I give her a stern look. “I would. Happily.” My imagination quickly darts down the dark alley of what orgasm denial would look like with her.
Fuck.
“Okay, alright,” she says. “What do you want me to wear?”
I swallow and walk over to the wardrobe where I’ve instructed my staff to put clothes I picked out for her. I choose a slim-fitting pair of black jeans and a low-cut pale blue cashmere sweater.
“This is the softest thing I’ve ever felt,” she says. “It’s like wearing a cloud!”
My chest swells. I tug a lock of her hair. “You like it?”
“Loveit.”
Once she’s dressed, I open a small black box I’ve kept on top of my dresser. “The final piece,” I say, opening the box. My heart turns when I see the fine links of metal and the heart-shaped lock. I lift the collar and hold it up for her. “You’ll wear things to indicate you’re with me.”
She watches silently, her lips slightly parted, as I slide the necklace around her. I lock it and slide the key into my pocket.
“I’m not sure how they’ll know that I’m?—”
I slide the second piece of the necklace out of my pocket and she eyes it warily. I snap the chain on her neck.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Savannah
I am goingto be led through Le Luxewith a collar and chain around my neck.
A week ago, I’d have thought this was not only preposterous, but also insulting.
Now, I find myself more aroused by a piece of jewelry than I ever thought possible. Because it isn’t the jewelry, I realize fairly quickly.
It’s what it symbolizes.
I know he doesn’t want to be a couple. I’ve gathered that much.
But it’s actually not that he doesn’t want to.
My gut says that something happened to him. He’s afraid. He doesn’t want to misstep or push me away. But I know that if he truly didn’t want me here, he’d have gotten rid of me a long time ago. And I know that if I wanted to be his, my sister orFabien’s protests wouldn’t sway me. I’m a grown woman and fully capable of making my own life choices.
Thayer commands this club. They call himsirandthey obey his command. He’s basically the commander in chief of Le Luxe, so I don’t actually believe he doesn’t want to overstep because he fears his brother’s disapproval. That’s out of character for him. Thayer apparently fears no one but himself.
For some reason, he doesn’t trust himself with me, and I want to know why.
Now isn’t the time for questions, though. Now’s the time I pay attention to every damn detail I can because this is where shit gets real.
I’d been blindfolded and whisked through Le Luxe so quickly, I’ve barely gotten to see what it holds. Now, he’s bringing me along as if I’m with him, and that makes all the difference in the world.
“You’re shaking like a newborn kitten,” he says as he fastens the length of chain on my collar.
“You’re collaring me,” I say, unable to hide my excitement. “That’s a leash. This is where shit gets real and I’m so fucking excited.”
He opens his mouth to say something, then thinks better of it. Instead, he leans in and kisses my cheek.
“You’re beautiful,” he says as he turns away, as if he doesn’t expect a response. He says it like it’s a fact, as if he doesn’t tilt my entire world on its axis with every compliment he gives me.
I open my mouth to thank him, when a sharp shake of his head stops me. “No more talking without permission. We’re going into the club, and you know what that means.”
I nod. Risk. Exposure. Danger.
