Brie's Tokyo Tryst (Submissive in Love, #1)
Page 8
“And who are the children?” Brie asked, as a tiny girl with pigtails walked past.
“Part of my father’s side of the family.”
“You have adorable relatives,” Brie complimented, waving to the little girl, who giggled and waved back.
“Please partake of the food while I defuse the confrontation about to take place,” Tono growled under his breath as he headed towards his mother.
Brie wasn’t interested in eating, so she watched the other people in the room, wondering what their stories were and what role they had played in Tono’s life. One thing that struck her was the respect they all showed Tono. It was gratifying to see.
After he’d neutralized the situation, Tono disappeared from the room.
“Brie, go after him. He’s almost at his breaking point,” Sir commanded.
She hurried out to the hallway and followed it down until she found Tono leaning against a wall, his eyes closed. The pain he was suffering rolled off him in tangible waves.
“Tono,” she whispered as she approached.
He opened his eyes, shaking his head. “I’m not strong enough for this.”
“Then you can lean on me today,” she offered.
He laughed miserably. “Today I can handle. It’s the countless days ahead I can’t face.”
Brie felt certain that once he was far from his mother, he would regain his peace. “How much longer do you plan on staying, Tono?”
“You don’t understand, do you? As the only child, it is my duty to care for my mother.”
“But you can’t,” Brie protested. “It will crush your spirit to remain here with her.”
He closed his eyes again. “The moment I got the call that my father was dying, I knew what lay ahead for me. This is not the life I wanted, but it is the one I must live out.”
Tono smiled down at her sadly. “The only consolation I have is that by not collaring you, I did not make this your fate as well.”
“Oh, Tono…”
He said with conviction, “It’s better this way. I understand that now.”
“But I don’t want this for you!” she cried.
Tono took her forcefully by the shoulders. “What I need is your understanding and support for my decision.”
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.”
They walked back to the room 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 might.” 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 assumed 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 by what she saw.
Brie stared at the white ashes of Tono’s father, tears coming 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 putting 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 when 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 placed 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
Brie 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, calling to her. 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 flower 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, 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…
The New Brie Series Begins…
Submissive in Love:
#1 Brie’s Tokyo Tryst
You can find Red on:
Twitter: @redphoenix69
Website: RedPhoenix69.com
Facebook: Red Phoenix
Red Phoenix is the author of:
Brie Learns the Art of Submission
* Available in eBook and paperback
(Submissive Exploration—A young woman enters a world of new experiences when she enrolls in the Submissive Training Center)
Brie Embraces the Heart of Submission
* Available in eBook and Paperback
(Submission of the Heart—After being collared, Brie learns that submission is sexier and more challenging than she’d ever imagined)
Blissfully Undone
* Available in eBook and paperback
(Snowy Fun—Two people find themselves snowbound in a cabin where hidden love can flourish, taking one couple on a sensual journey into ménage à trois)
Sensual Erotica: The Erotic Love Story of Amy and Troy
* Available in eBook and paperback
(Sexual Adventures—True love reigns, but fate continually throws Troy and Amy into the arms of others)
His Scottish Pet: Dom of the Ages
* Available in eBook and paperback
(Scottish Dom—A sexy Dom escapes to Scotland in the late 1400s. He encounters a waif who has the potential to free him from his tragic curse)
(Novellas and Novelettes available as eBooks)
Novella
Varick: The Reckoning
(Savory Vampire—A dark, sexy vampire story. The hero navigates the dangerous world he has been thrust into with lusty passion and a pure heart)
Novelettes
Keeper of the Wolf Clan (Keeper of Wolves, #1)
(Sexual Secrets—A virginal werewolf must act as the clan’s mysterious Keeper)
The Keeper Finds Her Mate (Keeper of Wolves, #2)
(Second Chances—A young she-wolf must choose between old ties or new beginnings)
Socrates Inspires Cherry to Blossom
(Satisfying Surrender—a mature and curvaceous woman becomes fascinated by an online Dom who has much to teach her)
In 9 Days
(Sweet Romance—A young girl falls in love with the new student, nicknamed ‘the Freak’)
9 Days and Counting
(Sacrificial Love—The sequel to In 9 Days delves into the emotional reunion of two longtime lovers)
And Then He Saved Me
(Saving Tenderness—When a young girl tries to kill herself, a man of great character intervenes with a love that heals)
Play With Me at Noon
(Seeking Fulfillment—A desperate wife lives out her fantasies by taking five different men in five days)
Connect with Red on Substance B
Substance B is a new platform for independent authors to directly connect with their readers. Please visit Red’s Substance B page where you can:
• Sign up for Red’s newsletter
• Send a message to Red
• See all platforms where Red’s books are sold
Visit Substance B today to learn more about your favorite independent authors.