She shakes her head. “Definitely not the reason, Sir.”
“I was just making sure.” I cup her face with one hand and make her look at me. “I needed to know. Don’t get anything in your head. The rules don’t change. That’s the one and only time you will be permitted to orgasm on days your bottom saw my palm. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.” Her expression is serious. Good, because so were my words.
I drop onto the bed next to her, roll onto my back, arrange the pillows under my head, and pull her to my side.
She wraps her leg over my thigh and snuggles into me, setting her cheek on my chest. Her nightie has been left above her head. Forgotten for now.
I stroke my hand up and down her body for several minutes before speaking. “Why did you ask me to spank you earlier?”
“I don’t know, Sir. I just felt like a bad girl. You might as well spank me even before I misbehave because apparently, I can’t stop myself.”
“Do you like it when I spank you?”
She shakes her head. “No. I mean, I don’t think so. Maybe?”
I chuckle and kiss her forehead. “It’s okay to enjoy a spanking, Sabine. Lots of girls do.”
A few moments go by before she speaks again. “I think I like it when you spank me because I like it when you touch me. It makes me feel alive. It also makes me horny. But I don’t like it when you put me in timeout afterward and leave me by myself. So, it’s not reasonable that I antagonize you.”
I wrap my arm around her and pull her closer, wishing I were as naked as her so I could feel every inch of her skin against mine. Four more days.
And then what? And then she leaves? Is there a chance I might get to keep her and claim her body fully?
I’ve never been more uncertain or nervous about something in my life.
Chapter 18
Sabine
The next afternoon, I wake up from my mandatory nap and slide from the bed. I pick up my dress from the footboard and pull it over my head. The door to Master Kellen’s bedroom is ajar, so after putting on my shoes, I walk into his room.
He’s not there. He must be downstairs.
I wander farther into his room and drag my fingers along his bed, remembering how he made me come last night with his mouth on my pussy. It was by far the best orgasm of my life. If I could find a way to be a good girl, he would grant me that every night.
For how long, though? I’m supposed to leave in three days. Or at least that’s when our agreement ends. He hasn’t said a word about keeping me.
I spot a box on the floor next to his side of the bed. It’s out of place in his otherwise perfectly organized room. My curiosity takes over, and I drop down onto my butt and peek inside.
On top is a picture of Master Kellen with a beautiful woman. I lift it out and look closer. It must be his wife. They look so happy. He’s standing behind her and he’s got his arms around her shoulders. He’s smiling broader than I’ve ever seen.
I stare at it for a few moments and then glance back into the box, realizing that it’s filled with mementos. Several of the things have no meaning to me. Tickets to concerts and movies. A napkin. I look closer and see that their names are printed on it. It’s from their wedding.
A knot forms in my stomach. He’s been going through this today. He misses her. I’m so naughty that he would rather be reminded of his previous little. His good girl.
There’s a negligee and a preserved rose. A jewelry box I’m unwilling to open and fuzzy handcuffs. The silly kind that wouldn’t really restrain anyone.
On the bottom is a collar. My heart races. I’ve seen these before at the club. I’ve read about them. It’s delicate and pink with silver loops around it. He wasn’t just married to her. He collared her.
My fingers are shaking as I reverently touch the leather and then lift it out of the box. I feel so sad. For him and for myself. I can’t imagine anyone ever loving me so much that they keep a box in my memory. I can’t imagine anyone ever loving me so much that they would claim me so thoroughly and collar me.
I hold it to my neck, closing my eyes as I feel the leather on my skin and pretend I’m this loved.
“What the hell are you doing?”
I jerk my head around to find Master Kellen standing behind me. He’s angry. Hands on his hips. Brow furrowed. His face is red.
I drop the collar back into the box and spin around, pushing myself to standing. “I’m sorry, Sir. The box was just here, and I saw it, and I was curious, and I wanted to—”
He cuts me off with a hand in the air. “Stop. Enough. I can’t do this anymore. It’s too much.” His voice is raised. He’s beyond furious. “I’m done. You obviously don’t have a bone in your body that intends to be anyone’s little. I’ve had enough.” He spins around and flees the room.
My heart is pounding. I run after him. “Sir?”
He doesn’t look at me or even glance back. He keeps walking. Down the hallway and then down the stairs. He takes them at record speed.
I rush behind him. I feel like shit. I never should have opened that box. I don’t know why I did it. I wish I could go back ten minutes and never enter his room at all.
“Sir, I’m sorry,” I repeat as we enter the kitchen. “It was wrong of me. I shouldn’t have snooped.”
He grabs his cell phone from the kitchen counter and touches the screen a few times. His back is to me as he speaks. “Julius,
