by Red Phoenix
She laughed. “I doubt he will see it that way.”
“I wholeheartedly disagree. He’ll appreciate the time and effort that went into this gift and be humbled by it.”
Brie snorted with amusement.
After bringing Little Sparrow back in and double-checking to make sure everything looked the way Rytsar had left it, Master Anderson commanded Brie to lock the door behind them.
He chuckled, grinning like the Cheshire Cat as he escorted her back to their house. Once inside, he announced, “Thane, old buddy, it’s time to celebrate!”
Sir stood up from the couch as he turned to greet them. “Well, that certainly took a while.”
“You can’t rush perfection…” Master Anderson’s jaw suddenly dropped and he muttered, “Et tu, Brute?”
Brie glanced in the direction he was looking and saw Ghost laid out on his back with his eyes closed, purring loudly as Hope cuddled between the two cats.
“The three of them have been like that for hours,” Sir told him.
Master Anderson shook his head in shock. “I can’t believe Ghost went soft like that. I thought he and I were kindred spirits.”
Brie bumped against him. “Maybe you are. I think you should spend an afternoon with Hope and find out what you’re missing.”
“Hmm…”
She smiled at him in surprise. “What? Are you considering it?”
Master Anderson stared at Hope, then nodded his head slowly as if he were seriously contemplating it. “I’m not the kind of man to shirk from a challenge. I suppose it could prove interesting…”
“Our daughter is not to be used as an experiment,” Sir grumbled.
Master Anderson chuckled. “Of course not, I’m just saying… If you ever have a need, I’d be willing to watch her. One time. But not overnight.” He shuddered. “No way could I handle a whole night.”
“We’ll keep you in mind,” Sir said in a sarcastic tone.
“Anyway…” Master Anderson muttered, changing the subject. “It’s time to celebrate.” He walked into their kitchen and got out three glasses and a bottle of whiskey. “Do you want your whiskey neat or on the rocks, young Brie?”
“Neither.”
Master Anderson frowned slightly. “Okay…”
Turning to Sir, he asked, “What about you, buddy?”
“I’m afraid I must abstain, as well.”
Master Anderson’s face suddenly fell. “No…”
He looked at Brie. “Say it ain’t so.”
She giggled, rubbing her stomach tenderly. “It’s true.”
He looked back at Sir, shaking his head. “Can’t you let the poor girl have a breather? Back to back babies are a bit much.”
Sir smiled, enjoying his reaction. “I’m afraid when you get to be our age, it becomes a necessity.”
Master Anderson got a troubled look on his face. “Hadn’t considered that…”
“I don’t want to raise toddlers when I’m forty,” Sir added.
“Wise. I can’t think of anything worse.”
Master Anderson’s face suddenly lit up. Wagging his finger at her, he said with admiration, “Oh, you’re a crafty one. You got me good there. Had me hook, line, and sinker. Well played, young lady.”
“I wish I could take credit.” Brie walked to the refrigerator, pulled out the carton of coconut water, and set it next to the glasses. “But we aren’t joking.”
Master Anderson stared down at the carton with a look of resignation. “Well…I guess there is nothing to be done then.” He poured two glasses of coconut water and handed one to each of them.
Taking his glass of whiskey, he raised it. “Here’s to one of the best pranks played in human history…and to another little snot-nosed kid in the family. Cheers!”
Sir winked at Brie, a look of amusement on his face.
Brie smiled at Sir and held up her tumbler, clinking glasses with both men, savoring the sweet taste of the coconut water.
She glanced at the cats lying so contentedly next to Hope. Brie had no doubt that despite all Master Anderson’s posturing and his insistence that he disliked children, deep down he was a big softy.
She was confident it wouldn’t take long before he caved just like Ghost, and grinned at the sexy Dom as she took another sip.
Just you wait, Master Anderson…
The Rose
“Are you Mrs. Brianna Davis?”
“I am.” Brie stared in wonder at the massive bouquet of long-stemmed roses.
“Then these are for you.”
She blushed as she took the large vase of red roses from the delivery person. It was so huge she could barely hold the vase with both hands.
“Wait and I’ll get you a tip.”
“No need, ma’am. Already taken care of.”
She thanked him from behind the large bouquet as he shut the door for her.
Laughing, she walked into the great room and set the vase on the coffee table. Stepping back, she stared in pleasant bewilderment at the extravagant bouquet.
Curious why Sir had sent it, Brie looked for a card but found none.
Since he was in downtown LA at a business meeting, she immediately texted him.
I just received an incredible bouquet that must be from you. What’s the occasion?
A few moments later, he texted back two simple words.
My secret.
As she looked back at the bouquet, Brie put her hands to her heart, overcome with immense joy and love for her Master. Despite all the difficulties they were facing, this romantic gesture reminded her of how incredibly lucky she was.
She reached out and took one of the large blossoms in her hand, leaning in to enjoy its scent.
This is what love smells like, she thought to herself.
Brie picked up the huge vase and carried it upstairs to her office so she could enjoy it while she worked.
