Page 140 of Axe Marks the Spot

“If you choose to wear it, it’s confirmation that you’re mine, Lindsey. We will be exclusive. You’ll be my submissive, and I’ll be your Dominant. Outside of that agreement, you’ll be my partner. ‘Boyfriend’ seems too average for what we’ll be, but that’s what the world will know me as. I will not only take care of you, but you’ll also submit to me as you have been. We’ll discover exactly how that works for us day-to-day, as I don’t believe twenty-four seven submission is what either of us want. But the bottom line is that this collar”—I hold it up—“isn’t only your commitment to me. It’s a commitment to yourself, to your submission. To wherever we choose for our relationship to go in the future, marriage or otherwise.”

Lindsey shifts in her chair. “You’re positive you want all that with me, Sir?”

“You’re the only person I want this with.”

She smiles, and another tear drips down her cheek.

“It’s alright if you need more time to think—there is no right or wrong answer. I know this is a lot to take in.”

Lindsey leans forward. “I’ve been thinking about you giving me a training collar for weeks now. I want your collar, Sir. I want to explore with you, to see what our future holds together. I’ll admit I was scared before, but when I think about committing to you, I’m not scared anymore.”

The slight tension in my shoulders eases, and Lindsey looks down at the collar before meeting my eyes. “Will you put it on me, Sir?”

Joy I’ve never felt before radiates through my body. I lift my hands and hold hers so we’re both grasping the collar together. “Are you accepting my training collar, baby?”

“I am, Sir.”

“Do you accept me as your Dom to guide you, protect you, and take all that you are as mine?”

“Yes.” She nods. “I do, Sir.”

If I was the type of man to cry, my eyes would match hers. Instead, I squeeze her hands again before I sit back, keeping the collar in my own.

“Kneel for me,” I command.

There’s no hesitation in her body as she gets off her chair and kneels the way I’ve taught her. Like the good girl she is, she leaves her eyes on mine, palms up and knees spread wide. I would have preferred her naked for this, but that day will come. Hopefully when I place a permanent collar around her neck.

When she’s settled, I stand and walk behind her, moving the chair so I have more space.

“Lift your hair for me.” When she holds her hair back, I pause for a moment and take in the scene of her fully submitting to me, waiting for me to secure my vow to her and hers to me with this simple choker. I know the training collar is only the first step in our future together, that our relationship and dynamic will evolve, but I never thought I’d have this moment, nor did I dream of it. But now I can’t imagine it any other way or with any other person.

I bring the collar around her neck, her entire body becoming lighter as I secure the snap in place. Lindsey lowers her hair, and I circle around her, pushing my own chair back so I can hold her chin in my hands.

Her cheeks are wet, but there’s an ease about her that wasn’t there before. Her features are soft, her eyes now clear. I admire her, knowing this is a huge moment for us.

“Beautiful.” I brush my hand down the column of her neck, my fingers lingering on the leather. “How do you feel?”

Her warm eyes lock with mine, and her easy answer hits me square in the chest like a lightning strike that shoots shocks through my body and lights every nerve and blood vessel on fire. “Like yours, Sir.”

I hum in Dominant pleasure, pressing my thumb to her lower lip. “Good. Because you are. Now, it’s time for you to show me.”

I turn and reach under the cushion of my chair, where I stowed another special treat. I pick it up and turn back to her, her eyes widening as I snap the clip on the end of the leash to the O-ring of her collar.

I turn and gently tug. When she doesn’t move, I look over my shoulder with a devilish grin. “Well, don’t just kneel there, baby. Follow me.”

41

Lindsey

I CRAWL BEHIND DANE like a pet on a leash. I should find it humiliating, but in fact, I find it the opposite. I feel calm, at peace, especially with the weight of Dane’s—my Sir’s—training collar around my neck. The gentle pressure of it along with the tug of the leash as we head toward his bedroom is a feeling I didn’t know I needed.

I’ve read about being collared on blogs from submissives on sublife.com. Many say it was a day they’ll always remember, maybe even the best day of their life, regardless of if it was a play collar, a training collar, a collar of consideration—the next step up—or a permanent collar.

Over the last two weeks, I’ve imagined what it would be like to receive my training collar, what it would look like and feel like around my neck. But nothing could compare to the actual thing.

And while I can’t call this the best day of my life, since becoming a mother holds that spot, hearing Dane’s vow, feeling him put the leather choker around my neck, is a close second. It’s hard to describe how it feels other than right.

The bridge of my nose stings, and I blink back the tears, bringing my focus to the bite of the wood floor on my knees as I crawl and the gentle rustle of Dane’s slacks as he walks in front of me. We pass through a doorframe, and when the edge of his bed comes into view, he stops. Like the first night I was here and he had me crawl, my skirt is short, and my sex is partially exposed. I feel the air of the room against my heated skin, the black thong I wore for tonight already soaked. I debated if I should even wear underwear, but I slid this pair on at the last minute in hopes he would like it.