Blissfully Hers: Bliss Series, Book Seven

by Hall, Deanndra

  The eyes I see when I turn to her are steeped in pain. “Yes?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

  Indignation is bubbling up just under the surface of my skin, but I tamp it down as I think about what she’s been through today. “No, you’re right. Your life, your business. My life, my business.”

  “No. That’s not right. If we’re going to have a relationship, my life is your business, and your life is my business. I’m sorry. I’m just not myself tonight.”

  “I don’t expect you to be. You’ve gone through a trauma of epic proportions for somebody in your position. But I’m not the enemy, Dani. I want to help if you’ll let me.” My free hand falls onto hers. “I’m sorry if I’m coming on too strong, but I have to admit, this is scary for me, seeing you this way. I never thought you’d leave this morning and by the time I saw you again you’d look like somebody tried to kill you. It’s jarring.”

  “You should be me, being attacked by a student I feel responsible for. When he’s in my classroom, he’s in my care, and while he was in my classroom, he did something that got him arrested.”

  “Yeah, but he did it to you. He deserves to be arrested for attacking a person whose only job is to help him succeed and be a worthwhile person.”

  She sits there for a few seconds and stares off into space. Suddenly, it’s like she comes back to herself when her shoulders straighten and she shakes herself almost like a wet dog. “You know, you’re right. I shouldn’t feel sorry for him or feel like I failed him. He had the same opportunities the other kids did, and look what he did with them. He pissed them away and got himself into trouble. That’s nothing to feel sorry for.”

  “No. It’s not. Now, let’s go in and eat our soup, and then we can decide what to do after that.”

  I got creamy tomato basil and loaded baked potato soups, and she opts for the tomato. We sit and eat quietly, not really making small talk, just glancing up at each other from time to time and smiling, mentioning something we saw during the day or something funny that someone said. When the soup’s gone, I throw all the disposable stuff away, then lead her to the sofa.

  Feet up on the coffee table, I just sit back and let her curl into me. I’m unbelievably happy to be here for her. It’s a great gift, to be able to sit here in silence, holding her close to me and telling myself I’m doing something that will make her feel better. It’s not long before I feel her relax against me and I know she’s fallen asleep. Even though it seems a shame to move, she’d be much more comfortable in the bed, so I sit there for a few minutes more before I stand, stretch, and lean down to lift her.

  Her weight in my arms seems natural. It’s almost as though I’m carrying a part of myself, her arms wrapped instinctively around my neck so tightly that we’re practically one. My eyes take in her face and for a brief moment, I can almost imagine that I understand how a mother feels for a child. I want to hold her, keep her safe, and protect her from the big, scary things out there in the world. If she were awake, she’d say that’s her job toward me, and I realize that’s our job toward each other―protecting the other person, caring for them, helping them, loving them.

  That thought almost stops me in my tracks. Loving her. I love this woman. She’s everything I could want in a partner and lover. As for my needs, she meets them in spades. Being the best submissive she could have is a goal I hope to someday achieve. I’m not sure how long that will take me, or how good I’ll be, but I’m going to give it my best shot. And I don’t know if she’ll ever love me, but I’ll sure as hell love her.

  My bedroom isn’t dreamy or plush like hers, but it’s good enough. The bed is comfortable, the sheets are clean, and I’ve got room-darkening shades and blackout drapes. I love those things that turn my bedroom into my personal cave. If she wants to stay tomorrow after I go to work, it’ll be a good place for her to relax and get her feet back under her. Once she’s on the bed, I start to methodically undress her, first her shoes and socks, and then everything else. When she’s down to nothing but her panties, I pull the covers up to her chin and undress myself. By the time I’m between the sheets with her, the bed is already warming from her body heat, and I pull her against me and cuddle her close.

  She seems to be sound asleep, so it surprises me when she says, “Brandt?”

  “Yes, Mistress?”

  “Thank you.”

  I drop a soft little kiss on her forehead. “You’re welcome, Mistress. I’m glad I could help you a little. I know it’s not much, but―”

  “Your arms are exactly what I need, Panther. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

  “Having you here with me is exactly what I need, Mistress. I know this is painful for you. There’s no reason for you to go it alone, not if I can be here for you.” I smooth a hand over her hair and kiss the top of her head, enjoying the feeling of her breath against my chest as she sighs into me.

