“I swear to you that I will remain yours until you make the decision not to be mine. That does not mean that I expect you to live as a sub, but I would hope that if you meet someone that you wish to explore in an intimate way that you will talk to me.”
Sitting back in his chair, Garrett stares at the Z that now hangs around Zara’s throat. Her hand went to her neck like it had so many times during their brief stay together. This time her fingers found the necklace and wrapped around the charms.
“Thank you, Sir. Thank you for setting me free to seek who I am and what I want. Thank you for telling me why you ended the Ceremony.”
“Zara, you should call me Garrett. When you call me Sir… I plan to be your Dom. Your one and only. Does that make sense?”
Zara nods silently to Garrett. Piano music fills the space between them, taking a hold of the moment.
Garret picks up both plates of cold pizza and places them on the counter. Opening the oven and sliding on oven mitts, he pulls out the other half of the pizza. A trivet from the drawer is placed on the table and the pizza pan placed between them.
“Let’s eat. It’s late and I’d like to take you to my favorite place tomorrow. If you are comfortable with that, Trudy won’t be there. It will just be the two of us.”
Zara is beginning to recognize the subtleties of expressions on Garrett’s face. He is nervous about what her response will be. This smile is a mask for his uncertainty.
“I would very much like to see your favorite place. I feel perfectly safe with you. I thought we were alone here.”
Garrett’s full smile replaces the last before Zara finishes speaking. “Trudy has been here the entire time. She is available to you night and day if you would like to speak with her.
“Oh… your phone! That’s your new phone.” Garrett points to the black box with the picture on the cover. Zara picks up the box and hands it to him.
Garrett retrieves the iPhone out of the box and powers it up in seconds. Pointing to the warm pizza between them, he watches Zara take a new piece. Garrett picks up a piece and inhales a huge bite.
“HOT… HOT… so HOT!!!” He holds his mouth open to draw in cooler air.
Zara struggles to maintain her expression. Inside her thoughts are jumbled, one thought pushing its way to the forefront. She could not help thinking how adorable Garrett looks eating too-hot pizza in his lounge pants. And the bare feet…
Cutting each piece and blowing on it before putting it in her mouth, Zara feels her body begin to relax. It was so easy to be comfortable with him.
“Can we discuss why you were so upset on the beach today and again upstairs?”
She stops chewing the bit of pizza that is in her mouth and swallows hard. The relaxation that has settled in her shoulders evaporates with one question. Zara picks up her glass of Arnold Palmer and takes a long drink.
Zara nods.
“Hey… hey. Relax. We don’t have to talk about anything that makes you uncomfortable. Allow me to say this one thing, your phone is charged. Sloane’s mobile is already programmed.”
Zara’s head snaps up, the change in her facial expression unmasked this time. She is still going to be able to speak to her best friend.
Zara had not given much thought about whether communicating with her best friend from her old life would be permitted. In the last twenty-four hours, there had been very little time to process any of the monumental changes.
Garrett didn’t mention her family’s numbers being programmed into the phone. Zara schooled her expression and shifted her focus onto the phone. Looking at Garrett, she knows he perceived where her thoughts had drifted.
“I haven’t loaded any music yet because I don’t know what your favorite bands are. I have a lot of music on my computer and I’m almost positive I’ll have something to get you started. You can load it up when you have some free time at school.”
Zara’s blank stare gets a confused stare in return.
“I do not have a favorite band. I do not know much about music. We did not grow up with music in our house.” With a wave of her hand towards the speaker she continues, “This is nice. I like this a lot.”
Garrett finishes his piece of pizza and drinks more of the Arnold Palmer. Zara feels like she has said something wrong and suddenly has no more appetite.
“Aren’t you going to eat anymore?”
“I am finished. Thank you.”
Popping the last bites into his mouth, Garrett stands and picks up the pizza pan. Zara jumps up and carries the mugs to the sink. While Garrett puts the cans into the pantry, Zara clears the remaining dishes off the table.
