Page 93 of Off-Limits

“I love it… but how?”

“How what?”

“It is custom made, right?”

I nod.

She glances down, toying with the sterling silver ring that circles the deep purple, heart-shaped amethyst, before trailing her fingers along the oval belcher links of the necklace.

“What does this mean to you, Damon, to us?” she asks, shakily.

“It means you are mine, and I am yours,” I say simply, and her head jerks up. “It’s a collar, baby. This is a symbol of our relationship and commitment to each other. I want everyone to know you are mine, but until you say those words, and until we tell Arrie, this is my promise to you; a token of my love for you.”

“Love?”

More tears stream down her face and I realise my slip.

“You love me?”

I smile at her.

“Did you doubt that Dottie, honestly?”

Launching herself at me, her lips finding mine in a frenzied kiss, all while she holds the collar in her hand, never letting go. She paws at me with her free hand like she can’t get enough of me, and I know the feeling because I can’t get enough of her.

Breaking free of the kiss, I rest my forehead on hers, breathing her in.

“Is that a yes?”

“You’re still an asshole.”

I start laughing, like full belly laughing with my head tipping back to look up at the sky. The anxiety and nervousness I felt earlier melts away, and in its wake is a deep sense of peace and happiness.

Dorothy is mine.

I am hers.

This isforever.

“Are you finished?” she asks sternly, but I can hear the smile in her tone.

Tipping my head forward, I lock eyes with those damn violet hues, and the shit eating grin on her face.

“Can you put this on me now, old man?”

“Stop calling me old man.”

Taking the collar from her hand, I instruct her to turn around so I can put it on her. Dottie does as I say, lifting the wayward strands of hair out of the way as I fasten it.

She turns back around coyly, and my anticipation mounts until she finally locks eyes with me. My gaze rests on hers for a moment, before flicking down to her neck.

The collar fits her perfectly. The sterling silver chain hugs her neck beautifully, and the ring and amethyst heart rests at the hollow of her neck, exactly how I pictured it.

When my eyes move back to hers, I know I made the right choice. The stone makes her eyes pop even more, and her purple hair almost enhances it, if that’s even possible.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because you are mine, Blossom. Irrevocably, utterly mine.”