Ella Dominguez - Becoming Sir

Oh, it would be unforgettable, all right. He just hoped the memories it evoked would be fond and not horrific, and that Ciara wouldn’t end up hating him after everything was said and done.

An hour later, Sawyer was unpacked and at home. The following morning would be spent dealing with Jameson Christopherson and he needed to get in to his dark headspace. With all the stress of the upcoming week fraying his nerves, a shot or three of Jack D. sounded good right about then. He went into his closet and pulled down a box that was hidden away in a dark corner on a back shelf and pried open the lid. Gliding his fingers over the cool, clear glass and black label, he could almost taste the liquor and feel the smooth burn down his throat. It was difficult to remain coherent when the alcohol was so close to him and he gripped the neck as his tongue slicked over his top lip. Just one drink, that’s all he needed to see things more clearly. Who the hell was he kidding? The booze never made things clearer; it only blurred the lines of reason and logic.

Squeezing tightly, his knuckles blanched and his skin squeaked over the glass as his eyes roamed over the bottle, watching the brown liquid slosh around inside. The sound of his own deep breathing and his mouth smacking anxiously filled the small closet. Suddenly his phone chirped in the other room, bringing him back to reality. He quickly lidded the box and pushed it back to its hiding place and let out a loud sigh.

He found his phone and smiled to see a message from Sarah.

SarahH: 6:47 PM: Sir! I have wonderful news! I have been accepted into the Denver Community College RN program for next spring!

Sawyer immediately dialed her number. He wanted to hear the joy in her voice and take his mind off of his worries. And the Jack Daniels.

“Oh, Sawyer, isn’t it great?” she answered enthusiastically after only one ring.

“It’s fantastic news. I had no idea you wanted to be a nurse. What other secret desires have you been keeping from me?”

Sarah’s smile could be heard, “Just a few others. I would’ve told you, but we really haven’t spent any time together other than at the club and via phone.” She was right and it was completely unacceptable. She was one of his trainers after all. “I’m not complaining, Domly One. You’ve been very busy learning and I’m working extra hours anyway to try and save for school so it’s worked out okay,” she quickly added.

“No, it’s not okay. We need to spend time together, in person. There are going to be no more excuses. I have something important to deal with at work tomorrow afternoon, but I suspect I’ll need some company afterwards if you’re feeling up to it.”

“I’ll do my best to trade my shift and be available. Do you have something in mind or can I plan on cooking a nice dinner for you?” her voice resonated with zeal.

“I’ll let you plan to your heart’s content. We can eat here.”

“I look forward to it. So have you had a chance to think about the contract anymore?”

“Honestly, I haven’t. My Angel has kept me busy this weekend. She’s an amazing woman.”

Sarah’s voice lowered only slightly, but noticeably compared to the excitement she had exuded only moments before. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. Will you be seeing her again?”

A knot rose in Sawyer’s throat. “Yes, this coming weekend. I’ve been tasked with a monumental undertaking at Kerian’s request.”

Sarah immediately brimmed with curiosity. “Oh? A test for her training?”

Chuckling nervously, Sawyer shook his head. “How did you know?”

“I know her training is almost over, and it was just a lucky guess. How exciting to be involved with something so important. I would love to help out any way I can. I mean…” she stammered. “... I don’t mean to be pushy. I just mean if you need an extra hand or advice or anything.”

“Absolutely. Your opinion is crucial to me and especially with what’s been asked of me, I need all the help and support I can get.”

She let out a long audible breath and the volume of her voice dropped, “Thank you, Sir. It feels good to be needed again.”

The slow burn in his chest for Sarah warmed his insides. Her sincerity and honesty was crushing. How could he choose? He swallowed hard and decided to share a bit of his dark past with her.

“Sarah… Snowflake… there’s something I want to tell you…” he started out apprehensively.

“Mr. Morrison, I didn’t mean to insinuate anything or try to make you feel something that isn’t there. I was told by others that your weekend with Ciara was promising and that things look to be going in a possible committal direction. Please disregard my letter from previously. It was wrong of me to say such things so early on. I want only what’s best for you and if that person is Ciara, your Angel, then I… I really am honored just to be involved in some small way to make that happen.”

Sawyer sat dumbfounded. Perhaps he didn’t need to choose – Sarah was making the decision for him. And maybe that was a good thing considering how wishy-washy he was being regarding the two women. He chewed the corner of his lip tensely. Sarah spoke determinedly, but the tone of her voice alluded to something else, or was he just imagining things? Caught up in Sarah’s words, he forgot what he had started out saying.

“Thank you, Sarah,” he stated softly yet firmly. “But that letter meant a great deal to me and the last thing I intend on doing is disregarding it. I haven’t made any decisions about anything and that includes Ciara. My course is still unknown.”

“Of course it is, Mr. Morrison,” she responded without inflection. “Is dinner still planned for tomorrow?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” he sniped, put off by Sarah’s withdrawal from him.

There was a long silence before Sarah finally responded in a husky whisper. “I’ll let you know if I’m unable to trade my shift, otherwise, just text me when you get done with work. I’ll keep my appointment for nine this evening and be thinking of you. Good night, Mr. Morrison.”

Fourteen hours later, he and Murphy were pulling into the parking lot of an upscale office complex. It was go time. The flight to Atlanta had been just long enough to give him time to think about Ciara. He had spent the remainder of his evening the night before going over her history and profile. She was truly a remarkable specimen. She was well-educated with a Master’s degree in English Literature and had even been bestowed the honored MAGS Distinguished Masters Thesis Award. He would be lucky if she considered him as a candidate for her Owner. Beauty, intelligence, and a kind and serving soul - what more could one man ask for?

He had avoided going over her hard limits and decided he would save that for another night. Perhaps tomorrow. Or the next. No, he couldn’t put it off if he was to plan out his seduction of consent diligently. Sarah’s input was vital and he decided at that moment to discuss it with her that evening during dinner.

“You okay over there?” Murphy cut in.

“Yes. Let’s do this. You wait here.”

“I’ll survey the area. How much time should I give you before I come busting balls?” he asked.

“No busting balls today, Murphy; just a little persuasive discussion.”

Murphy’s craggy, aged face contorted into a sarcastic, sour grin. “I remember the last time we went to have a ‘discussion’ with someone,” he tapped on Sawyer’s chest, directly over the now-healed gunshot wound.

“That was a fluke. This is going to go smoothly. I can feel it in my bones.”