Chapter 18 Brianna
Brianna
If I let myself, I could fall head over heels for this man
I’ve been staring at my computer screen for what seems like fifteen minutes.
The more I scroll, the more overwhelmed I become.
There are so many options for therapists out there; how are you supposed to know who is the right fit for you?
A frustrated sigh leaves my lips, and I do what I’ve been putting off since the start of my search: text Cas.
Me: Hey, Cas. I was hoping you could help me with something.
Cas: Yeah of course. What do ya need?
Me: Got any good referrals for therapists?
The three dots dance across my screen only for a few seconds, but it feels like minutes.
Cas: Yeah. I think you and Dr. Jacqui will be the perfect fit. You can call her at 735-555-5555.
Me: Thank you, Cas, I appreciate it.
I type the number into my phone and before I lose the courage, I hit dial.
“Thank you for calling Therapy Connections. This is Jacqui speaking, how can I help you?” Her voice instantly puts me at ease, making this decision ten times easier.
“Hi, my name is Brianna Montgomery and I, um, I need to set up an appointment for therapy.”
“Hi, Brianna. Thank you for reaching out. Let me check my calendar.” The sound of nails clacking on the keyboard echoes in my ear until it nearly shreds my nerves. My heart stampedes like wild horses inside my chest as I wait.
“Ah yes, here we go. I have Tuesdays at ten or eleven a.m. I also have some afternoon slots at one or two p.m. Which works best for you?”
“Um, ten a.m. works for me.”
“Great. I just need a good contact number from you.”
“Oh, of course. It’s 312-444-4444.”
“Perfect. I’ll put you down for this upcoming Tuesday at ten. If you could come fifteen minutes prior to fill out the necessary paperwork, that would be great. Do you have a pen and paper handy?”
“I do, yeah.” She rattles off the address and I write it down, along with adding an appointment reminder on my phone so I don’t forget.
“Thank you so much.” I’m glad this is a phone conversation so she can’t see the sheer panic on my face.
“Of course, I look forward to meeting with you. Have a great day.”
I’m scared shitless, but I also feel a sense of relief. I’m finally getting the help I should’ve gotten after the accident. My appointment is five days away, giving me enough time to prepare mentally and emotionally.
My doorbell rings, and when I glance at my phone, I see that it's twelve-thirty on the dot. Asher is nothing if not punctual. I’m curious about what he has planned for us today since he was being rather evasive last night.
He didn’t give me any specifics in regard to what I’m supposed to wear, so I’m in black leggings and the same oversized t-shirt from the night he stayed over after taking us home from the bar.
When I open the door, it’s the first thing he notices. He eyes me like I’m his prey.
“You’re lucky we have plans, otherwise I’d take you on your couch,” Asher groans.
“You didn’t tell me how to dress, so this is what you get.”
I wasn’t trying to seduce him. That was just an added bonus to me wanting to be comfortable. We walk up to his car, and when he opens my door, I’m floored at what I see. On the passenger seat is a pack of sour gummy worms.
“W-What are these for?” Emotion clogs my throat, making it sound like I swallowed sawdust.
“Well, I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about being in a car, so I wanted to make sure you had your comfort snack just in case. I even have soothing music queued up on my phone for us to listen to.”
I don’t think, I just throw my arms around his neck, bringing my lips to his.
I give him access to my mouth, allowing myself to become dizzy from the lack of oxygen.
His tongue tangles with mine, and when I take it between my lips and suck, Asher grunts, and his hands grip my ass with a bruising intensity.
I claw and pull at his hair, and he pulls me in so that my body is flush against his.
His cock grinds against me and stars dance in my peripherals. Fuck, this man can kiss.
Asher is the one to break the kiss first, and I can only imagine how crazed we look.
“What was that for?” Asher pants.
“For being so thoughtful. For thinking of my comfort and making sure I feel safe.”
“You always have a safe place with me. You’re a once in a lifetime woman, Bri, and you deserve to be treated as such. And I’ll make damn sure to tell you as often as you need.”
