Chapter 21 #2
I turn sideways, unable to keep from rolling my eyes.
“It’s a Sunday. Whatever you’ve come to fix can wait until tomorrow. My daughter and I were just leaving.” My mother clutches her purse tightly as though Bryson might make a grab for it and take off running.
Bryson, being far more couth and polite than my mother, ignores her brash comments, leans toward me, cups my cheek, and kisses me on the lips. He holds my gaze for a moment before stepping inside.
He lifts a hand toward my mother. “You must be Lillian’s mother. I’m her boyfriend, Bryson Royce.”
My mother gasps and takes a step back. Her eyes are so wide they have to hurt. She doesn’t shake Bryson’s hand. She ignores it entirely. Her gaze jerks to me. “Surely you jest, Lillian. You can’t possibly be dating the maintenance man.”
I roll my eyes hard yet again. “Bryson doesn’t work for the apartment complex, Mother.
But you know that. You’re being rude. And it shouldn’t matter.
I can date whoever I want. All that matters is that he treats me like spun gold.
” I’m not even going to bother to tell her what Bryson does.
It’s not important and won’t make a difference.
“You shouldn’t be dating anyone, young lady,” she spits, her face beet red. “You’re engaged.”
“I am not engaged, and you know it. You should leave. Bryson and I have lunch plans. I don’t know what you’re doing in Seattle, but if you came here thinking you could talk me into returning to Chicago, you’re wrong.
This is where I live. I’m never going back, nor am I ever marrying a man you chose for me.
I doubt Herman knew you were planning an engagement party. You probably bulldozed him, too.”
My mother gasps yet again. “Lillian! I did not raise you to talk to me like that. What’s gotten into you? You’ve had two months to gallivant and sow your wild oats. It’s time to come home and take your place in the family. You have duties.”
Bryson doesn’t shut the door to the apartment as he sets his hands on my shoulders and flattens his front to my back.
He slides one palm down between my breasts and holds me against him possessively.
“Mrs. Lighton, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but Lillian is a grown woman.
She’s capable of making her own decisions.
She doesn’t owe you or your husband anything.
She’s made it clear she isn’t interested in marrying the man you chose for her, as if we’re living in a different century or an alternate universe.
If anyone is going to put a ring on her finger, it will be me.
Not Herman Westheimer. If you can’t speak politely to my girlfriend and treat her with respect, you should leave.
I won’t have anyone upsetting her with vile words. ”
I set my hand over his and grip his fingers between my breasts. Bless him. I’m trembling from head to toe, but he’s holding me together.
“How dare you,” my mother grits out. “I have no idea who you are, but you know nothing about my daughter and her obligations. Why don’t you run along? Lillian and I have a flight to catch.”
Bryson’s hand presses more securely against my breastbone.
Run along? She says that as if Bryson is a ninety-pound schoolboy instead of the six-foot-two, thirty-five-year-old Dominant who outweighs her by double.
If I had any flickering doubts about my feelings for Bryson—which I do not—they would be obliterated by how he’s handling my mother. She can be pushy and bossy. He’s not cowering to her in any way. He’s firm, physically and verbally. He’s not even shaking like I am.
Bryson takes a step back, pushing the door open wider, keeping me firmly in his grip. “You should go.” He points toward the door. He noticeably doesn’t call her ma’am or address her by her name this time. Instead, he simply tells her to leave.
My mother is shaking, though. I’ve never seen her so flustered. She looks like she might have a coronary. I hope not because I’m not in the mood to deal with calling an ambulance and sending her to the hospital.
Apparently, she’s come here without my father, and I’m not the tiniest bit surprised.
My father may be a force to be reckoned with in a boardroom, but he is spineless in their marriage.
I hardly know him. He was rarely home when I was growing up, and he allowed my mother to walk all over him and make every decision.
If he cared about me or Simone even one ounce, he would be here himself, sticking up for us.
He’s not. I suspect he barely realizes we moved out.
Mother jerks her gaze to me again. “Lillian,” she barks sharply.
“I’m not going with you, Mother. Not now.
Not ever. If you have any self-respect, you’ll leave now before you make an even bigger fool out of yourself.
I’m embarrassed that Bryson had to meet you.
You’re living in a fantasy world. I should have left and never looked back when I turned eighteen like Simone did.
You haven’t even asked me about her except to insinuate she’s some kind of whore, which tells me you’ve written her off.
I know you thought she’d done you a favor when she left, saving you from the possible embarrassment of any of your friends learning about her lifestyle preferences.
“I’m just glad I woke up before it was too late.
I have to thank you for that, by the way.
I would probably still be living under your oppressive thumb if you hadn’t gone batshit crazy and suggested an arranged marriage to a man I barely know.
