Page 57 of Beneath the Flames
“Why is that, Tono?” she laughed, her soul instantly responding to the soothing sound of his voice.
“I was just thinking about you.”
She grinned. “I love that our connection remains strong despite the distance between us.”
“It brings me comfort as well,” he agreed, his voice tender. “It is good to hear your voice.”
“I was thinking the same thing, Tono. Your voice has a calming effect I can’t explain.”
“I’m glad to hear it. How are you…really?”
Her smile grew wider when she told him, “I’m well. Better than I’d hoped.”
“Thatiswelcomed news.”
“That’s actually the reason I called. I feel well enough that I’ve started working on the documentary again. I am even filming an extra interview for it.”
She swore she could hear the smile in his voice when Tono said, “I cannot tell you how happy that makes me to hear that. Who are you interviewing?”
Brie let out a happy sigh, hardly able to contain her excitement when she told him, “Master Nosh, the head trainer of the Dominant course.”
“Ah…” Tono said, sounding pleased. “I know the man well.”
“You do?”
“Yes, Master Nosh asked me to demonstrate Kinbaku to his students in the course.”
She was shocked by the news and exclaimed, “I never knew that!”
“I did it for many years but, by the time you and I met, I had moved on to other things.”
Brie shook her head, laughing. “Wouldn’t it have been funny if you’d been demonstrating when Sir attended the course?”
“I did.”
“What!” she cried again. “How come you never mentioned it to me before?”
“I suppose it never came up,” he chuckled. “I’m not a man who lives in the past.”
Brie shook her head, her mind completely blown. “It appears Sir must think the same way since this is the first I’ve ever heard of it.”
Tono laughed. “Would it have changed anything ifyou had known?”
Snorting in amusement, she admitted, “I suppose not.”
A companionable silence settled in between them. Out of curiosity, she asked, “What was Sir like back then?”
“Determined—just as he is now.”
She giggled. “Somehow, I’m not surprised.”
“I anticipate good things will come from your interview with Master Nosh,” Tono told her. “He is a remarkable man.”
“I completely agree. Although, I have to admit I find him a bit intimidating.”
He chuckled. “His wife is a perfect balance to his imposing countenance.”
“You know Nenove as well?” she asked in surprise.
