“Babe,” Brian greeted me from the doorway, a sexy grin settled on his lips. “The water’s perfect. You can worry about clothes when you’re done.” He walked over, grabbed my coffee, and with one hand on my lower back, steered me down the hall to the bathroom. The scent was divine—lavender and mint with a dash of something else I couldn’t identify. A small, round plant stand sat beside the old clawfoot tub. It was there Brian placed my coffee. Two large fluffy towels sat beside the sink on the counter. The bathroom was average in size, and a double vanity led to the tub’s alcove. The toilet sat opposite the sinks, and a small linen closet was hidden behind the door. Gran had a shower installed on the tub a few years ago, keeping the charm of the old tub but adding a modern convenience when she couldn’t sit in the tub anymore.
I turned and hugged Brian, tears brimming in my eyes. “Thank you.” I hid my face in his chest, not wanting to reveal the myriad of emotions playing on my face. He wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on my head.
“Oh, babe, you’re welcome, but you don’t have to thank me. This was just a small thing I could do for you. Now, go on before the water gets cold.” He kissed the top of my head and grasped my shoulders, spinning me to face the tub again. I saw him slowly back out of the bathroom in the mirror. When the door latch clicked, I stripped and sunk into the aromatic heaven that filled the tub.
Laying my head on the edge of the tub, I sank until the water lapped at my breasts and my kneecaps. The tub was deeper than most but still of standard length, which meant only half of my body could be fully submerged at one time. I soaked until the water became lukewarm, then I quickly washed before pulling the plug and climbing out. I saw my coffee as I grabbed a towel, a bit sad realizing I had let it go cold. I dried off and wrapped the towel tightly around me.
I walked into my room to find my suitcases gone. I turned in a circle and noticed the door to the closet was slightly ajar due to the hanger dangling over the top of it. There, hanging on my closet door, was my sleeveless midnight black jumpsuit with the white accents at the collar and pockets. Below sat a pair of kitten heel sandals. Not what I had planned to wear, but a good choice.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I unpacked while you were relaxing. I liked the jumpsuit better than the dress, and I figured the kitten heels would be easier to walk across the grass and uneven ground in.” Brian leaned against the doorjamb, watching me.
“That was thoughtful. Thank you.” His recommendations made sense, but I didn’t want to admit it. The fact a man had chosen a better and more comfortable outfit attested to how distracted I really was.
“Take your time. I’ll be in the living room when you are ready.” He closed the door, allowing me to dress in peace.
In a trance, I got ready. Grabbing my favorite bra and panty set from the dresser, trying not to think about Brian touching the same silk as he put them away. I had packed my favorite scented lotion, preferring it to spray cologne. I applied it liberally then put on my robe. I didn’t want to get makeup or anything on my jumper. In the bathroom, I spritzed my hair with sea salt spray and put it in a French braid, not wanting to take the time to dry it. Tinted sunscreen, a swipe of blush, mascara, eyeliner, and a berry gloss on my lips finished my preparations.
I stared at the black jumper in front of me, knowing from this day forward I would look at it differently. It most likely would make its way to the back of my closet with the black dress I had for occasions such as this. I was wasting time staring. I took a deep breath and finished dressing. I couldn’t zip the jumper all the way up by myself, so I did the best I could. I slipped my feet into my shoes and found Brian in the living room, right where he said he would be waiting.
“Can you zip me the rest of the way?” I gave him my back. His hands grazed my skin as he inched the zipper up and hooked the clasp at the top. His hands settled on my shoulders, giving me a light squeeze.
“All done.” He turned me to face him. “Jason called and said something came up, so he won’t be pickin’ us up and will meet us there. Are you ready?”
My eyes met his deep and caring gaze. “As I’ll ever be for this.” I grabbed my purse from the table by the door as Brian opened the door in silence for me and did the same to the passenger door, helping me into the cab of his truck, closing the door once I got settled.
The engine purred to life, and he drove me toward the beginning of the next chapter in my life. If I had only known what that chapter would bring, I probably would have jumped from the moving vehicle.
4
Brian
It took every ounce of control to not reach over and stroke Genni’s arm. I could see and sense the pain running through her. All I wanted to do was take that pain away and replace it with mind-blowing pleasure. Jason and I had discussed our attraction to her before she woke this morning. I was surprised to find he had harbored a crush on her since high school. He admitted he had been a dick to her back then and fully expected her to resent him for it.
Jason and I had partnered with subs before; therefore, sharing wasn’t something new to me, but with Genni, I felt a twinge of jealousy when he brought up the idea. Plus, it was obvious she was clueless about the lifestyle. She didn’t even realize her body screamed to be dominated or that by her simple actions, she was showing her submissive side. She would be perfect; I just knew it. Now, to figure out how to convince her of that without coming across like a sex-crazed lunatic. It would take a delicate hand and a bushel of patience. I deliberated on whether a call to my brother Brody down in Florida might help.
For now, I would be here for support as she buried her gran, and then I would take care of her as she faced the loss in the days to come.
The Dom/sub lifestyle wasn’t the path I planned for myself. Having grown up with two brothers and three sisters in Texas, it was the farthest thing from my mind. I watched as many of them slowly found the love of their lives, got married, and moved away. My brother Brody had entered the military, and when he chose to retire, he did so with high commendations. He now worked with a few of his fellow former military buddies at Trident Security in Florida. My oldest brother, Brett, also moved to Florida and was a cop in Tampa. Both of them found happiness and a true sense of who they were in the world of BDSM. I chose to stay home and help our parents with the horse ranch in Texas. I didn’t regret that decision one bit, I loved what I did, and if I had chosen a different path, I would have never met Jason or been introduced to the lifestyle.
Being a Dom fulfilled my need to control and care. The euphoria when a sub fully trusted you to take care of their needs, both physically and emotionally, was such a gift. I experimented with many facets of the lifestyle, settling on a keen liking of the Saint Andrews cross and spanking bench. Jason was more of a sadist and able to take someone to the point of breaking and bring them back to earth with a grace very few could accomplish. He preferred the bullwhip and had trained extensively before ever wielding one in a scene. He still traveled at least once a year across the world, training with other Masters to ensure he stayed at the top of his game.
The whip wasn’t his only love. He wielded a crop, cat o’ nine tails, cane, and flogger with the same finesse. His ability to read a person and their needs had been amazing. Working together with him in a scene had brought the pleasure to a new level for all involved.