Page 153 of Brie's Submission
She looked down at their feet and became distracted by the graceful way they moved together. “I do feel something for him,” she muttered softly.
He continued dancing but said nothing. When the music stopped, he guided her over to his father. Brie tried to keep her composure, relying on her basic sub training—eyes to the ground and the body in a pleasing but respectful position.
Tono bowed low before his father and said, his voice ripe with respect, “Otosama, this is Miss Brianna Bennett.”
She bowed and waited, with her eyes glued to her toes. Only silence followed, but she could feel the old man’s gaze on her as he studied her carefully. His callused fingers grasped her chin and he lifted her eyes to meet his. He had the same chocolate brown eyes, but they were cold; not like Tono’s at all. She struggled not to shiver against his hand.
The old man pushed his nose to within an inch from her face and stared into her eyes as if he was searching for something specific, something he could only see upon closer inspection. She allowed his invasion, hoping he would find what he needed to approve of her.
After several uncomfortable moments he let go of her chin and turned to Tono. He said only one word in Japanese: “Dame.” Then he walked away.
Tono shook his head as if to clear it. He looked at Brie and offered her a reassuring smile before heading off after his father.
She wanted to yell, “What does it mean, Tono?” However, she remembered her place and allowed him to leave without knowing why.
Brie watched Mary cozying up to a flamboyant Spaniard. He seemed quite taken with her. Although he did have the prettiest gray eyes Brie had ever seen, he wasn’t nearly manly enough to be attractive to Brie. Mary could have him.
Lea had found their mutual ‘doctor’ friend, Master Harris. The two seemed to be hitting it off well, and Brie wondered again if something might happen between them. Both had great senses of humor and it made her smile to think of them together.
Faelan came up from behind and growled in her ear. “I may have missed out on the first dance, but I insist on the next.”
She turned around and smiled coyly. “I was saving the best for last.” He looked youthfully debonair in dark clothes with a gray shirt, of which he had rolled up the sleeves just enough to expose his strong, veiny arms.
“Don’t you forget that, blossom. I may lack Tono’s elderly status, but I can take you places he never will.” As proof, Faelan moved the hair away from her neck and kissed that tantalizing spot where her shoulder and neck met. He easily lulled her into his seduction. Brie’s body responded without shame, remembering their chocolate ‘dance’. There was no doubt her body liked Faelanverymuch.
“Who else is my competition?” he asked, moving to the other side of her neck, holding her tightly when her knees threatened to give out.
“Just Tono…” Brie breathed out.
“Good, then your choice is between the wise old owl and the eager young wolf. Seems simple enough to me.”
She slapped him on the ass. “I think you mean the arrogant wolf pup.”
Faelan grabbed the back of her head with one hand and her chin with the other. He kissed her, then, like she had never been kissed before. The possessiveness behind his embrace instantly made her wet and desperate for him.
He left Brie gasping for air when he let go. “Confidence, blossom, not arrogance.”
She excused herself, needing some distance between them to reorient herself. She looked across the room and saw Mr. Gallant with a sleek, dark woman of Amazon stature. The possessive hold he had around her waist left no doubt the Amazon was his wife. The height difference between the two was adorable, yet even so, Mr. Gallant looked every part the Dom and she the willing and happy submissive.
Ms. Clark headed towards Brie, so she braced herself for a confrontation. There was no need. The trainer passed by on her way to talk to Lea. After a brief conversation, Ms. Clark approached Master Harris. The interviews were beginning.
She jumped when Marquis appeared at her side, as if out of nowhere. “Are you ready for your first meeting?”
Brie was unable to hide the fear crowding her heart. “Marquis Gray, Tono was supposed to be my first, but he went to chase after his father.” She pointed in the direction the two had disappeared. “Do you have any idea what ‘dame’means in Japanese?”
His lips formed a thin line. “Not good.”
“What do you mean by that? Did I do something wrong?”
He looked down at her without any expression in his dark eyes. “No, Miss Bennett. That is simply what the word means.”
Brie felt herself falling backwards.Not good?
Marquis took her by the arm and guided her towards the room they had assigned for Brie’s interviews. “Forget it for now. Concentrate on the next Dom you want to meet with.”
She looked back in the direction in which Tono had left. “But I don’t understand…”
“Miss Bennett, listen to me. You cannot waste this opportunity. Who would you like me to bring to your first meeting?”
