Master of My Heart

by Marissa Honeycutt

  He settled the check, then they went to get their coats at the door. When he helped her into hers, gently pulling her hair out of her coat, he felt the tingles as he touched her neck again. She shivered, too, and when she turned around, flushed and wide-eyed, he wanted to lean down and kiss her, but he didn’t. Instead, he intertwined his fingers with hers and walked outside.

  They didn’t speak, but he didn’t feel the need to start a conversation. It was a wonderful sensation, this simple act of walking down the street holding her hand. He didn’t want to ruin it by speaking.

  After turning a corner, the opera house came into view. He smiled. Tonight, he was here with her on a date, but in less than two months, he’d be here to see her dance for the first time. His heart leapt in his chest at the thought. His mother loved to tease him about the fact she’d seen Sabrina dance and he hadn’t.

  As they waited for the stoplight to change, he pointed out the building—a tall, white one that seemed like every other non-descript Boston building, with the exception of the marquee with blazing lights over the sidewalk.

  They crossed the street and she squinted at the marquee. “Phantom of the Opera?” she exclaimed excitedly.

  He nodded. “Have you seen it?” When she shook her head, he grinned. “I’m glad.” Her excitement gave him confidence that he’d made the right decision to reschedule the tickets.

  They joined the crowd entering the theater. Sabrina bounced up and down on her toes, making Chase smile. He loved that she was excited. Her eyes darted around, seeming to want to see everything at once. He grinned and chuckled as she oohed and ahhed over everything in sight.

  *****

  The beauty of the lobby took Sabrina’s breath away. It was different being here as a spectator versus being here for her audition. White archways topped by marble Corinthian columns that reached up to the ceiling two floors above them surrounded the perimeter. Gold-and-crystal chandeliers hanging from a gilded ceiling bathed the room in a soft, golden light. Voices echoed around her, the sounds bouncing off the marble walls.

  Chase checked their coats and then put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her to him. She suspected it was to keep her from getting lost or trampled. Of course, him doing that pulled her attention to his presence. He smelled good, like cedar and something woody, mixed together with a strong dose of . . . man. The wool of his suit was so soft, she couldn’t stop herself from sliding the bottom of his lapel between her fingers.

  He jumped slightly when she did. She snatched her hand back, afraid she had offended him, and looked up guiltily.

  Chase took her hand in his and put it back on his lapel. “You just startled me,” he said quietly, leaning down. She heard him inhale as his lips brushed the top of her head. “You smell like vanilla,” he murmured as he nuzzled her hair with his nose and pulled her closer. Electric jolts shot down from her head to her feet.

  Holding her close, Chase guided her through the crowd to the doors into the main theater. He loosened his hold on her briefly as he handed the tickets to the lady at the doorway. She motioned to a nearby usher, who led them to their seats six rows from the stage, dead center.

  “I normally prefer boxes, but you can sometimes miss the whole effect of the performance being too far to one side,” Chase said, handing her a program. She looked up to where marble balconies that housed the private boxes lined the sides of the auditorium and understood what he meant.

  She settled into her seat and got lost in the magic of the theater. An enormous chandelier, covered in dusty white tarps, hung in the middle of the stage. Much of the proscenium arch was covered with tarps, as well. She frowned. “Are they renovating the theater?” she asked. It hadn’t been like this during the audition.

  “No. Why?”

  She pointed at the tarps. “Why is it covered?”

  Chase grinned. “It’s part of the show. Same with the chandelier. You’ll see.”

  She frowned, not convinced he was serious, but his face said otherwise. “Okay . . .” Why would they cover up such beautiful architecture?

  Someone called Chase’s name and she looked up to see Richard and his wife making their way down the row toward them. Chase looked startled as he stood. The two men exchanged handshakes. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  Richard put his arm around Kathy’s shoulders. “I had some business to attend to here tonight.” When Chase frowned, Richard laughed. “I wasn’t spying, Chase. You didn’t tell me where you were taking her.” Richard leaned over and smiled. “Hello, Sabrina.”

