Garrett takes her hands in his to ease them slowly away from her face but as they come away, her shoulders lift to her ears and her eyes remain tightly closed. Zara is not even trying to hide her embarrassment.
“Not a good enough change of subject?” Tugging her into his arms, Garrett holds Zara and allows her to bury her face into his chest. After a few moments in his embrace, she feels her body relax. Garrett exhales and says in her ear, “I think you’re spectacular as well.”
Zara begins giggling, light little giggling that she becomes unable to contain. Concerned by the sudden shivering of her body, Garrett pushes her back to look to look in her face. The dumbfounded look on his face when he realizes it is giggles makes Zara laugh uncontrollably.
“So… subject changed?”
“Completely.”
Chapter 24
Waking up alone is not how Zara anticipated the first night of her winter break. Since they had slept in the same bed over Thanksgiving weekend, she had assumed they would continue in that vein from then on whenever they were together. She had loved the closeness of him holding her all night, finding their intimacy was more precious than she ever thought it would be.
Zara closes her eyes and replays the day before. It had been a perfect day filled with laughter and conversation. They had taken a walk in the snow. Garrett held a snowball-making lesson and taught Zara how to make snow angels. They had watched movies and listened to music for hours.
The smell of coffee assaults Zara’s senses and she climbs out of bed. Standing at the dresser, she pauses as she is pulling out the top drawer. A pile of three smooth stones sitting on one of the many decorative boxes on the vanity catches her eye. Leaving the drawer hanging open, she walks over to pick up the stones. After rolling them around in her hand, she slowly places them back in their original spot.
Returning to the dresser, Zara grabs a pair of thick socks and closes the drawer. Dressed in the same long sleeved Michigan State tee and grey sweats she changed into after her hot shower the night before, she hears Garrett as she makes her way toward the kitchen.
“I knew if I made coffee, you would wake up.” He hands her a large mug of steaming creamy coffee. Cupping it with both hands, an enormous smile spreads across Zara’s face as she brings the mug to her nose to inhale. She cannot stop the moan of pleasure that escapes her lips.
“Seriously… Zara.”
Zara giggles in response. “Thank you for making me coffee.”
Shaking his head, he picks up his own mug of coffee. Leaning against the island, Garrett picks up his phone. It hits Zara that she had never seen his phone when they had been together.
“It appears we are in the middle of one of the worst winter storms in the history of Michigan weather.” He gestures toward the window and shakes his head in utter disbelief. Zara sips her coffee and does everything possible not to give away her excitement at being stranded.
“The plane is grounded and from the weather reports, it is only going to get worse. We aren’t going anywhere.” He puts the phone down on the counter.
“Oh. That is disappointing.”
“Come here.”
She moves to stand in front of him keeping the mug in front of her mouth. Taking the coffee from her hands, he discovers her huge smile. He sets their mugs on the counter, then lifts Zara onto the island and stands between her legs. Looking up into her sparkling, happy eyes, he asks her, “Am I to understand that golden sun, hot beaches and clear water are not what you are wishing for this holiday season?”
“I love the beach!”
“Yes, I know. As do my parents, hence a holiday planned in the hot sun, on the beach, and with clear water. Why are you so happy about this development, Little One?”
Zara’s eyes immediately fall. Taking a deep breath, Zara squares her shoulders.
“So… it is a deep breath and square your shoulders type of response. Should we go sit to have this conversation?”
“I just… Well, the thought of you and I being stranded in this beautiful house together alone over the holiday. It… sort of… sounds magical to me. That does not mean that I was not excited to–”
The second Garrett’s lips make contact with Zara’s, she opens to him and he advances. His tongue caresses hers as if exploring it for the first time. Her soft moans gave him the reassurance to continue. Releasing her face, Garrett pulls Zara to the edge of the counter. Zara’s finger’s wrap around his head and lock on the back of his neck. Garrett pulls away and looks into her eyes. Her lips wait, slightly open, for his to return.
“I’ve missed that, Little One.” As he moves to close the space between them again, the phone rings and they both jump. Garrett laughs and kisses Zara’s forehead.
“Dawson,” he answers in a professional tone that Zara finds as seductive as his normal voice. Handing her back her coffee, Garrett positions himself back between her legs with his back to her as he listens to the person on the phone. As she sips the coffee, thoughts of the two of them spending a long day kissing and snuggling creates such a sense of happiness that a giggle sneaks out.
Garrett looks back at Zara as she slaps her hand over her mouth and begins to crack up. Taking her hand away from her mouth, he gently kisses the palm. He returns his attention to the caller.
“Mom… Mom. We’re fine. Yes, we have plenty of food in the house. You were correct. I was wrong. I don’t know if we are going to come down at all. We’ll stay in touch. Okay. Did B and Viv get out? She is going to be pissed at him. Yes, yes. Zara, Mother says she is sorry you are missing the sun, sand and warm water and that it is all my fault. We will be fine. Tell Dad Merry Christmas.”
“You know how we are completely thrilled to be stranded together during the worst winter storm in Michigan history? Guess who isn’t exactly thrilled with her brother for deciding to work a couple of extra days and not flying down with my parents?”
