He stays still for a few more moments, searching my face again. Then with a deep sigh, he reaches behind him and opens the drawer next to the bed. He retrieves a flat black case and hands it to me apprehensively.
“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to wear it.”
I glance at the case in my hands, swallowing anxiously. It’s definitely not a ring box, but it looks like a jewelry case of some sort, and that makes me nervous.
I move my fingers to the unhinged sides and open it slowly. Inside is a beautiful white gold and diamond studded piece of jewelry. It isn’t a necklace, but looks more like a dainty choker. The front has a small circular opening with a tiny pendant style chain and a larger diamond attached within.
“I’m not a strict devotee of the BDSM lifestyle,” he says with an awkward laugh. “But as you’re aware I’m familiar with it. And, well, I kind of like the idea of collaring you. If you wear this, it means that you belong to me.”
I smile at the implication, logic be damned.
“It’s stunning, Gabriel.” I smooth my fingers over the band, noting how strong it is even though it appears delicate.
“It’s like you,” he says in a teasing voice.
“What?” I blink up at him.
“Tiny and willful.”
I laugh and shake my head, picking the jewelry up and handing it to him.
“Put it on me, please?”
Relief floods his eyes as he pulls my hair over my shoulder and clasps it around my neck.
“Beautiful,” he murmurs in a husky voice.
I stand and walk to the mirror on the other side of the room to check it out. I’ve never worn anything this extravagant in my life, and it feels a little strange. Jewelry isn’t normally something I’d go gaga over, but this is different. It has a much deeper meaning.
Gabriel walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist as I stare at my reflection.
“Do you like it?” he asks.
I turn in his embrace to face him, leaning up on my toes and kissing him softly on the lips.
“It’s stunning,” I reply. “But, that’s not why I love it. I love it because you said it means I belong to you.”
***
We arrive back in the city early Sunday afternoon. Gabriel seems reluctant as he drops me back at my apartment, and even I miss him already. As I turn to go inside, he stops me.
“Don’t make any plans tonight,” he says with a grin. “I have a surprise for you.”
There’s only one thing that wicked smile could mean, and my own face lights up in response.
“Okay, what time?”
“I’ll let you know.” He kisses me chastely on the forehead before disappearing down the stairs.
Once inside, I curl up on the couch and rehash my weekend with Alanna. Afterwards, she regales me with stories about her wild sexcapades with Nathan. For being a financier, he’s into some pretty kinky stuff.
At 3:00 pm, there’s a knock at the door.
“Delivery for Miss Kelly,” the familiar voice calls out.
I bolt to the door, nearly tripping over my own feet on the way. After I collect the gold box from the courier, I turn around to find Alanna smirking from the couch. I can’t even find it in me to care. There’s no hiding my feelings for Gabriel at this point.
I pull the familiar white note card from the top, inspecting it eagerly.
My place.
4:00 pm.
Wear this, but bring a change of clothes, please.
Gabriel
Geez. That isn’t even an hour from now. That means I have forty minutes to get ready and be downstairs. Talk about being at his beck and call. For a moment, I actually toy with the idea of showing up late, and it sends a delicious tingle down my spine. Gabriel hates waiting, and there would surely be punishment involved. But ultimately, I decide for the sake of my already sore lady parts, I better just go get dressed.
Once I’m in the privacy of my own bedroom, I peek inside the box. Inside lies what, at first glance, appears to be a giant pair of fishnet stockings. But as I pull it out and hold it up, it takes the form of a full fishnet bodysuit. I don’t even know how to begin to put something like that on.
After ten minutes of struggling to get into the thing, I’ve finally achieved my task. Only then do I realize it’s completely crotchless. And how very little it holds to the imagination.