Liliana shakes her head, “Nah, no worries. I took one look at Zara and I knew we needed to jump. What upset you?”
Knowing there was no stepping around this one, Zara mournfully replies. “He just sat there and told me to have fun at a party with a different guy. I thought it meant that he had no feelings for me. I just…”
“How many boyfriends have you had, Zara?” Zara rolled her eyes miserably and Ella persisted, “Okay, how much do you like Garrett? Scale of one to ten?”
“Twenty-six,” Zara whispers keeping her eyes lowered. Her friends wrapped their arms around her from each side as they walk back to the dorm.
“Only one thing to do,” Ella smiles. “We are going to a party.”
Ella and Liliana wait behind Zara for her to unlock the door. Ella pushes by and marches to the bathroom. Liliana moves the bead curtain to the side and starts searching through the clothes. Once Ella finishes, she joins Liliana to discuss the options for tonight.
They pull out and hold up one item after another. Once they get to the shoes, the tone suddenly changes. Ella pulls out a pair of six-inch black pumps with red soles. “DO YOU KNOW WHAT THESE ARE??”
Relaxing on her bed while the pair ransacks her closet, Zara nods. “Zara Faith, what are these then? And can you walk in them?”
“Heels? Yes, I am able to walk in heels,” she responds feeling less confident than before, less certain that she has the correct answer.
“These are NOT heels, as you so casually called them. These lovely never-worn-before pieces of art are Christian Louboutin, specifically Louboutin So Kate. They’re the most delicate of the pumps and guaranteed to make any legs irresistible. These? These are your secret weapon. We are going to take one more look at the lovelies and then put them back in their home.”
“Should I wear them tonight?”
“NO!” Ella and Liliana exclaim in unison.
“Those are the weapon you use when you go in for the kill. Tonight is just the beginning of the hunt. Tonight you go with an ‘I didn’t put in much effort but I look incredible’ outfit. These do NOT come out of the box until you are ready to hear the words. Are we clear?” Ella looks as if she is teaching a class and Zara is her prized student.
With a heavy sigh, Ella glides her hand gently over the two pieces of art, closes the box and slides it back into its designated spot in the closet.
“Here we go!” Liliana states in a resigned manner. She carries two hangers with clothes on them over to the other end of the bed and sits down expectantly as if there is going to be a show.
“El?” Liliana holds up a bright multi colored skirt and a white off the shoulder top.
“Perfect!” Ella does her happy dance. Zara giggles at the two of them. Watching them, Zara has an overwhelming feeling of being blessed.
“Thank you. You know, for everything,” Zara’s voice quivers as she speaks but Ella cuts her off immediately.
“Stop right there. Don’t thank us yet. You have just enrolled into the Lil-El boy boot camp. You better wait to thank us because there may be some aspects that you regret. Now, we have a party to get to.”
The choice of flats is a good one. The six-inch pieces of art would have been lovely, but the walk to the Theta House in them would have been difficult. Reaching the frat house, Zara pauses to let Ella and Liliana walk in before her. She is surprised to see they just walk in without knocking or ringing the doorbell.
Once inside, the reason is clear. There are people everywhere. Hard thumping music accompanies three guys who walk up to Ella. One picks her up to swing her around. Another guy says hello to Liliana who tilts her head in return.
“What are you guys doing here? I didn’t know you were coming tonight,” the guy who said hello to Liliana asks Ella.
Ella points at Zara and waves her to come closer. “Our freshman was invited by Dan and there was zero chance we were going to let her come to this house alone.”
Wrapping her arm around Zara and giving her a half hug, Ella looks around the house. “Not much changes around here, huh.”
“El, a lot has changed, and that happened in his apartment not in this house. We DO focus education and we hold mandatory classes to talk about it. We are all sorry. It is so good to see you back here. I think Dan is in the meeting room. Make yourself at home. Your freshman is safe here, El. You have our word.”
