Page 59 of Need

“I don’t know.”

With my index finger, I lifted her chin so she was looking at me. “Yes, you do. What are you feeling?”

She started to look down, but I adjusted my grip on her chin. “I’m not... good enough and...”

“And?”

“How could Dr. Cooper believe that horrible woman? How could he...”

The words died in her throat as more tears fell. I wiped them away with my thumbs.

“First of all, you are good enough, Brianna. I’m not sure why you think you’re not. As for my uncle believing Tami... I think it was more shock than anything. My uncle, as many parents, continues to see the children they raised—or helped raise, in this case—as kids. It’s hard enough for them to acknowledge their children have sex lives, let alone ones that include things that are outside of the norm.”

“You’re not a bad person,” she said in a firm, determined voice.

“Thank you.” I smiled, kissing her forehead.

With that, she smiled and snuggled back into my chest.

I’d had plans for us this morning that included working out and then a walk in the park, but I was content to sit with her on her bed for now. There was always tomorrow.

Chapter Fourteen

Stephan

We both ended up falling asleep on her bed.

The only woman I’d ever woken up in bed with was my first submissive, Sarah, and it had never felt like this. With Sarah, I’d been indifferent about it. The few times it had happened were more accident than anything else, much as this had been. But with Sarah, there hadn’t been this warm feeling that waking up next to her was where I most wanted to be. I began working on excuses to get Brianna into my bed.

What struck me the most, however, was that this feeling wasn’t only sexual. That desire was still there, but if all I could do was hold her, then I would take it.

The phone rang, causing Brianna to shift on my lap. I answered it before it could wake her. “Hello.”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Coleman.” I glanced at the clock beside her bed and saw that it was in fact after noon. I’d need to wake her soon, whether I wanted to or not. “There is a Mr. Cal Ross here to see Miss Reeves.”

I glanced down at her sleeping form. Even if she had been awake, she’d had a stressful morning and, if I was being honest with myself, I needed some time with her today that was just us. “Let me talk to him.”

“Yes, sir.”

A few seconds passed before I heard Cal’s voice come on the line. “Anna?”

“No.”

“Where’s Anna, Coleman?” he barked.

“Brianna is unavailable at the moment.”

“Why?”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. It wouldn’t do any good losing my temper with him. “She’s taking a nap.”

“Oh,” he said, as if not expecting such a simple answer. It didn’t take him long to recover, however. “Will you tell her I came by to see her?”

“Yes. However, might I suggest that you call first before you show up on my doorstep?”

“Why?”

“Because it’s rude to show up unannounced.” Did his parents not teach him any manners?

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