  She stood and smiled nervously. She was confused as to why Chase seemed upset. “Hi, Richard,” she said quietly.

  Richard’s wife leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Hi, Sabrina. Remember me?”

  Sabrina nodded. “Kathy, right?”

  “That’s me.” She grinned and waved her hands through the air. “How are you doing?”

  Sabrina smiled, the other woman’s friendliness putting her at ease. “Good. And you?”

  “Wonderful. I love this play. Have you seen it?”

  She shook her head. “No. I’ve never been to the theater before, except to audition, of course.” She looked over to see Richard and Chase talking softly.

  “I’m looking forward to seeing you dance again,” Kathy said.

  “Again?” Sabrina asked, her full attention returning to the other woman.

  “We saw you when you were here before. The summer classes you came to when you met Chase. I didn’t realize you were the same person until I had lunch with Chase’s mom today.”

  Her mouth dropped open in shock. “Really? You remember me?”

  “You’re hard to forget,” Kathy said with a smile. “I’m really looking forward to this year. More than I have in a long time.”

  “I hope I don’t disappoint anyone,” she said softly, the reality of her new life sinking in a bit more. Being a dancer in a big ballet company had been her dream since childhood. I can hardly believe it’s coming true. She’d given up on it after was taken, but now . . . Now, it seemed as if everything was perfect. Especially with Chase in her life.

  *****

  “Business?” Chase asked, frowning as he glanced at Kathy and Sabrina talking. Kathy was quite animated, and Sabrina seemed at ease. “You sure you weren’t spying?”

  “I told you I wasn’t. You were supposed to see it last week, remember? We’ve had these tickets for a couple weeks.” Richard raised his eyebrows. “We had dinner with the mayor and his wife, then we all came here.” He nodded toward the box above his head. “You know he hasn’t been willing to come to a Gathering, so I had hoped to soften him up.”

  The mayor had been in office less than a year and stubbornly refused Richard’s invitations to attend or have anything to do with the Brotherhood.

  “I’m trying not to force him, but he’s a challenge. Kathy’s been pretty helpful tonight. She thinks his wife might be open to variety, as she likes to call it. And if she is, he’s certainly going to be.”

  Chase glanced at Sabrina, but she wasn’t paying him any attention. He didn’t really want her overhearing their conversation. “Okay,” he said slowly.

  “How did tonight go?”

  “Good.” He grinned. “She didn’t run away.”

  Richard laughed. “That’s always a good sign. She seems happier than I’ve seen her before.”

  Chase nodded. “She really does. She’s determined to be brave.” His chest warmed at the thought of her courage. “I don’t think I deserve her.”

  “I don’t deserve a woman like Kathy. Yet, somehow, I got her.” Richard shrugged. “Be thankful, don’t take her for granted, and you’ll be fine.”

  Kathy put her hand on Richard’s arm. “It’s going to start soon.”

  “You’re right. See you at intermission?” he asked. After Chase agreed, they made their way back do
wn the aisle and to the narrow hallway that led to the box seats above.

  Chase sat down and put his arm around Sabrina’s shoulders. A sharp rap from the stage made her jump.

  “Sold! Your number, sir? Thank you.”

  *****

  Sabrina became lost in the magic of the stage. Every song enveloped her mind and the story consumed her. When the chandelier fell at the end of the first act, she covered her mouth to keep from crying out. As the curtain dropped, she stared at Chase in wonder.

  “Oh, my goodness!” she exclaimed as he stood. “I can’t believe how powerful that is.”

  He looked pleased as he helped her to her feet. “Bring your purse. We’ll go get a drink.”

  Richard and Kathy were waiting in the lobby, along with a couple she’d not seen before. “Sabrina, I’d like to introduce you to Mayor Gary Huff and his wife, Francesca.”

