Brie Visits Master's Italy (After Graduation, #7) (3 page)

Brie’s smile was genuine as she addressed him. “It is wonderful to see you again, Mr. Gallant.” She loved the man who acted as a father-figure and wise mentor all rolled into one glorious person.

She was pleased when he nodded his approval. “You’re positively radiant, Miss Bennett.”

Brie was fairly bursting, desperate to share about her film, but she dutifully kept the news to herself. “Life only seems to get better and better, Mr. Gallant. One of the best things that ever happened to me was stepping into your classroom that first night.”

Brie glanced at his exquisite wife and found herself captivated by the brand the dark beauty wore on her upper arm. The lighter color and raised feature made it very noticeable. The brand itself was a simple pattern of two curvy M’s, one above the other.

She was struck by the woman’s serene face and could tell she was devoted to her Master. Yet it surprised Brie that such an elegant woman would allow herself to be branded like that. Brie wanted to ask her about the pain involved, but was afraid Sir would take it as a sign that she was considering it for herself. Instead, she said, “I am curious what your brand symbolizes.”

The woman lovingly caressed the raised marks. “Two birds in flight.” She smiled at Brie, her foreign accent making her statement that much more enchanting when she answered, “My Master guides me to higher levels of awareness.”

Mr. Gallant kissed her shoulder and replied, “In the process, she continues to take me to new heights as well.”

Brie put her hand over her heart and cooed, “Aww… that’s so sweet!”

Mr. Gallant seemed surprised by her reaction and said succinctly, “Simply the truth, Miss Bennett.”

Sir wrapped his arm around Brie’s waist. “The natural progression of a healthy D/s relationship.”

Brie looked up at Sir in admiration and wonder.

Pinch me now…

Their Disappointment

S
ir pressed his lips against her forehead. It was reassuring in nature, but reminded her too much of a benediction—a benediction given just before she willingly walked to her own death.

“How can this go well, Sir?” she whimpered.

“It depends on your definition of ‘well’, Brie. If you are upfront about the film and answer all of their questions truthfully, then I will consider it to have gone ‘well’ enough.”

His wisdom infused her with confidence. “Yes, Sir. Upfront and honest, that’s all I have to keep in mind. The rest of it will fall into place as long as I do not shy away from the truth.”

Sir encouraged her further, “Brie, my advice is not to take a negative response as their true response. You cannot know how your parents truly feel until they have had time to adjust to the news. Shock tends to evoke erratic behavior.”

“I will try to remember that, Sir.”

“In the end what they desire is the truth, even if it is difficult to hear.”

She took another calming breath and announced with more bravery than she felt, “I’m ready.”

He gave her a wink as he exited the car. “As am I…”

Sir opened the door for Brie and together they walked up to the house, a unit—partners in crime.

When Brie’s mother opened the door, she greeted them pleasantly enough. “How nice you could make it back so soon after your last visit.”

From the living room her father exclaimed, “There is nothing
nice
about this visit, Marcy. They come bearing bad news, I guarantee it.”

Brie shook her head. Why did her father have to always make things harder than they had to be?

Her mom shut the door behind them and gestured the two towards the couch.

Sir stopped and informed Brie, “Before we sit, I was hoping to speak to your father in private.”

Brie’s eyes widened.
Could it be?
Her heart beat wildly at the thought of Sir asking her father for her hand in marriage.

“Although I do not like this sound of this, I will meet you in the study, Mr. Davis. The ladies shouldn’t hear what I have to say. Follow me,” her father snarled, rising up from his chair.

That left Brie and her mom alone, looking awkwardly at each other.

“Is he asking what I think he is?” her mother asked, sounding stunned.

Brie shrugged, but she couldn’t hide her glee. “I don’t know, Mom. To be honest, he and I never talked about it.”

She sputtered, “Let’s hope not… it’s too soon… there is no way your father would consent.”

As if in agreement, Brie’s father yelled loud enough for the neighborhood to hear, “Over my dead body!”

Brie groaned as a heated discussion began. One that was too muffled to understand, although the hostility was easy to hear.

“Why don’t we go out on the back porch?” her mother suggested.

“Sure,” Brie replied, looking down the hallway in misery.
Poor Sir…

Once they had settled on the porch swing, her mom blurted, “It sure is hot this summer. We’ve gotten so little rain—”

Brie could care less about the weather and interrupted her. “Mom, why does Dad have to be so unreasonable?”

Marcy frowned. “I don’t think your father is being unreasonable at all, young lady. It has only been a few months since you announced you two were dating.”

“But Thane loves me and he is the most amazing man I’ve ever met. It is an honor to know him, much less be his girlfriend.”
‘Girlfriend’ sounds so weird…

“If he loves you, then he won’t mind waiting a year or two before making a lifelong commitment. You are only twenty-two. Far too young to consider such things.”

“But Mom, weren’t you barely twenty when you got married to Dad? You always told me when it’s right its right, because that’s how it happened with you.”

Her mother said with an air of superiority, “But we had known each other for years, darling. We weren’t strangers like you two.”

“Mom, I would be willing to bet that I know Thane far better than you knew Dad when you two married.”

Her mother huffed at her remark. “
We
went to high school together!”

Brie giggled. “Well, Mom, Thane and I went to school together, too.”

“What do you mean?”

