Page 28 of Dominion’s Collar

"You bought one."

"Move."

"You actually bought one." He falls into step beside me. "Is it black?"

I look at him.

"Of course it's black." He's grinning. I'm going to hear about this for years. "The woman from the bar. The one you had a conversation with."

"Luc."

"I'm savoring this. Give me a moment."

"You've had your moment."

His grin fades to something quieter. The shift is fast enough that I know it was waiting underneath.

"Don't punish her for being the first thing you've wanted in years."

"Are you done?"

"Not remotely. But she's waiting."

He steps aside. I walk to the private room.

Natalie is already seated when I arrive. Street clothes: fitted jacket, dark jeans, boots.

She dressed for a meeting, not a scene. Good. She's taking this seriously enough to separate the negotiation from the dynamic.

She looks up when I close the door. Her eyes track me across the room with the focused attention of someone who misses nothing and shows less.

She's already assessed the room, the exits, and the distance between us. I know because I did the same thing when I set up the chairs.

I take the opposite chair and set the contract on the table between us.

"I've reviewed your terms," she says. "Two questions."

"Go ahead."

"The physical contact clause. You said your hands aren't restricted to negotiated sessions when I'm wearing the collar. The scening areas only, or anywhere on the premises?"

"Anywhere on the premises. Bar included." I let the silence hold. "If that changes your answer, tell me now."

She considers it. I can read the difference between Natalie weighing something and Natalie putting on the appearance of weighing something. This is the former.

"It doesn't change my answer."

"Second question."

"The corset." A faint edge enters her voice. Amusement wrestling with challenge. "You said you'd have it made. I assume you'll need measurements."

"I have them."

Her eyebrows lift. A fraction. Managed, but the surprise is real.

"You're telling me you can estimate my measurements from across a room?"

"I'm telling you Margot has your fitting records from your membership intake. I asked her to have the corset made."