Page 2 of Good Girl

“None of your business,” I snap back.

His fingers tense against my scalp and I flinch at the pain. He doesn’t loosen his grip though. Instead he uses my hair to drag me up on my toes so my face is closer to his. Every line of his body is tense, ready to strike. I’ve never been afraid in his presence before. Quite the opposite, but today is different. Neither of us is dealing with this well.

“I will only say this once, Cadence. If you go out on a date tonight, things will change between us. You won’t be my good girl anymore. I’ll want my collar back.”

I swallow hard as tears leap to my eyes. The pain in my heart is so much more than any pain he’s inflicted upon my flesh. I hadn’t realized how much my feelings were involved with Vin until this moment. I was starting to suspect though. Which is why I’m pushing this point. I need him to either step this relationship up or let me go. Apparently he’s letting me go.

“Then I should leave.” I stand rigid next to him, breathing him in, knowing this will probably be the last time I get to bask in his presence.

He releases my hair and drops his hand. But he doesn’t move out of my space. Instead I’m forced to move back. I turn away so I can hide the unshed tears brightening my eyes. As I reach for my purse, I hope that he will relent. That he’ll take me in his arms, kiss my lips and promise me the moon.

He doesn’t move, doesn’t say anything.

I drag my heels on and walk as steadily as I can to the front door. As I reach for it, he finally speaks. “The collar, Cadence.”

I can’t hold them in any more. Tears fall from eyes to my cheeks and drip steadily down as I feel him come to stand behind me. I stand perfectly still, refusing to help as he moves my hair to the side and unbuckles my collar. I shudder as the soft jewel-studded leather slides across my skin. I feel the loss in a way I’ve never felt before when removing my collar. Because I know it won’t be going back on this time. I’ve lost my Master.

My brain whirls in confusion. Have I done the right thing? Am I making a huge mistake, giving up the most physically satisfying relationship I’ve ever known simply because I want more and he doesn’t? The answer isn’t simple. Because I don’t know. I don’t know if this is a mistake. Right now it feels horrible, wrong. I want to beg him to take me back.

But I also know that late at night, as I curl into my body pillow, I try to remember his scent, recall the way his arms feel around me when he’s rocking me on his lap and calling me a good girl. I’ve come to realize that simply playing with Vin isn’t enough. I want more.

I reach for the knob and jerk the door open.

“Cadence.”

His voice stops me as I’m stepping out the door. I don’t look back. Can’t. I don’t want him to see the tears, the anguish, the pain. I desperately hope that he’ll call me back, ask me to stay, promise me that we aren’t done.

“Don’t touch him tonight.”

“Fuck you, Vin.” I walk away, slamming the door behind me.

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