Bailey: Independence #1 by Karen Nichols Read Free Book Online Page A

please him. She didn’t know why, but she was positive it would. Stepping back and lowering the pillow, Bailey moved carefully. She remembered their positions. She’d glimpsed it in various forms throughout the floor.
    On the floor. Knees apart, hands behind your back; head down. She could do this. Play the role correctly, she told herself with a deep breath.
    She went down and was getting ready to separate her knees to find the right position when the sharp pain shot through her, buckling her to the floor. Tears formed and fell in pain and frustration as she struggled to push up but tumbled back again.
    “Bee!” Gabriel had been returning when he saw her intent. He went to one knee in front of her, his hands out and gripping her shoulders, lifting her from the floor until she was on her feet.
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered quickly, one palm up and swiping at her cheek. “I’m sorry, Sir.”
    “Are you alright?” He fought the anger that she disobeyed him. “What happened?” He looked around at the others but no one had an answer. Except Bee.
    “I thought…I saw them and I know it’s how I should be but…” The words caught in her throat, her voice shaking. “I can’t and I’m sorry, Sir. I forgot…sometimes I just forget…”
    “You can’t what, Bee? I don’t understand,” he pressed, keeping his voice stern.
    “May I speak, Master?” A petite Asian woman spoke from the side, looking at her Master expectantly. He nodded his permission. “I think she wanted to present herself respectfully, Master Gabriel. But something’s wrong with her knee. That’s why she crumpled.”
    “Bee?” Gabriel put his palm beneath her chin and tipped it up.
    “I thought it would please you but I can’t kneel. I forgot…and I’m sorry…”
    Gabriel leaned his forehead against hers. The limp, he realized. A jagged swath tore through him when he realized how important it seemed to her.
    “The point of being a master is making changes that suit us, Bee. How can you present yourself?” He stroked one thumb over the last tear that rolled free from beneath the mask she still wore.
    Bailey blinked up at him. “I can sit cross legged. It’s flexible and bends, I can’t put weight on it that way. Sometimes I forget, it’s so normal most other times. I…” she glanced down, nodding to herself. “I can do it another way,” she murmured, going carefully to her good knee and lowering herself to the floor. She bent her legs to the side, forming a W with her legs and body.
    “Back straight,” Gabriel said from above her. “Head up and eyes down. Hands behind your back.” He stared at the thrust out firm, small breasts. “Yes, I like you like this,” he ordered, dropping to his heels and placing one finger beneath her chin. “You please me, Bee. Don’t doubt that. You’ve done very well tonight,” his finger trailed down her throat, touching the slim leather collar he’d fastened around her neck. “I have some business to attend to. Remain here. If you need the restroom, you’re excused for that, and that alone. Do you understand?”
    “Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir,” she said softly, grateful for the pillow beneath her knees.
    “How did you hurt your knee, Bee?” He stopped from rising, watching her. She wasn’t accustomed to speaking without looking at the person and the corner of his mouth lifted just enjoying her effort to please.
    “I performed gymnastics when I was younger. The parallel bars. The last time I was on them, they hadn’t been assembled properly and…” her breath caught, the memory of the heavy bars and sides crashing over her as if it had happened yesterday, she shivered. “It was so long ago. I was twelve and the whole system…the sides and bars all came crashing inward and on me. It works alright, for the most part. They put it back together and added some parts,” she sighed. “Sorry. Sir.”
    “You’ve nothing to apologize for,” he let his fingers tangle in the deep