“Viv designed the entire place. I don’t have a lot of visitors so she does not get the raves that she craves.”
Vivian stops. Zara can see the hurt on her face from the wry wit of her brother and it becomes evident that she is not the only one that sees the change in Vivian.
Racing around the long cement-topped island, Branden wraps his sister in a bear hug and spins her off her feet. “Hey, Viv. You know I am kidding. Sister, I am your biggest fan. You are brilliant. You have a gift. I’m an idiot that should think before he shoots off hurtful things to the most important person in his life. Got it?”
Zara cannot help giggling as Branden begins tickling Vivian who does her best to continue to look angry and not smile.
“Ok. Ladies, we have some time before dinner is ready,” Branden states as he hugs his sister with a final squeeze. “We have options. I’m stuck in the kitchen. You two can tour the house and talk about what a wonderful guy I am to cook Thanksgiving dinner or we can all hang out in here and ask Zara tons of questions.”
He laughs as Zara’s eyes widened. “Questions it is then! We will do a full tour later and convince Zara to crash here for the night in Garrett’s room.”
Zara remains as still as possible working to school her expression as Vivian does another happy dance.
“Zara, I do have so many questions but if you would prefer not to talk about your past, I totally understand even though I really, really want to know.”
Branden makes his way to the refrigerator as Vivian motions for Zara to follow her up a transparent staircase. “We will be right back brother. Cocktail me… it’s a holiday. Make one for Zara too, please. And do NOT call Garrett to ask for permission. You owe me. You almost made me cry today.”
With that, Vivian starts up the stairs with Zara silently following behind. Although the staircase looks ominous, the walk up is easy. “Branden was totally against a two-story when we started. He didn’t want to have to climb stairs every night. So I came up with staircases that have twice as many steps but the lift is shorter so it feels like you are walking normally.”
As the pair walks across an open balcony, Zara stops and looks down at the first level.
“WOW… spectacular,” she whispers. Out of nowhere, she feels two arms go around her in a squeezing hug. Feeling her tense, Vivian releases her.
“I’m sorry. No one has ever said such nice things about my work. Well, and not been related to me. Come. Let me show you.”
Continuing further to the end of the balcony, Vivian opens the glass door and they enter an entryway. She opens the double door to the left of the entryway.
“Welcome to Chateau Dawson.” Standing aside so Zara can enter and look around, she continues, “Branden insisted that Garrett and I both have a space here. They work constantly and it made sense to have a place to crash. My room is the other double door.”
Walking into a spacious living room, Vivian takes Zara further into the suite, reminded by the design of his home and his room at the beach house. It definitely fit the Garrett that she was becoming familiar with.
“The bathroom has all your regular items and there is a section in the closet with clothes for you as well. A small section.” Zara looks at her questioningly as she waves her into the bathroom.
“Oh, yes, my darling. Garrett gave specific orders where you are concerned,” Vivian chuckles. “When I was organizing all of your clothes for the various locations, Branden was adamant that you would never be staying here, so why include this in the locations. Joke’s on him.”
The huge smile plastered on Zara’s face makes Vivian laugh. “So, I am guessing you are a bath person. Me too. I blew my entire budget for my space on the huge bathtub and closet.”
Zara walks over to the edge of the bathtub and runs her fingers over the different bottles of oils and bubbles. A thought pops into her mind that she knows she has no right to even ponder.
As if reading her mind, Vivian whispers in her ear, “To my knowledge, he has never brought another woman here. Even Branden entertains elsewhere. God forbid, his sister ever find out that he is not a virgin.”
Laughing, Vivian walks out into the connecting room. “We have plenty of time before dinner. Why don’t you take a soak in the tub? I plan to take a long bath as well. We can meet in the kitchen in an hour.”
“What about Branden? He sounds as if he would enjoy company and he is preparing the meal.”
