“Tristan is one of my best friends and has been for years. Anything between us is strictly platonic. I’m telling you this upfront because Claudia was jealous of our friendship, and it posed problems. I’m a no-nonsense kind of girl, and I’d like it very much if we could be friends minus the ladydrama.”
“I would like thattoo.”
I think collaring Emma Lia has given her a confidence that wasn’t therebefore.
Cat inhales sharply when she sees the platinum infinity collar around Emma Lia’s neck. “My God. I’ve never seen anything like that. It’sbeautiful.”
Emma Lia touches the collar. “Thank you. I’m in love with it.” And I’m in love withher.
She leans in for a better look and her brows rise. “Infinity links, Tristan? No one will mistake her for beingavailable.”
“The wholepoint.”
Cat sighs. “Listen, I don’t mean to stir up shit as soon as you walk into the club, but I feel like I need to tell you that Claudia ishere.”
“She’s temporarily living with E. I would be surprised if she weren’there.”
Thank God I warned Emma Lia about Claudia’s attendance here tonight, and she had time to mentally prepare herself for seeingClaudia.
“Her presence doesn’t surprise me either, but the fact that she’s wearing your collar and parading around here like she still belongs to youdoes.”
What the fuck? Did I hear Catcorrectly?
I look at Emma Lia. “I made her remove that collar when I ended our relationship. I put it away months ago, before I brought you to my house. Before you became mysubmissive.”
Emma Lia’s lips form a hard line. “Well, apparently she took it back before sheleft.”
“I warned you that she was going to be a problem,” Catsays.
“That crazy bitch has been nothing but a pain in myass.”
“I swear that she won’t leave here wearing that collar, mon bien-aimé.”
Emma Lia nods. “Oh, I know she won’t. Because if you don’t get it back, I’m going to throat punch her and take her down and rip the fucker off of her neckmyself.”
Cat bursts into laughter. “Ooh, this one I like. You should keepher.”
I wrap my arm around Emma Lia and pull her close, kissing the top of her head. “I have everyintention.”
We make the rounds, and I introduce Emma Lia to some of my closer friends within the lifestyle. The ones that I’ve known for years. The ones that I trust. The list is limited, but it does include Emma Lia’s personal shopper, Elizabeth, and herhusband.
Elizabeth grasps Emma Lia’s hand and makes her do a spin. “I did a good job on choosing this one if I do say so myself. It fits you like a glove,sweetie.”
“I love it. Definitely one of my favoritedresses.”
“You feel sexy in it, don’t you?” Elizabethasks.
“Ido.”
“I noticed that the tags were still on it when I delivered your clothes last week. I was beginning to think that Tristan didn’t likeit.”
The dress was obviously chosen for the club. “I was just waiting for the right occasion for her to wearit.”
Brian joins us and wraps his arm around Elizabeth. They’re at ease right now, enjoying the party and socializing, but he will take her into one of the rooms and do a scene before the night is over. He alwaysdoes.
“Emma Lia, this is my Master and husband,Brian.”
“Elizabeth has told me so much about you. It’s very nice to meetyou.”