He is looking at Zara when he speaks but is talking to Ella. She just stands there holding onto Zara. Liliana walks in between Ella and Zara and the guys. “If you are too uncomfortable, we are out. No pressure. We will leave when you’re ready.”
Ella nods, a smile plastered on her face. “Zara, I would like you to meet AJ, Marcus and Russ. They are the head guys at Theta House. Two rules when you are in this house. You do not ever go upstairs during one of their parties. I mean it… ever.”
She waits for Zara to nod her assent. “Second, get your own drink. Do not accept one from anyone. If you have to put your drink down, then consider it done. Never pick it up and drink it again. If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, look for Lil or me. If you can’t see us, then find one of these three guys. They will get you back to me unharmed. Do you understand?”
Ella turns to the men with a serious expression, “If anything happens to my freshman in this house, all three of you will pay dearly. Am I understood?”
“This is a party. Now that we have been served our orders, can we get to the partying part? Let’s go get cocktails,” Marcus says as he lifts Ella off her feet and carries her deeper into the house. Liliana and Zara follow while the other two guys bring up the back.
Zara feels completely out of place. The only parties she had ever attended had been collaring ceremonies. The Community had other parties but her parents felt that her position as the daughter of a King Council member negated attendance.
She and Sloane would organize their own private parties, gathering food and making non-alcoholic drinks for themselves. A few times they dressed up with makeup and up-dos, and even wore heels, even though they were just chilling out together. Recalling their fun, Zara wonders if Sloane would enjoy this party, but before her thoughts travel too far down that path, she forces them away. There is no time for that tonight.
Squaring her shoulders, Zara readies herself for her first college party. Walking past the stairwell that she had been forbidden to use and down a hall, the hall opens to a huge room full of more people. The music is different. It is harder.
Ella and Liliana are mobbed as soon as the one of the guys announces “LOOK WHO’S IN THE HOUSE!”
Zara take a step back with each person that comes to greet her protectors. Before long, she is several feet away from the only two people that she knows and her level of comfort begins to decrease.
The heavy beat shakes the walls and a small circle of people shout along with the words while jumping up and down. Turning to walk back, Zara feels fingers wrap around her upper arm. She pulls away while turning to see who is touching her. Dan is smiling down at her.
“Come on,” he says, drawing her deeper into the crowd of moving bodies.
Dan has blocked her view, leaving her unable to look around for Ella and Liliana. Zara looks at his hand grasping her arm.
Uneasy with being touched this way, Zara looks up into his eyes trying to judge his intent. Dan takes a long drink out of a red Solo cup. When he is done, he lowers the cup to Zara and offers her a sip. Shaking her head, she tries to say she would like her own cup but the loud music muffles her voice.
Zara resists the motion of Dan moving in closer to her and pressing against her body. He lowers his mouth to her ear in an attempt to kiss her. Zara backs away from him, but the crush of bodies and his arm around her stop her from breaking free. Laughing at her discomfort, Dan puts the cup to Zara’s mouth again.
Zara freezes when the lights go off and the crowd in the room begins to cheer. Glow rings are lofted above the crowd, but for the most part, it is pitch black in the room filled with undul
ating bodies.
Tossing his cup into the crowd, Dan pulls Zara to him, tightly encircling her in his arms and pressing his hips into hers. She puts her hands on his chest and begins to push away, her heart pounding so hard she thought she could feel it through to her fingertips. His hands slide down her back to her ass and he squeezes her hard.
Unsure what else to do, Zara cries out for help, but her voice is lost to the roar of dancing bodies and loud music. Zara continues to struggle as Dan leans into her ear and shouts he is glad she came because he really likes her.
He runs his tongue down her neck and up to her ear where he gives it a tug. In sheer panic, Zara slaps him crossed the face, and then suddenly feels herself being ripped away from him. She is pulled from the mass of moving bodies into the dimly lit hallway.
Moving blindly, tears streaming down her cheeks, Zara realizes she has someone on either side of her. At the door, Zara begins to register Ella’s screaming and Liliana pushing one of the guys that led her out.
