Page 6 of All The Happily Ever Afters

COLLARED FOR CHRISTMAS

Collared for Christmas

JOSHUA

Isigh heavily at my desk knowing I shouldn’t be doing this. But I fucking want to. I lean back in the leather chair, staring across the room with the tips of my fingers tapping on the Mahogany desk.

It’s been years since I’ve seen her and now that I’ve had a glimpse of my sweet cherry, I can’t get her out of my head.

What’s worse is she didn’t even see me. Or maybe it’s better that way. I’m not sure.

It was her voice that made me turn. The soft cadence that spilled from those beautiful lips. Had I never heard her, I wouldn’t have seen her. It’s incredible how sometimes fate gives you just enough of a glimpse to change everything.

I close my eyes remembering the sweet sound of her voice. She ordered a salted caramel coffee and a blueberry muffin to go. I huff a small laugh at the memory. She always had a sweet tooth. Her pale pink, A-line dress flowed below her hips as she moved across the glass display case, smiling sweetly as the young man handed her the muffin.

She nibbled on the muffin as she waited for her coffee. Those plump lips parting ever so slightly as she pushed a stray crumb into her mouth and sucked gently on her finger. She’ll neverknow just how tempting and sexy she is without even trying. The sight made my dick twitch. I remember how she wrapped those lips around my cock and owned me as she sucked me off. I groan in my chair trying to push the past out of my mind.

I was stuck there, in my seat at the far corner of the coffee shop, frozen in time, watching her as though I weren’t really there. The paper in my lap and an espresso on the small, white table in front of me, I stared at her with desire.

I couldn’t believe she was there right in front of me. As if the time hadn’t passed and we hadn’t parted all those years ago. I sat there in awe until she accepted her coffee with a smile, taking a sip as she strode to the front, shifting the purse on her shoulder as she pushed the door open and left, blending into the hustle and bustle of the city.

I smile at the memory, back when we were together, she never drank coffee. It doesn’t surprise me that she ordered it flavored and added so much damn sugar to it.

I had no idea she’d moved to the city. I had no clue she was anywhere near me.My Cherry.

I’m ashamed to remember how I followed her to her office building. The winter air blowing in my face and the Christmas carolers already out in the morning on the corners of the busy streets. I walked into the sleek skyrise with shiny steel and tall glass windows. I’ve driven past this building a thousand times. I remember thinking there’s no way she’s been this close to me all this time.

I walked in behind her and watched as she walked through the marble floored lobby of Parker-Moore and confidently strode towards the elevator. I walked to the fountain in the center of the lobby and watched as she took small bites of what was left of the muffin, waiting for the elevator to ding and take her away from me.

I look back to the screen on my computer. All of her information is there. Alena Morgan. She’s a chief advisor for a prominent sales company now. After years of schooling and a prestigious internship. Now she’s back. Back in my life with her dreams accomplished.

And according to her background check, her name is the only one on the lease.

Which means she’s single. As far as I can tell she is.

I fucking hope she is. I want her now even more than I wanted her then. I knew I’d hold her back, I knew she needed more from life than what I had to offer back then. Fuck, we were only just experiencing life and I wanted to keep her all to myself. I felt selfish and like an asshole for making her feel like she needed to run. And when she walked away, I let her go without fighting.

The day she left me tore a hole in my heart, filled only by my work. I worked in private security with a good friend of mine, Isaac. Every fucking day, I was working. Trying to ignore the fact that I’d let her slip away.

She was mine. Had I told her no, she wasn’t leaving, I think she would have rebelled, but I could have disciplined her and she would have fucking loved it. She would have seen how good it felt. How much she wanted it as much as I did. We could have made it work. But back then, I wasn’t the man I am now and I sure as fuck wasn’t the Dom I am now.

She wouldn’t have understood her feelings and I would have failed at explaining them to her. She was degrading what we had by thinking her submission made her weak. It doesn’t make her any less of an equal to submit. If anything she has the upper hand. I’m the one who needs to know the limits, her limits. The limits thatshesets.

But she didn’t accept that. She wouldn’t. She left me and I let her go, burying myself in work as a punishment more than anything else.

Until I met Lynn and created this place.Club X.

A smile curls my lips up.

I never dreamed it would grow to be something so … powerful. This lifestyle has always been a passion of mine. The darkness may have been hidden and subdued, but it’s always been there. I didn’t know how lucrative my expertise would turn out to be.

This rebuilt mansion is an escape to debauchery and sin for the rich and powerful. Our security and use of non disclosure agreements as well as the clientele make Club X unique and desirable. We’re exclusive and that makes the members even more eager to join. Most only know of Club X through word of mouth. We don’t have a website and we aren’t interested in advertising. With a ten thousand per month membership fee, we don’t need more business.

This club may be my profession, but it’s so much more than that.

It’s something I want to show my cherry. I know she’d love it. She’s the most submissive woman I’ve ever met. She’s confident and professional, but she craves an escape from responsibility. She loves handing over power to those she can trust. She may not be aware of it, but it’s liberating for her.

I need that exchange of power. I need her back in my life.

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