Emergence and Ascendance (The Collective #3)

Chapter 1

one

Scotlyn Whitney.

"Do people really do this?" I frowned at my laptop screen and scanned the questions once more.

Are you open to being owned or collared? Are you interested in public scenes, private scenes, or both? Are you open to playing with multiple Doms?

"Yes, they do. It's an entire thing. A really big one and before you start mentally backing out, you're doing this. A bet is a bet."

"They're asking me if I'm open to being owned or collared, if I want to fuck in public while people watch and with multiple men. I'm not doing this." I slammed the lid closed and reached for my wine. Tez groaned and I felt her annoyance but didn't fucking care.

"What you don't think you like, you can answer no or note it as open to discussion, which I suggest. You won't know until you try."

I reared my head back. "I damn sure know I won't be wearing a collar because I'm not an animal and that shit is weird.

There is nothing sexy about a man putting a leash on you and dragging you around on all fours in front of people.

Find something else because that…" I pointed to my laptop. "Isn't it?"

"You backing out on your word?"

"If that's what you want, then yes, I most definitely am."

Tezni was my girl. We had been friends since freshman year of college when we both ended up at a frat party, drank too much, and almost ended up a statistic but we managed to lean on each other and survived the night with our dignities intact.

Since that day, we had been glued at the hip and she was now my girl for life.

As much as I loved my sister, who was fifteen years younger, she couldn't even compete with the bond I had with Tez.

So as much as it crushed my soul to let her down, I had to, because this wasn't happening.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want. Just select no if you really feel like it's a hard line but you're doing this."

She reached for my laptop, lifted the lid, then I heard the sound of her nails tapping the keys. Based on the smug grin on her face while she maneuvered, I knew our twenty-nine years of friendship was ending tonight.

"There. It's done."

She grinned and lifted her wine and my eyes narrowed.

"By done I damn sure hope you mean you withdrew that dumb ass request for membership."

"You're already a member. I did that last week. Oh and I used your card because I damn sure can't afford that shit. What's done is your request for a submissive play contract."

She turned the laptop toward me and I dropped my eyes to the screen.

Your request has been successfully submitted and is under review. A member from our staff will contact you within the next twenty-four hours.

I lifted my glass and finished what was left before wrapping my fingers around the bottle and filling it. Tezni did the same and reached for the bottle but I pulled it closer, ensuring it was out of reach.

"Bitch, don't act like that." She laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Like what?" I narrowed mine.

"Give me the damn wine."

"You have to drive home. I'm being a good friend."

She rolled her eyes again but this time with much more aggression and lifted from the chair.

She walked to the kitchen and snagged a new bottle of wine, used the electric opener, and brought it back with her before she not so gracefully dropped into the chair across from me.

We'd shared a full bottle, and had split the one I was now holding hostage, so we were both a bit tipsy.

"I'm not going home and you're being selfish because you're mad that I'm making you keep your word. I told your ass not to bet me because I was going to win." She filled her glass then tipped it in my direction. "Cheers, bitch."

Her silly ass was not going to let me out of this. I had no idea what the hell I was thinking, giving her free rein to lock me into this stupid bet. All I had to do was last three days without work. Three days and I failed miserably.

"This isn't fair," I pouted.

"I won't argue that but I also don't give two shits about this being fair. You agreed to the terms and now here we are." She tilted her glass back and smiled after taking down some wine. "I need to order a case of this. It's so damn good."

"Yeah you do." I reached for the bottle she was working on but she moved faster and grabbed it.

"It's too expensive and out of my budget, but if you love me, you could gift me a case."

I reared my head back. "Why the hell would I do that?"

"Because it's your fault I'm addicted to this shit."

I barked a laugh. "How is it my fault? You booked the trip."

The wine was a special blend from Divine Vines, a vineyard we'd visited in Crescent Falls last year for my birthday.

We spent a long weekend, relaxing in one of their cottage suites, enjoying amazing food, pampering at their spa, and the best wine I ever had in my life.

The trip cost more than I knew Tezni could afford as a natural hairstylist but she made it happen because she loved me and it was her way of paying me back for all I do for her, even if I have never-and would never-keep tabs on any of it.

I gave from the heart, because I genuinely loved my friend, and the love and support she had given me over the years more than made up for it.

I wouldn't have survived my divorce had it not been for her.

"Guilty, but in my defense, I booked the trip because it was the perfect gift and I knew you would love it. My introduction to this wine is therefore your fault."

"Your logic is twisted as hell."

"Mmhm, now back to Erogenous."

I dragged my laptop closer. "Let me order that case for you."

She grinned and shook her head. "Nope, no deflection. Not even for a case of this." She lifted her glass and drank more. "It's thirty days and you gave me your word."

"That was before I knew your crazy ass was trying to turn me into a sex toy."

"That's not what it is."

"That's very much what it is. If I agree, I will be fucked, spanked, and sucked by a stranger in front of strangers and no…" I shook my head. "I'm not doing that."

"Girl, stop. You have a choice in how this happens. That was the purpose of the questionnaire."

"Which you filled out."

She shrugged nonchalantly. "I know you better than you know yourself."

"Not if you're trying to get me to do that shit." I narrowed my eyes.

"It's been six months, Scot."

I tensed and glared but her expression softened. "That man played in your face for ten years. He doesn't get to keep holding your happiness hostage."

"He's not," I defended but she kept quiet and just stared at me.

My ex-husband had completely demolished my trust when it came to loving someone-trusting them with my mind, body, and soul-and he never laid a finger on me in a harmful way.

For ten years, we were married, he loved, supported, and showed up for me in all the ways a husband should.

I believed in him, and in us, so much so that when the truth came out about him and his lies, I refused to believe I had been living one with that man.

