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

Sir explained to Brie, “You are expected to eat every bite. If you do not, the family will consider it an insult.”

Brie stared at the plate piled high with food. There was no way she could finish it all. It felt as if she was being set up for failure with a capital F.

She heard Sir’s quiet chuckle. He bit the bullet for her, asking Isabella for a
‘piastra’
. Isabella looked at him oddly, but handed him a fresh plate. Sir took a little of everything from the bountiful meal. He slid his plate over to his grandfather, slid Brie’s plate in front of him and placed the new one beside Brie.

A hush fell over the table. Sir grinned and rubbed his stomach. “
Non Italiano
.”

The group laughed and began partaking of Isabella’s incredible feast. Sir winked at Brie and held up his fork, inviting her to eat.

Although what was sitting on her plate was far more than Brie would eat normally, it was manageable. “Thank you… Thane,” she said quietly as she picked up her fork and chose the same item he did.

When Brie tasted Isabella’s gnocchi, she closed her eyes and stifled her moan of pleasure. It was soft and light, almost melting in her mouth as she chewed. Her heart sank. There was no doubt about that Isabella was a damn fine cook. Why did the woman have to be beautiful, loyal
and
talented in the kitchen?

It was with joy and sadness Brie finished the entire plate. Everything on it, even the seafood items which she normally didn’t like, was simply prepared and delicious. To Brie, each bite had been an added nail in the coffin of her own inadequacy.

After much laughter and lively discussions in their enchanting native tongue, the group retired to a large room with plenty of seating and an expansive window overlooking the coast.

Sir directed Brie to a seat while Isabella separated herself from the family. When Isabella picked up a guitar, Brie’s heart sank.

Not this too…

Isabella took a few minutes tuning the guitar and then took a seat on a stool facing directly in front of Sir. She smiled shyly and announced, “I haven’t played for years now, but
Papà
insisted. I apologize in advance.”

Sir nodded, a silent encouragement Brie recognized. Her seeds of jealousy began to sprout into life. Sitting there next to Sir, Brie felt like she’d already lost him.

Isabella’s fingers danced over the strings, filling the room with a soulful melody. Although there were a few little mistakes, it did not detract from the beauty of her song.

Then Isabella sang.

Her voice was disarming, reminding Brie of the tale about sirens who lured seamen to their deaths with their beautiful voices. Although Brie could not understand the words, the emotion behind them was clear. Isabella was singing a love song to Sir.

First with the food, and now with the music, Isabella was making love to Sir through untraditional means. She was reminding him, as well as showing Brie, why Sir had fallen in love with her all those years ago.

It wasn’t just Sir Isabella was ensnaring with her many talents. Brie was equally captivated by the beautiful and talented woman. She knew if she were a man, she would want this woman for her own. A lone tear ran down Brie’s cheek at the revelation.

“Are you okay?” Sir whispered.

She wiped the tear away. “The song… it is just so beautiful, Sir.”

He looked at Isabella and smiled. “Yes. Yes, it is.”

In that moment, Brie’s fate was sealed.

She knew what she needed to do, but lost her courage that night. Instead, she lay beside Sir savoring the warmth of his love just a little longer.

It wasn’t until the next morning that she found the strength, sitting at the little espresso café Sir had taken her to. Brie took a deep breath, praying not to cry until it was over.

“What’s wrong, Brie?”

“Sir… Thane…”

He looked at her with concern. “This must be serious.”

She nodded.

“You have my attention.”

She looked away from him, unable to keep her composure while looking into his eyes. She stared out the window at a couple walking hand in hand. That wasn’t helping, so she averted her eyes and focused on a bird pecking at crumbs. “You seem happy here, Sir.”

“I am,” he answered cautiously.

“I have never seen you this way before. It’s… wonderful.”

“If that is true, why can’t you look at me?”

Brie’s bottom lip trembled when she spoke. “You belong here, Sir. This is your home. These are your people. You deserve the love and support found here.”

He shook his head in irritation. “You are not making yourself clear, Brie. Spit it out.”

She braved a look into his magnetic eyes and the tears began to fall. “You told me that condors mate for life. I believe that. However I think there is one instance that can split a pair apart besides death.” She let out a sob and had to stop for a second, swallowing hard to get rid of the lump that had formed in her throat. “I think a condor’s love is so strong it will let its mate go if she knows he will be happier with another.”

Sir stared at her and said nothing.

Brie closed her eyes and commanded herself to stop crying. She was sacrificing her heart, but she didn’t want to do it with tears. His silence let her know she had read the situation correctly.

“Brie.”

She opened her eyes, prepared to have her heart shattered for him.

He pushed his chair back and commanded, “Come here.”

She did so unwillingly, terrified he was going to have her bow before him to release her from her collar. To her relief, he directed her to his lap instead. She climbed onto it and laid her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. It was for that heart she was sacrificing herself.