“Finally, someone cares about me.” Branden walks in carrying two large glasses with pineapple wedges on the sides. Handing one to Vivian, he gives the other to Zara. “I will not be offended if you do not drink this. And, please, enjoy a bath. As I remember, the dorm bathrooms are not the most relaxing. Even if G-man did make them redo it for his Zara.”
Walking out, Branden waves and says he would see them both in an hour and that they had clean-up duties following dinner.
Vivian clanks Zara’s glass then walks toward the door as well. “YAY… Thanksgiving bath time. Enjoy!”
Chapter 21
Zara stands in the middle of the spacious room. She does not know what she had expected to be doing for Thanksgiving, but standing in Garrett’s home away from home was not it. Looking around, a picture on the bedside table catches her eye. Still holding the clothes that Vivian had handed her and sipping the drink that Branden brought, Zara makes her way over to the table.
Stunned, Zara sets the clothes on the bed and picks up a sleek grey frame. It contains a picture of her. Composed in black and white, it is a photo of her sitting in a park looking out at nothing. Zara recognizes the photo from a visit to one of her favorite places in Chattanooga.
Sloane had suggested that they visit the park the day before Zara’s Circle Ceremony and they went knowing everything in both their lives would change the next day. The photographer had caught her in a serious moment of contemplation when she had been thinking about what her Sir would be like and whether she would find happiness with him.
Zara returns the frame to its place on the table. Collecting the change of clothes, she makes her way to the bathroom. Nothing could prepare her for how this day was turning out, but a hot bath in the middle of the day seemed like a fantastic idea at this point and she turned on the water. She plugs the tub and selects a peppermint mix to add to the water. A light knock at the door startles her.
“It’s Viv. Are you still dressed?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent!” The door flies open. Vivian stands in a fluffy white robe closed with a red cord. She crosses the room and places a small pitcher on a flat surface of the bathtub. “Branden makes the best cocktails even if they’re virgin.”
Vivian winks at Zara. “I wanted to make sure you figured out the tub and had everything you needed. Okay… Okay… Okay… I am leaving you alone now.”
Before Zara can respond, Vivian turns and walks out of the bathroom.
“I’m locking the bedroom door behind me. Get your ass in that tub. We have exactly one hour,” she yells from the bedroom. Zara smiles as she hears Vivian laughing to herself.
Zara checks to make sure the water temperature is just right and slowly slips into the bubbly hot bath. With a big sigh, she closes her eyes and leans back only to find she is bombarded by memories. Her mother. Ella and Liliana. School. Vivian. Branden. Garrett. The photo.
Sitting up to take a drink, Zara thinks about the photo again. The existence of the photo itself is intriguing. She could not recall a camera at the park that day.
Nothing that she contemplated on that day in the park had happened the way it was supposed to. In fact, the unthinkable had occurred and months later Zara was still trying to understand how the pieces of her life would fit together. Zara turns off the water. The tub is big enough and the water deep enough that she can fully submerge and she lies back allowing her body to fully relax.
Garrett. What is he doing right now? Where is he? What is he wearing? How did he get that picture? Did I make a mistake?
Z
ara lifts the pendant and studies the small ‘G’ as it hangs next to the large ‘Z.’
Did I make a mistake choosing school? My life would have been so different if I had continued with the Ceremony. My family would still love me. Sloane would still be my best friend. I would be married to Garrett. I would be secure in my future.
Blinking, Zara fills her glass with the contents of the pitcher and takes another large sip. Setting the glass down on the edge of the tub, she focuses on the tiny bubbles clinging to the inside of the glass and tries to clear her thoughts.
Regret is unhealthy. Zara starts a mental list of what she likes about Garrett. She thinks about the time she and Garrett spent at the beach before he dropped her off at school. He always found a way to make her feel comfortable. Sitting in front of the fire, he had led the conversation in a way that put her at ease. He was fascinated with her lack of music knowledge and vowed to change that to show her how important music is to one’s life.
