* * * *
Paul stretched out on top of her again and tried to recover. Vaughn had a fabulous mouth, and she used it with exquisite expertise. It had taken all his control to keep from jamming his dick down her throat. He hadn’t wanted to scare her. She relaxed under him, and her glorious breasts were waiting to be plucked. He took them between his lips and began to leisurely play with the little nubs while he regained a measure of his strength. He rose from the chaise, picked her up into his arms, and walked to the extravagant bed. He placed her gently in the center, stripped out of his trousers, vest, and boots, and joined her. He pulled the coverlet over them both. She nestled into his chest and closed her eyes. He watched her sleep. He knew that this woman was everything he wanted, and he wanted to build a future with her.
When they woke, Paul got up and walked to the closet where the dungeon attendant had stored his toy bag. He rummaged around inside until he found the boxes he was looking for. He put them on the table near the bed before he returned to the armoire. He brought out the ice bucket with the bottle of Dom Perignon champagne, popped the cork, and poured the golden liquid into two flutes. He returned to the bed with the glasses of champagne and handed her one.
“To us, baby, and to a triumphant return to the dungeon. I’m very proud of you. You’re a champ.” They both sipped the bubbly liquid before they set their glasses down and he kissed her again.
“Thank you, Master. I’m glad it went so well.”
“I have some surprises for you. I hope you like them.” He reached for the two black velvet boxes and handed her the first one. She looked at him with an inquiry in her eyes. When he nodded she opened the box. Inside rested a black patent leather play collar with a silver buckle and silver studs and crystals decorating the surface. It was curled around a thin matching leash.
“A collar. I’m so excited. Will you please put it on?”
“Of course.” He reached over and buckled the collar around her neck. “This one is for use when we’re at the club, in the dungeon at home or at a play party. Open the other box next.”
When she lifted the lid on the second box her eyes popped wide. “Wow, Paul. This is gorgeous.” Black and white diamonds decorated the fat, puffed, platinum heart pendant that was suspended from a braided black leather necklace. It lay next to a matching bracelet.
“This can be your day collar. You can wear the necklace or the bracelet, or both. I won’t expect you to wear them all the time.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever want to take them off. Wait until Alexa and Cyndy see this. They’ll be so excited. Ha. And a little jealous.”
“No, they won’t. They helped me pick it all out. I wanted something that would be appropriate for you to wear at school if you wanted to.”
“I love it.” She leaned over and kissed him hard.
He kissed her back and then looked deeply and seriously into her eyes. “I love you, Vaughn. I know I haven’t said it out loud before, but I was waiting until I was sure of how I felt and that you were ready to hear the words. I hope you do want to hear them because I couldn’t wait any longer to say them. I want us to be together. A couple. Not just for a while but permanently.” When she didn’t say anything he was beginning to get nervous. Had he rushed the moment? Was she not ready? Did she not love him?
Finally she said, “Oh, Paul. I love you, too. I didn’t think you were ever going to say the words, and I couldn’t say them first. I thought it might be a Dom thing. And the girls told me in Florida that you never get serious with subs, that you send them on their way after a couple of scenes. I was waiting for you to send me on my way any day now.”
“Vaughn, I’m never going to send you on your way. In a few months when everything has settled down and you are sure about us, I’ll want to get engaged—a short engagement, so start thinking about wedding colors and all that girl stuff.”
She started to laugh. What the fuck was funny? “Don’t look so upset. I’m just laughing because I told Alexa and Cyndy not to start picking out my wedding colors that first day in Florida. They aren’t going to believe it.”
“Yes, they will. We’ve already had the permission to marry you slash wedding color discussion. I know those two are the closest thing you have to family, and I wanted their approval. Needless to say, I got it.”
I can’t believe they kept their big mouths shut about this. That’s unbelievable.”
“They are waiting in the lounge for us to come out and show them your collars.”
She laughed again with joy in her heart. “It just figures they would know all about it before I did.”
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I was born in New Jersey and grew up an only child on a small farm in the “Garden State.” My father grew acres and acres of flowers for commercial florists and various produce, such as tomatoes. My high school years were spent at Wayne Hills High School, where I was not one of the popular, preppy kids, or one of the hoods—which kind of left me in limbo as I wasn’t one of the brainiacs either. Weekends were spent going into “the City” and Greenwich Village with my friends and doing a lot of things I probably shouldn’t have—don’t tell my grandkids!
After attending Katharine Gibbs School in Montclair, New Jersey, I began a career as a legal secretary and then a paralegal. I moved to Florida and currently live in Davie, Florida, with my dog, Snickerdoodles, aka The Dude. I was married for eight years but have been single for many years. My major addiction is jewelry, but any kind of shopping will do for a fix!
After my longtime job as a paralegal was ended by the economic downturn, I decided to turn lemons into lemonade and finally write the stories I’d had in my head for many years. I had always wanted to write romance novels, but my family and job kept me too busy.
My major interest aside from my family and friends is horses. I enjoy putting an animal character into my stories if possible. I am extremely “low-tech” and probably should have been born in the 1800s, as I enjoy driving a horse and buggy for fun. I also enjoy horseback riding, but the ground has gotten harder and farther away over the years.
I have a small farm and vacation home in Ocala, Florida, which is my favorite place in the world. There’s nothing as wonderful as swinging in the hammock in the shade and listening to the music of the wind in the pines while cuddled under a quilt reading a good book.
Books have always been my escape into love and adventure, and through reading, I have been able to be many people, do many things, and go to many wonderful places I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to be, do, or see.
I hope that all hardworking women who have a moment to put up their tired feet and relax with a cup of coffee—or a glass of wine—will feel like they have had the opportunity to enjoy a trip to beautiful South Florida, my own backyard. I hope they also enjoy getting to meet my fantasy friends and experiencing something new and different with a touch of hot romance thrown in for good measure!
New adventures with old and new friends will continue with this new Black Dahlia Hotel Series.
For all titles by Skye Michaels, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/skye-michaels
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Vaughn's Awakening [The Black Dahlia Hotel 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 13
