Page 14 of Need

“You said you and... Logan, were pretty much like a normal couple during the week. What...”

“What did I mean by that?” she asked the question for me. “There are certain things that I am responsible for and if I fail to do them, I will suffer punishment no matter what day it is.”

I shivered. She noticed.

“Don’t get me wrong, Brianna. Punishments aren’t pleasant. They aren’t meant to be, but they are bearable. And it’s not like you don’t know it’s coming. You broke a rule, after all.”

“So he wouldn’t just... hurt me?” I asked.

She finished her food before answering me. “I’m not saying that there aren’t Dominants out there that would, but we’re talking about Stephan. He doesn’t like handing out punishments, but he will if his rules aren’t followed. Stephan likes submission and being in control of things. He likes knowing that someone’s pleasure comes only from him.” She paused for a moment and then got that smirk on her face again. “Of course, that’s pretty much consistent no matter the Dominant.”

I was trying to take this all in. It was a complete contradiction to what I had in my mind. I kept picturing him standing over me. One minute his face would be that of the Stephan I’d come to know over the past month and a half, the next it would be just as cold and hard as Ian’s had been. What was the truth?

The server came to remove our plates and she asked if we wanted dessert. We both declined, and Lily handed her a credit card. When the woman walked away, Lily went back to watching me once more.

“I know you’re scared, and you have every right to be. I can’t tell you what decision to make, but I will tell you that Stephan is a good man, and that he cares about you.”

I didn’t respond, and the server came back with the receipt. Lily signed the slip and then got up to leave. I followed her out.

The ride back to Stephan’s condo was quiet. She seemed to know that I needed time to think. Every time I thought about being his submissive, I felt myself break out into a sweat. When I would think about leaving him, my chest would tighten and it was almost painful to breathe.

Once we were at Stephan’s building, Lily took a detour to the garage and her car. She pulled out a garment bag and threw it over her arm before hooking her elbow with mine and dragging me back into the elevator.

The ride up was quick. It was the middle of the day and most other tenants were at work. Lily couldn’t seem to stand still. I could tell she was excited about something.

I let us into the condo just seconds before Lily grabbed my hand and dragged me into my room. It was useless to resist, and I figured at least this way, I’d be able to find out what all her excitement was regarding.

She didn’t make me wait long. Lily hung the garment bag on a hook by my bathroom door and opened it up to reveal a long purple dress. “Do you like it?” she asked.

“What?” I stuttered, not sure what she was talking about, or why she was showing me the most unbelievable dress.

“For the dinner, silly.” When I still looked confused, she added, “Saturday. Stephan said you needed a dress.”

Oh. Yes. The dinner. Saturday. The dinner I’d told Stephan I’d accompany him to as his date.

I felt the blood rushing out of my face and dizziness began to take over. Hands guided me to the bed and pushed my head between my knees.

My world was spinning less, but the panic was still just below the surface. I knew what I’d agreed to, but seeing the dress made it all too real. How was I going to do this?

I felt something being pressed against my ear and then I heard his voice.

“Brianna? Are you there?”

“Yes,” I breathed.

“Concentrate. Listen to my voice. You’re fine. Nothing is going to hurt you,” he said in that voice that you just couldn’t argue with.

I nodded even though I knew he couldn’t see.

“Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

“I saw... the... dress,” I squeaked.

“You don’t like it?” he asked.

The fog was beginning to lift as I talked to him. “It’s beautiful.”

“Then what’s the problem? Why did you start to panic?”

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