  The mayor was a short man with graying brown hair and dark brown eyes. His wife was taller with wavy brown hair and kind brown eyes. “Wonderful to meet you, Sabrina,” Gary said, shaking her hand and looking her up and down. Not in a creepy way, but almost. Francesca frowned at her husband, but smiled warmly at Sabrina.

  Chase put his arm around Sabrina.

  “Gary, you remember Chase, right?” Richard said.

  “Of course. Of course!”

  They shook hands, then Chase’s arm was immediately back around her shoulders, protecting her, letting Gary know to keep his hands off. Sabrina sighed happily. She liked the feeling of being protected.

  Chase, Gary, and Richard went to get drinks, leaving the women to chat.

  “Are you enjoying yourself, Sabrina?” Kathy asked.

  “Yes. This is so wonderful,” she replied enthusiastically.

  Francesca smiled. “I love Phantom. We usually go to New York to see it about once a year.” She and Kathy said a brief hello to someone who walked by.

  Kathy turned back to Sabrina. “How do you like living in Boston? You’ve been here a while now, correct?”

  “Since the middle of September. It’s as wonderful as I remember,” she added quietly.

  The men returned a few minutes later, but appeared to be deep in conversation, so after she accepted a glass of wine from Chase, she asked Kathy and Francesca about themselves. Kathy told her she met Richard at Harvard and they had four grown daughters, their youngest one in college. Since their kids were all grown, she volunteered at a local hospital. She was a stay-at-home mom when their daughters were little, and before that, she had been a nurse.

  Francesca didn’t offer much more than she enjoyed being a mayor’s wife and stayed busy with city events. They had two daughters, one of whom used to be a student at the ballet school.

  As they talked, Sabrina became more relaxed, but she wasn’t sure if it was her becoming more used to being around people or the alcohol. She was still nervous, but they were so friendly, she had a difficult time not enjoying herself. They invited them out for drinks after the show, but Chase declined, for which Sabrina was glad.

  The lights flickered and they headed back to their seats. The second act was as magical as the first, and the beauty of it all swept her away.

  After the show, they headed back to Sabrina’s apartment, not seeing the others before they left. They paused outside the apartment door.

  “I had such a good time tonight, Sabrina,” Chase said in a low voice, bringing his hands down to intertwine their fingers. “I feel as if I’ve waited forever for this moment.”

  “I do, too,” she agreed, just above a whisper. “Thank you for everything. It was wonderful.”

  He leaned down and gently kissed her, his lips lingering. She wrapped her arms around his neck, partially for support and partially because she wanted to be close to him. His arms surrounded her, his tongue gently probing her mouth. Her heart pounded in her ears as he stroked and sucked her tongue, and she let out a soft moan. She pressed her hips against him, making him moan deep in his throat. His hand slid down to her hip and increased the pressure. His other hand tangled in her hair, pressing their mouths firmly together.

  He pulled away a while later, both of them panting and staring into each other’s eyes. “Sabrina,” he said breathlessly. “God, I’ve imagined that for years.” She leaned forward to engage him again, but he leaned back and put his finger to her lips. “Wait. We need to talk.”

  She pulled back, feeling chastened.

  “Sabrina, if I could, I would take you inside, lock the bedroom door, and explore every inch of your delectable body, but we can’t. I can’t.”

  “Why?” she asked, her voice squeaking.

  “Because I’m playing for keeps. I want to marry you. I want you to be my wife. Hopefully sooner rather than later. But if that is going to happen, we have to wait.”

  “Why?” she asked again.

  “Because of my duties to the Brotherhood.” He cupped her cheek and kissed her gently. “We can’t be together until after we’re married. It’s one of the requirements of being an Elder-Son. It’s stupid, but it’s the rule.”

  “We don’t have to tell anyone.”

  “Richard would know. And he could forbid us from marrying.”

  She frowned. “How is that possible? We live in a free country.”

  He shook his head. “Not in the Brotherhood. Disobedience is punished. Believe me, I’ve heard stories. I don’t want that to happen to either of us.” He took her hands in his. “It will be okay, Sabrina. I promise.”