That was a step too far, Mother. I’m gone now, and I’ve learned that Simone is living her best life.
I’m lucky she even agreed to see me, let alone take me under her wing and help me get on my feet after the way I treated her with my silence and lack of support.
Go home, Mother. You successfully chased off your children with your snobbiness and complete and utter disdain for anyone else’s thoughts or feelings. ”
The blood drains from my mother’s face. “You ungrateful…” At least she doesn’t finish that thought. I’m sure she was going to say bitch. Bryson might have shoved her out the door and slammed it in her face if she had.
I keep my head high, beyond thankful that Bryson is holding me up. His hand is anchoring me and keeping my knees from buckling.
My mother steps even closer, and leans in so she’s only a few inches from my face. “Are you fucking this maintenance man, Lillian?”
Bryson’s done. He did an amazing job of keeping his cool for all this time, giving my mother a piece of his mind, and supporting me while I said everything I needed to, but her cussing at me is going too far.
He pulls me back a few inches and points toward the hallway. “Out. Now. Do not come back.”
My mother jerks upright and glares at him. “I don’t answer to you.”
“Out,” he shouts. “You have two seconds before I call the police.” He still has one hand on my chest, and he grips my bicep with his other hand.
I suspect he’d like to put me behind his back and get in my mother’s face, but he won’t because he knows I’m not stable enough to remain upright without his support.
Luckily, my mother finally stomps out the door. “You’ll regret this, Lillian. I won’t give you another chance. When your father—” Her words are cut off when Bryson slams the door in her face. He twists the deadbolt before lifting me into his arms and carrying me to the sofa.
Cradling me against his chest, he sits. His large hand comes to my head, tucking my cheek against his shoulder. He kisses my temple. “Fuck. I’m so sorry, Baby.” He holds me tightly.
Tears well up in my eyes, but I take a deep breath and sniffle them away. I won’t cry. Not for my stupid mother. She doesn’t get to have that kind of power over me. She’s not worth it.
Bryson’s heart is racing against me. She affected him, too.
When I find my voice, the first thing I say is, “I’m sorry.”
He leans me back. His eyes are wide. His voice is firm. “Do not apologize for that woman. You hear me? Never. Not ever again.”
“Okay.” I nod. He’s right.
“Nothing she says or does is a reflection on you, Lils. You’re your own person. My sweet, kind, loving, happy breath of fresh air. My everything. She’s gone.”
“What if she comes back?” I shudder at the idea. She’s crazy enough to wait outside and come back in when Bryson eventually leaves without me.
“You won’t be here, Lils.”
“I don’t mean during lunch. I mean what if she comes back tonight or tomorrow while you’re at work?”
He cups my chin. His expression is fierce—eyes narrowed, intensity radiating. “You won’t be here, Lillian. I’m not fucking around.”
I take a few deep breaths. “Okay, you’re right. I guess I could go stay with Camden and Simone.”
Bryson lifts his brows and shakes his head. “Lillian…”
“What?” I gasp and sit up taller. “You want me to stay at your house?” Am I dense?
“Yes, Baby. We’re going to pack some of your things and take them with us. There’s no way in hell I’m leaving you here alone.”
“I’ll still be on my own at your house tomorrow. What’s the difference?”
“The difference is that my home is in a gated community. I will give the guards a picture of your mother and instructions to never let her in. My house has a state-of-the-art alarm system. As long as you don’t open the door, you’ll be safe.
Plus, you’re suddenly going to have a long list of rules that will make you feel every bit as Little as you’d like. ”
My breath hitches. “What kinds of rules?” We’ve never discussed any rules besides him ordering me not to masturbate. Why does the idea make me tremble with need?
He sets a hand on my bare thigh and rubs it.
“Rules that will keep you safe, sweet girl. Not going to the door for any reason. Keeping your phone with you at all times. Checking in with me so often you’ll barely have a chance to pee in between.
Staying away from windows, for now. You’ll have so many rules that your panties will be wet all day. ”
That last statement makes me giggle. Leave it to Bryson to say the right thing to lighten my mood. “Oh yeah? What if I break the rules?”
He smirks. “I’m sure you will. Probably before I pull out of the driveway tomorrow. But be prepared to suffer the consequences.”
I shiver. “What kinds of consequences,” I press.
“Naughty Little girls who break their safety rules do not get orgasms. They don’t even get touched.
If I find out you did something dangerous like open the front door to a stranger, you’ll be very lonely that evening sitting across the room from me and sleeping on the other side of a row of pillows that night. ” He lifts a brow.
I swallow. “Yes, Sir.”
“I’ll experiment with other punishments for the silly rules, Lils. Don’t you worry. But your safety is important. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.” I wrap my arms around his neck and hold on tight.