Page 86 of His Toy

“It was right out in the open,” a woman’s voice said. Sure enough, the woman held one in her hand. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were snooping.”

I shook my head quickly. “Just oblivious.”

She tilted her head. Her hair was tied into a low bun, almost like a ballerina. Her curves were the hourglass shape that every woman wanted. I recognized her.

“You’re the woman from Club Hades! The dress! Lily!” I said. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“I was wondering if you’d recognize me. You looked good in that thing, better than me.” She winked. “Now, if the rumors are true, you managed to reel in Zaid. That’s quite the catch you have there.”

There was kindness in her eyes even when I was an outsider to the Afterglow, and now, I was part of the group. I touched my collar. So much had changed since I had first walked into Club Hades. I had been a woman searching for her sister, only knowing that people sometimes used furry handcuffs to get off. And now? Now I knew that I liked being restrained in rope, with Zaid’s hands raking my body, that I liked obeying his every command. I didn’t have to search anymore. I had found my home.

Zaid put an arm around my back. “You meet again,” Zaid said.

“You know, I tried to banish her, but she came back anyway,” Lily said.

Zaid nodded at Lily. “If you’ll excuse us.”

We socialized, like any couple would, because we were a couple. Hazel and Grant hadn’t made it to the party, but that wasn’t surprising. Hazel was understandably cautious of the Afterglow community. But the people who had threatened me at Club Hades that first night apologized, and the rest of the group told us how glad they were to see the end to evil. We told them about the work we were doing to help provide safe travels for women and children seeking safety from their abusers, connecting them with good companies that could help provide the right resources.

I wandered off to the back patio, gazing out at the lake in the darkness, the moon shining down in one long streak on the water. While he had been able to keep the secret of this party away from me, I had seen the new collar he had custom ordered, with the matching engagement ring. Channel set and rose gold. I touched the collar on my neck, knowing that I’d wear this one while hiking, the new one all other times. The new collar may not have been on me yet, but it was coming. And I knew the answer.

Yes, sir. Yes, Zaid. Yes, my love.

I went down to the water and took off my shoes, letting the cold, refreshing water come up to my ankles.

“I thought I might find you down here,” Zaid said.

He wrapped his arms around me, and I pulled his arms tighter. It felt so damn good to be in his arms, to behome, to feel like everything in the world was finally right. My sister was safe. I had closure with my parents. And I had Zaid.

“Everything is set for the through-hike,” he said. I was excited. Even with the long journey ahead of us, it would be amazing.

“Come with me,” I said. I pranced into the shadows. “Let’s get lost together. Right now. Let’s explore the lake.”

He caught up to me and held my hand. The moonlight circled us in a calming glow. We walked around the lake, both of us barefoot.

“There’s something I need to ask you,” he said. “Or show you. Offer it to you.”

“Is it a secret?” I asked.

“You could call it that.”

I smiled, squeezing his fingers in mine. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t afraid. I had a feeling I knew what it was.

THE END