  Before I know it, she’s asleep again. Pressed against her, I sleep the sleep of the dead because when the alarm wakes me, it scares the living shit out of me. I stumble off to the shower. While I’m in there, I hear a noise and peek out to find her at the sink, paper towel in hand and a bottle of olive oil from the pantry, furiously scrubbing off her eye makeup from the night before. When I finish, she’s long gone.

  I assumed she’d gone back to dress, but no―she’s back in bed. “Do you want me to take you to get your car?”

  Instead of answering me, she rolls toward me and grabs my belt. Oh, shit. I’m going to be late for work, I just know it. Seconds later, it’s undone and my jeans and underwear are mid-thigh. “Dani, I … Whoa!” I bellow as her mouth engulfs my dangling dick. Wow. The woman has skills. “Dani, don’t you―”

  I’m interrupted by a sharp slap to my ass. That kinda stings. “Um, Dani, I―”

  Another slap, this one even harder. What the fuck? “I’ve got to get to work, Dani.”

  This time it’s more of a wallop, and my whole body lurches forward from the blow. Apparently that’s what she was going for, because she goes after me with even more determination. I’ve already gone from limp to the hardest I think I’ve ever been, all in the span of maybe thirty seconds. “Gee … Oh my god, Da―”

  This time the slap is even sharper, and that’s when I get it. “Oh, shit. Yeah. I’m sorry, Mistress.” That’s rewarded with a gentle rubbing of the same spot she slapped. She’s reminding me of who she is to me, and that’s fine. “Holy … Yeah, Mistress … Oh, god, yeah, that’s good … Please, just …” She turns loose of my hardness with a pop.

  “Thank me for this,” she orders, then goes back to work.

  “Oh, yeah, thank you for this, Mistress,” I mumble, so overwhelmed that it’s hard to speak. And she releases it again.

  “Say, ‘Thank you for sucking my cock, Mistress.’”

  She’s sucking away, stroking down and twisting as she goes, and I manage to wheeze out, “Ohhh, ummm, thank you for doing that, Mistress.”

  She backs away again. “Say it, submissive. Say, ‘Thank you for sucking my cock, Mistress.’” Her mouth swallows me again and I gasp.

  “Ohhhhh … Um, thank you for, um …” This time she nips the head as she moves away. “Owww!”

  “I told you, say it. ‘Thank you for sucking my cock, Mistress.’ Say it!” she barks, gives it another nip that makes me cry out, and goes back to work.

  I’ve never said those words out loud in my whole life, but I know something will happen, something I won’t like, in a couple of minutes or less if I don’t screw up my courage and spit it out. “Um, thank you for, uh, for sucking my, um, cock, Mistress.” Holding just the head in her mouth, she rolls her tongue around and around the sensitive crown and then sticks the tip of it in my slit. “Oh, shit! Sweet mother of … Oh, god, Mistress.” Everything below my waist is tensing. “Please, may I come? Please?” She shakes her head around my length. “Oh, no, no, no. Oh, shit. Oh, Mistress, please?” This time she pinches my balls. “Owww! Shit! My god, M
istress! Uhhhh, mmmm, oh my god. Please?” And then she nods.

  I swear, the ejaculate leaves me with such force that I’m kinda pushed backward. At least it feels that way. The only way I can stay on my feet is to lean forward, a hand braced on the mattress on either side of her, and I’m panting and shaking. My knees feel like egg noodles, all wavy and limp. I’m gasping for breath when she pulls her mouth from me and chuckles. “Worked you over good.”

  “God, Dani, what the hell? I’ve got to get to work!” I’m going to be late, and honestly, I may be making a fuss, but I really don’t care. This was beyond worth it.

  “Go! Don’t let me stop you!” she says and laughs.