Zara remembers how his face lights up as he talks about the things he loves, his time at MSU and, although Garrett did not talk about his work much, she knew it was a passion of his by the way his shoulders seemed broader when he commented on it.
I miss his face. I miss Garrett.
Zara sighs.
Carefully stepping from the tub, she wraps herself in a fluffy white towel and walks to the closet. Seeing Garrett’s hanging clothes, she grabs a blue button down shirt and draws it to her nose hoping for a mixture of cool mint, brown sugar and lemons. She wants to smell his scent. There is nothing to smell but fresh linen.
Returning to the bathroom, Zara dries off and dresses in the soft comfy clothes she had been given. Despondently, she gathers the clothes that she had worn earlier and makes her way into Garrett’s bedroom. Passing through the door, Zara freezes.
Garrett stands by the bed. “Happy Thanksgiving, Little One.”
Without a word, Zara drops the clothes she is carrying and walks into his waiting arms, a sob catching in the back of her throat. She crushes him until she feels the rumble of his laughter in her chest. “Were those two that awful to you?”
In a feather-light voice, she breaths into his neck, “I have missed you.”
“I missed you too.” She resists as he pulls her away from his body to meet her eyes. “Please do not cry.”
Hearing those words, Zara pushes herself closer into him to hug him harder. “Hey. What is it?”
Garrett scoops her into his arms and carries her to the outer room. Once seated, he takes her face in his hands and forces her chin up. “Zara, look at me.”
Immediately, her eyes flickered up to confront the apprehension.
“I’m sorry. I just… I did not expect you today. I’m surprised.”
“Is there anything else? Did Viv make you feel uncomfortable?” he queries with concern.
Shaking her head, she affirms how considerate Vivian has been. “No, she has been kind. Vivian let me take a bath in your massive tub. I can get off your lap.” Zara begins to move but she feels Garrett tighten his grip around her. Enfolded against his chest, Zara decides to tell Garrett what she wants.
“May I ask a question?”
“Anything.”
Zara likes the vibrations of his voice when she is against his chest. She takes a deep breath and leans back to look into his eyes.
“That bad?” he asks.
“Can we begin to spend more time together?” Zara blurts, surprising herself with the volume and force she uses to ask for his time. Her confidence drains away as she feels Garrett tense around her.
“Zara, what are you asking? I need you to be clear with me.”
“I… I just want to be with you. I am sorry. If that is not what you want–”
“Wait… No… hey hey hey.” Garrett pulls her back to his chest. “I want to be clear only because I don’t want to misunderstand your intentions. You and I need to communicate very thoroughly with each another. That is the only reason I asked you to explain yourself. Does that make sense?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Zara, as much as I enjoy hearing you call me Sir, until you are ready for me to make that commitment, I need for you not to call me that. You and I both understand the significance of that title and I am not your Sir.”
“I am so sorry.” She swallows against the lump in her throat.
“Zara, there is nothing to be sorry about. I very much like the way my name sounds coming out of your mouth.”
A knock at the door interrupts their conversation. “We need to head downstairs.”
Zara nods and begins to pull herself away from the most comfortable spot she has ever been in. Garrett helps her to her feet. As he stands, he pauses to cup her face in his hands.
“We will finish this conversation after dinner, but so you don’t spend the day lost in your thoughts, the answer to your question is that I would love to begin spending more time with you. If you think you’re ready.”
Zara cannot hide the smile or the blush that erupts over her face. “I am ready.”
Zara holds her breath as Garrett lowers his face to hers to look deeply in her eyes. He brings her a little closer to look even deeper. His gaze dips down to her smile then returns to her eyes once more, coming closer yet. Zara melts into his embrace as Garrett’s lips gently brush against hers.
Unbidden, Zara’s eyes close in ecstasy as he presses against her tenderly and opens his mouth to tug lightly on her bottom lip. Zara follows where he leads her and as Garrett’s tongue slips between her lips, her tongue yields and meets it. Another more insistent knock issues from the door.
