Page 45 of Saving Meri

Bear’s grip in her hair tightened, tugging her head back as he studied her. “Now, you learn how to live without fear. And you do it with me.”

A slow, hesitant nod. “Okay.”

Bear’s grip turned gentle, his lips brushing over hers. “Good girl.”

Her breath hitched, her fingers digging into his chest, and Bear knew—he had her. Not just in his arms, but where she belonged… with him.

Bear sat in the lounge in Club Southside, watching as Meri moved through the dimly lit space. The club was quiet tonight, a contrast to the usual energy that pulsed through its walls. A few scenes played out across the dungeon floor—low murmurs of commands, the rhythmic crack of a flogger striking flesh, the quiet hum of submission that wove through the air. It was familiar, grounding, a place where power and surrender met in perfect equilibrium.

But none of it held his attention. Only she did.

Meri had agreed to come here, but she hadn’t asked why. Maybe part of her already knew. Maybe she understood exactly what tonight meant.

She wore black leggings and a soft sweater that still held his scent from when she’d taken it from his closet earlier that night. Nothing extravagant. Nothing designed to impress. Nothing she could wear on the dungeon floor. Just her… and she was stunning.

She had been watching the scenes, quiet and contemplative, her eyes darting to him every so often as if waiting forsomething. Waiting for him to tell her why they were here. Waiting for him to make a move.

Bear drained the last of his drink and stood, moving toward her with slow, deliberate steps. The moment she saw him approach, her lips parted, her pulse visibly fluttering at her throat. His little one was always aware of him, whether or not she admitted it.

Without a word, he took her hand and led her to the middle of the lounge. The lighting was dim, the ambiance quiet, intimate. He turned to face her, taking in the slight lift of her chin, the way her hands twitched at her sides like she was fighting the urge to reach for him.

"Kneel, little one. Do you know why we're here?" His voice was low, steady, letting the question settle between them.

Meri licked her lips as she sank to her knees, but she didn’t break eye contact. "You're testing me?"

Bear’s lips curled slightly. "I already tested you." His hand came up, brushing the side of her throat, where her pulse pounded beneath her skin. "You passed."

She swallowed hard. "Then what is this?"

Bear reached into his pocket, pulling out an exquisite collar made of titanium beads and polished square diamonds. No words. No symbols. Because she already knew what it meant.

Meri's breath hitched.

"This isn’t a claim," he told her, his voice unwavering. "This isn’t about ownership. It’s not about what you went through or what I pulled you out of. This is a promise."

She stayed perfectly still, her gaze darting between him and the collar resting in his palm. She didn’t flinch. Didn’t step back, but she didn’t reach for it, either.

"You were always mine," he murmured, stepping closer, letting his presence wrap around her like the control she craved. "Before this. After this. You kneel for me tonight, not becauseyou feel lost. Not because you need saving. But because you want to."

The silence stretched between them, thick with the weight of everything they had been through, everything they had yet to say.

She was still watching him, her lips parted, her hands resting lightly on her thighs. She wasn’t trembling. She wasn’t hesitating. She was giving this to him. Not out of obligation. Not because she needed to find something solid in the storm. But because she was already steady. Already whole. And she wanted to give herself to him, anyway.

Bear sank to his haunches, cupping her face with both hands. "Look at you, little one," he murmured. "So fucking perfect."

Her breath hitched, and he felt her melt under his touch, just a fraction, just enough for him to know she was right where she wanted to be. Carefully, deliberately, he lifted the collar and wrapped it around her throat, locking it into place. It fit perfectly.

Meri let out a slow, shuddering breath as he traced a finger along the collar, his thumb brushing over the polished beads and gems. He leaned in, lips at her ear.

"This is my promise to you," he whispered. "Not to protect you. Not to keep you locked away. But to stand beside you. To lead you when you need it. To own your pleasure, your pain, your submission—not because you have to give it to me. But because you want to."

Meri exhaled sharply, her hands curling against her thighs. "I do," she whispered.

Bear’s fingers tightened slightly at her jaw. "Say it again."

Her eyes burned with something fierce. Something unshakable. "I want to be yours."

Bear’s chest went tight. His grip gentled, his lips brushing over hers before he pulled back just enough to look at her. "Then that’s the last time you ever doubt it."

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