“He’s been drinking. He was excited that she came. He really likes her. He didn’t mean to scare her,” AJ says in a calming voice. “El, it is not the same situation as what happened to you. Come on. She is fine.”
Liliana wraps Zara into her arms.
Ella continues to scream at the top of her lungs, “Nothing’s changed in this place! Are you fucking kidding me… we were here for less than 15 minutes! I’m calling the cops!”
Liliana grabs Zara’s face in both of her hands. Blocking out every other noise, smell and light, Zara focuses on her eyes and her words, “Did he hurt you?”
Zara shakes her head violently, but knows the tears escaping down her cheek are suggesting a different story.
“Zara, give me your phone.”
Reaching inside her handbag with a shaking hand Zara pulls out her phone and hands it over to Liliana.
Watching her tap away on it, Zara shutters, “He wanted me to drink out of his cup. Ella said no drinking. I tried to tell him I wanted my own cup.”
Liliana slips the phone back into Zara’s bag and grabs her into a tight hug and is surprised by the voice so close behind her. “Zara, you are always going to be safe with Ella and me. We will never allow anything bad to happen.”
“Lil… get her out of here.”
Several people were standing around them now curious what was going on and asking if everything was okay when Zara hears Dan call her name. Her eyes grow to the size of saucers and her shaking becomes visibly noticeable. Before she can reply, Ella whips around on her heels and starts yelling.
“Say one more motherfucking word to my girl EVER and I will bring your entire world to an end… are you understanding me? You little piece of shit. ONE SINGLE MOTHERFUCKING WORD! AJ… Marcus, one word and this house is GONE.”
Zara is lead out of the house by Liliana and Ella as they walk back to Yakeley, but she does not say a word. As they approach the spot that Garrett had parked in a week ago, Zara breaks down crying and the girls silently embrace her in a hug allowing her tears to fly.
Chapter 18
“Zara Faith.”
The sound of his voice makes every fiber in Zara’s body come alive. Pushing past Liliana and Ella, Zara is met by Garrett running up the sidewalk toward her. Zara takes off running toward Garrett, stopping as she draws near and resuming her natural position of looking down.
“Little One, tell me you are okay. I need to hear you say it.”
Without words, Zara slowly lifts her eyes to look deep into Garrett’s. She raises her arms and he pulls her into his chest. Her arms wrap tightly around his neck and she whispers hoarsely into his ear, “I was just scared. He didn’t hurt me. I promise. Ella and Liliana were there and they brought me home.”
Garrett squeezes her tighter before letting go. Zara tries to step back but he pulls her under his arm. “No, Little One you stay close to me tonight. Please.”
Zara wraps her arm around him removing any space between them. Zara finds Branden standing off to the side talking quietly to Ella and Liliana. Garrett guides Zara to where they are gathered and catches Branden mouthing something to Garrett.
Garrett turns them around and walks toward his car. Opening the passenger door, Garrett puts Zara into the car and shuts the door. He jogs around the car and slides into the seat next to her while she leans back into the supple leather. As Garrett drives Zara away from campus, she takes a deep cleansing breath and feels the unpleasantness of the last hour roll off her as she exhales. Closing her eyes, she finds herself sinking into the music on the stereo and the warmth of being close to Garrett.
Music begins to play and she allows it to fill her mind with both its melody and captivating lyrics.
You’ve felt this way for far too long
Waiting for a change to come
You know you’re not the only one
“I like this song. I can feel it deep inside.” Zara opens her eyes wide and lifts her head, astonished at her sudden openness.
“This is Kodaline. I love this song. Wait… listen to this one.”
The new song has a haunting undertone but an uplifting beat on the top. Zara allows the music to fill all the spaces of her mind. No talking, only the sounds of Kodaline singing ‘The One’ can be heard in the car.
Zara looks out the window watching the city pass by without any narrative from Garrett. When the song comes to an end, he asks if she would like to listen to it again.
