Brie Masters Love in Submission: Submissive in Love (12 page)

Tono took her forcefully by the shoulders. “What I
need
is your understanding and support.”

Brie bit her lip and nodded. “You have my unwavering support, Tono. You always will.”

“Good,” he said, releasing his hold on her. “Then go back home and start on your new film. It would bring me joy to see your career grow. Make me proud, Brie.”

Tears of love and gratitude ran down her cheeks as she hugged him. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“But you must.”

He guided her back to the gathering in silence.

When they arrived, the attendant was directing people to a new room. Brie left Tono’s side as he helped to escort his relatives out of the room. She made her way through the crowd to rejoin Sir.

“How did it go?” he asked.

She wiped away the remnants of her tears. “He’s staying in Japan, Sir.”

“I assumed he would.” As they followed behind the large party, Sir told her, “Keep an open mind, Brie. The Japanese culture holds many meaningful rituals we’re unfamiliar with in the West.”

She thought he was talking about Tono’s choice to stay, but realized he wasn’t as soon as she entered the new room. She paused for a moment, taken aback.

Brie stared down at the white ashes of Tono’s father, and tears came to her eyes.

“As acting members of Tono’s family,” Sir explained, “we will be helping to separate his bones from the ashes.” A gold tray lay across the middle of the receptacle that held the ashes. On it sat a beautifully decorated urn, one Brie was certain Tono had painted himself.

As she watched, the family members began reverently picking up bone fragments with special chopsticks and placing them into the urn.

“Come, Brie,” Sir commanded, handing her a set of the chopsticks. She steadied her hand as she stood beside Tono and helped in the ritual, silently thanking Sir for his earlier lesson.

Tono nodded his approval as she carefully deposited a piece of bone into the urn.

Everyone participated, even the children, as the family made sure Master Nosaka’s remains were lovingly retrieved and put in the vessel. Afterwards, the lid was placed on the urn and handed to Tono.

His mother grabbed it from him and held it to her chest, her fingers turning white from her deathlike grip on it—the first outward sign of her grief.

Tono escorted his mother through the crush of reporters and took her to his car, but before he drove off he came back to Brie and Sir.

“I will never forget the honor you paid my father today.”

“It was not only for him, Nosaka.”

Tono bowed to Sir. “
Domo
.”

Brie was surprised when Tono suddenly embraced Sir. The two men hugged each other, both familiar with the grief of losing their fathers.

“May I?” Tono asked him afterwards, turning to Brie.

“Certainly, Ren.”

Tono took Brie in his arms and held her tenderly for several moments before the obnoxious clicking of the cameras became too much. “Thank you,” he whispered when he let her go.

Brie’s eyes watered as Tono drove away. So much grief and hardship faced him in the weeks and months ahead.

“He’ll be fine, Brie.”

“I hope so, Sir.”

“I guarantee it. In all my life, I’ve never met a stronger man.”

Denver-Bound

B
rie was emotionally and physically spent after the funeral, and collapsed on the hotel bed. But the gift Tono had given them at the wake caught her eye. She heeded its call and pulled herself off the bed to retrieve the white box.

Untying the jute binding, Brie smiled when she found a perfect white orchid inside. It had been painted in some kind of hard preserving material so that the flower remained looking as fresh as the day it’d been picked. The exquisite blossom was attached to a silver comb.

Sir took it from her and placed it in her hair. “It looks beautiful on you.”

Brie lightly fingered the flower and smiled. “I’ll wear it whenever I film.”

“An excellent plan. Although I have a few more days left here, I think it would be best for you to return to the States to begin your documentary.”

“But Sir…”

He shook his head. “You have done all you can for Nosaka. It’s time to honor his request.”

“But we didn’t get to say goodbye,” she whimpered.

“Yesterday was his farewell, Brie.”

Her heart sank when she realized Sir was right.

“Return to the US and write him letters sharing details about your filming.
That
is how you will help to support Nosaka through this.”

She understood, but her heart was breaking just the same.