My heart melts at his thoughtful words. I think of everything he’s done for me, including that little reading confession, and I can’t help but smile. If I let myself, I could fall head over heels for this man. Maybe I’m already falling. Would it be so bad?
Asher buckles me in my seat, and I immediately tear into the gummy worms, my mouth salivating as the sour sugar coats my tongue.
The moment Asher is in the driver’s seat, he turns toward me holding a black, silky object in his hand.
“I didn’t know you were into bondage.”
“Relax, you dirty girl. I just want our destination to be a surprise. Can I?” Asher holds the blindfold out toward me, giving me the option to say no.
But something about this has my blood heating with desire. I nod my head before I feel the smooth fabric cover my eyes. He tugs at the tie in the back, but not enough to cause pain. The soft purr of the engine roars to life, only to be drowned out by his classical music playlist.
The blindfold feels glorious across my eyelids. I’m a happy woman. I have my soothing music, sour gummy worms in my lap, and a gorgeous man next to me. A man who has yet to let go of my hand. Asher’s thumbs rub soothing circles on the back of my hand, and I melt into the seat.
The car comes to a sudden stop, and I assume we’ve reached our destination. I attempt to pull off the blindfold, but Asher stops me with his hand.
“Not until I get you out of the car. Patience, my dear Bri, patience.” I can’t see it, but when Asher’s driver’s side door opens and closes, I assume he’s rounding the car to get me. Soon enough, I’m being pulled out, and he’s walking me in some random direction.
“I’m going to take this off now. I need you to have an open mind when I do.”
What on earth would I need to have an open mind for? But the second the fabric is removed from my eyes, it all makes sense.
“A lingerie store? A freaking lingerie store. How is this supposed to help me with my body image, Asher? I already struggle with what’s underneath my clothes. But me in lingerie? Why would I wear less clothes to fix how I view myself?”
“It might not, but I have a feeling it might help you see what I see. What everyone sees. Will you do this for me? And if you hate everything you try on, we will walk away and never look back.” Asher looks at me with a pleading expression, and I feel my resolve dissolving like a Listerine strip.
“Fine. But I don’t have any money on me. I can’t buy anything even if I want to.”
“I’ll take care of you. This is as much for me as it is for you. I’ve always been good at taking care of what’s mine, and that includes you. So, let’s go.” Asher smacks my ass before dragging me into the shop.
The second I walk inside, I’m immediately overwhelmed.
Every color of the rainbow is scattered across the store.
Some pieces are more conservative, whereas others are basically ribbons tied together.
The walls are a deep purple with a dark wood flooring, with about six enormous dressing rooms the size of walk-in closets.
This place is fancy, and I’m struggling to feel like I belong.
“Welcome to The Madam’s Boutique. My name is Jessica, how can I help you?”
“Hi, I’m Asher. We have an appointment.”
Asher reaches out to shake Jessica’s outstretched hand. She’s a stunning woman in her mid-thirties with curves for days. Like, seriously, she’s stunning. She has shoulder-length brown hair and the most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen.
“Oh, yes. Bri, is it?” she asks while turning to me. I expect her to snarl at me, but her tone is nothing but welcoming.
“Yes, hi. It’s nice to meet you.” I go to shake her hand, but she’s pulling me into a bone crushing hug.
“The pleasure is all mine. I’m excited to be styling you today. You are absolutely beautiful. Your boyfriend here has good taste to bring you here.” Jessica winks at me.
“Oh, he’s not—” I say at the same time Asher says, “That I do.” Well, that’s something I’ll have to unpack later.
“Perfect, right this way. I need to take some measurements before giving you some pieces I think will work for you. Are there any colors that are an automatic no?”
“Um, I guess yellow and orange. I don’t think either of those colors flatter me.”
“Give her as much red as you can. She looks hot in red,” Asher chimes in.
“We shall see what we come up with. Right this way, you two. Asher dear, you can sit on the chair outside the dressing room while we measure. Then once I pick everything, Bri can show you all the pieces we’ve picked out.”
“H-He’s going to see me in these?” I gulp at thought.
“Why, of course, sweetie. The man’s seen you in less, so this should be a walk in the park.” Jessica pulls me into the dressing room and has me dress down to my bra and panties while she measures me every which way.
