Brie's Russian Fantasy (After Graduation, #3) (10 page)

I know that voice!

Brie timidly removed the sunglasses and looked into his piercing blue eyes. “Rytsar.”

He stood up and rocked the room with his laughter. “
Radost moya,
you recognize your previous Master. I’m impressed.”

Brie glanced at the screens and saw a camera shot of Sir. He was still fighting against the two guards. Rytsar followed her gaze. “Ah, yes. My friend is not happy, is he?”

He nodded to the woman, who immediately left. “I wanted to spare you both the long lines, but… Well, I could not help amusing myself. What do you expect from a sadist?”

A sadist?

She looked at the friendly Russian Dom again, believing he was just making a joke. Brie turned her attention back to the screen and watched as Sir was taken out of the line.

Rytsar’s mirth greeted Sir as he entered the small room. “All is well,
moy droog
. Your sub has not been touched.”

Sir held out his arms and Brie raced to them, grateful to be in his protective embrace.

“She seems to be satisfied with you. Would not even open her legs for me,” Rytsar said, chuckling.

Sir kissed the top of Brie’s head. “I’d forgotten your propensity for practical jokes. Should have seen this one coming.”

“Yes, I was surprised you did not. However, it was far more amusing that you didn’t.” He smiled charmingly at them both. “Shall we be off, then? I am anxious to introduce you to my friends.”

Brie was surprised to learn that Rytsar lived in an old mansion. She should have suspected it with all the aristocrat talk, but she’d never quite believed it until they pulled up to the large estate. The impressive red brick home even sported narrow turrets, giving it a regal appearance.

“This is really your home?” she asked in awe.

“It has been in the Donkova line for centuries,” he replied without arrogance.

Brie glanced at Sir. He seemed unaffected by the grandeur. She decided to take his lead and not react to the splendor of the place, even as they walked through the halls and she saw the gold accents, painted ceilings, and antique furniture begging to be admired.

“Please take a moment to refresh yourselves before you join us in the dungeon. My friends are dying to meet my American comrade and his new sub.”

All Brie heard was the word ‘dungeon’.

“I assume we just head downwards?” Sir inquired.

“Titov will direct you.” Rytsar pointed to a servant, who nodded curtly.

“Fine.” Sir took Brie’s hand and guided her upstairs. Once inside the privacy of the room, Sir gathered her into his arms. “I know this seems a bit much, but I did warn you. Rytsar has eccentric tastes. It’s not too surprising he has his own dungeon.”

Brie thought back to Rytsar’s statement that he was a sadist. It conjured all kinds of frightening scenarios. “Will I be asked to scene, Sir?” she squeaked.

“No. Tonight we are guests and will simply observe. It is no different than visiting one of our clubs back home. I suspect his friends want to show off their various talents. However, you should be aware that Rytsar’s tastes run on the sadistic side. I am sure his friends are of equal bent.”

Brie sighed nervously. Although she had witnessed a few scenes at The Haven, it was not something she had personally sought out. Not having expressed interest in masochism, she had been spared the more sadistic side of BDSM play during her training.

“Take this opportunity to explore new horizons, Brie. It is part of the reason I chose to come here. It is my belief you cannot know your desires or limits unless you expose yourself to them.”

Brie understood Sir’s reasoning and even agreed with it, and yet she still felt uneasy about exploring the darker side of pain.

Sir’s Past

W
hen they boarded the overseas jet, Brie’s mouth fell open. She had never been on a plane so humongous before. Sir escorted her to a first class seat. She giggled as she went to sit down. She had never thought she’d fly first class—ever.

On the seat she found a blanket, an eye mask, slippers and even premium bottled water. She gathered all of them in her arms and smiled at Sir. “I feel so special.”

He chuckled. “You’re easily satisfied.”

Sir stuffed his items in the seat pocket in front of him. Brie followed suit. Then she started playing with the button on her chair. Instead of the seat only going back a fraction of an inch, this one kept going and going until she was practically lying down. She giggled at Sir. “It’s like a bed!”

He had an amused look on his face. “You might want to put that up, Brie. People are still boarding the plane.”

She immediately adjusted the seat back and looked out of the window at the workers below. They were busy loading the last of the luggage. “I can’t believe I’m going to another country, Sir.”

“I am sure this will be the first of many trips. I suspect you’ll be traveling often when you’re filming.”

She turned to him, filled with gratitude. “You think I’ll succeed, don’t you?”

“I never had a doubt after watching your entrance video.”

She blushed. “Well…that one doesn’t really count. It was a stationary camera shot. Not my best work.”

“I disagree. It was an award-worthy short.”

She giggled again, burying her head in his shoulder. Brie lay against him until the plane was ready to take off. She looked out of the window when the engines started. “I love this part. The roar of the engine, the shaking of the plane, and then that sick little feeling you get when you first lose contact with the ground.” Brie sighed happily. “I love flying!”

“We’ll see how much you love it ten hours from now.”

