Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
JASON
Sunlight pours into the window, fighting past the blinds and curtains to flood the room with its ungodly brightness. Groaning, I flop my hand over my face to block it out. But it's no use. I'm awake now.
Looking over to the side, I smile as Rhylee still sleeps, her soft snores just another adorable facet to such an amazing woman. Thankfully, it gives me time to put my plan into action.
I pull out my phone and message Aaron, needing his help to get everything set up. Though the club is no stranger to collaring ceremonies, there's still a lot of work involved. Knowing Michelle the way I do, however, she'll move heaven and earth to make it happen.
With a soft grin, I hide the collar in the nightstand and make my way to the kitchen to prepare Rhylee some breakfast. With each step I take, I’m confronted with the life we’ve lived in this house. Even though this place is full of memories, it really is too small. When I first bought it, I only had myself to think of. Part me wonders if Rhylee never put her mark on this place because she was worried about over filling it.
Even now, as I let my mind wander, she only has what's necessary to live. If she wasn't with me all night, every night, I'd think she still had an apartment somewhere with the rest of her stuff. Hell, I probably never noticed because my heart always feared she would never be able to stay.
This new house signals a new begging for both of us. She's more than allowed to take up space in my home and in my heart, and it's high time she realizes it. My mind continues to whirl, never stopping, as I set the bacon to sizzling and scramble the eggs.
“Mmmmh. Something smells good in here,” Rhylee moans as she makes her way into the kitchen. “Does your sous chef need to help prepare anything?”
“No, but she can certainly get her cute butt back into bed and keep resting.”
“Is that a suggestion or an order?”
I turn to her and give her a wolfish grin. “It's a suggestion you will really want to take.”
Her lips part into a wide smile as she giggles. “Noted. The invalid will go back and rest her arm.”
“Good girl. Grab another dose of pain meds while you're there.”
“Yes, Master,” she calls out.
It never fails to get a primal response out of me. As much as I want to tackle her to the ground and fuck her until she has trouble walking, I need to take her needs into consideration. And right now, that's breakfast.
As I plate up the food, my phone pings with a message from Aaron. Perfect. It's all coming together.
Rhylee's eyes light up as I set the plate in her lap and give her a gentle kiss on the forehead. “Tell me honestly, how is it feeling today?”
“It’s really not as painful as I thought it would feel. I don’t know. It feels sort of bruised, but no worse than a heavy session with you.”
“That's good. I want you to get well as soon as you can, so I can leave other marks on your delectable body. In the meantime...” I open my phone and make a swiping motion toward the flat screen on the wall. “While you eat, I was thinking we could look at houses.”
“So you're serious then? You weren't kidding last night?”
“Baby,” I murmur, dipping my head down to give her lips a gentle kiss. “I will never joke about our future. It's too important. You are too important. Now then, I've put in some search parameters, and these are the results. I also wasn't joking when I said I wanted a dungeon in the basement. No objections, I hope.”
She swallows her bit of egg as her scent of arousal perfumes the room. With a chuckle, I pull up the first listing. “Didn't think so.”
For the next several hours, we look through house after house until my heart starts to sink. Next to me, Rhylee, ever the optimist, continues wriggling about in the bed after finally catching house hunting fever. But so far, nothing is sparking either of our interests.
“Oh,” Rhylee whispers, her heart pounding in time with mine.
I look up at the screen and stop. “Perfect,” we say in unison.
Not only is it in our price point, but it's very close to work and our friends. Now, instead of relying on the club to get together, we can have them over at our place. Through the bond, I feel her excitement grow.
Until now, I didn't realize just how much of her wanted to host and serve. Well, now she'll have her chance. Dragging the information off of the screen, I send a message to the real estate agent, seeing if we can see it today.
My submissive is a jumpy mess as we wait for the response, but then, so am I. We're this close to having everything. This close to life being perfect. Her squeal of excitement when they answer back in the affirmative, hurts my ears, but I can't stop smile as her exuberance takes over the room.
“Well, I guess that means you need to rest while I work on some logistics. I want you well rested before we go look at the house this evening.” Even as she lies back against the pillows, I know she's not going to get a moment of rest.
Honestly, I'm just relieved she's so excited. It's certainly a far cry from where she was last night. Once more, I message Aaron. He should know all about the location, since it's very close to where he lives.
* * *
Rhylee shuffles beside me, bundled up against the cold. All traces of pain in her shoulder seem to be gone, but I can't tell if it's from the miracle of modern pain pills or the excitement I feel wafting off of her. I can't help but smile as she pulls ahead of me, only to slide back to my side where she knows she belongs.
“What was that about you being the goodest girl?” I tease, hugging her close.
“I mean... yes. But we're looking at a new house!”
With a smile, I pull her back and let the agent on ahead. “You were so hesitant last night. What has you so excited now?”
