Nicky shoved his fingers into one pocket of his leathers. “Things have changed, Zebadiah. Steph and I are ready for more.”
Pushing down the panic wasn’t easy, but Zeb managed. “More?”
“Yes. Our time learning, getting to know you, has been wonderful, but we need more than a friend with benefits.”
Drawing a sharp breath, he looked from Nicky, down to Steph and back up. “And you think I look at our relationship as ‘friends with benefits’?”
“I don’t know. You’ve never said one way or the other. You submit to both of us, yet you run home afterwards, like your ass was on fire. You never speak of the future other than the one you’re building with your bakery.”
Zeb inhaled sharply. “I could say the same for you, Sir.” Folding his arms over his chest, he glared at Nicky. “You and Steph have a separate life from me when we’re not playing.”
“And that’s why this is going to stop.” Nicky tugged something out of his pocket.
As the metal glittered in the sunshine, Nicky twisted the links around his fingers. There was a small circular tag hanging from the middle of it. It held a black and silver triskallion, each one of its intertwined pieces representing a faction of the BDSM world: Dom, switch and submissive. It was unique, just like Zeb had thought their relationship to be.
“I had this is made out of anodized aluminum because of your gold allergy.”
Zeb’s mouth went dry as Nicky rolled the silver and blue chain between his fingers, letting the tag sway in the slight breeze. “You did?”
Nicky nodded. “But you didn’t ask what it was, il mio colibrì.” Nicky’s voice grew soft. “Ask me what it is.”
Zeb’s breath grew faster. He looked from Steph to Nicky. “What is it, Sir?”
“It is a byzantine chainmaille slave collar. I had them design it with captive inverted round links. Each link is built on one another, twined together until the links become stronger as a whole than they are separate.” Nicky sighed, but met Zeb’s eyes. The emotion in them was breathtaking. “But more importantly this collar is yours, if you want it.”
“For me? I don’t understand…” Zeb swallowed roughly. He’d never expected Nicky to offer him a permanent collar. Even though he’d fallen for both of them, he’d always thought of himself as their third - a treasured third they invited in their bed to spice up their love life.
“It’s simple. I love you.” Nicky brushed his fingers over Steph’s head. “Steph loves you. We want you to be ours.”
“You do?” His legs trembled at the thought of belonging to his Sir, to his Ma’am. Of sharing everything with them, of helping Steph take care of their Sir, of rubbing his Ma’am’s feet at the end of the day. It sounded almost too good to be true.
“Yes. All you have to do is accept it. Promise to love us enough to offer your submission, knowing we love you enough in return to give you what you need.” The stark need in his Sir’s tone stroked over Zeb, and made his choice easy.
“I…” He licked his lips, reaching out to touch the collar. “I already do. You’ve owned my heart from the first time you caught me on this path…Master.” Then he sank down to his knees next to his Ma’am…his sometimes Mistress, sometimes lover, but always the keeper of his heart.
“And Ma’am?” Nicky prompted. “What about her?”
“If you own my heart, she keeps it safe, Master.” Tears stung his eyes. “I can’t have one without the other, nor would I want to.”
“Thank God.” Master crouched down in front of him. “Expose your neck, Zebadiah.”
Tilting his head, he closed his eyes as Master opened the collar. A soft sound of acceptance escaped him as cold metal brushed his skin.
* * * *
Standing at the railing with Bella on one side and Davis on the other, Ethan’s breath caught as they watched Nicholaus slip the collar around Zebadiah’s throat. When the other man had asked if he could perform the collaring ceremony beside his duck pond, he’d never imagined it would be such a private affair. But he understood. His own collaring of his Sabella had been the same, and it seemed fitting Nicky had wanted to cement his bond with Zebadiah where they’d had their first date.
“Damn.” Davis’s soft explicative struck a chord inside of Ethan. The word had a wealth of meaning, and he couldn’t blame the other man. No matter how many times he witnessed a Dom collar a sub, it was always moving.
“It’s about time,” Bella whispered, leaning against him, seeking his comfort. Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her against him. “He deserves some happiness, even if it does mean we’re going to be losing one helluva a cook.”
Ethan pressed a kiss to her temple, understanding the light-heartedness of her response. She wasn’t upset Zeb had found a Master and Mistress, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t going to miss having him under foot. “No worries. We’ll just start a new tradition.” He nuzzled her neck. “Sunday brunches at Zeb’s bakery. We won’t let him forget he has friends who care.”
“No, we won’t,” She agreed as they watched Nicky haul Zeb to his feet and plaster his mouth over his submissive’s.
The End
ABOUT DAKOTA TRACE
Dakota is a simple Midwest girl, who has found her passion in storytelling at a young age. Her father always said she made up the craziest stories. Most remained unwritten though as writing wasn’t Dakota’s strong suit. That all changed in junior high when she took her first typing class. Problem solved for the dyslexic Dakota. There was no stopping her after that. She wrote her first novel her freshman year about a girl who could speak to animals on an old electric IBM typewriter her dad found at a garage sale. Now writing in several different genres, she is a published author with multiple books under her belt. When she isn’t writing, she’s the crazy mom of three wild Indians who are posing as her children, a loving wife to the man of her dreams and a full time Web Design Major at IADT.