“Oh, who?”
“Viv is so pissed off even my mom said that I should wait a day to call over there. I am not calling.”
Shyly, with all the humor gone, Zara asks, “Garrett, would it be alright if I called? If she is upset, I would like to invite her to come here. Certainly it does not replace a tropical vacation, but it may beat staring at her brother. If that is okay with you.”
“What about being stranded alone with me in a beautiful house?”
Zara shrugs her shoulders.
“There is always New Year’s.” Kissing her lips, Garrett scrolls to V and hits the call icon. Handing Zara the phone, he mouths, “Good luck.”
“AND WHAT THE FUCKING HELL DO YOU WANT, ASSHOLE BEST FRIEND OF MY STUPID ASS BROTHER?”
“Viv? Hi, this is Zara. I am sorry to bother you.”
“Shit… Zara. I thought you were Garrett. Are you two soaking up the sun and drinking cocktails with umbrellas already?”
“No… No. We were scheduled to take the plane down this afternoon. We are stranded here, too. I was wondering if you and Branden would like to come over and spend Christmas with us. I am planning to prepare a Christmas that Garrett will be proud to host. It would mean a lot to me if you would be here for my first Christmas away,” Zara’s voice drops off as the last sentence ends.
“Oh, Zara. Yes, of course, we will be there.”
“Garrett said that the storm is going to get worse before it gets better. When it is safe… why not pack a bag and both of you come over and stay. We will do Christmas here like we did Thanksgiving there.”
“Does G know you are inviting us to his house to stay? He is a bit funny about people in his space?”
“Mmmm… or I guess we can invite ourselves over there.” Holding the phone with his hand, Garrett plants another quick kiss on Zara. “I think he is fine with you both coming here this time.”
“Okay. It’s a plan. B is predicting a State of Emergency will be called at any minute. So, we are here for a while. I’ll text you when we are on our way. Oh… B keeps this place STOCKED with food. Email a list i
f you need me to go shopping in his cabinets.”
“Thanks, Viv. Tell Branden we are looking forward to seeing him soon. Merry Christmas.”
Clicking the End icon, Zara gently places the phone on the counter beside her. Viv’s statement about Garrett not liking people in his space floats around in her thoughts. Never had there been a moment when she had felt uncomfortable in his space.
“You are doing it again. Talk to me, Little One.”
“Are you alright with me inviting Viv and Branden over to stay? It has occurred to me that I did that without really asking your permission first.” Sliding off the counter, Zara picks up both mugs and walks to the coffee maker, intentionally busying herself to avoid looking at him.
“Would I prefer to spend the next however many days alone getting to know you even better? HELL YES! Would I prefer to be alone with you on a private beach, in 85 degree weather in crystal clear water? HELL YES! Am I glad that you want to spend some alone time with me and that you like the two closest people in my life enough to invite them over? YES!”
Walking over to where Zara is refilling their cups, Garrett wraps his arms around her. She leans back into him. “In the past, I didn’t have people over very often. Of course, they have been here before, but not ‘here’ here. I have been waiting for you.”
Zara nods enjoying the warmth of his arms and the comfort of the words around her as they stand in his kitchen in the middle of the worst winter storm in history.
“I have so much to do!” Zara jumps, kissing Garrett squarely on the lips. The action is both surprising and supremely satisfying.
Well that was not very submissive of me, but it was very me.
“Just a head’s up, you are not spending days in the kitchen preparing for a Christmas dinner that is going to be eaten in an hour. You and I are spending time together. That is the priority. We can all eat sandwiches. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Garrett stiffens. Silence. The response stops them both in their tracks. Zara’s eyes cast down to the ground in front of her. It is several seconds before either begins to move. Garrett is first to break the lingering silence between them.
“I think it is time for us to have that conversation soon. It has almost become the elephant in the room–”
“Garrett, forgive me for interrupting you. I have been thinking. You have taken excellent care of me since leaving the Circle months ago. You have provided for all of my needs. You have gone above and beyond my needs. During this break, I would like to be the one that takes care of your needs for a change.
“There will be guests but they are aware of our lifestyle. I would like to ask permission to… this made so much more sense in my head. I would like to… to take care of you.”
“Okay… This is not where I thought this conversation was heading. I am getting hungry and need a shower. Let’s both shower and meet back here for breakfast?”
Sinking with rejection, Zara turns to walk out of the kitchen without a word. The distance between the kitchen and her bedroom feels so much longer on this return trip. She knows Garrett is watching her walking away.
In the safety of her bedroom, tears begin to stream down her face.
I’m not the submissive he wants. The locked collar. The letter from Michigan State. The dorm room. The tuition. The new life. It is all meant to give me a new beginning so I would not accept his collar.
The kissing. The touching. That is something else. That must be a man wanting a woman. Casual. The effect of the word Sir. On the plane the first night. In the kitchen.
I am alone. No family. No Community. No collar. No Sir. No Garrett. Just me.
Training wins out over most everything. Zara wipes her tears and steps into her bathroom. Turning on the shower, she slowly removes her clothes leaving only the pedants that Garrett had given her for her birthday. Looking at them in the reflection of the mirror causes her even more confusion. “Just forget it.”