“I think a good night's sleep let everything percolate in the background. Honestly, it was silly of me to rebuff your idea. So many things happened all at once yesterday that I was overwhelmed.”
“And now? What do you think of the house?” I pull her in front of me as I lean against the white picket fence.
Her body molds to mine as our breath hangs in the air. “It's even prettier than the pictures showed. But I don't know. It's so...”
“Wholesome?” I supply.
“I was thinking quaint, but yes. I think wholesome applies. I mean, it has the perfect shutters, the perfect little porch. It looks like it belongs on some family sitcom.”
“Yes,” I murmur in her ear. “But just think of how filthy and depraved it will be on the inside. People will walk by and think we're some lovely, run-of-the-mill couple, never knowing that I'll have you chained up to a Saint Andrew's cross while I whip your pretty little flesh.”
Her body writhes against mine as all sorts of depraved thoughts flit through her mind.
“Soon, my pet. Soon.”
Gripping her hand in mine, we take after the agent and tour the house. Just as I hoped, everything is perfect. Though the outside still has that older, charming feel, the inside has been completely redone with a modern couple in mind. Even the kitchen is state-of-the-art, perfect for a pair of chefs looking to have fun with their friends.
“Can you give my wife and me a moment?”
“Certainly,” the agent says with a smile. “Take all the time you need.”
Turning back to Rhylee, I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, can you see forever with me in this house?”
“Most certainly.”
“Excellent. Then I'll have the agent put in an offer. But first.” I get down on one knee and pull the box out of my jacket.
Rhylee gasps and puts a hand over her heart. Through the bond, I feel how hard it pounds. Honestly, it almost mimics mine. Now that the moment is here, I didn't think I'd be so nervous.
“I never did get a chance to properly propose to you. We have the government to thank for that. But I have a question that I feel is far more important than if you'll marry me or not.” Opening the box, I let her look at the band of silver nestled on the blue silk. Her eyes and the bond say it all. Even without me asking, I know the answer. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my collared slave?”
“Yes,” she screams out, hurtling herself toward me. “A million times, yes!”
I just barely manage to move enough to catch her instead of her running into me and hurting her shoulder all over again. Shaking my head, I find that I can't even be all that upset with her. My little slave never ceases to amaze me with the joy she brings into my life.
“In that case, we have one more stop to make.”
* * *
White fairy lights twinkle, covering the entrance way to the club. It all looks so magical, like a dream. But it's not. Just one look at Rhylee tells me it's my new reality.
Next to me, her eyes shimmer with unshed tears as she takes in the soft lights. “Did you do this?”
“I may have had a little help.”
At the entrance doors, Aaron and Michelle stand proud in their elegant clothes. Tears stain her cheeks as she holds them open for us to enter. Inside is just a lovely with silks and lights draped from the ceiling down to the floor. Smatterings of candles lend an ethereal glow. This is what our wedding should have been like.
On either side of a makeshift aisle, our friends from the club sit and wait, their large smiles making my heart squeeze with happiness. As soon as Aaron takes his place at the front, he motions us to walk forward.
“Dearly beloved,” he starts, then laughs so hard he has to stop to wipe his eyes. “I'm just teasing. You've already done that part. As you all know, Jason and Rhylee found their start here in this club. He felt it was only fitting that we, his kinky family, observe as he and Rhylee commit themselves together as Master and slave. Jason, you may proceed.”
“From the moment I saw you in the restaurant, I knew I had to have you. You were a young, na?ve little submissive who yearned for a loving hand and stern guidance. It has been my privilege to watch you grow and blossom into the submissive you are today. My submissive. Even if we weren't matched by the government, I would have put my collar around your neck. Damn the consequences.”
I take in a deep breath and continue. “You are my world, my life, my soul, and the very air I breathe. I promise, as your master, I will care for you, cherish you, and honor you with my body, my words, and my very being. You are the only one for me, my precious Rhylee, and it is my hope that you will wear my collar with pride.”
Aaron steps forward again, his eyes suspiciously wet. “Rhylee, if you accept his ownership of you, then kneel.”
Without hesitation, she sinks down to her knees, so poised, so graceful. “I don't have anything planned,” she croaks out, unshed tears clogging her throat. “Not like this. But you, Master Jason, are my life, the air I breathe, and my very soul. It will be an honor to wear your collar. In this life and in the next. There is no one else for me but you.”
My hands tremble as I put the band around her neck and lock it in place. The trust and love I feel flowing through the bond nearly bring me to my knees. As I ease her up from the floor, I find I cannot resist the allure of her lips any longer. It's been far too long since I've kissed my bride.
“Forever?” I whisper against her lips.
“And a day,” she replies back, sighing as our lips finally meet.
All around us, the others cheer, but I barely hear them. All I can hear is the pounding of our hearts through the bond. Two hearts, one beat. As it should have been from the very beginning.