She looked at him and smiled. “Sir, anywhere with you is lovely.”

He shook his head, but she saw the slight upturn to his lips.

Once the plane was in the air, Sir put his seat all the way back. She followed his lead, turning towards him so she could stare at his handsome face.

“Don’t just stare at me, Brie.”

She looked away, embarrassed. “I can’t help it, Sir.”

He chuckled softly. “Make conversation then.”

With permission given, Brie gazed at him again but was silent for a moment. Her heart thumped in her chest as she built up courage to say the one thing that had been bothering her since their visit with her family.

“Sir, my parents seem to know more about your past than I do.”

He looked at her with a somber expression. “Yes, it is unfair to you.”

She didn’t press further, but she waited expectantly.

He took a deep breath but then said nothing. Minutes passed in strained silence. Brie consoled herself that he still wasn’t ready to talk about it. She was surprised when he finally spoke.

“You should know that my parents were envied when they were young. The two complemented each other like the sun complements the moon. He shone with brilliance; she equaled him in her loving reflection.” He smiled, as if he was remembering something treasured.

But his smile faltered as he continued, “Unfortunately, my mother grew jealous of his fame, no longer content to act as his reflection. She found power in cheating on him behind his back. I became aware of her infidelity when I was thirteen, but I kept it hidden, thinking I was protecting him…” Sir paused. When he continued, his jaw was clenched as if it physically hurt him to speak the words.

“I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I can still smell the exhaust fumes from the school bus as it pulled up to my stop. I saw her car and
his
, and then my dad drove up in his Ferrari. He wasn’t scheduled to arrive for another two days. I pushed my way through the line, trying to get off the bus, hoping I could prevent what was about to play out.”

Sir closed his eyes, obviously reliving it in his mind. “I ran, but he had already disappeared into the house. I headed directly for the bedroom even though I knew it was too late. I entered the room to see my father pointing a gun at my mother. He vacillated between aiming it at her and the naked boy toy. For a second, I thought he would shoot her dead, but then he lowered it. The only thing he asked her was, ‘Why?’ My mother said nothing.”

He opened his eyes and stared blankly ahead. “He turned to me and said, ‘I’m sorry, son’, put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger before I could move to stop him.” Sir’s voice caught, but he cleared his throat and continued. “I ran to him, begging him to hold on even though I knew…”

Sir turned to Brie, the rawness of his pain written clearly in his face. “I watch the life ebb from his eyes…heard his death rattle. It is a terrible thing to witness—the death of a loved one.” Sir looked away. In the barest whisper he added, “It haunts me to this day.”

Silent tears rolled down Brie’s cheeks as she put her hand on Sir’s and squeezed tightly, wanting to impart her strength.

His voice was devoid of emotion when he spoke again. “My mother was a convincing liar. She kept my father’s estate and all his assets while she trashed his reputation to protect hers. She stripped everything from him… So I disowned her, legally distancing myself from the whore.”

Brie braved a question. “How did you move on from it, Sir?”

“I am my father’s son. I must strive for excellence in everything I do. I went to college, graduated with honors. Even though I had sworn myself away from women, my Italian blood would not be satisfied. I was wired to explore the female body. Thankfully, Rytsar introduced me to the BDSM lifestyle in college. Although he has preferences that I do not share, I found the lifestyle itself fascinating. Yet, it was the level of trust required in the D/s relationship that was the most appealing. It was the only sane choice for me.”

“I’m glad you found a way to move past it, Sir.”

“On the outside it may appear that way, but for most of my adult life I have been emotionally dead. My satisfaction has been in helping others explore their limits, because I have been unwilling to explore mine.”

“And now, Sir?”

In answer, he covered her in a blanket and put the mask over her eyes. “Try to sleep, Brie. I have a feeling Donkova is going to keep us entertained from the moment we land.”

Brie woke to Sir’s light touch. “We’re here.”

She popped up in her seat and pulled off the mask, then quickly gathered her things. “I can’t believe it!” she whispered, conscious of the other travelers still snoozing. She was thrilled to be one of the first ones off the plane. Sir led her to the immigration area, where she was confronted with the long lines.

“And this is where we wait,” Sir said with resignation.

Brie pulled out her passport in anticipation, but the lines weren’t moving. She craned her neck to see what the holdup was when a severe-looking security guard with mirrored sunglasses grabbed the passport from her hand.

“Hey!”

Sir tried to take it back, but two similar men showed up. The one with her passport took Brie by the arm, dragging her away. Sir attempted to follow her, but the other two men held him back. He fought against them, but was unable to break free.

“Brie, I will come for you! Don’t do anything or say anything until I find you.”

“Sir!” she cried, reaching out for him.

She was led to a small room filled with black and white monitors. Once they were inside, the door was locked and she was directed to sit down by a daunting woman built like a bulldozer. Brie sat down reluctantly, noticing another male guard behind her. She had no idea what was happening and was tempted to make a break for the door.