"He is. You haven't been with anyone since the divorce…"

"I'm not ready."

That was partially true. I wasn't completely ready but I also missed having someone in my life.

I was married for a decade. That was all I knew.

A man in my home, in my bed, in possession of my heart.

One man that I trusted, depended on, and allowed access to the best and worst parts of me. I missed that and craved it again.

"You are. You're just not ready to be open with anyone again."

"Can you blame me?"

She shook her head gently. "No, I can't, but I also know you were happy with him."

"I was living a fucking lie."

"No, he was living a lie. You were a loving, caring wife to a man who didn't deserve you. You weren't the problem, Scot. He was."

"But none of that changes the fact that I wasted all those years with him. I should have known. I'm not doing that again. I refuse to trust someone else with the ability to hurt me like that, and hell, how can I trust another man when I can barely trust myself?"

I should have known…

"Trust." Her eyes were on me. "That's why you're doing this. Ever since the divorce you've been in this weird ass space of needing to control every little detail of your life and the reason is because you no longer trust. You need this."

I laughed arrogantly. "Sex with a stranger will not solve my trust issues."

"You have to trust him with your body, and that, friend, is a big deal."

I narrowed my eyes and she smiled wider. "Okay, okay, even if that's true, which it isn't, that's not exactly the point. Submission is about trust, physically and emotionally. Just try it, and if you hate it, then you can back out."

"No." I shook my head and finished what was left of my wine.

"You don't want to do it, fine. I'll let it go but only if you look me in my eyes right now and tell me that you're okay… and I mean really okay."

Shit!

No fake smiles, no fake love.

That was the vow we made and promised never to break years ago. We always told the truth, even when it was ugly and hurt.

"I'm…"

She narrowed her eyes, sensing the lie I was about to tell, and I sighed. "I'm working through it."

Tezni lifted from her chair, stumbled a little, but grabbed her glass and the bottle of wine she just opened. She rounded the table and kissed me on the cheek. "I'm going to bed."

I grinned. "With a bottle of wine."

She smiled lazily over her shoulder since she was already heading toward the bedroom on the first level of my home which she claimed as her own for nights like this. It was technically a mother in-law suite, so it was massive with an en suite that rivaled mine and allowed for privacy.

"Yep, neither of us have a man, so this is all we have to keep us warm at night." She lifted the bottle and the extension of her arm above her head almost made her fall over but she managed to correct herself before she crash landed.

I laughed and she paused at the entrance of the hallway that led to her room for the night. "You'll be in a city where no one knows you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain."

In a week I would be leaving for Crescent Falls to finalize the paperwork to purchase waterfront property I found after doing a random search of prime investment real estate.

This was my first solo venture outside of the Whitney name and a way to prove to my father that I didn't need the Whitney legacy backing me in order to be successful.

As much as I loved my family, and the privileges afforded to me because of our name, I also hated the control and lack of respect for my abilities because I was a woman.

My brother could do no wrong in my father's eyes, but with my sister Valerie and me, he questioned and micromanaged every decision we made, regardless of the fact that I successfully ran the development side of the Whitney legacy. I had something to prove and being distracted wasn't an option.

"This deal is important, Tez. I can't…"

"I know, but as much as you love the Whitney legacy, it can't love you back. I'll make a deal with you."

I laughed in amusement because why the hell did her delusional ass think I was making deals with her. She paused while leaning one shoulder against the wall. She needed the stability because the wine was really kicking her ass now based on how low her eyes were.

"I'm not entering into any more deals with you, Tez."

"You'll appreciate this one, and considering it's your only out, I suggest you take it."

"My only out?"

"Yep. You gave me your word and we never go back on our word. If you do, then it ruins the validity of our friendship, twenty-nine years of friendship, Scot."

"Bitch, I know how long we've been friends but I'm starting to question my sanity for allowing you in my life this long."

She used her hand carefully holding the wine glass and shifted her fingers enough to shoot me a bird without dropping the tumbler from a set of four I'd paid two grand for. "We've survived this long because you have tasted the rainbow and know what I bring to the table is invaluable."

"I have never in my life tasted shit on you and don't plan on it." I frowned and she smiled bigger.

"Okay… that did sound suspect but I'm drunk.

My point is you love me because I'm me, the very best person you have ever experienced in your life.

Your world would be in shambles if I wasn't a part of it, as mine would be if you weren't a part.

" She paused and frowned, then mumbled. "Shit, what point am I trying to make… "

"You love me, I love you. Go to bed, that's the point." This was my out. She was too tipsy to stay on course, which meant I could end this conversation.

"Bed, man, sucked and fucked, club, contract…oh yeah, that's what I was trying to say." She pointed the neck of the wine bottle in my direction. "If your application is denied, I'll let this go. If it's approved, you do the introduction session. And if you hate it then I'll let this go."

"No."

There was no way in hell I was going to a sex club to do whatever the hell she thought I was going to do there.

"Yes you are or it's going to get leaked that Scotlyn Whitney is trying to purchase and develop waterfront property in Crescent Falls, independent of the Whitney name and brand.

I bet your father would love that and I also bet he would snatch that shit up before you could even get your signature on the paperwork. "

She pushed away from the wall and I glared at my best friend whose death I was currently plotting.

"You wouldn't do that."

"I would. That's how much I believe you need this.

And as much as I know leaking that information would ruin our friendship, I'm willing to do it because I love you enough to make the sacrifice if it means you'll stop punishing yourself for that shit he did.

You need to step out of your comfort zone.

You have twenty-four hours to decide, friend. Love you."

My mouth dropped open and she disappeared down the hallway. A few minutes later I heard a door click and I considered all the ways I could murder my best friend and get away with it.