The moment she finishes scribbling down my measurements, she turns to me with a face-splitting grin. “Okay, great. I have everything I need. Before I go pull some pieces I know you’ll just die for, I do ask that the only undergarment that we require you to keep on is your underwear. Any questions?’
“Um, no. I-I think I’m good.”
“Great, I will be right back with a few sets.”
The door clicks softly shut behind her, leaving me and my insecurities locked in this medium sized room. As if my anxiety summoned him, a soft knock on the door sounds. The way my body melts and my worries vanish, I know it’s Asher before he opens his mouth.
“How are we doing in there?”
“Um, okay. I’m currently avoiding the giant mirror behind me, but I’m getting anxious about having to look at myself.”
“I’m so proud of you for doing this, baby. This is a huge step for you, and you are so goddamn beautiful when you push yourself. It’s a total turn on for me, if I’m being honest.”
“I could walk around in a garbage bag, and you’d probably still be sporting a hard on,” I joke. Asher brings the real Bri out to play, and I am so thankful for it. I miss her, and whenever she pops up, I cling to her for as long as I can.
“You’re not wrong. Oh, perfect timing, Jessica.”
I’m standing in nothing but my panties now the second Jessica enters my dressing room with two armfuls of items. She places them delicately on the hooks before giving me two thumbs up and leaving me alone.
The first piece is a rose petal pink lace and silk slip dress. The material is soft to the touch and glides on like butter. It feels amazing against my skin. I shake away any lingering anxiety before I open the door to show Asher.
“Damn. You look amazing. Turn around for me?” I do a slow turn, giving him a full three-sixty view. “How do you feel in it?”
“It feels like heaven on me.”
“It’ll look like heaven on the floor, too,” he practically growls, hooking his finger toward me.
“Now, come here.” Asher stands while holding out one of his hands to me.
The second my hand links with his, he walks me over to the mirror and I breathe through the anxiety.
I was expecting to hate everything about it, but when I see myself in the full length mirror, I gasp in shock.
“I-Is that really me?” I can’t believe it. My hands cup my cheeks as I admire my reflection.
“It is, and you are breathtaking. This thing makes your thighs look incredible.” My hands fall to my stomach as I turn left and right before coming back to center.
“I-I don’t hate it. I…I look—”
“Stunning,” Asher finishes for me. He gives my bare shoulder a soft peck before pushing me back into the dressing room to try on the next item.
The next piece Jessica chose for me is a matching bra and panty set in black lace with a matching waist garter belt with stockings. It slips on with ease. I chance a look at the mirror—needing to have this moment to myself. I deserve to look in the mirror and love what I see.
When I turn around, I can’t help but blurt out, “Oh, fuck.” The woman staring back at me isn’t some disgusting, ugly woman. No. What I see is a powerful, sexy woman who’s gone through the wringer and is still a damn warrior. I finally see myself as beautiful.
“What? What happened? Is everything okay?” I can hear Asher walk over to the door. The second he opens it, his jaw is on the floor, and I watch him adjust himself before clearing his throat.
“Oh fuck is right. You look like a goddess. A fucking queen. And I want to get on my knees and worship you properly.”
“I still have one more item to try on, so off you go.” I push him out the door with his tongue practically hanging out of his mouth.
The last set is a silky, bright red—because of course—push up bra with a high waisted G-string thong bottom.
This, too, slips on easily and fits like a glove.
Okay, Asher is right. Red is my color. This set compliments my tanned skin and dark hair perfectly.
I look like sin in this matching bra and panties, and there’s only one man I want to sin with.
“I’m dressed, you can come in.” I’m playing with fire, and I don’t mind getting burned. I’m admiring myself in the mirror when I hear the door click shut behind me. The sound of the lock echoes throughout the room, and I toss a sultry smile over my shoulder.
“Bri, I’ve been a patient man, but you in red? That’s my fucking kryptonite. You’ve been such a good girl stepping out of your comfort zone. And good girls need to be rewarded and celebrated. So, on your knees, baby.”