He moved to stand in front of her, the whip poised in his hand.
“I love you,” he murmured so softly only she could hear. He reached for the sash at her waist. Giving it a pull, he undid the bow and her robe fell open.
Taking a step back, he struck her across the left breast, leaving a searing line of fire along her skin. She drew in a sharp breath, tears of pain leaping into her eyes, which she rapidly blinked away. She was breathing hard, but had managed to hold her position and remain silent, as directed. She glanced down at her breast, where a dark red welt was rising along the pale flesh. Submissive pride blossomed inside her, unfurling like a rose.
Master Cameron reached for her arms, gently pulling them down to her sides. “You handled that with all the grace I expect from you. You please me, Jess.”
He led her to stand beside him in front of the fireplace. The room was silent with expectation. Jess’s breast was throbbing, but she resisted the urge to run her fingers over the welt. Master Cameron reached for her, bringing his hands around to the nape of her neck. A shiver went through her as he unbuckled the red collar and pulled it away. He set it on the table alongside the oblong box.
Returning to face Jess, he took both her hands in his as he smiled down at her. In a strong, sure voice, he said, “Jess, do you freely give me the gift of your submission?”
“Yes, Sir,” she whispered, her voice failing her as she stared up into his clear gray eyes.
Master Cameron reached for the velvet box. He opened it and removed a beautiful collar that Jess saw at once could pass for vanilla jewelry. It was made of delicately woven strands of gold, a single hoop dangling from the center.
You could have heard a pin drop as Master Cameron placed the collar around Jess’s neck. She sighed with happiness as he clicked the clasp closed.
Taking a step back, he again took both her hands in his. With the solemnity of a groom reciting his wedding vows, Master Cameron said, “I accept your gift, and promise in return to enslave you with love, strength and compassion. I will dominate and protect you from this day forward. I will cherish and adore you with all my heart.”
As she was absorbing these beautiful words, he dropped her hands and took a step back. Then, to her shocked surprise, he lowered himself to his knees. He held out a closed hand to her, as if something were fisted inside.
Jess was confused. The formal collaring had taken place. What was left? As she stared down at the handsome man kneeling before her, he opened his hand, revealing a beautiful ring in the center of his palm.
She gasped as she took it in. It was a ring of the same design as both Brandon and Cleo wore, with a small O-ring dangling from the center of the band. But instead of hammered silver, the ring was a deep, rich gold, and the O-ring hanging from it was made entirely of tiny, glittering diamonds.
Master Cameron, still on his knees, asked, “Jess, will you wear this ring as a symbol of our commitment to each other, not only as Master and sub, but as equal partners in love?”
She stared at him dumbly a moment, unable to fully understand what was happening.
Master Cameron rose to his feet, the ring still proffered on his palm. “I’m asking you to marry me,” he said with a chuckle.
“Yes,” Jess cried. “Yes, oh, yes!” Joy inflated inside her like a helium balloon, nearly lifting her off her feet as Master Cameron slipped the ring onto her finger. Everyone in the room burst into spontaneous applause as she threw her arms around his neck and he pulled her close.
Standing on tiptoe, she whispered in his ear, “Yes, Master Cameron, my darling, my love. I will.”