Before Him Comes Me (10 page)

Picking up her phone, Zara locates Garrett’s name and sends
him a text.

Thank you for dinner. It was too much but delicious.

A moment later she receives a reply.

Glad you liked it. Everything okay?

She quickly taps back.

Yes, thank you.

Another immediate reply.

Little One, what is going on in that head of yours?

Ruefully, Zara sends another message. She did not mean to
make him worry.

Everything is good. I am sorry to have bothered you. Good night.

The phone rings. Knowing it has to be Garrett, Zara smiles
and answers it, but before she says hello, he says, “Zara Faith. You can’t be a
bother. I am at dinner at the moment but I can be at the dorm in about 30
minutes.”

In the background, Zara hears the clink of silver and a
woman’s voice, “Garrett, I need to make a call. I will be right back.”

The smile slides off Zara’s face.

Ummmm… who is that?

“Okay. Sorry, Zara. As I was saying, I am just finishing up
dinner and I can be at the dorm in 30 minutes.”

Wondering what she interrupted, Zara shakes her head. “Little
One, I cannot hear you when you nod. Talk to me, please.”

“Everything is fine. I am fine. The room is perfect. I will
talk to you later.” The volume of her responses decreases with each sentence, the
last is barely audible.

“I will be out front at 9:30 for breakfast. Get some sleep.”

“Ok.” She whispers.

The phone disconnects. Holding it in her hand for a while,
Zara wills Garrett to call her back. When the phone doesn’t ring, she places it
on the desk with her daisies.

What have I done?

Crawling under the covers of her new comfortable bed, Zara
finds her pendant and encases it in her hand, closes her eyes and searches for
something to focus on, but the sound of the woman saying Garrett’s name keeps
playing in her mind.

Feeling alone in every way she considers the choice that
brought her to this point. Her reality would be dramatically different had she
declined Garrett’s offer and he placed the collar around her neck. He wanted
her to choose this. And if he wanted this, then the only conclusion Zara could
ascertain was that Garrett did not want her as his submissive. Garrett did not
want to marry her.

Waking to a pounding at the door, Zara jumps out of bed and
flies across the room to open the door. Wondering if she is late for breakfast
with Garrett, she is surprised to find Beth standing in front of her. The smell
of coffee trumps asking what Beth is doing at her door.

“I don’t know how you take your coffee or if you even drink
it, but I got you a latte. You can dump it if you don’t want it.” Thrusting the
coffee into Zara’s hand, Beth finishes her statement with a shoulder shrug.

“Thank you. My addiction is full blown.”

“Whatever.”

Beth turns and walks down the hall back toward the front
desk, leaving Zara standing in the doorway and holding a steaming hot latte.

Zara giggles as she makes her way back to bed with the hot
cup of coffee, knowing today is going to be a much better day. Pushing the
curtain back, Zara checks the parking spot for Garrett’s Jeep. No Jeep, but the
forgotten letter sits waiting to be opened. Climbing back into bed, Zara sips
the latte and opens the letter.

Dear Zara Faith,

I have arranged your class schedule this semester, as there was
not time for you to select your own classes. I will leave that to you in the
future. All relevant information is located in the backpack.

Also in a wallet in your backpack is a bankcard. I have
arranged an account for your use at the Michigan State University Federal
Credit Union. Please feel free to make a withdrawal whenever you wish. Currently,
there is a balance of $1000.

A credit card has been ordered and should arrive within the
next week. This will be for any larger purchases you wish to make. I committed
to taking care of your needs while you are at school and I intend to live up to
my word.

You will find other campus related items in the backpack,
including season tickets for football and basketball. Even if you are not a fan
of sports I encourage you to attend, as they are a part of the college
experience and that was your dream.

My intent is to give you the time and space you need to explore
yourself and enjoy school. Enjoy your new space and if there is anything you
find you need, please do not hesitate to contact me. As you know, my number is
programmed into your phone.

Regards,

John Garrett Dawson

Zara rereads the letter. It is informative but the tone
distant, a man fulfilling a duty. This is not the Garrett she had just spent time
with at the beach. Where was the warmth she had felt when she ran into his arms
yesterday?

As she slips it back into the drawer, Zara wonders if she is
misinterpreting the closeness between them. There is so much Zara does not
understand about Garrett. With a jolt, the sound of the woman saying she would
be right back echoes in her mind and the self-doubt from last night comes
crashing back with a vengeance.

Forcing the unwelcome thoughts away, Zara picks up her
backpack. She begins to remove the items finding a laptop and a wristlet with a
bankcard in it. The bankcard has a picture of Beaumont Tower on it reminding
her of the tour Garrett took her on the day before.