“No… don’t forget.”
Turning, Zara sees Garrett walking toward her from inside her room. He grabs a towel and wraps it around her. Bewildered, Zara watches him step into the shower and turn it off. Walking to the bathtub, he turns on the water and adjusts the temperature. Returning to Zara, he takes his thumb and wipes away the track of tears that remain.
“I hate that I left you to think your thoughts. I know better than to allow you to get inside your head. These tears are my fault and it hurts my heart that I caused them.” He presses a swimsuit into her hand. “Put this on and don’t move. More importantly, don’t think.”
Garrett runs out of the bathroom, leaving Zara wrapped in a towel and contemplating the small royal blue two-piece Garrett handed her.
“Hold please.” Garrett returns with a towel wrapped around his waist and hands Zara a tray with travel mugs and fruit. He moves a chair from the bedroom next to the tub as a stand for the tray, then reclaims it and sets up their mini breakfast. Taking something off the tray that Zara had thought to be cream, he pours it into the bath and bubbles begin to form.
“All I need is you…” Garrett extends his hand to Zara and escorts her to the tub. He drops his towel and gets into the tub, gesturing for her to join him. Zara slips in between his legs. Once they are both submerged in the hot water and thick bubbles, Garrett turns the water off.
He pulls Zara back to him and she only hesitates slightly before leaning against his bare chest. In silence, they sit and soak.
Garrett runs his fingers through the damp strands of Zara’s hair, continues to stroke her shoulders lightly with his thumbs and fingertips. “I should have thought about a hair tie.”
“I need to wash my hair. It is okay,” Zara murmurs contentedly.
“Do you want coffee?”
“No, thank you.”
“Zara, I like caring for you.”
“Garrett… are you a submissive?” Zara feels Garrett’s hands freeze briefly on their wayward journey from her neck to her shoulders.
“No, Little One. I’m not a submissive. Although, I don’t think I’m exactly the Dom you were expecting, either. I was raised by parents that lived their lives as equals. Yes, my mother is my father’s submissive but I do not know what happens in their bedroom. I know that they have a small playroom at the beach house. What they have at the main house is anyone’s guess.
“I take that back. Viv would know. Being the resident decorator, she knows everyone’s secrets. Anyway, I was not raised with a mother who was put in a corner if she stepped out of line. I want a wife. A partner. I would like for her to be a submissive but if that is not her thing, I am willing to walk away from the King Council.”
“You will be a member of the King Council. It is your birthright. How could you think about walking away from that?”
“I want a happy wife. I want a happy life. I want happy children. I want my children to have what I had.”
“But when I asked to serve you… you rejected me,” Zara said in almost a whisper.
“Zara, I didn’t reject you. I said we should shower and eat before we discussed it. That’s miles away from a rejection. I need you to understand this. Submission is not something you practice. If you decide to submit to me, your collar is in a box in my room. I’ll show you where later. And if that day ever arrives, I will proudly accept your submission. But that will be the beginning and the end for many things.”
Garrett picks up a large sponge and squeezes water down Zara’s neck and shoulders, the warmth relaxing her to the point of almost drifting off.
This. This is where I want to spend the rest of my life.
Startled by the sound of the water being turned back on, Zara watches Garrett reach for some fruit and hold a grape to her lips. Seeing him pop several into his own mouth with a smirk, she knew he was allowing her time to consider before continuing the conversation that could impact both of their lives.
“Beginning and end?” Zara twists around to make eye contact.
“The beginning
of our life together. You were raised in the Community, so you understand what that means. We will need to make some decisions together on how we move forward from here. The collar is only the beginning of the conversation. As I said, I am a Dom – a Dom who wishes to navigate the waters with his submissive and make a happy life together. Perhaps that is why I can walk away from the King Council. I will be a Dom whether I am on the Council in the Community or not. That cannot be dictated by anyone else.”
Listening intently, Zara ran her fingers through the water and the bubbles, “And the end?”
“Well… the end. That is entirely different. The end is… the end of your life as a single college student with the freedom to do as she pleases with whomever she pleases. It is also the end of me standing silently by while you deal with your family and friends. All of those issues become mine to address as I see fit. In this area, I am exactly like all other Doms.”
With the change in Garrett’s tone, Zara’s eyes fell to her hands in the water. Garrett found her hands under the water and tugged her towards him. “Come back here, Little One.”
Zara slowly moved back between Garrett’s legs and leaned into his chest.
“You have changed quite a bit in the little time that you have been at school. Do you feel different?”
“Sometimes I feel I am a completely different person. When I am talking with a group of friends and we start laughing about something, or when Ella and I go to dance class and I am actually up there demonstrating how to do a new move; even singing along to a song that they have playing in their room while we are getting ready to go somewhere.
“Then there are moments, when I sit back and wonder how I could ever fit in with these people. I am so different. The favorite pastime in the dorm is to sit around and talk about guys, who you have dated, who you have slept with, and what you did with that person. I am so out of place in that conversation. Not just because I have never had those experiences, but because of the lifestyle I was raised in.”
Before Him Comes Me Page 20