  It takes me a couple of minutes to really pull myself together, that and pull myself back into my pants. I’m in a heap of trouble. Boone’s going to take one look at me and know what I’ve been up to this morning, and he’ll have a field day with me. And that doesn’t include the third degree he’ll give me about who I’ve been doing it with. As soon as my pants are zipped, my belt is buckled, and my shirt is tucked in, I check myself in the mirror. I don’t mean to say it aloud when I mutter, “I’m in so much trouble.”

  She gives me a sexy grin. “Boone isn’t really going to be that upset about you being late, is he?”

  “Oh, it’s not that. It’s the fact that he’ll be able to figure out where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing.”

  Her eyebrows dip down to the bridge of her nose. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

  That’s when I spin and glare at her. “Let me make you aware of something in regard to my brother. He doesn’t miss much. Matter of fact, he doesn’t miss anything. It’s like he’s got X-ray vision, is a mind reader, and can see into your past. I’ll walk in and he’ll be all over me in a New York minute. Guaranteed.”

  “And if he guesses, what are you going to say?”

  “Honestly? I have no idea.” I grab everything out of the bowl on my dresser and start shoving it in my pockets. “I’ve got to get going. You staying here?”

  “If it’s okay with you.” She’s already crawled back up in the bed and down under the covers.

  “It’s fine with me.” I open the top dresser drawer and rummage around for a second before I find it, then hold it out to her. “Here. You can have this. It’s my extra key.”

  “Thank you. We have keys to each other’s places now. Isn’t that sweet?”

  “Yes. It is. Going now. Bye, babe.” I lean down to kiss her and she reaches for me, but I grab her wrists and kiss the backs of both hands. “Nope. I can’t crawl back in there with you. Gotta go. Talk to you later. Let me know when you leave.”

  “Okay. I’ll just hang out for a little while and relax.”

  “I’m good with it. Bye, babe.” Before she has a chance to stop me, I close the bedroom door behind me and very nearly run out the front door.

  My whole drive to the office is flooded with anxiety. Will he be able to tell? How does he do that? He always knows. How does he know? Do I really look that guilty? Surely this time he won’t be able to figure out what I’ve been up to. But he always has in the past. I should try to think about something else. What? Hmmm … Mom’s biscuits. That’s what I’ll think about―her biscuits and country ham. Yeah. That’s a breakfast feast right there.

  I stroll into the building, forcing myself to think about bacon and eggs, sawmill gravy, big fluffy biscuits, and oatmeal. I love that Irish oatmeal. I make it to my desk, sit down, pull out my schedule for the day, and I’m pretty sure I’m in the clear when he appears in my office doorway. “Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up,” he announces, ankles crossed, arms folded across his chest, and leaning against the doorjamb. Look up alpha male on the internet and you’ll find Boone Thomas Lawson’s picture there.

  “I’m only like ten minutes late,” I offer, reciting in my head, Biscuits, gravy, oatmeal. Biscuits, gravy, oatmeal.

  “And what have you been up to?”

  My heart instantly pounds against the inside of my ribcage. “What makes you think I’ve been up to anything?”

  “Because you’re wearing this weird grin.”

  Well, shit. Am I really? Surely not. Biscuits, gravy, oatmeal. “What weird grin?”

  “Ya know, boy, you’re a damn poor liar. I can see right through you. Did she spend the night? Or was this a morning quickie?”

  Damn it! What the hell? “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Biscuits, gravy, oatmeal, fuck it all.

  “Yeah, you just stick with that story. Next time try to get up early enough to bang it out and get here on time. I’m not mad. I’m just sayin’, try not to be so fuckin’ obvious, Brandt.” He turns and wanders away from my office door, leaving me to sit there, stunned.

  Biscuits, gravy, and oatmeal, you have failed me big time. Buttered toast and jelly for me from now on.

  My hands are shaking so hard that it’s difficult to hold a pencil, but I finally get settled down enough to work. Doesn’t matter―I keep thinking about Dani, and I want to find that kid and beat the ever-lovin’ satanic shit out of him. If I ever get my hands on him, he’s scrapple, and I don’t care how old he is. If he’s old enough to beat on a woman, he’s old enough to take a whuppin’ from a grown man. I’d teach his sorry ass a thing or two.

