Chapter 17 #2
“Well, she’s pretty when she’s pissed.” Damien ran his gaze over my friend and she jerked her eyes up to meet his.
“I’m always pretty.” With that, she signed on the dotted line, all the while Damien was watching her with acute interest. I had a feeling those two were an explosion waiting to happen. Maia quietly signed her contract as the room watched on.
My nerves jangled in my tummy. As if he could sense it, I felt Alfie take a step closer to me. Not touching, but allowing his presence to comfort me. I gave him a small nod, letting him know I was okay.
“Alright, ladies. Just one more thing.” Mr West opened a drawer and placed three jewellery boxes on the table in front of us.
He opened one to reveal a simple white collar with an NTC pendant.
On the back the letter ‘ T ’ was engraved.
“You’ll wear these from now until the moment you leave the grounds.
As club rules state, the keys to your collars have to be carried by a neutral party, in this case, a Teller that you didn’t come with.
So, Mr Strauss, you can take Miss O’Connell’s.
” I watched as he handed my key off to Kal.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about some stranger having the key but Alfie gave me a reassuring smile.
“I’ll take Miss Hyde’s.” Eli pocketed Maia’s key and I didn’t miss the heat in her eyes.
Perhaps I’d underestimated little Maia Hyde.
“And Miss Larson, your key can go with?—”
“Me.” Damien snatched it out of Eli’s hand and stuffed it in his pocket, grinning at Keira. “Guess you’re stuck with me for the night.”
“Guess so. Maybe you should stretch first, you know, warm up a little. I wouldn’t want you to pull something when I put you through your paces later.”
“Anyway,” Eli continued, and I think we were all grateful for the interruption, “when you’re ready to leave, find your key carrier so they can remove it for you.
Each collar has a tracking device inside so that our security team can make sure that you aren’t anywhere you shouldn’t be.
” He cast a stern eye over each of us and I tried not to bristle at the insinuation.
It made sense. They had to cover themselves.
“These collars can only be handed out by a Teller. The initial on the back signals to the members which Teller you’re with–in this case, Mr Tell.
The collar also warns our members that you are only a guest, meaning that you’re protected but also don’t have access to certain privileges or activities.
After reading the paperwork you understand now what those activities are.
If you try to enter the Onyx Rooms in any way, you’ll be reported and immediately removed from the property.
Whilst it might seem extreme, this collar also protects you.
Without it you may find yourself drawn into situations you aren’t ready for. ”
Eli’s speech finished, a silence fell over us, five sets of male eyes resting on us three, waiting for our decision.
I’d known about the collar already, Alfie had told me about it the night he told me about Charles, but now that I was holding it in my hand, the thought of wearing it filled me with anxiety.
“We really can’t go in without putting it on?” I looked up at Alfie. He turned to me, sealing us off from the rest of the room.
“It isn’t sexual. You aren’t being collared, just protected. There’s no ownership or control here.”
“Right, because you’d never force a tracker on her, would you, Moneybags?” As always, my best friend had hit the nail right on the head.
Alfie kept his gaze fixed on me. “Trust me.” I fell into his gaze, realising that that’s what all this was.
One big trust exercise. He was trying to show me he had changed.
If I wanted to stand a chance at ever trusting any other man again, I had to try to trust him first. I had to mend that part of myself that he’d broken.
Slowly, I handed him the collar and turned away from him, lifting my hair.
I felt the eyes of everyone in the room on me as he fastened it around my neck.
Why does it feel tight? I swallowed the lump in my throat.
Why does it feel good? I wanted to lean back into his arms, to feel his ownership, but I kept my spine straight.
Keira was watching me, concerned, but I gave her a smile, telling her I was okay, even though deep down I was in turmoil.
Curiously, Maia tipped up her chin as Mr West placed her collar around her neck, holding his gaze with none of her usual shyness.
Keira tried to take hers from Damien but he held it out of reach.
“Allow me.” Before she could argue, Damien stepped into her space, fastening the collar around her neck with deft fingers. I watched the tension hum between them for a moment before she stepped out of it, turning to Eli.
“Can we party now?”
He gestured towards a side door. “You’re good to go.”
Keira grinned, spun, and flounced out of the room.
“Keira…” I called as Maia, Damien, and the rest of the Tellers followed suit. Alfie took my wrist.
“Don’t worry, my Tellers will keep an eye on them.
They’ll be fine, I promise. But you…you don’t leave my side tonight.
” I gave him a withering look, one that reminded him I was way over taking his orders.
“Lola, please.” What was he telling me? Tonight was huge for him for so many reasons.
I need you. Those were his unspoken words.
“Fine.” I agreed.
He smiled, relaxing. “Are you ready?”
Excitement overtook my anxiety, bubbling up into my chest. I grinned up at him, smiling at my excitement mirrored in his own eyes.