Whispered Promises

Brie grinned. “It was really funny, Lea.”

“I know. Heck, girl, I crack myself up at least two hundred times a day!”

Brie couldn’t stop laughing and caught Sir staring at her. He winked, stating quietly, “It’s good to hear you laugh again, babygirl,” before walking out of the room.

Rather than describing the hell she’d endured, Brie spent the next hour asking Lea to catch her up on all the happenings in the community. From Lea’s fabulous dates with Hunter and a new club opening up downtown, to Faelan being sighted at the beach at sunset with his little girl.

“Have you heard how he is doing?” Brie asked her.

“He seemed to be doing well and was ready to move out of Marquis Gray’s house with his baby daughter. But that plan got put on hold after you and Mary disappeared.”

Brie frowned. “I never considered how that would affect Faelan. Marquis didn’t even mention his name when he visited.”

“Because it’s nothing you need to worry about, silly goose. You just need to take care of you right now.”

“Did you hear that I visited Mary yesterday?”

Lea snorted. “Yeah, Brie. The whole world knows.”

Brie suddenly felt the hairs rise on her neck. “What are you talking about?”

“Let’s keep this call light,” Lea begged.

“Please explain, Lea,” she insisted.

Lea took a deep breath. “When the press reported that you went to see Mary, the media went into a feeding frenzy of speculation. I heard that one of the girls rescued even promised them an exclusive story.”

“I knew it would happen eventually,” Brie sighed. “I just hope she doesn’t say too much. None of us should be forced to relive that nightmare just to entertain the public.”

“I agree with you a hundred percent, girlfriend. That’s why I’m not going to ask you a damn thing about it. You can share whatever you want when you want, or nothing at all! The only thing I care about—and let me repeat this so you don’t miss it—the only thing I care about is you.”

Brie felt the warmth of Lea’s love and sighed contently. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Stinky Cheese. To the moon and back!”

“I know you care about Mary, too,” Brie told her. “And I want you to hear it from me, not some reporter trying to make a headline. Captain and Candy are giving her the support she needs right now. Although she’s really struggling, Mary is a survivor.”

“That girl is like a cockroach, and I mean that in the best possible way.”

Brie’s chuckle was tinged with sadness. “Yeah, I can see that. No matter what she’s suffered, Mary is too strong and fucking stubborn to ever give up.”

“I appreciate you telling me. I was worried about Mary, but I knew she would never pick up the phone to call me for a joke.”

Brie laughed, knowing it was true.

“Still, she really needs my jokes. Maybe I could just mail them to her?”

“I think that is a wonderful idea, my friend,” Brie said.

Even if Mary never read any of the jokes, just knowing Lea was reaching out could make a difference.

Brie took a long, warm bath to relax and ready herself for her scene with Master Anderson. She was looking forward to the encounter and was excited by the simple scene he had planned.

Sir had already made arrangements with her parents for childcare and insisted on staying in his office with the door closed during their session. “I want you to know that I am here if you need me, but I do not want to act as a distraction.”

“You could never be a distraction, Sir.”

He smirked, slowly running his hand down the swell of her breast to her pelvis before grabbing her waist possessively.