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He nodded toward Lila, and she looked to her left, where a dark-clothed man stepped forward with a black velvet pillow. Lila presented the pillow with the collar to James.
James took the collar and held it between us.
I saw it for the first time and gasped at its beauty. In the form of a necklace, it was made of gold and glittered with diamonds. A tiny, open padlock hung from one end.
I closed my eyes as he slipped it around my neck, the open ends with the lock falling on my chest.
“This collar is a public sign of our commitment to each other, of yours to me, a sign of your trust, of your acknowledgment that I will always be there to care for you, your needs, both physical and otherwise. It’s a sign of your willingness to submit to me, to let me care for you in all ways. I commit to placing you and your needs as the most important priority in my life. Do you accept?”
He held out a hand, and I placed mine in his as I knelt before him, holding my gaze on his. “James, I accept your collar, this sign of your commitment to me, and mine to you. I commit to accepting your place in my life as my Dom, to letting you care for me in all ways. I promise to accept and respect you, to yield to your authority as you have requested.”
James stroked a hand down my hair, then clicked shut the tiny golden padlock.
It was a faint sound, but the quiet in the club at that moment amplified it. I heard the click and felt it echo through me.
James extended his hand and helped me to my feet.
I turned to the pillow Lila held and took a small key suspended from a simple golden chain.
“I give you this key, sir, as a sign of my devotion to you, sir.” A slow smile curved my lips as our eyes connected. “By accepting this key, you agree to respect the relationship between us, to value me as a person, to respect my worth and intelligence, and never seek to destroy what makes me who I am. Do you accept?”
“I accept.” Then he dipped his head, which was a deviation, according to both him and Lila, from what would be considered a typical Dom’s actions. It was a sign that he understood and respected my independence outside the bedroom. After I slid the chain into place, he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me.
“With the exchange of the collar, lock and key, James and Tina have made their public commitment to each other.”
I heard Lila, but the words barely registered.
And when the others in the club clapped and cheered. I didn’t register that, either.
The feel of James’ mouth against mine made me forget everyone else.
As he pulled away, I had to force my fingers to release him.
He traced a finger over the curve of my lip, and the possessiveness in his gaze made my heart race.
As the ceremony concluded, he held out his hand and led me down the steps.
People stepped out of the way, clearing a path for us, and I realized I had no idea what came next. We hadn’t discussed that.
Was there some sort of reception following a collaring ceremony? I figured it wasn’t out of the question, but that would be…weird given that I didn’t know these people.
But James led me outside to the underground parking garage where he’d parked earlier.
“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice breathless.
He gave me a single, hungry look. “Home. Because if I have to look at you much longer wearing that dress and my collar, I’m going to lose it. I’m going to go crazy if I don’t get my hands on you, and soon. And we better be in a private place once I touch you…otherwise, I’m going to forget that neither of us is into voyeurism.”
My cheeks heated.
I stopped asking questions.
I was hot for him already, and if he kissed me or even touched me, I’d forget I too wasn’t into voyeurism.
Forty-Four
Maximus
I wokewith a raging hard-on and soft, silky hair spread across my chest.