“Please.”
The car glides down the street as the song repeats. Turning down a heavily wooded street, Garrett turns into a hidden driveway and comes to a stop in front of a glass building that is all but lost in the darkness. It would be overlooked by anyone who did not know it was here.
Opening her door, Zara takes Garrett’s extended hand and steps from the car and walks to the house. The skin on skin contact causes the surroundings to blur and fade away. The disappointment that hits when Garrett releases her hand causes a shock to her system.
Eyes cast down, Zara is lost in the brief moment of contact she was awarded only moments ago. Garrett turns to her at the door of the house and asks if she heard him. Confused, Zara looks up into his waiting eyes. Illuminated by the porch light, she is mesmerized by their slate hue.
They stand staring at each other until Garrett breaks eye contact, looks at the door before them and reaches for the handle. Opening the door, Garrett moves aside to allow Zara to enter.
Zara stands in the doorway of a modern, elegant showplace. Free of any clutter, the living space resembles an art gallery with soft lighting placed strategically to accentuate the artwork. Windows on either side of the long room would brighten the dark wood during the day but, tonight, it gave the space a warm feeling.
Zara welcomes the feeling of Garrett’s arm slipping around her waist. “Welcome to my home. I have been wanting to show you the house since we arrived in Michigan. Are you up for a tour or would you prefer to put it off until tomorrow?”
Zara’s stomach flips at the implication of what Garrett has just asked. “Tomorrow, please.”
Zara feels him squeeze her hand. They pass through the living room and down a hall, past rooms with closed doors to a den lit with soft lighting near the top of the walls. A leather sectional compliments a large television on the wall while a comfortable desk sits next to a window.
Garrett releases Zara’s hand as she moves to take a closer look at the items in the room. She walks over to examine a sideboard on the opposite side of the room and gently runs her hand along the grain. She bends to take a closer look at the clean lines then stands up and takes a step back to admire the entire table. She senses Garrett as he walks up behind her and taps the surface.
“This is the first piece of furniture that my parents purchased as a married couple.”
Zara turns to look at him, a question formed on her lips, but suppressed. Garrett quirks an eyebrow at her as he pulls his phone from his pocket and hits a button. A gentle piano refrain floats softly
though the room.
“You have a question. Please ask.”
Confused, she reverts to her training and casts her eyes dart downward. She is in the home of a Dom – the Dom chosen to collar her. With sudden dawning, Zara realizes she had been seeing his space not as his submissive or his wife, but as her true self and the lack of clarity of their relationship rushes up to her.
“Little One, where did you go in those thoughts of yours?”
Zara’s eyes falter and return to his. “I thought that when a submissive joins her Dom, he is already established. It is my understanding that she is coming into his life. Therefore, it would be his furniture. You said it was the first piece your parents purchased as a couple.”
From a very young age, Zara was taught that as a submissive you could not have anything of your own. Zara hears the confusion in her own voice. Garrett grabs two water bottles out of a hidden mini fridge, and gestures for Zara to follow him to the sectional.
From the moment Garrett has been thrust into Zara’s life, she had felt a surprising level of comfort. Growing up, she would lie in bed at night and wonder how her chosen Dom would treat her. Sloane believed whichever Dom was selected for her would be her prince charming, that they would have immediate affection for one another.
Zara had expressed that her only hope, was that the Dom she would be paired with would be kind to her. The tradition of pairing the daughters of King Council members had been in place for several generations and the reports of mistreatment by a Dom were few and far between.
On the rare occasion abuse did occur, the matter was dealt with swiftly and by the Community. Incidents were not kept from the members of the Community in the region where they occurred. Once a year at the Regional King Council conferences, a record was distributed to each member attendee.
Corrective measures were never reported, as that was a matter between the Dom and the Council in their region. Zara understood the purpose of the report was to demonstrate to the members that reporting was encouraged and that any type of abuse had no place within the walls of the Community.
Before Him Comes Me Page 14
