Eileen worried about Silence. Since she had sent in her acceptance to attend the Gathering, he had become preoccupied. He spent more time in his room. Occasionally, she heard him exercising, but a lot of his time seemed to be spent thinking. She felt a hollow catch in her chest. Was he trying to decide to leave her? She didn't know how to ask. Ending a relationship was supposed to be the Dominant's choice. Yet she know that, practically, either of them could choose to end their relationship. Eileen sighed. She knew she wanted him to stay with her forever. She also knew that she had been praying that he would want to stay. She sighed again and went back to looking at the notes he had made for her.
She was deep in thought when she felt him beside her. She smiled up at him. He gazed back at her, unsmiling, his eyes uneasy. Her smile slowly faded. The cold, hollow feeling spread as she watched him sink gracefully to his knees, the powerful muscles in his thighs bunching as he did. Then he handed her a folded note with lowered eyes.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she took it. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes briefly and prayed for strength. Then, slowly exhaling, she opened her eyes and unfolded the note.
'Mistress,' she read, 'I have not told you everything you need to know about the Gathering.' She glanced quickly at him. He was statue still, eyes still lowered. She saw a quiver of muscle along his jaw. She went back to the note. 'The location is owned by my parents, Joseph and Kathleen Sheridan. I do not know how they will greet you. They wished me to be Dom. Or to stay with Michelle. I do not want you to be insulted or ignored.' The note ended abruptly.
"Silence," she said softy. He twitched. Her voice was unsteady. She took a deep breath.
"Silence," she said again, her voice more normal sounding, "look at me." He raised his gray eyes to her hazel ones. "We will go to this Gathering." Her eyes chilled and he blinked suddenly. He had never seen such a hard look in her eyes before.
"You are mine, now," she went on. "This Michelle had her chance. She...abused you...sold you." Eileen's voice had gone cold. "You are mine," she repeated. Her eyes warmed slightly. "You are mine until you ask to leave or I can no longer keep you."
Silence looked troubled. Eileen shook her head and smiled slightly. "Remember the amendments to your contract," she said. "Your safeguards. If we part and you choose to reman in this lifestyle, I will help you find a good Mistress."
Silence sighed softly and settled back on his heels, a bit more relaxed. Eileen put her hands on his face, caressing him. "Silence," she said, "you are very important to me. I want you to stay with me for as long as you wish." His gray eyes met her hazel ones and he nodded. She smiled softly at him. "We will worry about the Gathering when we get there," she said. He returned her smile and nodded again. She sat back on the couch. Silence shifted until he was leaning against her in his accustomed place, her hand caressing his hair. She still felt tension in him. She tugged gently on his hair. He looked up at her, startled.
"Something is still bothering you," she said. He nodded slowly. "Tell me." He twitched slightly at the note of command in her voice. He twisted around for a notepad and pencil. Eileen let him write without looking over his shoulder, giving him a bit of privacy to put down his thoughts. Finally, he handed her the pad.
'Mistress,' she read, 'I have no wish to leave you. Why would you not keep me?" He had taken many minutes to write those two sentences. She felt his unease.
"Silence," she murmured, "you will stay with me as long as you wish. We will manage." She felt him relax further at her words. She sighed softly and continued caressing him, losing herself in the motion of her hand on his head. He was completely relaxed now, leaning against her, his head on her thigh.