CHAPTER 20
Nate
“Well, that’s about it on our end, Dr. Evans. Did you have any other questions?” the dean of EDCSN asked. I had already asked a few questions regarding the job, the department, and the different aspects of the school.
“None right now,” I said.
The woman on the screen smiled. “It was great to meet the person behind such an impressive CV. We’ll be in touch as soon as possible.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” I said.
I ended the video conference call, closed the webcam, and sat back in my chair. It was risky to be interviewing for a position in my office on campus, but it was the only time slot that was available for both sides. Luckily, no one came by.
The interview had gone better than expected. In the Director of Humanities position, there would be more involvement in curriculum creation, adapting that curriculum to an increasingly digital age, and inspiring interest in a subject that was fighting for public interest. It was an interesting job and a challenge I was willing to accept, given the chance. But on the off chance that I didn’t get the position, tenure was still up in the air. And there was Mara. If I stayed, I had to figure out a better way to get around the policies.
A notification alert sounded from my computer. I checked my email: two messages, one from the Chair of the Department of Humanities at LVU and one from Breaking Edge. I opened the first:Let’s meet to discuss your contract. Next week?the Chair wrote. I sent back a quick reply, confirming the time and date for my tenure review. The next email was from the Editor in Chief at Breaking Edge.This is intriguing!the editor wrote.Sent it to the team. Will hit you back.
The door to the hallway was propped open, the quiet conversations from different office hours trickling down to my space. Was Mara in her office? It had been a long week, one that kept her busy with other graduate courses. Despite thinking logically, that she was busy, it killed me to know that I had usedthatpaddle, and our communication had dwindled since then. Had I made a mistake?
I want to wear your marks.
It was like Mara could read my mind, that it haunted me how I had scarred Lisa, permanently. She couldn’t go back to the world of sadomasochism because of me. Mara’s voice screamed the safe word had been so much like Lisa’s cries.Red, red.Had I ruined Mara too?
I checked the time. After finishing up work, there would be a few hours before I returned to the lakehouse and dressed for the ceremonies. I texted Mara,We’re still on for tonight?
Wedding?she responded.Of course.
I was overthinking it. She simply had work to do. She was busy.
***
Mara fidgeted with her bag, listening to the drive-thru ceremony. Zaid and Heather said their vows, quickly repeating what the officiant said. Then the officiant handed them the clipboard of the paperwork through the car window, and I signed as their witness. Once we handed back the papers, the officiant said he would drop it off at the courthouse later today. Heather looked at Zaid, her eyes wide, and Zaid smiled, then leaned over, kissing her lips for the second time as husband and wife.
The collaring ceremony, the more important of the two events, was almost upon us. Familiar faces from the Afterglow wandered the house, more people than I expected. Zaid was a well-liked member of the group, but he was a recluse. He did not take kindly to many others.
“Is Hazel going to be here?” Mara asked. I shook my head. As far as I knew, Hazel did not approve of her sister’s relationship with Zaid.
“Kiley and Lily will be,” I said. Though I knew they were not the kind of familiar face Mara was searching for. We made our way to the backyard, lanterns lighting the desert garden, and helped ourselves to appetizers and champagne. Many of the people around us were in trios and leather families, with collars, tattoos, and brands to represent their loyalties. The backyard opened into the woods beneath Mount Charleston, and at the far end of the yard, there were wooden chairs set up, spaced widely apart, each a different kind, reminiscent of a farmhouse wedding. A pedestal was at the front of the chairs, with flowers trailing up a driftwood arch. Mara’s eyes were glued to the pedestal, or what was on it. An eternity collar in rose gold, with channel set diamonds. Once locked into place, it would be extremely difficult for anyone to remove it.
“So this is therealceremony?” Mara asked. I nodded. “What’s the deal with that?” She gestured at the eternity collar.
“Zaid and Heather have a master and slave relationship. Wearing that kind of collar is similar to getting a tattoo.”
“It’s there forever?”
“Removing it would be a bitch,” I explained.
“So is a master and slave relationship the ultimate goal?”
“For who?”
“You.”
I raised a brow. “I already told you what I wanted. But what do you want, Mara?” I asked. I pulled her in closer. “Do you want to talk about the other night?”
“Your birthday?”
“Yes.”