Leaning against the counter, Garrett listens to the music. “As an only child, life can get lonely. My parents gave music to me early. There is always music playing in the house, car, office… everywhere. I love music. I wanted to be a pianist for a while as a kid.
“I probably liked saying pianist more than anything,” he chuckled to himself. “My piano teacher sat my parents down and explained as gently as possible that I was not talented enough to play the piano professionally. They never knew I was listening in the hallway.
“They never told me what he said and there was a new piano teacher when it was time for my next lesson.” His words trail off and it seems Garrett is reliving the experience in his head.
“It’s late. You look like you are going to tip over. Come on, off to bed with you.” He says changing the subject.
“I will just wash these few dishes first.”
“You will do no such thing.” Zara jumps at the voice behind her. She hadn’t heard Trudy’s entrance. Putting the phone back into its box, Trudy hands the box to Garrett. “JG, take Zara to bed immediately.”
“Gram has spoken. Goodnight and thank you,” he whispers the last part as he bends down to kiss the older woman on the cheek.
Gesturing for Zara to lead the way out of the kitchen, Garrett follows a step behind. This is completely new for Zara and she pauses to move out of the way twice in the distance between the kitchen and her bedroom door.
“Here, let me show you how to make a call before you go to bed.” Garrett stands at the doorway of Zara’s room but does not step inside. It only takes a quick lesson for Zara to call his phone using the preprogrammed number.
“Goodnight, Zara. I’ll see you in the morning.” With that, Garrett turns around and walks back down the hallway. Zara stands in the threshold of her bedroom, holding her new phone and its box.
Despite a long day filled with new information and gifts, one thought lingers in Zara’s mind.
Why is he not touching me anymore?
She steps further into her bedroom and closes the door, then walks to the militarily-made bed and sits down.
Pulling the phone out of its box, she texts Sloane.
Hello. I wanted to let you know I am okay. I have a lot to talk to you about. Please do not worry. I will call you on Thursday. PS My hair ties are here. Oh, this is Zara.
The ding and then vibrate alert to an incoming text, makes Zara smile.
I’m really glad you’re here. Sweet dreams.
A second ding and vibration announces a second text.
I have been worried. You better call me. PS HOW?
Zara puts the phone on the nightstand next to its box. So much has happened since leaving the Circle. The presence of her hair ties and all of her favorite stuff has not been explored. And they aren’t the last thoughts on Zara’s mind as she slips into sleep.
He is glad I am here.
Chapter 6
Upon waking, Zara makes her way to the kitchen to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of music playing. It is not the soft piano of yesterday, but something light and airy with a woman soulfully singing.
Zara pauses hearing Garrett’s voice mingled with another voice, foreign to her. Uncertain, she waits to enter the kitchen. Garrett catches a glimpse of her and makes his way to her side. He has an unfamiliar smile as he stands in front of her. With a
start, Zara realizes she is disappointed she is not alone with Garrett this morning. His not touching her comes as a surprise so she schools her features the way she has been taught. Zara smiles up at Garrett.
“Good morning. You look amazing.” Feeling uncertain about responding her hand goes to her neck, her fingers sliding down to the end of the chain to grasp the pendants.
“Good morning and thank you. I can come back later if I am interrupting.”
“What? Never. You could never interrupt. You remember my mother. My parents arrived very early this morning. Come. I want you to meet her.”
Garrett reaches for her hand then withdraws abruptly. Zara’s heart sinks.
Why? Why does he stop?
She searches his eyes for answers, but finds only a practiced smile and an empty stare.
“Lead the way.”
Garrett steps aside and follows close behind as Zara makes her way into the kitchen. At the table sits a woman with manicured blonde shoulder length hair flashing the same brilliant smile as Garrett’s. She stands and meets Zara with a bear hug.
“I am so glad that you are here with us, Zara,” she says with quiet sincerity. “As is my son, who has been looking forward to meeting you for a while.”
