business card. "If you need anything, at any time, call me. No strings attached. Call Celia at the Wicked Whip. She'll vouch for me." He set the card on the bar, sliding it over to her side. Then he gave a brief nod, and went to the other end of the bar to wait on lumpy-pool-guy.
Brianna hesitated, then slipped the card in her purse. She didn't look back as she walked across the bar and let herself out into the darkness. How did James know Celia, she wondered. Had Celia told him about her?
The half-moon hung sideways, it's glow dimmed somewhat by the yellow streetlights as she walked. The small apartment she'd rented was just around the corner, in a nondescript neighborhood, and the key should be under a flower pot in the back yard. It had been difficult arranging everything, but Andrew had grown complacent in the past month or so, and Celia had helped. After tonight, Andrew wouldn't be welcome at the Whip anymore...or at most of the other clubs in town. He wasn't going to be happy.
She'd considered pressing charges, and Celia, also a practicing attorney, had offered to represent her, but she'd explained that a case like Brianna's was incredibly hard to win. All because consent was given in the beginning, and that's all a jury would remember. Well, that, and what they considered deviant behavior. Celia had advised her to get a new Master who would offer protection, but Brianna didn't want to 'belong' to anyone anymore. How could she trust another man after what Andrew had done?
Turning onto the right street, she got the new cell phone Celia had given her out to check the address. It would be the first night she'd spent on her own in six months, and she nearly cried when she thought of climbing into a soft bed with covers instead of laying down on scratchy straw with a threadbare blanket. There would be a shower too, and a refrigerator stocked with her favorite foods.
Heaven was a cheap, one-bedroom apartment, she thought with a smile.
She felt only a slight whisper behind her before a strong arm curled around her throat, and a hand clamped down hard over her mouth.
* * *
"Let her go. Now."
James curled his fingers into fists, barely restraining himself as he waited for Andrew to let Brianna go. Hopefully the other man would do the smart thing and leave without making a scene. But James was ready and willing to indulge him, if he needed more physical orders.
Andrew's arms lowered slowly, but he grabbed Brianna's wrist as she tried to move out of his reach.
"She belongs to me," he said, practically growling the words. "She gave consent. I own her."
James shook his head, reaching down to squeeze the smaller man's wrist until he released Brianna with a yelp.
"You know that's not how it works around here. From what I heard, she revoked her consent tonight. Our community doesn't condone slavery."
Andrew laughed, an ugly, sinister sound. "You and I both know what goes on behind closed doors. Don't ask, don't tell, right? I'm not giving her up. I'll go somewhere else if I have to, but she's coming with me."
James felt Brianna's hands on his back as she hid behind him. Now he knew why Celia had asked him to give his protection. Something would have to be done about Andrew. He was out of control.
"She's under my protection now," James said, aware that he needed to get Brianna out of there now, and somewhere safer than the apartment Celia had set up. "You touch her, and I'll kill you. That's a promise."
He reached back and held his hand out, knowing Brianna wanted to run from them both, but hoping her submissive instincts to accept the protection he offered would win. After a moment of hesitation, her cold palm slid against his, and he pulled her around and tucked her in close to his body.
Andrew sneered, fumbling to light a cigarette that he waved at Brianna. The way she cringed and tried to get closer told James all he needed to know. As if he needed more proof.
"I'll be back for you, Bri. Don't get too comfortable
Brianna hesitated, then slipped the card in her purse. She didn't look back as she walked across the bar and let herself out into the darkness. How did James know Celia, she wondered. Had Celia told him about her?
The half-moon hung sideways, it's glow dimmed somewhat by the yellow streetlights as she walked. The small apartment she'd rented was just around the corner, in a nondescript neighborhood, and the key should be under a flower pot in the back yard. It had been difficult arranging everything, but Andrew had grown complacent in the past month or so, and Celia had helped. After tonight, Andrew wouldn't be welcome at the Whip anymore...or at most of the other clubs in town. He wasn't going to be happy.
She'd considered pressing charges, and Celia, also a practicing attorney, had offered to represent her, but she'd explained that a case like Brianna's was incredibly hard to win. All because consent was given in the beginning, and that's all a jury would remember. Well, that, and what they considered deviant behavior. Celia had advised her to get a new Master who would offer protection, but Brianna didn't want to 'belong' to anyone anymore. How could she trust another man after what Andrew had done?
Turning onto the right street, she got the new cell phone Celia had given her out to check the address. It would be the first night she'd spent on her own in six months, and she nearly cried when she thought of climbing into a soft bed with covers instead of laying down on scratchy straw with a threadbare blanket. There would be a shower too, and a refrigerator stocked with her favorite foods.
Heaven was a cheap, one-bedroom apartment, she thought with a smile.
She felt only a slight whisper behind her before a strong arm curled around her throat, and a hand clamped down hard over her mouth.
* * *
"Let her go. Now."
James curled his fingers into fists, barely restraining himself as he waited for Andrew to let Brianna go. Hopefully the other man would do the smart thing and leave without making a scene. But James was ready and willing to indulge him, if he needed more physical orders.
Andrew's arms lowered slowly, but he grabbed Brianna's wrist as she tried to move out of his reach.
"She belongs to me," he said, practically growling the words. "She gave consent. I own her."
James shook his head, reaching down to squeeze the smaller man's wrist until he released Brianna with a yelp.
"You know that's not how it works around here. From what I heard, she revoked her consent tonight. Our community doesn't condone slavery."
Andrew laughed, an ugly, sinister sound. "You and I both know what goes on behind closed doors. Don't ask, don't tell, right? I'm not giving her up. I'll go somewhere else if I have to, but she's coming with me."
James felt Brianna's hands on his back as she hid behind him. Now he knew why Celia had asked him to give his protection. Something would have to be done about Andrew. He was out of control.
"She's under my protection now," James said, aware that he needed to get Brianna out of there now, and somewhere safer than the apartment Celia had set up. "You touch her, and I'll kill you. That's a promise."
He reached back and held his hand out, knowing Brianna wanted to run from them both, but hoping her submissive instincts to accept the protection he offered would win. After a moment of hesitation, her cold palm slid against his, and he pulled her around and tucked her in close to his body.
Andrew sneered, fumbling to light a cigarette that he waved at Brianna. The way she cringed and tried to get closer told James all he needed to know. As if he needed more proof.
"I'll be back for you, Bri. Don't get too comfortable
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