Garrett chastely kisses her on the lips twice and moves away.
“We need to go eat dinner before the National Guard is called out. Then we need to continue doing more of that and finish our conversation. Sound like a plan?”
Zara does not say anything. She touches her lips with her fingers and smiles.
“You liked that. I liked it too, Little One.” Garrett takes her hand and draws her out of his room.
“Oh. I forgot the glass and pitcher. Garrett,” she adds smiling.
Garrett kisses her lips quickly again.
“Leave it. We can get it later. And keep saying my name.” One last double peck on the lips and Garrett leads her to the stairs. At the top, he steps out the way to allow Zara to descend the staircase first. Once at the bottom, she pauses. He grabs her hand again and they walk hand in hand to the kitchen.
“Well… well… well. Don’t you look at wee bit happier than when you first arrived,” Branden proclaims, looking up from the ham he is slicing. “And there we have the blushing to prove it. Zara, you glow when you are so happy.”
Looking down, Zara focuses on her hand locked within Garrett’s. “She did miss me. Maybe I should go away more often.”
Zara looks up to catch Garrett staring at her with a teasing smile and sparkling eyes lighting up his face.
“No. I would prefer if you did not leave again.” Satisfied by the look of surprise on Garrett’s face, she giggles as he pulls her close and plants a firm kiss on her ready lips.
“If you two could stop staring at each other for five seconds, dinner is served,” Vivian murmurs. Zara takes a step towards the table and Vivian motions for her to sit. As she takes her seat, Zara wonders about the difference in Vivian’s demeanor.
“Vivian, is everything alright?” Zara asks in a hushed voice as Garrett makes his way around the large island to talk to Branden.
“I’m fine. The bath and cocktails mellowed me out a bit.” She gives Zara a half smile and sighs. “And I had my heart set on asking you a shit ton of questions. Garrett’s ruined that plan.”
Looking up, Zara shakes her head. “I am sorry, but I do not understand. How does Garrett’s presence change asking me questions?”
“Because Garrett will not allow you to be pestered,” Garrett answers as he places the ham on the table. He kisses the top of Zara’s head and walks back into the kitchen.
“Vivian, you can still ask me whatever you want to ask. I may not answer some of the questions but you are more than welcome to ask.” Zara looks down at her hands resting in her lap and smiles to herself. “I appreciate his protecting me but I would not think that you would ask to hurt me. You are one of Garrett’s best friends. Please ask.”
“Okay. But you have to start calling me Viv. Vivian makes me feel old.” Viv’s face transforms with a big smile. “Where should we begin?”
Garrett and Branden appear at the table with the last of the food, the experience entirely different for Zara than every Thanksgiving before this one. Zara’s mother would have been in the kitchen for two days preparing the day’s meal and Zara would also have been expected to assist at the mere request for help.
Zara finds it unsettling to see Branden in the kitchen and having the two men serve the food. She had spent her life training to serve and it takes a lot of concentration to sit and not help.
As Garrett sits down beside her, he grabs Zara’s knee and gives it a quick squeeze. With the food passed and plates full, Viv asks her first question. “How does the whole thing work?”
“Viv!” Branden snaps.
“What? She said I could ask.”
Clearing her throat, Zara asks her own question. “What exactly as you asking? Can you narrow the question down for me?”
“I understand the basics of BDSM. I understand that you and Garrett are from BDSM communities. But I don’t understand how it works. It is my understanding that relationships of that nature take time and trust to develop. Consent and something else. Yet you’re a couple that essentially knew nothing about each other when you were to marry.”
“So you are asking how the Community works?” Zara restates the question in order to give herself a moment to process an answer. Viv is nodding as she is chews.
“You are correct about BDSM relationships taking time and trust. The majority of the members of the Community are individuals that made a choice to enter into the lifestyle. A very small core of members makes up the King Council. Have you discussed the Council with Garrett?”
Before Him Comes Me Page 17