Page 57 of Sub Mission

Epilogue

Baker

Samantha smirked at me. “A collaring, Baker?” She tapped her chin thoughtfully…with a heavy dose of smart-assery. “If I recall correctly, I remember a sub I used to have that made fun of the very idea of allowing someone to collar them. Did you know him? His name is Mr. Eat-His-Words.”

Grinning widely, I wrapped her in a hug and answered, “I’ve met him.” I winked. “Trust me, he’s seen the error of his ways.”

“Good to hear, love,” she whispered as she kissed my cheek. “I couldn’t be happier for you. Seth is perfect.”

“Hands off the merchandise, Mistress,” Seth teased as he sauntered over and wrapped his arm around my waist. “You had your chance.”

She grinned and released me to give Seth a hug. “No, darling,” she answered. “I never had a chance with this one. He’s always been yours…just waiting for you to find him.”

Pushing away from both of us, she said, “Now…where’s the alcohol? I’m not into this whole lovey-dovey stuff. I’m going to have to be completely shit-faced drunk to keep from sobbing like a cry-baby during the ceremony. My little man’s all grown up.”

Rolling my eyes, I said, “Dear Lord, you’re already half-way drunk now, aren’t you?”

“Of course, darling,” she answered. “I rode with Eli and I’m not planning on participating in any scenes tonight so I’m free to behave like a sloppy drunk…as long as I don’t do anything to ruin your ceremony.”

“Eli’s here?” I asked, my voice sounding a bit more high-pitched than usual. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Eli, quite the contrary, actually. He was a cool dude, funny, and incredibly good at his job. Over the past six weeks, Eli, Seth, and I had already managed to build a firm foundation to what would be a solid friendship in the future. The only problem was that the day Eli started working, Ari stopped. Well, Ari didn’t actually stop working, he just stopped coming into the office. Since his job was computer work, he was able to work from home.

Coward.

I’d told him just as much, but there was no getting him to budge on his stay-away-from-Eli line in the sand. He’d promised to attend tonight only because I’d participated in another pinky swear that Eli Wallace would not be invited. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. As it turned out, it looked like I was really bad at that pinky swearing thing.

“Oh, honey,” Samantha cooed. “Get that deer in the headlights look off your face. He understands he’s restricted to the club floor only. He’s here only to make sure I have a safe ride home. I don’t understand why he wasn’t invited, but he seems to agree that it’s for the best.” She looked around the intimate room we’d reserved for our ceremony and asked, “Where is the little twerp, anyway?”

Twerp? “I assume you’re referring to mybest friend, Arizona?” I countered. “He isn’t here yet. I’ll be sure to introduce the two of you as soon as he arrives.”

“Don’t bother,” she replied. “If he doesn’t like my Eli, then I’m not going to like him. No introductions will be necessary.” She blew Seth and me a kiss and then left us to make her way over to the bar.

“Well…that went well,” I told Seth. “You think she’ll tie Ari up and spank him before the night is over?”

Seth studied her for a second before answering, “No, he should be safe tonight. She’s a good Domme so she’d never lay hand on ass while drinking. He keeps acting like a teenage boy over Eli, and I can’t make any promises for the future of his safety, though.”

Seth looked around the room, checking for the hundredth time that everything was absolutely perfect, and then shoved his hands into his pockets. I was one hundred percent certain that was to keep them from fluttering around nervously.Who would have ever thought I would be the calm one?

“Everything’s perfect, Seth,” I whispered. “Stop worrying. If Ari doesn’t show up, Landon fires us, or Samantha dances naked on the bar, none of it will matter. When this night is over, your collar will be on my neck and nobody will ever be able to take it from me. Three months from now, your ring will be on my finger and mine on yours. Same story. Nobody steals what’s in our hearts.” I smiled, thinking of how I’d taken both our wedding bands to the jeweler and had them engraved. Seth hadn’t known of my plans, but I’d had zero doubts that he would approve. My band saidOwnedand his was engraved withOwner. When I’d shown them to him, he’d fucked me harder and longer than ever before, whispering words of love with each and every thrust.

“But is the venue okay with you?” he asked nervously. “I mean, I know it isn’t the nicest place in town, but this club is where I first trained as a Dom. This is what brought me to you and you to me.” He glanced around. “This room is nice enough and Jaxson worked hard to make sure it was decorated as beautifully as possible, but I can still hear moaning and the swats of paddles in the room next door. That’s not all right, is it?”

“It’s more than all right, Seth. It’sours.”

Before he could find something else to fret over, Ari breezed through the door. A huge grin split his face when he saw us. He rushed over, gave us both tight hugs, and said, “I’m here! Let’s get this party started!”

The words and enthusiasm matched the Ari I’d come to love. The way his eyes nervously darted around the room, no doubt searching for Eli.

“He isn’t here,” I assured him. “Just like we promised. Heisnext door, though, in the club. He’s Samantha’s ride home. She promised he won’t come anywhere near our room. You’re safe from facing your past and trying that whole communication thing you bitched me out for.”

“Touché,” he muttered…but looked relieved, nonetheless.

“It’s time,” Seth whispered. “You ready, babe?”

I smiled at him and answered, “I’ve been ready since the first moment I saw you. Give me your collar.”

“Better than that…I’ll give you my heart.”

*****

---