Page 63 of Game Over

Charlie held the collar up while I looked in the mirror, his eyes glued to how the pale metal complimented my skin.

I’d already decided that I wanted it—but then I caught the near feral glint in Charlie’s eye as he looked at me with it even partially on. Then I knew there was no way I was leaving without it.

Really, it was my little puppies who should be wearing a collar, but I decided to let it slide this time. I wasn’t an unjust partner, if my man wanted to look at me like that… Who was I to stop him?

“We’ll be taking this,” I said with a smile. “And the cuffs, with the matching pull chain please.”

“There are earrings that match the neckla?—”

“She’ll take them,” Charlie interrupted, going pink as we both turned to look at him, tips of his ears flaming. “What? You deserve them both.”

“Okay daddy, damn. Make his pockets hurt.”

“You’re ridiculous,” he muttered softly, a pleased smile giving away his appreciation of the sentiment.

“I’ll get that rung up for you,” the shop girl said, moving to take the necklace from me.

I took a step back. “Actually, I’d like to wear it out, if I could.”

“Of course, miss.” she nodded, clicking away at her keyboard. “I’ll stick the box in the bag so you have it for storage.”

“Perfect.”

“Want me to help you with that?” Charlie asked, stepping up behind me with his warm fingers brushing the back of my neck.

“Please?”

He helped affix the necklace around my throat and I fluffed out my hair from where it’d been trapped, turning so he could see the effect in full.

“Thoughts?”

His eyes bounced from the glittering diamonds resting between my collarbones to my eyes.

“Absolutely stunning, babygirl.”

“Thank you daddy. Hey, why don’t we?—”

“Alright, miss, I have you rung up. How would you like to pay today?”

Charlie’s phone rang and he fished it out of his pocket, frowning. “It’s Jesse,” he mouthed. “I’m just going to grab this.”

I nodded, waving the alpha off as he put the phone to his ear, stepping out of the shop and into the hall to take his call.

“I’ll pay with debit, what’s the total?”

“Twelve thousand three hundred dollars and fifteen cents.”

A beat passed between us. The shopgirl, smiling at me placidly like that wasn’t the most insane thing she’s ever said to anyone in the history of the fucking planet, me trying not to hyperventilate.

“Ha, that's funny. Sorry, I’m having a bit of a day, I thought you said twelve THOUSAND dollars.”

“And three hundred dollars, fifteen cents,” she chirped. “You heard me correctly. It’s why we generally suggest you don’t clasp the necklace before it’s paid for… they can’t be removed.”

“What?”

“Yes, it's a special design, after it’s closed, they are irremovable, to show your level of commitment and devotion.”

I blinked, my fingers trembling as my hand flew into my bag for my phone to message Glitch.

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