Shield's Submissive (20 page)

“Yes ma’am. We came up for a weekend at the beginning of March.”

“Wonderful! I’m glad he did so. You know, I can’t say that he’s never brought a woman here before, but I can say that he’s never brought one to a family weekend. That makes me more certain that you’re very important to him, and I can see in your eyes that he’s very important to you.”

“Yes, he is. I love him very much, and he’s said the same.”

“I knew it!” Nancy exclaimed. “Would it make you uncomfortable if I gave you a hug and really welcomed you to the family?”

Erica felt tears pool in her eyes as she shook her head, and Nancy pulled her into a warm hug.

“There, my dear. It’s okay. I know my son, and he doesn’t make such statements or gestures meaninglessly. If he’s expressed his love for you, I know it to be genuine. Let’s get this coffee and snacks set up. If I know my boys, they’ll be storming the kitchen any moment now.”

Shortly later, they were sitting on the sofa, all enjoying the delicious hazelnut coffee, when the door burst open.

“Gamma! Gammpa! You’re home!”

Two whirling dervishes attacked just as all the coffee cups were hurriedly placed on the coffee table to avoid spilling in the exuberance.

“How are my wonderful little boys?” Nancy said, wrapping them up in tight hugs.

“Where’s your sister?” Twin arms shot out, their fingers pointed at the door and little voices in unison said, “There.”

Erica looked over her shoulder and saw a quiet young girl who was trying hard not to rush her beloved grandparents, but who so wanted to join in the fray.

Mark stood and held out his arms. “Hey, princess, got a hug for your mean old uncle Mark?”

She ran forward, throwing herself into his arms. “You’re not mean. Mom says you’re a pushover for a pretty lady.”

SHIELD’S SUBMISSIVE

Trina Lane

133

He laughed loud, swinging her around in a circle. “Well, you would defiantly know since you’ve had me wrapped around your little fingers from the day you were born.”

Placing her back on her feet he held her hand and brought her over to the sofa so she could hug his parents.

A few seconds later, a man and woman entered carrying all manner of bags.

“All right, you little rascals, take your bags and go up to your room. Chris and Nick in the bunk beds and Maddy gets the single as usual.”

The kids headed upstairs to do their father’s bidding. Afterwards, he came over to the sofa, hugged Mark’s parents and sheepishly smiled.

“Sorry about the munchkin tornado. We could barely contain them in the car on the way here. All they talked about was seeing you guys again.”

He walked up to Erica and held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Dave, Mark’s brother. You must be Erica.”

“Yes, it’s nice to meet you. Mark’s told me all about you and your family.”

“Oh lord, I can only imagine. They’re a handful, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

He stepped away and grabbed Mark in an exuberant embrace. “What’s up, little bro? I see you finally blackmailed some poor woman into coming up here into the mouth of madness.”

“Shh…don’t let our secret out. I’m still trying to convince her we’re a normal family.”

“Ha…good luck with that. She hasn’t met Jared yet, and you and I both know there’s no earthly explanation for his antics.”

“Hey, I heard that, you rat!”

Everyone spun towards the door. A man who physically looked like a carbon copy of Dave stood there with his arms and ankles crossed as he leaned against the door jamb. “Just see if I ever take you up in one of my jets again.”

Dave shuddered in mock horror. “Please, my feet are quite comfortable on terra firma.

Last time, I went up with you, I swear my insides switched places with my outside and back again.”

Jared laughed. “You loved it, and you know it. You couldn’t get that stupid smile off your face for hours.”

SHIELD’S SUBMISSIVE

Trina Lane

134

He went over hugged his parents and brothers then stopped in front of her.

“Hi, I’m Jared. I’m the one out of this measly bunch who actually doesn’t sit behind a desk for a living.”

She smiled as she shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, flyboy. I’m Erica. I’ll be happy to take Dave’s place in your jet sometime. It’s always been a dream of mine to experience the scream of mach one first hand.”

“You’re on.” Looking over at Mark, he smiled. “Where did you find her, man? I’d give anything to snag a girl who appreciates the high of boldly going where few have gone before.”

Mark grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back into his chest.

“Get your own. This one’s mine,” he said in a mock growl.

* * * *

Sitting at the dinner table, the conversation centred around Nancy and Joe’s trip overseas and all the wonderful historical sites and relics they’d encountered. The kids asked what seemed like hundreds of questions. Chris—or maybe it was Nick, she couldn’t tell them apart yet—asked, “Did you see the Loch Ness monster?”

Then the other one asked, “What about Dracula?”

“Did you see Camelot and all the knights and princesses?” Maddy wanted to know.

“Erica, tell us about your family. What do your parents do? Do you have any siblings?”

Annie, Dave’s wife asked, once the madness had settled down.

