” She swallowed. “I told myself you wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”

My heart jumped at her confession. I knew my touch calmed her. I’d seen it firsthand many times before. But for her to admit such a thing, to connect it, and have it help her . . .

I pulled her closer to me and tucked her head beneath my chin. She leaned into me, and I thought I felt her release a small sigh. “I would never let anything happen to you,” I confirmed.

We sat for a long time without a sound between us except our breathing. I knew we needed to talk about what had happened at the grocery store, and it was getting late.

Without moving either of us from our current position, I said, “You used your safe word tonight.” I felt her stiffen. “Thank-you,” I responded. She needed to know above all else that I wanted her to use her safe words. I didn’t want her to be afraid of them.

Brianna relaxed once more in my arms, and again I let a few moments lapse before continuing. “Will you tell me what caused you to reach an eight? Why did you panic?”

She took a deep breath, and I could feel her preparing herself. I rubbed my hand up and down her arm, trying to comfort her. “That man . . .”

I waited for her to continue, but after several minutes she did not. “What about the man?”

“I don’t know,” she confessed and I believed her.

“I know this will be hard, Brianna, but I want you to close your eyes and think back. What was it about the man that scared you?”

A small motion brought my attention to her hands. They were balled into fists. I hated that this was so difficult for her, but it was necessary if she was ever to attempt a normal life.

“His eyes,” she whispered.

“What about his eyes?”

I felt her shake her head against my shoulder and then heard a sob. “I don’t know.”

Pulling her tighter against me, I placed a soft kiss to her head and held her while she calmed down.

I looked at my watch and knew we needed to be going to bed soon. With my left hand I took her right one and brought it up to her neck. “This,” I said, brushing both of our fingers along her collar, “is a symbol to show that I am always with you. I would never let someone take you away from me, Brianna.”

I gave her a moment to process that information. “Do you believe me?”

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