Page 55 of Follow Me
“I’d also like to negotiate becoming your slave and wearing your collar again, Sir,” she said when he let her breathe once more. “If you still want to.”
He blinked back tears as he nodded, barely daring to hope this was happening.
She stared up at him with her gorgeous blue eyes. “Then when you’re ready to collar me again, I’d like that. I won’t ask for a timetable. I’ll leave that up to you, Sir.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled her bracelet out, smiling as he held it up. “How about right now?”
He’d grabbed it after getting dressed more as a good-luck charm for tonight, and hadn’t planned to tell her he had it in case she hadn’t asked for it. He hadn’t wanted to pressure her.
She smiled and held out her right wrist.
But when he tried to slide it onto her hand…
It wouldn’t fit over her hand.
Her eyes widened. “Motherfucker,” she muttered.
He burst out laughing, crying, laughing some more and kissing her, and swearing at himself, because he’d stupidly not thought to bring the hex key with him.
He’d thought she was still far too thin for it to be a problem.
I guess I have my own perception problems to work through.
And she laughed with him, long and hard, something they hadn’t done in a forever, it felt like.
He finally got himself under control. “I…I don’t have the key with me, sweetheart. I’m sorry. It’s at the house.”
“That’s okay.” She draped her arms around his neck. “How about we go home and you can put it on me there?Afteryou give me a spanking for uncollaring myself without permission.”
He shook his head. “I’ll give you a spanking, but for fun, not for punishment.AfterI collar you.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. “You kept your promise, baby. You’re my perfect, beautiful girl, and you did what you had to do to protect yourself.” His voice grew hoarse again. “I’llneverpunish you for protecting yourself. Even if you’re protecting yourself fromme.”
* * * *
Mal hadn’t anticipated having this problem with her collar. Then again, she hadn’t expected him to have it with him, either. She’d had no clue.
Isn’t that more proof this is the right thing to do?
The old Kel would have likely hinted and teased, or outright told her he had it to let her know he was open to whatever she wanted.
New Kel watched and listened, following instead of leading.
Protecting her rear instead of trying to plow through the jungle ahead of her regardless of the fact that they weren’t heading in the right direction.
They packed their things, made sure they left the house—especially the kitchen—the way they’d found it, locked up, and headed home.
Theirhome.
The first thing he did after they unloaded the car was Kel led her into their bedroom, retrieved the hex key from the dresser drawer where he kept it, and knelt in front of her.
“You have to ask me for it, sweetheart.” His voice had dropped back into what she thought of as his Master tone. Soft, gentle, but deeper and possessing a hidden iron strength his shadows concealed from everyone but her.
Her voice trembled. “I want to wear your collar and be your slave, Master.”
He brought her right hand to his lips, turning it so he could feather kisses along the inside of her wrist. “I offer it to you with a vow that I will always be faithful to you. That I will protect you and love you forever. That I will ask you what you need from me to best care for you, and I will do everything in my power to make that happen. I will follow you anywhere you lead me, and when you ask it of me, I will carry you. I’m not perfect.”
He choked back a tearful laugh. “Boy, am I not perfect.” She laughed with him, but he continued. “But I’ll never give up on you, or on us, baby.” He met her gaze. “You’ve already proven to me that you will absolutely protect what’s mine despite my own dumbassery. But will you allow me to own you, baby?”
She nodded. “I want you to own me, Master. Please?”