“I did not understand until this moment how much I needed you to say that.”

Her heart broke into a million pieces… Brie held him closer, not wanting to let him go despite her decision to set him free.

Sir nestled his face in her long hair. “I would never have expected such a gift from you.”

She answered sadly, “I love you, Thane.”

His laughter was low and warm. “Yes, you do.”

“Your happiness is everything to me.”

“As a submissive, I am not surprised you feel that way.” He cupped her chin and gazed into her eyes. “But I will never let you go.”

“Sir?” Her heart hadn’t dared to hope.

“You are mine. There is no other.”

“Isabella?”

“Is a part of my past.”

“But, Sir, the woman is beautiful, talented and can even cook.”

“You are beautiful, talented, and you… are learning to cook,” he added with a kiss on her forehead.

Brie whispered, “But Sir, Isabella is an extraordinary woman.”

“I concur. However, she and I together do not equal
us
. I am not the boy she once knew, she cannot meet the needs I have now.” Sir cradled her cheek in his hand. “You are my soul’s complement. I love
you
.”

Brie started crying without any chance of controlling it.

“Would you give up on us so easily, Brie?”

She struggled to answer him through her tears. “No, Sir. I love you too much.”

Sir kissed her salty tears. “I believe this is the greatest gift I’ve ever been given, my happiness in exchange for your heart.” He lifted her chin and kissed her gently on the lips. “Silly girl, my happiness is you.”

Brie melted into his embrace, the relief of not losing him announcing itself in a painful sob. She buried her face in his chest.

“I am honored by the depth of your love, babygirl.” He put both arms around her and held her tight.

Brie felt an incredible rush, as if she had been reborn and given new life…

Captive

“T
here is a special place I want to take you, Brie,” Sir informed her as they walked down to the docks. He helped her onto a simple sail boat and introduced her to a man she’d met at Isabella’s dinner party a few nights before.

Sir explained, “Pietro was a friend of my father’s. We used to go sailing together when I was a child.”

The older gentleman took her hand and put it to his lips. “
Sei bellissima
.”

Brie blushed, knowing he’d said something about her being beautiful. “
Grazie
,” she replied shyly.

Pietro gave Sir a long and emotional hug. When he pulled away, there were tears in the older man’s eyes. It was obvious to Brie that seeing each other brought back treasured memories for both men.

Sir directed Brie to the front of the boat while they set about getting it ready to sail. She basked in the warmth of the sunshine, feeling like the Queen of Sheba when the boat began to pull out from the dock.

Brie secretly pretended this was her boat and they were her two manly servants. It was a naughty fantasy considering her place, but she threw her head back and drank in the power and delight the fantasy brought.

Eventually, Sir joined her. He looked incredibly sexy with the wind whipping through his dark hair, like he was meant to be on the ocean as a captain—or pirate.

He took in a deep breath of the sea air. “I love getting out on the water.”

“I do too, Sir. I love the smell and the feeling of freedom it inspires.” She looked out over the expanse of blue. “It spurs the adventurer in me.”

He pulled her up to stand beside him, holding her close. “It appeals to a part of my soul that lies dormant until I’m on the water again.”

She enjoyed the wind playing with her hair. It was a moment she wished she could capture and bottle, to be savored often in the years ahead.

“You see that little island?” he asked, pointing over her shoulder at a speck on the horizon. “That is our destination. My father used to take me there as a boy.”

She snuck her hand around his waist and snuggled against Sir, grateful that he was including her in retracing a part of his past.

“It’s been more than eighteen years since I’ve been,” he said pensively, as if he was shocked by the passage of time.

Sir told Brie to undress down to her bathing suit while he helped Pietro lower the sails as they approached the tiny island. Brie heard a satisfying splash when the sailor dropped the anchor over the edge of the boat.

The two men talked for several minutes before Sir rejoined her. “He’ll come back in four hours. That should leave us plenty of time to play.”

Play?
Maybe this was more than a walk down memory lane.

Without any warning, Sir picked her up and threw her into the water. Brie yelped as she fell and the cold sea water enveloped her. She popped her head back up and took in a deep breath only to hear Sir say, “You better start swimming towards the shore, princess. I am about to capture you.”

He started peeling off his shirt, looking at her lustfully.

The thrill of the chase infused her with giddy determination. Brie started swimming for all she was worth, heading towards a small alcove on the island. Even though she was smaller than Sir, she was a good swimmer and thought she could make it before he caught up.

She heard a splash. Sir was coming for her…

Brie kept her eye on her destination. He would not apprehend her easily if she could help it. Brie tried not to think about his long powerful strokes as she swam until she felt hands grabbing at her legs. She screamed and was rewarded with a mouthful of salt water.