Brie was too scared to explain it more than once, so she answered, “When Dad and Thane come back out, I’ll tell you everything. Just trust me when I say that I am confident in my choice of Thane as my partner and there are legitimate reasons I feel that way.”

They sat in uncomfortable silence as the two men continued to have it out with each other in the study.

Her mother asked, “Brie, do you understand why your father is so protective of you?”

“No, Mom. I’m a grown adult now, yet he still he treats me like a baby.”

“Sweetheart, do you remember that incident when you were a child? When you were beaten and stabbed with a needle?”

Brie looked to the floor—for a brief second she felt the stab of the needle, the humiliation and terror of the moment. “Of course I do, Mom. I was scarred by that experience.” But then Baron came to mind and Brie physically relaxed. She gazed into her mother’s eyes. “Until recently.” Brie smiled as she assured her mom, “I’m okay now.”

Her mother took Brie’s hand in hers and squeezed it. “I’m grateful you feel that way, but your father has never forgiven himself. It has eaten him inside knowing that he wasn’t there to protect his little girl. Since then, your father has done everything in his power to keep you safe.”

Brie suddenly made the connection as her entire childhood flashed before her eyes. “Is that why we moved to Nebraska?” she asked in disbelief.

“Of course. He wanted to raise you in a small town, away from gangs and violence. It about killed him to let you move to California after college.”

That revelation softened her heart towards her father. All these years he had carried the burden of that terrible day, but she had never known it. Brie tried to ease her mother’s mind by explaining to her, “Mom, I’m an adult now. I don’t need Dad’s protection anymore.”

Her mother squeezed her hand harder. “We love you, Brie. You can’t expect us to stop caring just because you’re getting older. It doesn’t work that way. It’s a parent’s right to worry.”

It hit Brie then just how deeply her news was going to upset her parents. It was so much more than just the embarrassment of the film they were going to struggle with. BDSM seemed like abuse to an outsider. It was imperative she help them understand the truth.

“Mom, you need to trust that I am happy and am confident in the life I have chosen. You can see how happy I am, can’t you?”

“I’ll admit you are glowing today. But just because you are in love now doesn’t mean it will last.”

Brie smiled, silently asking for patience. “Answer me this. When you told Grandma and Grandpa you were getting married, how did they take it?”

Her mother rolled her eyes, chuckling when she answered. “They wanted us to wait a few years.”

Brie nodded in agreement. “See… I think it is a completely normal reaction for a parent. But it’s like you’ve always said, Mom. When it is right, it’s right. I love Thane. We were meant for each other.”

“But his age is disconcerting, Brie.”

She protested. “It’s only eleven years, Mom. When I’m thirty, no one will even bat an eye.”

“You are twenty-two
now
,” her mother stated firmly.

Brie was about to argue the point when both men burst out of the study.

“Marcy! You will not believe what this bastard has been doing to our daughter!”

Brie rushed into the house and over to Sir’s side. He sat down on the couch with an air of calm, but she did not miss the flush on his skin. It was nothing compared to her father who was a lobster red.

“Stay away from that bastard, Brianna!”

Brie sat down next to Sir and raised her chin in defiance. “Don’t be disrespectful to my boyfriend, Dad.”

“Don’t you mean ‘Master’?”

“Wha—” her mother gasped.

So Sir did not ask for my hand…
Brie realized he’d simply informed her father about his role in her life. It made sense, and she suddenly felt embarrassed for entertaining such a silly idea. She appreciated that Sir was man enough to face her father’s wrath head-on, but now it was time to bring her mother into the discussion. With trepidation, Brie began. “Mom, Thane and I have chosen to live a Dominant/submissive lifestyle.”

Her mother stared at them in confusion. “What does that mean, Brianna?”

Her father growled, “He acts as her ‘Master’, Marcy. He chains our little girl up and beats her.”

“That’s not it at all, Dad!” Brie cried in frustration. She reined in her emotions and turned to her mom, stating more calmly, “Dad is exaggerating. You need to
listen
before you make any judgments about us.”

Her father’s reply was cold and harsh. “Why would we listen to the girl who is being abused?”

Brie popped off the couch and put her hands on her hips. “Dad, do I look like I am being abused? I love the way Thane makes me feel.”

“Brianna,” her father snapped, “you know nothing else. You have only had this poor excuse of a man to compare against.”

“That’s not quite true…” Brie sat back down and took a deep breath before she broke the news. “I have been under the service of several exceptional men.”

Her mother’s jaw dropped. “Are you a… lady of the evening?”

Brie closed her eyes, biting back the torrent that threatened to escape from her lips. She felt Sir’s reassuring hand on her knee and used it to maintain her control.

Sir told Brie, “I have explained to your father the dynamic of our relationship and the fact I was headmaster of the school you were trained at.”

“School?” Brie’s mother stared at her and then turned on Sir in disgust. “How dare you take advantage of our daughter. You… you
pervert
!” She stood up and demanded shrilly, “Get over here, Brie, right this instant or I’m calling the police.”

Brie’s nostrils flared as she struggled not to lose it. “We are doing nothing wrong, Mom! It would be stupid to call the police, but go ahead. Be my guest. Make a fool of yourself, see if I care!” Brie faced her father. “I came here to tell you about something exciting about my film career. I think you would be proud if you knew, but you refuse to listen so I am not going to tell you. I’ll just leave so you can find out about it along with the rest of the world. I don’t need to deal with your intolerance.”