Page 1 of Emergence and Ascendance

one

Scotlyn Whitney.

"Do people really do this?" I frowned at my laptop screen and scanned the questions once more.

Are you open to being owned or collared? Are you interested in public scenes, private scenes, or both? Are you open to playing with multiple Doms?

"Yes, they do. It's an entire thing. A really big one and before you start mentally backing out, you're doing this. A bet is a bet."

"They're asking me if I'm open to being owned or collared, if I want to fuck in public while people watch and with multiple men. I'm not doing this." I slammed the lid closed and reached for my wine. Tez groaned and I felt her annoyance but didn't fucking care.

"What you don't think you like, you can answer no or note it as open to discussion, which I suggest. You won't know until you try."

I reared my head back. "I damn sure know I won't be wearing a collar because I'm not an animal and that shit is weird. There is nothing sexy about a man putting a leash on you and dragging you around on all fours in front of people. Find something else because that…" I pointed to my laptop. "Isn't it?"

"You backing out on your word?"

"If that's what you want, then yes, I most definitely am."

Tezni was my girl. We had been friends since freshman year of college when we both ended up at a frat party, drank too much, and almost ended up a statistic but we managed to lean on each other and survived the night with our dignities intact. Since that day, we had been glued at the hip and she was now my girl for life. As much as I loved my sister, who was fifteen years younger, she couldn't even compete with the bond I had with Tez. So as much as it crushed my soul to let her down, I had to, because this wasn't happening.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want. Just select no if you really feel like it's a hard line but you're doing this."

She reached for my laptop, lifted the lid, then I heard the sound of her nails tapping the keys. Based on the smug grin on her face while she maneuvered, I knew our twenty-nine years of friendship was ending tonight.

"There. It's done."

She grinned and lifted her wine and my eyes narrowed.

"By done I damn sure hope you mean you withdrew that dumb ass request for membership."

"You're already a member. I did that last week. Oh and I used your card because I damn sure can't afford that shit. What's done is your request for a submissive play contract."

She turned the laptop toward me and I dropped my eyes to the screen.

Your request has been successfully submitted and is under review. A member from our staff will contact you within the next twenty-four hours.

I lifted my glass and finished what was left before wrapping my fingers around the bottle and filling it. Tezni did the same and reached for the bottle but I pulled it closer, ensuring it was out of reach.

"Bitch, don't act like that." She laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Like what?" I narrowed mine.

"Give me the damn wine."

"You have to drive home. I'm being a good friend."

She rolled her eyes again but this time with much more aggression and lifted from the chair. She walked to the kitchen and snagged a new bottle of wine, used the electric opener, and brought it back with her before she not so gracefully dropped into the chair across from me. We'd shared a full bottle, and had split the one I was now holding hostage, so we were both a bit tipsy.

"I'm not going home and you're being selfish because you're mad that I'm making you keep your word. I told your ass not to bet me because I was going to win." She filled her glass then tipped it in my direction. "Cheers, bitch."

Her silly ass was not going to let me out of this. I had no idea what the hell I was thinking, giving her free rein to lock me into this stupid bet. All I had to do was last three days without work. Three days and I failed miserably.

"This isn't fair," I pouted.

"I won't argue that but I also don't give two shits about this being fair. You agreed to the terms and now here we are." She tilted her glass back and smiled after taking down some wine. "I need to order a case of this. It's so damn good."

"Yeah you do." I reached for the bottle she was working on but she moved faster and grabbed it.

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