Sir chuckled kindly, caressing her cheek. “Every emotion plays out on your face. I love that about you, téa.” He kissed her on the lips slowly, tenderly.

Brie gave in to the magic of his touch as he carefully took out the comb and laid it on the table.

“Let me make love to you before we say goodbye,” he said, pushing her gently onto the bed. “Death has a way of helping you to appreciate what you have.”

She closed her eyes as he undid the buttons on her blouse and moved the material aside to stare at her chest. He kissed the round swell of her breast before returning to her lips.

“Right now, all that exists is you, me and this moment in time.”

She opened her eyes and nodded, lifting her lips to meet his.

Sir’s lovemaking was unusually gentle and sweet. Light, lingering kisses and soft, teasing caresses carried her to heavenly release…

Later that night, he printed out her plane tickets and handed them over to her. “In just a few hours, you’ll be Denver-bound.”

Denver?
She looked down at her ticket to confirm she’d heard him correctly.

“I think a trip to Master Anderson’s new Training Center will prove quite helpful for your new film.”

“Oh, my gosh, I’ll get to see Lea!”

Sir smiled. “I can just imagine the giggles now.”

Brie threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Sir. This is exactly what I needed!”

He chuckled warmly, returning her embrace. “I’ll join you when I’m done here. I’m curious myself to see how their new Center is faring.” Brie wondered if Sir wanted to personally check up on Ms. Clark, as well.

“I’ll get to see Baron, too! Maybe even do a little sightseeing while I’m there,” she squealed.

“Take it all in, Brie,” he encouraged, lightly grazing her lips with his finger.

“Does anyone know I’m coming?”

He said with a smirk, “Only Brad.”

“Eek! I can’t wait to see the look on Lea’s face when I show up.”

“Yes, I believe Anderson has a little something planned for your reunion with her. I look forward to hearing about it.”

Brie grinned at her tickets, before attacking Sir with a flurry of kisses.

Ready or not, Denver, here I come…

A Slave’s Dream

S
he had been called to join Master Anderson in room eighteen. Although it was highly unusual to meet after school hours, Sir had assured her the lesson was essential if she wanted to graduate from the Center.

Brie had been working hard for nearly six weeks—
nothing
was going to stand in the way of her making it to Graduation Night. She hurried through the familiar hallways, awkwardly sprinting in her six-inch heels to make it to her class on time.

She opened the door and froze for a second. Master Anderson was tightly gripping the bullwhip in his hand. She’d already felt its bite at The Haven and didn’t want to relive the experience.

“Come in, young Brie.”

She walked hesitantly over the threshold and took off her blouse and bra with shaking fingers. She knelt down, putting her hands behind her back in the position Sir had instructed she take upon entering a room with a trainer.

Her heart rate shot up as she listened to his boots echoing in the large room as he approached. Master Anderson put his hand on her head and stated in a sultry voice, “Stand and serve me well, slave.”

Her stomach did a flip-flop when he called her ‘slave’. She gracefully rocked off her heels and stood before him. “It would be my honor, Master Anderson.”

“You will call me only Master tonight.”

She bowed her head in acknowledgement of his command, but her heart fluttered. Calling him Master had a completely different feel to it, especially since she was to be his slave for the session.

“Master, what is the focus of tonight’s lesson?”

“We are going to test your willingness to please in the face of challenge.”

Brie sucked in her breath. This did not sound as if it was going to be an easy lesson—a part of her wanted to bolt from the room, but she’d come too far to give up now.

“Challenge me, Master,” she stated confidently.

“Stand on the X to receive my pleasure.”

Brie shivered as she made her way to the brightly painted red X on the floor. The skin on her back tingled in anticipation, knowing the sensations she was about to experience.

“Hands up, slave.”

She lifted her arms and he secured her trembling wrists in the leather cuffs attached to overhanging chains. The clinking sound of the metal announced that there was no escape for her.

Brie heard the door open as another set of footsteps announced someone else had entered the room. She felt a commanding presence behind her, then a familiar deep, baritone voice asked, “Is she ready for me?”