When we pulled apart, he looked at me with that sheepish half smile. “It’s not the only gift I brought.”
Jer rinsed the last bit of soap from the blender and set it upside down to dry, then turned to Dirks. “You bring what I asked?”
I glanced between them. “What . . . ?”
Dirks smirked, already moving toward the door. “Yeah. It’s in my stuff in the back. Lemme grab it.”
Jer just stood there, leaning on the counter, watching me with that maddeningly unreadable expression.
“What the heck is going on?”
“Not for you.” Then, after a beat, he added, “Well... kinda for you. But really for him.”
That made me even more curious. My brows furrowed, and I tilted my head, searching his face for some kind of tell, but Jer just let the corner of his mouth twitch like he was enjoying dragging this out.
A moment later, Dirks came back, holding up his collar like it was a trophy.
“Oh, baby... ” I couldn’t help it—the sight made my pussy clench.
Jer gestured to me. “Hold out your hands.”
I stepped closer and lifted out my hands, palms up. He set a small black velvet box in them, his fingertips brushing my skin before pulling back.
Slowly, I flipped the lid open. Inside, nestled in the satin, were bright rhinestone letter charms, sparkling under the overhead lights.
Jer turned toward Dirks. “Hand me the collar.”
Dirks passed it over without hesitation.
Jer held it steady, looking at me. “TheM.”
I plucked the charm from the box and handed it to him. He slid it onto the piece of black leather near the neck ring with deliberate care.
“TheA.”
Another charm, another slow slide into place.
“TheD. . . ”
My fingers brushed the rhinestones before passing it over.
“TheA.”
I handed it to him, my breath catching as our fingers touched again. Dirks was just watching us quietly.
“TheM.”
The letters were starting to form something now. I bit my cheek, realizing exactly where this was going.
“TheE.” Jer finished, taking the last charm from me.
He slid it on and then held the collar up so we could both see the full word, glittering in a perfect curve.
MADAME.
The rhinestones caught every light in the room, throwing little sparkles across the wall, and my stomach tightened at the sight.
“It’s time we know who owns this collar.”
