Page 79 of Slave

I looked over at Logan and Lily myself and then nodded to Master. “Yes, please.” She was the closest thing to a friend I’d had in almost a year. Lily wasn’t being Lily, and I wanted to know why.

After dessert, we all sat around the table talking. Well, everyone except Lily.

Somewhere along the line, Richard and Diane got up and disappeared into the kitchen. Master told me he’d be right back and followed them.

I tried not to be nervous as I awaited his return. Logan asked me if I was getting excited for school to start, which brought on more questions from Samantha. The more I talked, the easier it was. But still Lily didn’t say anything.

Master returned, but instead of taking his seat again, he held out his hand and helped me to stand.

“Excuse us,” he said politely to everyone sitting at the table. I heard Jimmy mumble something, but I couldn’t make out what it was, and Master chose not to acknowledge it at all.

With his hand on the small of my back, Master ushered me down the hall to his uncle’s study. We paused outside the door, and he looked down at me, his eyes searching mine. “I will be just in the other room should you need me,” he said as he leaned down to place a kiss on my forehead. “Richard won’t hurt you, I promise.” He pulled back and took one last look at me before walking down the hall and back into the dining room.

I stood staring at the door in front of me, knowing that eventually I’d have to go inside. He’d offered me a choice. Why had I agreed to do this again?

With a shake of my head, I pushed all the questions aside. I knew the exact reason I’d said that I would talk to Richard. This was something simple that I could do for my Master, and I would do it.

Slowly I turned the doorknob and pushed open the only thing separating me from Master’s uncle. There standing across the room was the man I was to talk to.

His eyes were very different from Master’s. They were softer and seemed to hold so many questions. There was also uncertainty in them. That was something I’d never seen in Master’s eyes.

“Hello, Brianna,” Richard said, breaking me out of my musings.

“Hi,” I said meekly.

Richard motioned to a set of chairs over by the window. “Will you come in and sit down?” I hesitated, taking one last look out into the hallway before taking the final steps into the room and closing the door behind me.

He moved slowly as he took a seat in the chair farthest away, allowing me the one closest to the door. I was trying to stay calm. To remember that if I yelled, Master was close enough to hear me. Master had assured me that I was safe with his uncle, and Master wouldn’t lie to me.

Finally I sat down on the edge of the chair. The panic was pushing forward, but I was doing everything I could to push it back. My hand came up to touch Master’s collar. I am always with you, Brianna.

He was always with me. I could do this.

It was Richard’s voice that brought my head up. He cleared his throat, and I met his eyes.

“Thank-you for agreeing to speak with me. I know you must be nervous, but I assure you that I mean you no harm.”

I wasn’t sure how I should respond so I just nodded.

Richard cleared his throat again and leaned toward me. Instinctively, I pulled away. He seemed to notice my reaction and sat back in his chair. “I believe Stephan has told you that I’m concerned for you. He tells me that he is not being inappropriate and that he is treating you with care.”

He ended there, leaving his words hanging in the air. I realized he was waiting for me to comment. I briefly debated how I was to refer to Master in his uncle’s presence, but then realized that Richard knew what I was, so I didn’t censor my words. “Master takes very good care of me.”

Tilting his head, he looked me over very carefully. “I know this is going to sound like an odd question, but I feel I need to ask it. Are you and Stephan having sexual relations?”

My head fell. “No, Sir. Master doesn’t require that of me.”

“Are you happy, Brianna?”

That brought my head up again. “Yes, Sir. As I said, Master is very good to me.”

He nodded.

When he didn’t immediately ask another question, I decided to take a chance and ask one of my own since I was told I could speak freely. “Will you be nicer to Master now?”

Richard looked surprised, but he didn’t answer right away. Instead he gave me a searching look. “I am concerned about you, Brianna. I am not sure that Stephan is what’s best for you.”

His words upset me. It was a mixture of panic and wanting to defend my Master. “You don’t understand. Master saved me! He took me from that awful place,” I said, feeling the memories and the panic once again beginning to rise.

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