The simple order had air rushing into mylungs.
“Again.” Letting it out, I sucked in moreair, just wanting to obey.
When everything seemed to be workingautomatically again, he nodded and brought his other hand to my face.
A long chain dangled between his fingers,each link in the silver necklace looking like a miniature piece of rope. As hemoved it closer, I saw a thick almost locket-looking piece hanging from it.Running the chain through his fingers, he clasped the large locket and turnedit over in his hands.
“Who do you belong to?” The simple questionhad only one answer.
“You, Master.”
“This will make sure you never forgetthat.” He stroked over the locket again, almost caressing the silver metal.“What do you think this is?”
I had to swallow several times before thewords would come out. “My collar?”
Please god let it be my collar.
“That’s right.” He smiled, opening somekind of latch that had the face springing open. One side of the locket hadmechanical-looking parts and the other side held a small inscription.
Owned
Loved
The two tiny words went right to my heart,but I forced myself to breathe and look into his eyes. “Thank you, Master.”
Smiling tenderly, he didn’t address thefive little letters that were like a gigantic elephant in the room. “If you’remine, that means I’m responsible for protecting you, aren’t I? A Masterprotects what he owns.”
Words just weren’t working anymore, so Inodded.
“Good boy.” Closing the locket, he gentlywrapped it around my neck and fastened it carefully. “This will not only makesure you always know I’m with you, but that you’re always mine no matter whereyou are. It has a tiny GPS embedded in it, so you’ll always be no more than athought away from me.”
Closing my eyes as the weight settledaround me, I scrambled to figure out what to say or just what I was feeling,but all I could do was shake. When Master’s hand came up and stroked my face,one hand still caressing the locket, I forced my eyes open.
He was watching me with a mix of wonder andfear.
“Promise?” I just needed to hear the words.
“Always.” He kissed my forehead beforeleaning his against it so he could see right into my eyes…right into my soul.“You will always belong to me. It might be a possessive owning type of love,but I love you more than I ever thought possible.”
Tears poured down my face.
Brushing away the tears, he gave me atender kiss and wrapped me in his arms. “Come here, baby. I’ve got you.”
Crawling into his lap, all I could do wascling to him and cry.
Chapter 20
Stuart
I knew the emotional flood was somethingakin to relief, but it still made my heart break to see him feeling that way. Losingall track of time, I just held him as he cried and the emotional cleansing ranits course.
As the tears finally slowed and he justclung to me quietly, I stopped rocking him side to side. Kissing his head, Istroked his hair and down his cheek. “How are you feeling?”
“Silly?” The quiet answer made me chuckle.
“Do I need to make you write lines? A fewpages ofI will not put myself downmight be good for you.” My grinwidened when he groaned and shook his head.
“I don’t feel silly. Maybe tired?” He easedback enough to look up at me. “The emotional kind. Not the physical kind.”