Suddenly, remembering he was due to pick her up at 9:30am,
Zara looks at the Breakfast at Tiffany’s clock on the wall, shocked that it is
already 8:30am. Zara quickly combs through the rest of the items laid out on
her bed. The wristlet has a key ring with several keys, a paper copy of an MSU
student ID and a pack of sweet mint gum. Flipping through the official MSU
student planner, she finds a typed class list with times and locations attached
to the inside cover.

Going to today’s date, Zara sees there is an appointment at
10:00am in the Hannah building. She also discovers her first college class is
Biology and it begins on Monday at 10am in Wells Hall. Closing the planner,
Zara attempts to remember where Wells Hall was located. Garrett had mentioned
the building, but there were so many buildings and landmarks she could not
recall its exact location.

Zara picks up her new laptop, carefully opens the top and
hits the power button. Rather than get too comfortable, Zara sets the computer
on the bed and walks to the bathroom. Meeting Garrett with furry teeth is not
an option.

Turning on the shower and undressing, she takes a moment to
confront herself in the mirror. This is her bathroom. This is her dorm room. Satisfied
she is in control, Zara steps into the shower.

Standing under the stream of hot water, Zara’s thoughts turn
to the relaxing piano music that had been played at the beach house. Wondering
if there was a way to get that on her phone and listen to it while showering,
it didn’t take long for all of her thoughts to be of Garrett.

She thought of how he stood at the stove in lounge pants and
bare feet, a Michigan State University tee-shirt accentuating the muscles in
his upper body, and how strong his arms were when he picked her up and held her.

Zara works the shampoo through her hair, rinses and reaches
for conditioner, as she recalls his lips on her forehead and her hand held
warmly in his. She picks up the natural sponge and pours some Dr. Bronner’s on
it. Starting with her neck, Zara lifts her necklace out of the way and soaps
her body with the sponge, enjoying the strong scent of peppermint as she covers
her body in a thick lather.

Unconsciously, Zara returns the sponge to the basket and
runs both of her hands over her breasts. Her nipples harden as she caresses the
under sides while picturing Garrett taking his tee shirt off and standing in
front of her at the kitchen table.

Zara imagines running her hand over the muscles in his chest,
brushing his nipples with her thumbs. Closing her eyes, and letting her head
fall back, her hand slides down her stomach to the smooth area between her
legs. She remembers Garrett leaning close to her asking her to leave with him.

Lightly spreading the bare lips, Zara’s fingers brush the
nub between them, a small moan escaping her lips. Holding her lips apart, Zara
enjoys the cascade of water over her most sensitive parts. Having only touched
herself a couple of times in the past, she explores with trepidation, the
memory of Garrett kneeling before her spurning her on.

Zara uses one hand to brace herself against the shower wall.
Her other hand continues, wet fingers spreading herself wide while lightly
running her middle finger up the center of her clit.

Feeling a pressure begin to build, Zara allows it to happen.
Until the thought of her mother’s disapproval invades her thoughts. Even in the
privacy of her new bathroom, miles from her home, she knows going any further
is out of the question.

Washing herself thoroughly one more time, Zara rinses the
conditioner from her hair and steps from of the shower. Standing in front of
the mirror, Zara takes a longer look at her entire body. She is considered tall
at 5’7” but only because both her mother and Sloane are much shorter. Beside
Garrett, Zara feels like the perfect height. Releasing the pendant she had not
realized she was holding, Zara considers what Garrett has chosen. He had picked
out a ‘Z’ that is so much bigger than the g. For a Dom, it is an unusual thing
to do, but then Garrett is not the ‘usual’ Dom Zara had been raised around.

In exasperation, Zara wonders if Garrett is the only thought
she is capable of having in her head.

Where did he go last night? How far is his house from here? Why
is the letter written in such a cold manner? How would he feel touching her
nipples in the shower?

The last thought makes Zara’s eyes pop open. She goes to the
window to grab her coffee, wondering if she will find Garrett’s Jeep outside
waiting for her. She is disappointed when she peeks between the curtains and it
isn’t.

Sighing, she turns to get dressed. It hits her that what she
is feeling is how it feels to miss someone you want to be spending time with. Talking
aloud to herself, she reasons, “Ok. I like him. I want to spend time with him. I
want him to be here… outside looking up at my window.”

Finishing hair and make-up, and wanting to look extra
special for their breakfast, Zara tries on one of three floral maxi dresses hanging
in the closet. The fit is perfect. She picks out an adorable pair of strappy
sandals that buckle halfway up her calf.

Ready and waiting, Zara picks up the laptop and sits down on
her bed, pushing herself back to the headboard. Moving her finger over the pad,
the computer comes to life, the image bringing a wide smile to Zara’s face.