“Mother!”
Zara laughs in delight at Garrett’s childish tantrum. She begins to take a chair between them, and then remains standing as an afterthought.
“I’ll get the coffee,” Garrett says motioning for her to take a seat.
Zara’s attention returns to Garrett’s mother when she asks, “How do you like Michigan so far?”
“I like it very much, thank you. Your home is lovely. Thank you for allowing me to stay.”
“Nonsense. This is your home now. The Ceremony may not have been completed, but you decided to come here with Garrett. That makes you family.”
As Garrett places large cups of creamy coffee before her and his mother, tears once more pool in her eyes at the disappointment. She has let them down by not going through with the Ceremony. Eyes down, Zara concentrates on the music playing.
“Zara, would you be interested in going for a drive?” Garrett asks.
She nods slightly.
“I’ll be right back.”
Zara drinks a little more of her coffee listening to him retreat behind her. Alone with Garrett’s mother, she has no idea what to say or what protocol to follow.
Breathe. There is nothing that can be done. Eyes down. Breathe, Zar.
“Zara Faith, please don’t feel embarrassed for one second. You did a very brave thing choosing the path you know nothing about.”
Zara looks into her eyes shocked to discover a hint of tears that mirror her own. Garrett’s mother reaches out and warmly takes her hand. The contact is more than she had received from her own mother in many years, adding to the inundation of feelings Zara is experiencing.
“Sweets, you are not the first one to decide not to complete their Circle Ceremony. In fact you now know three women that have done it and all have survived. Although one has not survived as well as the other two.”
Zara is unable to suppress her look of surprise.
“That’s right. I refused to go through with the Ceremony until I met my Sir. Trudy stopped the planning of her Ceremony.” She held up her fingers as she went through the list. “And your mother is the third.”
The silence is deafening. Both women stare at one another for several minutes. Zara searches for more answers in the eyes staring back at hers.
“Zara, breathe dear. You are going to pass out.”
“I don’t understand. My mother?”
“Zara Faith, that’s not my story to tell and I’m sorry that your mother hasn’t shared her story with you yet. I will, however, share mine with you though I don’t think now is a good time. Just know everyone here has a great deal of respect for the courage it took to walk out of the Circle without a collar.”
Zara’s fingers fly up to her neck as if to verify a collar had not been placed there without her knowledge.
Reaching for Zara’s hand, Garrett’s mother cradles it in both of hers, “It will be alright, Zara Faith. The unknown doesn’t mean it’s wrong or forever.”
“Thank you.” The concern gives Zara a sense of closeness she had not felt with her own mother in years. Before Zara can ask Garrett’s mother more, a frown passes over her face.
“Sweets. I can hear you thinking all the way over here. Please let go of the information I have shared with you about your mother. In time she will open up and tell you her story. That is my hope, anyway. There is no point in allowing it to run rampant through your thoughts.”
Blushing, Zara looks down at the coffee remaining in the cup. She slowly brings the cup to her lips and takes a long sip. Even at a lukewarm temperature, Garrett’s coffee is the best Zara has ever tasted, including her many trips to Starbucks with Sloane.
Knowing her thoughts of Garrett have betrayed her, Zara’s blush deepens.
“Well, Zara Faith, it is not your mother turning your cheeks pink. It must be my very handsome son. Isn’t this an interesting turn of events,” she declares. “What is your most pressing question? I know you are bouncing several around and are not sure if you should ask. Here in this house, you should always ask.”
“He stopped touching me,” Zara coughs in surprise at the bluntness of her question, rushes on to explain but falters in the end. “From the moment we were in the Circle until last night, he touched me. He would hold my hand or lay his hand on my back. Now he has stopped– not even brushing up against me. I don’t understand. Forgive me, please. This is not a subject I should be having with his mother.”
