“You collared her?”“Not yet,” Logan said.
“Okay.” He felt at loss for words. A part of him was happy Harper didn’t wear another man’s collar, another part was sad that she didn’t have that touchstone she so desperately needed.
“Don’t suppose you ever bought a collar for her?”
“No. I thought you had?”
“We discussed it. But I didn’t put it on her neck. She loves you, Xander. She loves you too.”
“What are you saying, Logan?” Xander sighed.
“That we can share her and the signs in which we use to show that she is ours can be different. I bought her a ring. Unless you want to do the ring.”
“No. I said I couldn’t do this.”
“But you can,” Logan peeled off the wall and strode towards him. He put a hand on Xander’s shoulder. “You are exactly what she needs and youknowit. How has your alternative been without her?”
Xander shook his head. “Damn you.”
“And you will say that often to me, but we got to take care of her. She needs us both, Xander. She’s waiting for you,” the sly giant tilted his head towards Xander’s office door.
“You have no doubts?”
“Doubt, no. Xander, you saved my life and you saved Harper’s. You give people purpose, Xander. Let us give you this. All you have to do is claim it.”
Xander swallowed a lump in his throat. “You’re good for her Logan.”
“Yes, but I am better with you,” Logan clapped him on the shoulder and turned on his heel.
“Where are you going?” “Home. Ares told me you had an extra bedroom I could use. We’ll see you there tonight, for dinner.”
Xander shook his head, let himself into his office, and quietly closed the door behind him. His breath caught in his throat.
Damn.
Harper knelt, with her arms crossed over in front of her, her forehead touching the floor, with her back straight, in front of his desk.
Xander slowly walked around her, wanting to take in each detail. From her perfectly manicured nails to the golden circlet in her hair.
Xander rested his hand on her head. “Angel. This is a most lovely surprise.”
Her breathing hitched. “A good one, I hope Sir.”
“The best one I could have asked for. Stand.”
Flawlessly she did, her arms at her side, her feet slightly apart. He held her chin with his thumb and index finger and that one touch seared his fingertips.
“To what do I owe this visit?” Xander asked. He stepped back, watching her. She licked her lip and met his eyes.
“I needed… I couldn’t…” a slight blush spread across her cheeks. Xander crossed his arms in front of his chest and raised his eyebrow at her. He watched as she swallowed. She met his eyes.
“I needed to come and ask you to punish me, Sir.”
“For what?” Xander asked.
He wanted to see how much she would suffer for him. The way she held together her composure while searching for the words, he found exquisite.
“For leaving my work area so messy,” the smallest smile appeared on her lips.