It is a picture of her standing at the edge of the water
looking down the beach. Whoever took the picture had perfect timing since Zara didn’t
recall looking down the beach. The blues in the picture are a perfect match to
her wall color. Taking a closer look, Zara sees for the first time that the rug
under bed is the color of the sand on the beach, the white of the foam the
color of her pillow. Garrett has replicated the beach for her. Zara closes the
laptop and takes in the room with an entirely new appreciation.

Realizing the time, Zara places everything back in the
backpack and makes her bed, ensuring the room looks as it did when she entered
yesterday. Outside the building, Zara finds Garrett standing against the stair
rail looking down at his phone. Hearing the door snap shut, he looks up from
his phone. As he looks her up and down, Zara is happy she had taken the extra
time to look a bit nicer.

“You look amazing. I love this dress.”

“Good morning.” Zara responds softly.

“Really. I really love this dress. You should get a couple
more of these.” Zara smiles and nods.

Garrett gestures for Zara to walk on ahead of him. She
smiles as she feels his eyes skim her backside as thoroughly as he had her
front. Not seeing the Jeep, Zara pauses and looks back at Garrett.

“We are over here”, he points out as they make their way to
a large white sedan. Zara looks around and notes an increase in people in the area.
Students are walking on the sidewalks and standing in small clusters.

Garrett opens the passenger door and Zara slides onto the
soft leather seat. The driver’s side has so many controls and buttons that it
seems like a spaceship. Garrett opens his door and gracefully slides in. The
steering wheel lowers into position.

“We are going to get you checked in and get your student ID
and then head to breakfast.”

There is never a question with Garrett. Zara trusts that
Garrett knows the best thing to do and when. It is not that she has to ponder
the idea, it is what she is raised to believe. It would never sit well with her
parents if she were to tell him that was a stupid plan.

Pulling up to the Hannah Building, Garrett jumps out of the
car and feeds the meter. Walking to Zara’s side, he opens the door and offers
her his hand. Accepting the assistance, Zara climbs out of the car.

In silence, the two of them walk to the building’s entrance.
Inside, Garrett leads the way to the student services office. Zara is asked for
her license. She looks up at Garrett with a look of panic.

Garrett touches her arm to ease her fear. “Ma’am, this is Zara
Faith Evans. She does not have a driver’s license yet.”

Pulling out his wallet, Garrett pulls out a piece of paper
and hands it to the woman behind the counter. Reading it over, the woman shakes
her head and tells Zara to step on the ‘X’ on the floor and look above the
camera. Without any warning, Zara’s picture is taken.

Garrett waits at the counter then pulls her close as she
returns. Welcoming his warmth, she allows her body to fall into his, feeling
safer and more secure. The woman walks over and places Zara’s new student ID on
the counter. Garrett nods for her to pick it up. Smiling, Zara looks more
relaxed than she felt and the colors in the dress accentuate her sun-kissed
skin.

Holding the small laminated card, Zara feels as if she is
her own person for the very first time in her life. She never had a license. Her
father felt it was a decision for her Dom whether Zara should be able to drive
or not. Her whole identity as a child was wrapped up in her parents. After
them, her entire identity was to revolve around her Dom.

Zara is amazed that this little card has the power to make
her feel like a whole new person. Standing in the Administration Building on
the campus of Michigan State University, Zara belongs to no one. She has to
obey no one. For the first time in her life, she is going to call the shots for
herself and the man standing next to her made this possible. Garrett is as
important in this moment as the card Zara holds in her hand.

“What would the newest Michigan State SPARTAN like for
breakfast?”

He asks such an easy question, a question anyone would be
able to answer. Yet, as Zara stands next to the counter holding a card that
makes her feel like her own person, she is unable to answer. Garrett touches
her elbow to guide her from the counter.

“I don’t know if I can do this.” Zara blurts the words out
then slaps a hand over her mouth.

Pulling her hand from her mouth, Garrett leads her outside
to the car without acknowledging Zara’s confession. Secure in the passenger
seat, Zara sits in the seat with her hand resting in her lap. The card sits in
her lap under both of her hands.

Garrett turns to face Zara at the first red light; his
serious expression is unreadable. Zara glances at him then draws her eyes back
down to her lap. Garrett says nothing and Garrett resumes driving when the
light changes. Garrett sighs. Zara’s body tenses in fear of Garrett being
unhappy with her.

Garrett unclips his seatbelt but remains in his seat after
pulling into a parking spot.

Finally opening his door and stepping out, Garrett takes his
suit coat off and lays it across the backseat. Strolling around to Zara’s side,
he opens the door for her to climb out. Taking her ID and room key from her, he
places them in the center console.