“Let’s start with you calling me Charlotte. I’m actually the perfect person for you to talk to about this since I, too, am a submissive. Trudy is also a resource for you. Anytime. Let me ask you a question. At any point between the time you were in the Circle and now, did you pull away from Garrett or ask not to be touched?”
“Last night I requested to get off his lap. I was upset and he wanted to talk about it but I needed space to discuss what was wrong. I only needed it for that conversation.” In a voice barely above a whisper, Zara realizes she has discovered the reason for his retreat. “I did not know it would stop all the closeness.”
“Ahhh…” Charlotte nods. “When a Dom is not in a collared relationship with a submissive, there are certain protocols that must be adhered to at all times. Garrett is very attracted to you and has been for quite some time. I see you’re surprised to hear this. He knows you much better than you are aware.
“When you asked Garrett to release you from his hold, you set a boundary that he will not cross. You may have intended it for just that conversation, but to him, you requested space between the two of you. Until you remove that boundary, Garrett will fight with every fiber in his body to respect that. Never mistake his respect as disinterest.”
Male voices can be heard coming closer and Charlotte, reading the concern on Zara’s face, rushes to say, “Zara Faith, the only way to change the boundary that he perceives that you want is to talk to him about it.”
Charlotte’s last sentence dances around in Zara’s mind as Garrett and an older version of him walk into the room. They are smiling and it is obvious they have just finished a conversation meant only for them.
“Dad, this is Zara. Zara, this is my dad, John Warren.” It is impossible to miss the joy Garrett feels making the introduction. Charlotte and Zara stand as he approaches them, his face lit with a huge smile. He stops briefly behind Charlotte to caress her shoulders, then moves toward Zara.
“Zara Faith, it is a pleasure to meet you. Please call me Warren. Before we go any further, I would like to let you know that in this house I have only one sub and that is Charlotte. Since you are collared by no one, you are here as part of our family. I would ask that you conduct yourself as freely as you possibly can. Now give me a hug.”
Unsure she has just heard everything correctly, Za
ra slowly takes a step forward, then suddenly finds herself engulfed with her first hug by a man other than her little brother in as long as she can remember.
“Okay… okay… okay. Dad, let Zara go.” Warren releases her and walks over to Garrett and enfolds him with the same embrace.
So… this is the difference between a dad and a father. A dad would have been nice.
“I have to run. I love you, son. Be careful to remember that while Zara is with you, she is your complete responsibility in every way. Have fun today.”
“Will you still be here when we get back?” Garrett asks his dad after extracting himself.
“I don’t think so, but Trudy will remain here until you head back to the city. Call if you need anything. Zara, it has been a pleasure to meet you. We will make more time to talk next time. Charlotte, I will be in my office.”
With that, Warren turns and walks out, returning the same way he came. Charlotte stands and gives Zara a quick hug, then embraces Garrett for a few beats longer.
“I love you, Son. Please take care of our Zara Faith.” Grabbing her cup of coffee off the table, Charlotte gives a last wink and follows after her Dom.
Mulling over how the interaction in this family is nothing like her own, Zara startles at Garrett’s voice just behind her. “Do you have your phone?”
Zara nods and then follows Garrett out into the sunshine. Zara closes her eyes and turns her face up to the sun, reveling in the warmth of the morning. She is spending some time alone with Garrett.
They walk to the open top Jeep. Garrett mistakes the source of her smile and chuckles, “So you like Jeeps then.”
Closing the door behind her, he reaches in to hand her a hair tie from his pocket. She pulls her hair into a messy bun. Uncertain about so many things in her life, Zara is certain the distance between she and Garrett will be gone by the end of the day.
Garrett climbs in, turns the ignition and cranks the stereo so loud Zara cannot hear herself think.
Perfect.
Zara finds a peaceful confidence in the rhythmic pulse and the woman’s conviction, appreciating the power in her voice as she takes hold of the song. The song ends way too soon and Zara considers begging Garrett to replay it.
Before Him Comes Me Page 6