If you enjoyed Essential Master you might also enjoy:
TEMPORARY MASTER
By Dakota Trace
Ethan Tremaine may be a man in denial but his desire to dominate has never changed despite his fear of forming a relationship with his submissive. Instead he now trains them for others and is perfectly content to do so. He doesn't want to ever risk the pain he felt at his dead wife's desertion ever again. He's just released his current submissive to a fellow Dom when he realizes he has no one to assist in an agreed to demonstration at the Kinkfest coming up, which could be detrimental to their new club. Frantic he jumps at the chance when his partner, Davis offers to find him a new sub who loves shibari, never expecting that he's been set up.
As a collared sub, Sabella Johnston lived for her Master's approval. But now un-collared and back home with her recovering father, she is at a complete loss. It's been months since she's felt the familiar feel of rope around her body. When her best friend, Lauren begs her to help out with a bondage demonstration, she agrees as long as gets the chance to meet the Dom, and add her own stipulations. But once she meets Ethan Tremaine, sparks fly between them and she's having a hard time remembering her own conditions.
Excerpt from TEMPORARY MASTER:
Within minutes, Kaleb was back. When she didn’t notice anyone with him, she figured Ethan had left. Disappointment tugged at her, even if it had gone no further she’d wanted to be able to put a face to the voice she’d talked to on the phone. “Oh, did he leave?” She forced the words past her suddenly tight throat.
“After waiting all day to talk to you, no, I wasn’t going to leave.” The softly spoken words teased her ears before sending shivers down her spine. Despite their soft tone, the command in them was undeniable. She nearly fainted when the Asian man from earlier in the afternoon stepped out from behind Kaleb. With his long dreadlocks pulled back at the base of his neck and striking Japanese features, he carried himself with a strength which belied his slender build. Dressed in a pair of loose but neatly pressed linen pants and silk shirt, he exuded confidence.
Pushing herself out of the chair, Sabella tried not to stare. She was so focused on the good doctor she barely noticed Kaleb leaving the room. “Hello, Dr. Tremaine. Kaleb was right, you’re very good at blending into your surroundings. I never would’ve guessed the man I spoke with on the phone was the same as the one who held the door for me earlier today.”
Ethan tipped his head. “Why? Just because I’m a Dom doesn’t mean I lack manners, Ms Johnston. Even though at times I might seem to.” He paused for a moment to take her in. “Believe it or not, I’m sorry if what I said on the phone upset you. I didn’t intend to. There are too many wannabes in the scene, and I jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
She sighed, acknowledging his point, before finally nodding. “You’re right. There are. Apology accepted.” Uncertain what to say, she finally blurted the first thing which came to her mind. “You know you’re not exactly what I was expecting.” She pursed her lips. “But I suppose I should’ve been. Considering Davis’s earlier threat.”
He chuckled. “Which one? The one to kick my ass, or the one where he’ll lock me in my own dungeon for the next week if I, as he puts it, “fuck this up again”.”
Shifting his weight a bit, he took a cautious step forward and closer to where she was standing. It was as if he were trying not to spook her. A slow smile teased her lips. It was hard to stay mad when he was being so careful with the way he handled her. “Relax, I’m not a horse.”
He arched an eyebrow at her, stopping with less than two feet separating them. “Some of the things you Americans say. Do I even want to know what horses have to do with this situation?”
“The way you were treating me. Being cautious, talking in a soothing manner. It’s as if you’re expecting me to bolt at any moment like a startled horse.”
“Ahh.” Understanding shone in his eyes. “Much like people from my mother’s family do when they work in with abused shiba inus.”
Tipping her head, she frowned. “You’re honestly comparing how you’re treating me to the way your family treats an abused dog?” Her face reddened, she knew she wasn’t fashionably thin but it didn’t mean she was a dog... “I know I’m a bit heavy for my height but there’s…”
“Stop right there.” The command had her drawing up short. Her eyes flew up to meet his. Their bright green depths were now frosty with displeasure. Everything submissive in her wanted to apologize. This whiplash thing going on with her emotions needed to stop, she decided as she fought the urge to drop to her knees and plead for his forgiveness. But he’s not my master. I have to remember I don’t have a Dom anymore.
He moved closer, his hand cupping her chin. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with your body. If I have my way about it, I’ll get the chance to see it embraced by my ropes. Now repeat after me, “there’s nothing wrong with my body”.”
Disbelief coursed through her. She’d thought he was confident before, but where had this dominating presence come from?
“I’m waiting.” Softly spoken his words jolted her with both surprise and the unsurpassed need to submit. He obviously didn’t have an issue with waiting for her to repeat his words.
“There’s nothing wrong with my body.” She gave a sigh as he stepped back with a pleased nod.
“Since we have that out of the way and you’ve excused me for my rudeness on the phone earlier, can we discuss the possibility of you helping me with my upcoming demonstration?”
YOU’VE REACHED
“THE END!”
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Essential Master (Doms of Napa Valley) Page 25