Page 141 of Bling

There was a very specific ceremony to the way couples were seated at a high protocol dinner, and it started with the subs entering the dining room first to kneel by their Doms’ or Masters’ chairs. Downstairs, she was directed to one of the parlor rooms, but there were no other submissives waiting. Normally, they all waited together. Maybe everyone was running late.

Fifteen minutes later, she was still the only one waiting. Finally, the door opened, and Simon poked his head in. “Wow, you look amazing, Isabelle.”

“Hi, Simon,” she said cheerfully. I was beginning to think I was in the wrong room.”

He grinned. “Nope. But we are ready for you.”

“We?”

“Come on,” he said, offering her his arm.

They stepped out and into the bar which had been converted to a formal dinner party setting for the evening.

A gasp left her throat as she looked around. The room was dotted with couples and groups already seated and Garrett waited for her at a table in the center.

“What’s going on?” she asked as Simon encouraged her to go to Garrett who held out his hand.

“A little something different,” he said. Then he bent and kissed her cheek before moving to a table at the right. Jasmine was there and she lovingly rubbed Simon’s shoulder.

“Isabelle, come here please,” Garrett said, his voice warm and soothing.

Her legs trembled as she walked the short distance to him.

“What’s happening, Sir?” she whispered.

He smiled. “If you’ll have me, I want to put my collar around your neck. You once said you wanted everyone to know you were mine, so I spoke to the attendees and they agreed to forgo the normal dinner in place of a celebration of exactly that.”

He picked up a box and opened it. The gorgeous necklace was set with shimmering diamonds, including a few pale-yellow ones.

“You look stunning, by the way. I’ll have to thank Jasmine later.”

She blushed. Was she ready to wear his collar? In a sense she’d been wearing it, just around her wrist. Somehow, this felt more substantial.

“What do I say?” she asked, her voice trembling.

He smiled and caressed her face. “You could try yes. But it’s up to you, Doll. If you want to be mine, you can kneel on this pillow and we’ll make some promises to each other. If you’re not ready, I’ll put my bracelet around your wrist again and we’ll continue to take things slow. I just want you to know I’m all in and I’m not going anywhere. You’re mine, Isabelle.”

All around her, the crowd waited silently.

To show her he meant it to be her choice, he also pulled the bracelet she’d given back to him from his pocket.

She could hold out her wrist or she could kneel for him. Either choice would be the right one. Knowing that, she dropped to her knees and held her head high.

---