Page 43 of Reignite

Not Half So Happy in Heaven

Iwalked into the office at the club and couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I hadn’t been able to all weekend, and likely wouldn’t stop smiling for several more weekends to come. The opening had been more successful than I imagined and our orientation classes for new members were filled up for months.

Thank God, we’d decided to close on Mondays and Tuesdays. I needed more than a couple of days to recover from the intensity of the scene with Gray.

I waved at Jim behind the bar and he held up a mug of coffee.

“Oh, you’re a saint. Thanks.” I sipped the brew and sat down at the bar. “How come you’re here and even before me for that matter?”

“Gray called and said you wanted to come down this morning and asked if I’d keep an eye on the place while you were here.”

I glared at him. “You’re my babysitter?”

“Nah. I needed to do some inventory anyway.”

Yeah, right. “I’m going to my office. If Gray comes in, tell him to fuck off.”

“Will do.”

Two boxes sat waiting for me on my desk. They both had the cream heavy weight gift box with black satin bows from Serenity, the kinky jewelry maker I’d employed to make Gray’s collar. Day late and a million dollars short.

I slipped the ribbon off the first box and lifted the lid. The dark leather cord stood out in stark contrast to the cream tissue paper. I lifted it out and marveled at how something so light could embody such masculinity. This was no collar for a sub. It practically screamed power and control with its wide twists and antiqued clasp. It reminded me of a crown for a king.

On the front were the two charms I’d requested. A stylized devil embracing an angel.

But if this was Gray’s collar, what was in the other box? Maybe they’d sent me a bonus gift. I had spent a good chunk of change on this custom design.

I put the collar back into its tissue next and slid it into a drawer. It wouldn’t do for Gray to find it.

I opened the other box and found a necklace inside. Dangling from the chain was a delicate birdcage made of thin wire. Inside a small grey clay base supported a curvy angel.

Another gift from Gray.

It was breathtaking, but dark. Like, I was being caged. Still, the craftsmanship was exquisite and it would be a shame for it to go unappreciated.

Gray’s taste in jewelry wasn’t mine, but I’d cherish and wear it all the same, as I had with the other two. Not that he’d ever noticed.

I hooked the chain around my neck and the cold charm sat directly over my heart.

I would wear it, so he knew I’d gotten it and loved him for giving it to me, but it was going directly into the jewelry box with the other two when I got home.

“Hey, babe.” Gray walked into the office. “What do you have there?”

He lifted the necklace from my chest and examined it close. “Where did you get this?”

I motioned to packaging. “From the box you left on my desk.”

His curiosity turned into a scowl. “I didn’t leave you a box. I haven’t been here any time when I wasn’t with you. Why would you think this was from me?”

Umm, because this was the third necklace he’d sent me in as many months. “Are you trying to be funny?

“Take it off. Right now.”

He didn’t wait for me to unclasp the chain, he yanked it from my neck. “I would never put you in a cage.”

The tiny cage bent into a tangle of wires beneath his anger. He smushed the clay between his fingers.

“Do you know what this is?” He held a chunk of the gray base between his fingers.

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