Page 136 of Axe Marks the Spot

Her words sink into me, and I know she’s right.

“Talk to Dane. Discuss your future before you accept his collar. It may be a little scary, but things will work out. I know it.”

I exhale a breath, and rub my thumb over the woven leaves, the texture soft yet firm. I don’t know why, but it gives me strength. Just knowing that the item around my wrist was made by him for me is like he’s here without being next to me or touching me. “I’ll talk to him.”

Morgan squeezes my shoulder. “Good. Now let’s get back outside; our men are waiting for us.”

I stand and hug Morgan. “Thanks for being here for me. And for Kas.”

She hugs me back tightly. “Always. We’re family.”

40

Dane

THE LAST TIME I was this nervous was the first time I topped a submissive in my early twenties. Another Dom was watching, and the entire thing was intimate but also felt clinical. He was my mentor, there to see if I did anything that would make my partner uncomfortable. I didn’t, but it was helpful either way because I’ve always been a perfectionist.

In this case, my nerves are not about doing a scene with Lindsey again in person—I’ve been craving it since the last one—but everything to do with what I plan to ask her. Her progress with me is beyond anything I could have imagined.

When I said she was born to be a submissive, I was right. She’s only proven that to me the more we’ve worked together. She’s still a brat and will keep those tendencies because it’s part of who she is, but she’s grown in her confidence and willingness to submit to me. I know that will only continue the deeper our relationship grows, which is why I’m going to present her with the training collar I’ve gotten for her tonight.

I glance at the clock on my wall as I hear the gravel crunch beneath the tires of her car. It’s five minutes to seven, and with Lindsey, I know she’ll give herself a pep talk before she knocks on my door exactly one minute before the clock hits the hour.

I look around my space. I would have lit candles on the table, but after she told me the story of how her asshole ex cheated on her, I don’t want her to be triggered. Instead, I dimmed the lights, put a small bouquet of wildflowers that Kas picked for me earlier on the table in a vase, and left a square, velvet, black box in front of the place where Lindsey will sit.

The sound of her car door slamming makes the nerves in my stomach build, and I square my shoulders. I let her knock and pause for a few seconds, inhaling a breath before opening the door.

While I’ve learned how to keep my nerves from my features, I can see them clearly on Lindsey’s. She’s smiling, but there’s a tiny furrow in her brow, and she’s gripping her purse in front of her tightly. It’s not unusual for her to be nervous; everything we do is new to her. Tonight, though, what I’m going to ask her is new for me, too.

“Hi,” she greets.

“Hey, baby.”

The grip she has on her purse relaxes a bit, and I open the door so she can come in. The smell of her floral perfume wafts past me, tickling my nose. Once the door is locked, I face her, taking her purse and hanging it on a hook near the door where I keep my keys.

We stare at each other for a moment. She’s beautiful as usual. Her hair is lightly curled, and she’s wearing a bit of makeup. Instead of a dress like last time, she’s got on a flared black skirt that hits mid-thigh and a rust-colored V-neck shirt that brings out the chocolate notes of her eyes and hair.

I reach up and take a lock between my fingers, feeling the silky texture. “All this for me?” I ask, pulling gently on the curl, which bounces when I release it.

Her tone is cheeky and playful as she asks, “Who else would it be for?”

I put my hands in the pockets of the black slacks I chose to wear that match the black button-down I have on. The top buttons are open, and the sleeves are rolled up to my forearms the way I know Lindsey likes. It’s hard to miss when she stares at my chest and arms whenever she can, practically salivating.

I cock my head. “Already trying to get spanked?”

She almost bites the inside of her cheek, but I see her thinking better of it. Good girl.

“No.” She swallows and grips her hands in front of her. “Just a little nervous.”

I like that she’s being honest, even if I knew the information she just shared. I step closer so I can feel the heat of her body and brush my finger down the round curve of her jaw. I could tell her to kneel, allow her submissive pose to ground her, but not yet. We need to talk first, and I don’t want to get caught up in a scene. I don’t want her to be influenced in any way to say yes to what I want to ask.

I stop stroking her jaw to gently cup her cheek. “Is there a particular reason that you’re nervous?”

She wets her lips, and her skin flushes pink. “I—” She tries to look down, but I hold her face firm. Her jaw clenches beneath my touch, but I don’t waver in my eye contact, softening my gaze so she feels safe to tell me.

“Nathan, Morgan, and Fox know about us,” she says.

Of all the things she could have said, that was not what I expected. Especially when we haven’t even made it to the dining table yet.