Page 115 of Redline Baby

“The cage?”

“The cage.”

My heart starts trying to escape through my ribs.

I told him.

Weeks ago, sitting over eggs, mortified and barely able to get the words out.

I wanted the physical reminder.

The structure.

Something that made the feeling of being his tangible. Something safe.

Soren sits beside me with the cage resting in his palm.

“We talked about this before,” he says. “But talking about wanting something and actually doing it are different.”

I nod quickly.

“So I’m asking again. Do you want to try it?”

“Yes.”

His eyebrow rises.

“Yes, Daddy. Please.”

His expression softens.

“And if you decide you hate it?”

“I tell you.”

“And?”

“It comes off.”

“Immediately.”

I nod.

“Nothing you agree to once becomes permanent just because you agreed once.”

“I remember.”

“Good boy.”

He kisses my forehead. Then he helps me put it on. The moment it settles into place, my whole attention narrows onto it. It’s not painful. Just there. A boundary around a part of my body that normally seems to have its own political agenda.

I stare down.

Holy fuck.

Soren watches my face instead.

“How does it feel?”