She heard Hope babbling to herself from the nursery soon after waking from her nap.
Carrying Hope into her office, Brie laid a blanket on the floor and set her on it, tossing Hope’s favorite toys around her. Naturally, Shadow soon joined the baby on the blanket.
Brie looked at the bouquet again with profound gratitude.
Holloway was still threatening her career—the horrible man remained hell-bent on personally seeing that her second film was never produced. However, there was something positive coming from it. This unexpected break allowed Brie to bask in the joy of being a mom while she planned out her next film project.
Listening to the sound of Hope’s playful giggles, Brie turned on her computer and opened the photos she had taken of Gino Mancini’s black book. Although she felt slightly guilty, knowing he didn’t want her recording materials from his collection, she felt justified using them because she hadn’t known at the time she’d taken the pictures.
Besides, the pages were simply a list of the dates and places of every event Alonzo Davis had performed at when he was alive.
There was nothing personal or proprietary in Gino’s black book. But having that list was invaluable to Brie because it allowed her to easily surf the web to find additional information about Alonzo’s professional life as a violinist.
Brie was so completely lost in her research that she was startled when Sir walked up behind her. “Enjoying yourself?”
She spun around in her chair. “Back so soon?”
He looked at his watch. “It’s five o’clock.”
She giggled, glancing at Hope. “I’ve been having such fun, I guess I lost all sense of time.”
He smiled at her with tenderness. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Getting up from her chair, she rushed into his embrace. “I’m even happier, now that you’re here.” She sighed in contentment when he kissed the top of her head.
“I see you brought the flowers up here.”
Brie glanced at them and smiled. “It is the most magnificent bouquet I have ever seen.”
Sir squeezed her tighter. “I have plan
s for it tonight.”
She looked up at him questioningly.
In answer, he grasped the back of her neck and gave her a passionate kiss that left her utterly breathless. “I want to spend a quiet evening with you—just the two of us.”
“What about Hope?”
“Not to worry. That’s already been arranged.”
She smiled up at him. “Are your aunt and uncle coming to get her?”
He shook his head.
“Who, then?”
“It’s a surprise,” he answered with a glint in his eye as he picked Hope up and started toward the stairs.
She giggled, then looked back at the bouquet to admire it. Sir certainly took pleasure in surprising her—in and out of the bedroom.
As they headed downstairs together, he commanded, “I want you to dress up for me. Pick your favorite gown, the one that makes you smile when you put it on.”
“It’s going to be hard to decide,” she confessed. “There’s so many, Sir.”
He raised an eyebrow, stating in a low, seductive voice, “Then I look forward to seeing which one you choose.”
When Sir swatted her on the ass, she let out an excited squeak as she turned from him to head to the bedroom.
Brie felt butterflies start as she walked into the room and opened the closet doors. Although she had many beautiful dresses, there was one that remained her favorite.
She pulled it from the hanger, smiling as she walked out and placed it on the bed. Inspired, Brie turned on a playlist of Italian songs while she got ready for him.
Stripping out of her clothes, Brie picked up the dress and slipped it on, purring as the thin, silken material caressed her skin and slid down into place. What she loved even more about this particular dress was the way it swayed when she walked—so sexy and alluring.
Brie walked into the bathroom to look in the mirror. She was still as enchanted by the dress as she had been the day Sir gave it to her.
The simple white dress with a flared skirt had a modest style that was incredibly sexy because she wore nothing underneath it—just as she had that night in Venice. The dress had an air of innocence. However, the enticing way her nipples protruded from under the thin material was deliciously tantalizing to Sir.
She slowly brushed out her hair, remembering when she had danced with Sir in the flooded piazza of San Marco while wearing this dress. She’d never forgotten the way he had guided her through the shallow water in a slow waltz before an audience of bystanders. It was a unique and romantic moment she cherished.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Brie suddenly realized she had forgotten one important element. Searching through her drawers, she finally found the length of white lace. Using it as a headband to hold her hair away from her face, Brie teased her long curls until she was satisfied that she looked the same as she had that night in Venice.
To finish off the look, Brie applied light makeup to enhance her eyes and added just a blush of pink to her lips. Pouting seductively, she twirled in front of the mirror delighting in the feel of the dress as it moved.
Rather than completing the outfit with shoes, Brie chose to go barefoot in remembrance of their dance. Feeling utterly irresistible, she turned off the music and walked out of the bedroom, intent on seducing Sir.
“Well, hello.”
Brie stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Master Anderson standing there, holding Hope’s diaper bag.
Down the hallway, she heard Sir listing off instructions. “She’ll need to go down at eight. It’s totally normal for her to fuss a little. If you have any questions, I have everything written down in the instruct—”
The moment Sir walked into the room and saw Brie, he forgot what he was saying and stood there, staring at her.
“Babygirl…”
The look of desire in his gaze made her blush.
In a voice mixed with admiration and lust, he stated, “I stand in awe of you.”
Master Anderson cleared his throat beside her.
Brie looked in his direction, having completely forgotten he was there.
