“Can we go to the club this weekend?”
He pursed his lips. She realized she recognized the expression but wasn’t sure what it meant. Finally, he said, “That’s up to Rob. I’m thinking no. It’s too soon.”
“But what if it helps me get my memory back?”
“But what if it doesn’t, and overwhelms you?” He rested his hands on her shoulders. “Look, I’ll talk to everyone. Maybe we can have a private party here Saturday night. I’m sure Shayla will be up for it. That way, it’s a small, controlled environment, and you and Rob can have privacy as you need it.”
She nodded.
Shayla rushed in from work and practically knocked Laura over as she threw her arms around her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay. Sorry I borrowed Tony.”
“Hey, it’s all right.” Shayla frowned. “Did anything else come back?”
“I think enough did. For now.” She took a deep breath. “For starters. It has to be enough.”
Shayla went to put her things away and change clothes. As her friend reappeared in a tank top and shorts, with a leather collar locked around her neck, Laura once again reached up to her own throat.
She felt naked despite her clothes.
The irony did not escape her.
Tony watched her. “You all right?”
She slowly shook her head. “No.” She felt tears welling up in her eyes again and silently cursed her inability not to cry. “He took my day collar. That fucker stole it.” She walked over to where they kept a roll of paper towels hanging under the upper cabinets and ripped off a couple of sheets. Angrily, she blew her nose.
Tony rounded the counter, but didn’t touch her. “Do you remember him?”
She froze as she realized why he’d asked it, but another wave of frustration washed through her. “No.” She blew her nose again. “I can’t remember a face. Just that it was a guy.” She thought about it some more. “Shorter than Rob but taller than me.”
They watched her, not interrupting.
She closed her eyes and the memory of opening her front door and having it shoved open, surprising her, came to mind. But the person in the doorway still remained a large, human-shaped shadow.
“That’s all,” she finally said. “I did open the door for him. He caught me by surprise when I did, but I don’t remember him.”
Rob forced himself not to speed. Once Tony had convinced him Laura was safe and with them, and that they wouldn’t let her out of their sight until he got there, he calmed down.
Tony’s latest text indicated she’d remembered a few more things but didn’t elaborate.
Recriminations swam through his mind. I should have told her. I should have been up front with her.
Would she now hate him for holding so much back, regardless of his reasoning?
He felt the bulk of her play collar in his pocket, rubbing against his leg. Had he totally botched their future together? Should he have severed ties with all their kinky friends until she’d decided if she even wanted him?
He would have hated doing that, but he’d do anything for her.
It was nearly seven when he pulled into their driveway behind Laura’s truck and parked. He didn’t bother knocking when he got there, going straight inside.
The three of them were standing in the kitchen talking. As soon as Laura saw him, he started to say something but she flew into his arms, crying, clinging to him.
Tony walked over and grabbed his upper arm. “Come on.”
He was shocked when Tony led them through the laundry room into the playroom that sat just off the garage.
Shayla trailed behind, not saying anything, but carrying a box of tissues in her hand.
“Rob, I want you to stand right about…here,” Tony said, positioning him.
Tony took Shayla’s hand and made her release Rob. “You, kneel here.”
Rob’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched.
Laura knelt in front of Tony.
“Laura, look at me.”
She looked up at Tony.
“Tell him what you remembered.”
Shayla ducked in to hand her a tissue before darting back to Tony’s side.
Laura wiped at her cheeks as she looked up at Rob. “I remember that night.”
“The attack?”
She shook her head. “No.”
Suddenly, he couldn’t suck in a breath. He didn’t dare risk interrupting. His gut tightened and his knees felt like they’d let go any second.
“Tell him, Laura,” Tony said.
Rob realized he was using his “Dom voice.” The tone he used in a scene.
Tony hadn’t used that tone with Laura since…
He swallowed hard.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “The bastard stole my day collar. The one you gave me that night. When you asked me to be your submissive.”
He started to reach for her but Tony held out a restraining arm. “Wait,” he softly said. “Let her say it. It might help.”
“Tony took his play collar off me that night and you gave me my day collar.” She wiped at her eyes again. “Ever since I first saw Shay in the hospital, it felt like something was missing. You said it was a necklace, but it felt like more. Now I know why.”
Rob nodded but didn’t speak. He felt the collar through his pants and slid his hand into his pocket to wrap his fingers around it.
“I trust you,” she said to Rob. “I trust you, and I want it back. I want your collar. I need it. I want at least that feeling of safety back because I don’t want that bastard to steal that from me, too. I want to be your submissive.”
Her expression froze for a second, her body rigid. “I…” Her eyes closed.
Every muscle in his body tensed.
“I was going to ask you…” She faltered over the words as she struggled with the memory. “I wanted you to make me your slave,” she finally whispered before looking up at him again.
He nodded.
“Is that what you want, Laura?” Tony asked. “You need to tell him.”
Laura stared up at Rob. “I’ve never wanted anything more in my life,” she said.
Tony dropped his arm. “Rob?”
Rob pulled something out of his pocket and held it up for her to see.
A blinding flash of memories swept through her, of all the times he’d buckled that same play collar around her neck, at home or before going to the club, or at a private party here or at Seth’s or at Tilly’s or anywhere with their friends.
Their family.
Rob’s voice sounded choked. “Will you please do me the honor of being my slave?”
She nodded. “Yes, Sir.”
He knelt in front of her, his eyes never leaving hers as he buckled the collar around her neck. Then the corner of his mouth quirked in a smile. “I should beat your ass for getting your hair cut.”
She laughed and fell into his arms, crying happy tears this time. “I’m sorry, Sir. I plead amnesia.”
It felt so good, his arms around her, holding her, his hands stroking her back.
Her Master.
“It’s all right, sweetheart,” he said. “I forgive you. I’ll always forgive you.”
She wasn’t sure exactly when Tony and Shay stepped out to give them privacy, but Shay had left the box of tissues on one of the spanking benches. Rob stood and helped her to her feet. “You’re still my beautiful baby girl. If you want it short, you can have it short. It’s your hair.”
She rested her head against his chest. “No, Sir. I don’t want it short.” She’d forgotten how good it felt when he grabbed a handful of hair in his fist and led her around by it. “Why haven’t you called me that before?”
“Called you what?”
“Baby girl.”
“I did, in the hospital, when you first woke up. When you sort of reacted badly, I thought I shouldn’t.”