  The figures on the page are swimming in front of my eyes and I’m lost in thoughts of her when I hear my text message notification go off. I grab my phone and open it.

  Hey! You coming home at lunchtime?

  Oh, lord. If that happens, I’ll never live through the afternoon. Between wanting her and Boone knowing what I’d been up to, I’d be doomed for sure. Wasn’t planning to. I’m kinda busy, and I got my balls busted this morning for being late.

  There’s a few minutes of hesitation before she texts back, Seriously? For five minutes?

  That makes me snicker. It was more like ten, and yeah. He didn’t bust them for being late. He read me like a book and knew what I’d just done. Then I add, Maybe I should say what YOU’D just done.

  A whole string of emoticons appears, tears of laughter spurting from their eyes. He misses nothing! she adds.

  Nope.

  I need my car. I can call Brian.

  Damn it. I totally forgot. No. I’ll come get you. My responsibility. Are you in a hurry?

  No. Just let me know when you’re on your way, please.

  That gives me a smile. She could just boss me around if she wanted to, but she’s polite, and I think about how much more I respect her because of it. I might as well face the fact that I’m stone-cold in love with the woman.

  And I’m guessing I’m going to get my heart broken into a million pieces. She’s too disciplined. She’ll never fall for her submissive. I can tell that’s not her style. I just text back, Will do. I’d love to tack on, Love you, babe, but I don’t dare. After all, that’s not what the relationship is about.

  But look at Boone and Melina. Brian and Cirilla. Lucien and Rayanna. Hell, I heard the awful stories about all the things that came between Clint and Trish, and Steffen and Sheila. Those women were all submissives, and look at their relationships. Maybe there’s hope for me with Dani. I dunno. I suppose time will tell.

  I finish what I’m doing, clean up my desk a little, and head out to my car, texting her as I go. Just about the time my hand hits the door handle, I hear a voice say, “Brandt?”

  How totally exasperating. Guess he’s gonna kick my ass again. “What?”

  “Hey, look,” he says as he approaches me, “I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have rattled your cage that way. It’s okay, really. I’m just happy you’re seeing somebody, even though you won’t tell me who she is.” What the hell do I say to that? Thank you? Okay? Leave me alone? I’m at a loss until he says, “You know I love you. I’m just glad you’re here and I want you to be happy.”

  Something comes over me and I just step into him, throw both arms around him, and hug him tight. His arms wrap around me and
he gives me a gentle squeeze. “Thanks, Boone. Really. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome! I know life’s been kinda ass-kickin’ hard on you in the not-so-distant past, and I hope this is a new start for you. You didn’t deserve what you got.”

  Oh, if only he knew, he might not feel the same way.

  “Thanks.” When we turn loose, I give him the biggest smile I can manage. “And thanks for my job. I really do like working here.”

  “Good. As the company grows, there’s going to be lot of room for advancement. And,” he says with a wink, “being the owner’s brother can’t hurt anything.”

  I just laugh. “That’s good to know!”

  “Going to eat?”

  “Nah. Got an errand to run. I won’t be gone long.”

  “Okay. See you when you get back.” He gets a wave from me as I pull out of the big parking lot and head out.

  “You ready?” I call out when I step into the apartment. Dani makes her way out of the bedroom and into the living room, and her face looks worse than it did the night before. When she reaches me, I hold out my arms and she steps into my embrace. “Oh, Mistress, I’m so sorry.”

  She sniffles. “Yeah, it looks worse than before, huh?”

  “Hate to say it, but yeah―it does. Have you talked to Caleb?”

  “Um-hmm. I didn’t want to spring this on him cold. He deserves to be prepared. He’s very protective of me, so I’m pretty sure he’s gonna lose his shit when he sees my face. But thanks for letting me stay here with you last night.”

  “Nowhere else I’d want you to be, Mistress. Your safety is my top priority.” I kiss the crown of her head before I turn her loose. “Let’s get you to your car and you can go home, get a shower, get some rest.”

  “Okay.” Before I can move away, she grabs my hand. “Brandt, thank you.”

  I spin and give her a smile. “For what?”