“Yes, that there is a mighty fine dress…” Master Anderson said gruffly. Turning to face Sir, he stammered, “I, ah…yeah…so, kid goes down at what time again?”
“Eight,” Sir replied, handing Hope over to him. “All your questions are answered in the instructions I gave you.” He put his hand on Master Anderson’s shoulder as he walked him toward the door. “If at any point you want to cry ‘uncle’ feel free to call my uncle and he’ll swing by to pick her up.”
Master Anderson chuckled. “I see what you did there. You want me to literally call an uncle if I can’t handle it. Very funny.”
Sir patted his back. “I have faith in you.”
“Sure you do.”
“Let me help you get her into the car seat…”
Brie watched the two men leave. She couldn’t believe that Sir had taken Master Anderson up on his offer to babysit, or that the cowboy had actually agreed to it.
Knowing the Reynolds were ready to act as his backup was reassuring for her, because she couldn’t begin to imagine how the next few hours were going to play out for him.
Hopefully, Shey would be there to act as moral support and help him get through the evening without incident.
Sir returned several minutes later and locked the front door.
“Now, where were we?”
Brie twisted where she stood, looking at him in anticipation.
Her Master stared at her hungrily, shaking his head in disbelief. “Looking at you tonight, it’s as if no time has passed since you first wore that dress.”
She bowed her head, gratified to hear it. “I love everything about this dress, Sir.”
Sir held his finger up for silence and then left to turn on the music. Soon, the sweet, haunting melody of his father’s violin filled the air.
He returned to her and held out his hand. “Shall we dance, wife?”
“Please, husband.”
Sir grasped her hand firmly, resting his other in the small of her back. Brie glided across the floor in his strong arms, reliving that dance on the piazza.
Unlike the first time, however, Sir let his hands wander as they moved together, lightly brushing against her nipples and cupping her ass as they danced.
“I can’t resist you,” he growled in a husky voice, sweeping her off her feet before the song was even finished. Carrying her into the bedroom, he stopped to kiss her before setting her down.
Brie parted her lips as she responded to his desire, moaning softly when he claimed her with his tongue. The kiss left her so lightheaded afterward, she stumbled weakly when her feet touched the floor.
“Are you okay?” he asked with amusement.
“Your kisses slay me, Sir.”
He grazed her lips with his finger. “Tonight, we use our given names.”
Brie nodded, the butterflies starting up again. She wondered the reason for his change in protocol.
He pointed to the vase. “I brought these down because I want you to choose one.”
Brie felt a surge of excitement as she approached the massive bouquet. Now she knew the true purpose for the flowers.
“Pick the most exquisite rose from the arrangement,” he instructed.
Brie nodded and walked around the bouquet as she looked over each flower carefully. When she had narrowed it down, she pulled the winning rose from the vase. The bloom was huge, every petal perfectly formed. As a final test, Brie breathed in its intoxicating scent and purred in pleasure.
Sir moved up behind her and lightly grazed her cheek with the back of his hand as he whispered in a low, husky voice, “Brianna…”
Erotic chills coursed through her and she wondered if he knew the power his voice had over her body.
“Are you confident in your choice?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.
She breathed in its heavenly scent again. “I am. This rose is truly exquisite in every way.”
He gazed
down at the flower. “Good. I want only the best for my goddess.”
Brie closed her eyes as Sir slowly ran his hand down her arm, causing goosebumps to rise on her skin.
“Do you remember the first time we scened with a rose?”
“I do,” Brie answered breathlessly. “It was at the Training Center…” She paused for a moment, purring softly. “You used the petals to cover my eyes.”
“I did,” he replied in a gruff voice, lightly tracing the line of her collar-bone.
Brie had never forgotten that night. He’d begun the lesson by informing her that the human brain was capable of taking a simple stimulus and magnifying it many times greater than it was, then he had used that power to magnify his simple caress into an orgasmic experience.
She suspected it was the reason he preferred using his touch over traditional BDSM tools. Truthfully, any lesson from him was guaranteed to be incredibly erotic and satisfying.
“Tonight, I have a new lesson for you.”
Brie gripped the stem of the rose tighter, completely enchanted at the idea of another lesson with a rose under the skillful hands of her Master.
“You will focus all of your senses on me while I make slow, passionate love to you, Brie.”
She glanced down at the rose, trembling in anticipation.
Sir was no ordinary man. Many Doms only played out their own fantasies with their subs, sacrificing the intimate act of lovemaking in exchange for fulfilling their physical desires.
However, Sir did not accept such limitations. He encouraged the emotional side of their connection and could be as equally tender and loving as he could be rough and demanding.
The love she felt for him at that moment was so intense it almost hurt.
Brie held her breath as he lightly grazed her jawline with his fingertips. Her skin tingled wherever he touched her.
Sir’s caress was so tender and reverent it made tears well up in her eyes. There was no doubt that this man’s feelings for her were equally intense.
“I love you, Thane,” she whispered.
He responded to her declaration by tilting her head to the side to expose her neck and growling. “Be still and do not drop the rose.”