  She blinked and swallowed hard. She wanted him, badly. But more than that, she wanted him the way he wanted her. He respected her. He wanted more than just sex. He wanted all of her. “Okay,” she whispered.

  He stroked her cheek. “I’d better go before I lose control and ruin everything. Are you doing anything tomorrow?”

  “Just class.”

  “No rehearsals?”

  She shook her head.

  “How about I pick you up after lunch and we’ll go do something together?”

  She smiled. “I’d like that.”

  “Good.” He kissed her gently once more, then she turned and opened the door. Once she was inside, he gave one last smile and turned and walked away. She stepped back and closed the door, a silly smile on her face.

  *****

  Chase walked into his bedroom and flopped down on the bed, his cock straining against his dress pants. God, kissing Sabrina had been everything he’d ever imagined and more. She tasted like wine and passion and he really wanted to carry her to the bedroom and make love to her.

  But he had to wait. He could do that. She was worth it.

  He rolled onto his back and unzipped his pants, taking his rock-hard cock in his hands and stroking it slowly. He imagined kissing Sabrina, running his fingers through her hair, his tongue in her mouth, tasting her.

  He briefly wondered if she were doing the same thing at that moment, touching herself and thinking of him. The thought pushed him over the edge. He groaned and stiffened as he exploded in his hand.

  Sticky, he fell asleep, still tasting Sabrina on his lips.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Oh, Chase. It’s beautiful!” Sabrina exclaimed as they reached the top of the footbridge that led to what he called “The Esplanade,” which was a park that ran along the Charles River. Huge trees spread out before her, their leaves a color riot of orange, red, and yellow.

  She pulled her sweater tighter around her as a breeze picked up. She narrowed her eyes at Chase when he laughed. He wore a short-sleeved polo shirt and shorts, while she huddled in jeans and a sweater. And another sweater. He put his arm around her and pulled her close as they began the descent on the park-side of the bridge.

  “This is one of my favorite places to come when I need to think,” Chase said, pointing toward a bench near the river. “I can get some amazing pictures, t
oo, if I’m out at the right time.”

  “You like to take pictures?” Sabrina asked.

  Chase nodded. “I’ve taken some photography classes in the past, but it’s just a hobby. Nothing serious. It helps me clear my mind when there’s too much going on.”

  “I’d love to see them.”

  Chase looked out over the river as they walked. “I don’t show them to many people.” He smiled down at her. “But I’ll show them to you.”

  Sabrina beamed and looked down the path in front of them. “I can’t get over the colors.”

  “Leaves don’t change where you’re from?”

  She shrugged and stopped to look at a particularly bright red leaf. “Not really. I mean, some do, but they usually just turn brown and die. Most stay green the whole time.”

  “You mean the cactuses don’t change colors?”

  “Cacti,” she corrected. “And they don’t have leaves. They have needles. But we do have trees in Arizona. Just . . .” She laughed. “A lot of pine trees.”

  Chase stared. “Pine trees?” He looked thoroughly confused and tilted his head. “Pine trees?”

  Sabrina nodded. “Yup. But there are desert trees, too, and they shed all the time. Don’t change colors, though. Except brown when they die.” She bent and picked up a yellow leaf. “We get wildflowers when the summer storms come through. They bloom fast—purples, oranges, yellows. It’s really pretty.” She let the leaf drop from her hand and watched as it slowly drifted to the ground. “It doesn’t last, though. They die as fast as they bloom.” She looked up at Chase. “We have to have extensive watering systems to have grass. If we didn’t, everything would just be dirt and gravel.” She motioned around her. “This is beautiful.”

  Chase smiled and took her hand. They started walking down the path again, fingers intertwined. Her hand felt so small in his and she liked it. He was tall and strong, and not just physically. Mentally, emotionally. He had a business, had a home, a car, had traveled. She sometimes felt like a child next to him, but not because of anything he said. Just because of her inexperience with the world.