Page 30 of Slave

Stephan

I’d picked up some sandwiches at one of my favorite delis. Honestly. I wasn’t that hungry after Brianna’s breakfast, but she might be. I had also told her I would be bringing something home, and I needed to be consistent above all else.

The closer I got to home, however, the more my eyes kept drifting to the black box on the seat next to me. Was this really the right thing? What if it was pushing her too far, too fast? There were so many things she didn’t understand, so many things I didn’t feel I could tell her yet. Was collaring her now the best thing to do?

That was the thing, I didn’t know. Sitting there watching her this morning, the decision had been clear. Now, the doubts started to creep in again.

Before I could even think it through, I picked up my cell and dialed Logan. After four rings, he answered, slightly out of breath. “Hello?”

“Logan. Sorry to bother you. I didn’t mean to interrupt something,” I said apologetically. Logan had been out of town on business for the last few weeks. I knew he and Lily had had plans, and I knew without a doubt that I was interrupting them.

“Don’t worry about it. It was nothing that won’t wait.” I heard a door shut in the background and knew Lily was cursing me right about now. After a few more seconds of silence had passed, Logan asked, “So what’s up?”

“I’m assuming Lily told you about her time with Brianna?”

His voice turned serious. “She did.”

I let out a sigh of relief. Although I’d been positive Lily would share, I didn’t want to assume, every relationship was different. “Good. Well, something happened this morning.” I took a deep breath and plunged into the story including a mention that this wasn’t the first time she’d implied that I’d “give her back” or “send her away.” After finishing the story, I said, “I’m going to collar her.”

My entire body clenched waiting for his reprimand; I was sure he’d start screaming at me any second. But he didn’t. Instead, I was met with silence.

I waited, but still nothing. “Logan?”

“I’m here, Stephan. You’re obviously concerned about it or else you wouldn’t have called me. What has you worried?”

“I’m just afraid I’m doing the wrong thing . . . that it’s too soon.”

“Why do you want to collar her?”

My answer came out before I could even think about it. “It’s what she wants.” Then I paused. “I mean, she doesn’t feel like I’ll keep her without it, I guess. And I want her to feel safe, to relax with me and not think that every time she turns around that I’ll send her back to Ian Pierce or worse.”

“What does your gut tell you?”

I sighed. “Collar her.”

The smile in his voice came through the line. “There you go.”

“Thanks,” I said sincerely. Logan had always been my voice of reason.

“That’s what I’m here for,” he said, and then added, “Oh and I expect to meet her soon. I feel a little left out.”

“I’m not sure, Logan.” I hesitated. “I mean, she’s very skittish.”

“That’s what Lily said, too. Hopefully this will help though, her wearing your collar.”

“Maybe,” I said, the doubt still clear in my voice.

“Call me if you need me. Or us. That girl of yours may need a friend of the non-male variety, and if she does Lily is available.”

“Logan, I couldn’t—”

“Stephan, we want to help.”

“Thank-you. I . . .”

“Not a problem, but I really should get back to Lily. She’s a little tied up at the moment.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his joke. “Tell her I said hi.”

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