Capturing Callie (25 page)
“Callie, I asked you a question.” Jace’s stern tone brought her attention back to him.
“Oh, Master Jace, I’m sorry, I was sort of…well, lost for a moment. Can you repeat it please?” Her voice was too tight and high, he needed to get her back under his control and quickly. He had no intention of letting either of his friends down.
“I asked you if you trusted us, sweetness. Don’t fall into panic. Show us how much you trust us to do exactly what is best for you.” Just as he’d spoken, Ian landed the first of his two lashes. Jace watched as her eyes went wide, and he knew it would have felt like a quick line of fire down her back—startling, but far from the pain she had been expecting. He pinched her peaked nipples and then rolled them tightly between his fingers and heard her moan softly. She fell into the sensations quickly, and he was pleased when she arched her back after Ian’s second lash. He knew they were pulling the lashes because Ian didn’t want this to be how she remembered her wedding night, and he had agreed. He leaned forward and kissed her lightly before moving off to the side so that Ian could take his place.
As he walked around a movement at the side of the crowd caught his eye despite the bright stage lights. Taking the whip from the assistant, he realized the woman he’d seen was Holly Mills, the voluptuous beauty that had been working in Ian’s downtown executive offices for the past year or so. A couple of months ago he’d walked around the corner outside the office building and seen Holly stumble back from out of a man’s reach. He was sure the man had been yelling before he’d seen Jace, but when he’d stopped to check on Holly, she had insisted she was all right. She had missed the next several days of work, and Daph had said she had called in with the flu. He hadn’t believed it, but hadn’t had a chance to make any further inquiries. Leaning down, he instructed the sub who was working as the stage assistant to find Master Gage immediately. If Holly was here because she was interested in the lifestyle, the evening had just gotten a lot more interesting.
Turning back to Callie, he walked up and slowly traced Ian’s lash marks with the pads of his fingers. He planned to lay his alongside the others. He and Ian had everything timed out, and she was right where they wanted her to be. Leaning forward, he licked the shell of her ear and whispered, “When my lash falls, you will come for us. Scream your Master’s name so that the entire world knows that your heart and soul belong to Ian.” He bit the lobe and moved back at her moan.
His lash landed perfectly, and the instant the line streaked down her beautiful back she came, screaming Ian’s name. Jace was pleased to see everyone in the audience had stayed quiet in respectful silence waiting for Callie to be released and to kneel at Ian’s feet to receive her collar. Ian hadn’t wanted her to be naked as was the tradition, so as he was releasing her arms while Jace raised and secured her beautiful violet gown.
Ian turned her and once again addressed the audience. “My beautiful wife has pleased me in more ways than I can tell you. Her beauty radiates from her soul all the way to the surface and shines so that it warms everyone around her. Because she is so extraordinarily special, I have chosen something unique to show the world that she belongs to me. I wanted something that leaves no doubt that Callie McGregor is the most important person in my life.” Jace had picked up the velvet box from the side cabinet and opened it for him. He saw Callie’s unfocused gaze land upon the contents.
Ian had worked closely with the designer making sure her beautiful ring, the arm bracelet, and matching ankle bracelet were perfect in every way. The Celtic designs reflected his Irish heritage and were also reminiscent of their trip to Ireland months ago. The McGregor family crest was stamped in the design as were the words “Ian’s Carlin.” The arm piece would effectively camouflage the scar that Callie was so self-conscious of as well. The pieces were magnificent. Literally, one-of-a-kind masterpieces that would likely be featured in every fashion magazine for weeks—along with speculation as to what the unique jewelry represented.
Let them wonder.
Ian saw Jace whisper to Gage and the other man glance to the side of the room and then nod. Following their line of sight, Ian had to smile to himself. He knew who Gage had just been sent to secure, and he was glad Jace was finally going to make a move on the woman who had caught his eye so many months ago.
Looking back at Callie, he saw her eyes widened with appreciation and love and then filled to overflowing with her sweet tears. “Callie, by accepting these gifts, you are acknowledging me as your Dom, your protector, your mentor and provider, and your lover. I want to remind you that as my submissive, you will follow my orders, keep no secrets, and you will trust that every decision I make is made with my love and commitment to you in mind. You own my heart, my love.” Ian slid both bands into place before snicking the hidden locks closed.
“Yes, Master.” She kissed the small titanium key he held to her lips, and then he dropped the chain holding the small octagon shaped key back inside his shirt. Smiling to himself, Ian thought about all the hours he and Jace had spent designing the hidden locks and the look of fascination on the young jeweler’s face as they’d explained the drawings to him. Ian had given each man one half of the royalties off the design they had patented. He’d lend his name and the Club Isola endorsement so the lock would probably be worth millions to each of them for several years to come. His only request had been that the young jeweler break the molds for Callie’s pieces.
As they’d planned, Jace stepped to the front of the stage and spoke to the applauding group. “Ian and Callie will be taking a few minutes to themselves, and then they are hoping to greet each and every one of you at the reception. In the meantime, the bar is now open, the food has been set out, and it’s time to celebrate. Here’s to a very special union, good friends, and future celebrations filled with whips, chains, leather, and lace.” Ian had laughed out loud at his friend’s boisterous start to a party that would certainly last until dawn’s first light…but first, he had a newly collared bride to attend to.
THE END
For years, I was accused of living in my own little “Fantasy Land” so I decided to put it to use and started writing. I enjoy creating characters who are loveable but never perfect, who live in and visit places I’d love to go, and who overcome obstacles to find the sexy happily ever after I believe we all deserve. I fall in love with the characters I create and enjoy making them each wacky and wonderful in their own way.
The only consistent trait in my heroines is their inability to cook and that is the only trait they each have “inherited” from me. When I’m not working at my very ordinary job, I am either writing or reading. And even though my family professes to support my writing efforts, but I’m fairly certain they are merely glad to see I’ve finally found an outlet for what they have always considered my over-the-top imagination.
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