Mark tensed beside Erica and took her hand.

“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t explain anything to them.”

She looked over at him and gave his fingers a little squeeze under the table. “It’s okay. I knew it would come up.”

Annie went wide eyed. “Did I say something wrong?”

Erica wanted to reassure her quickly. “No, it’s okay. There’s no way you could know.

My parents and younger brother were all killed in a car accident when a drunk driver hit them several years ago. I was in college.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”

SHIELD’S SUBMISSIVE

Trina Lane

135

“Do you have any other family in the area?” Nancy asked.

“No, I actually grew up in Chicago. I didn’t move to the Denver until after I finished my degree. Both my parents were only children and my grandparents had died when I was a young girl. For awhile, I kept in touch with some family friends but not since moving here.”

The table was very quiet when a little voice peeped up, “That’s okay. We can be your family now, can’t we?”

She looked over at the innocent faces of Dave’s children and saw the unquestioning acceptance only a child can express. “I would like that very much.”

Mark’s hand tighten on her shoulder and love shone brightly in those crystal-green eyes that had hypnotised her from the very beginning.

He leaned over and his lips caressed her ear as he softly said, “Welcome to the family.”

SHIELD’S SUBMISSIVE

Trina Lane

136

Six Months Later

There’s a garment bag hanging in your office closet. You are to be dressed and at the club by 7:00

p.m. When you get to the doors, you will escorted inside. You will be instructed what to do when you
arrive.

Erica wondered what Mark was up to. It wasn’t the first time he’d sent messages of this nature. Usually they along the lines of ‘meet me in the lobby’ or ‘come straight home’
.
Never had he ordered her to arrive at the club alone. She’d become very familiar with the club, having returned with Mark on many occasions. Three months ago, she’d moved into Mark’s house. The decision had been quite easy, and she’d never regretted it. Living and loving with Mark every day was the best education a woman could find in the lessons of submission and relationships.

She’d become quite comfortable within the dungeon walls, having participated in several scenes with Mark. A couple times, they’d done a spanking or flogging on the public stage, but more often, they’d use either the private rooms or the voyeur room. She found that she really liked the idea of people being able to watch them together without being exposed like in the main bar area.

Erica went to look in her closet. Seeing the garment bag hanging in the middle of the otherwise empty rod, she pulled it out and set it on the chair. Unzipping the bag, she spread apart the opening to see a strapless, form-fitting, black cocktail dress. The material was pleated so that it fell in crisscrossing layers down the entire length. There were beaded stilettos sandals and hair sticks with matching beads. A note was pinned to the bodice of the dress.

Wear your hair up and nothing underneath
.

* * * *

SHIELD’S SUBMISSIVE

Trina Lane

137

When she got to the club, she was escorted through the doorway. The attendant stopped just inside. He turned around.

“Ms. Cross, I’ve been instructed to blindfold you and lead you to where your party awaits.” He held up a black, silk length of fabric and proceeded to secure it around her eyes and tie it in behind her head. Taking hold of her hand, he started walking.

The material of the dress rubbed on her bare nipples. Already hard, the sensation caused little stinging jolts across her breasts and down to her clit. She tried not to walk slowly or hesitantly, but her innate sense of self-preservation prevented her from mindlessly skipping along.

They paused, and she felt the rush a rush of air. Once again, the attendant took her hand and led her several paces forward. They must be headed through the large doors leading towards the night club area.

“Your Master requests you await him here.”

He left her blindfolded, standing in a silent room. Erica lowered herself into the presentation position. She hadn’t been ordered to do so, but it felt like the thing to do. The man had said to await her Master. She couldn’t hear any other voices or feel the presence of anyone else in the room, which was odd despite it being weeknight. Usually there were several other members around. There was no music, either. After several minutes, a deep voice came over the speaker system.

“Stand.”

As gracefully as possible, she rose to her feet.

“Remove the blindfold, but keep your eyes closed.”

Reaching behind her, she found the knot of the fabric and loosened the two ends. The fabric fell away, and she sensed light in the room.

“Open your eyes.”

When she did, she found that she stood in the centre of the dance floor, but she couldn’t see any other shapes or lights in the room. All she could see was a megawatt spotlight shining directly on her. Suddenly, a second spotlight appeared, and Mark stood there, just a few feet in front of her. He walked forward, and the two beams merged into one, engulfing them in a circle light.

“You look stunning, love.”

SHIELD’S SUBMISSIVE

Trina Lane

138

“Thank you. You have good taste. What’s going on, Mark? Where are all the other members?”

“I ordered you here for two reasons. The first is that this place represents a dynamic that exists between the two of us. It is the outward manifestation of our relationship. And so, it is within these walls that I felt it appropriate to present you with a symbol of that relationship.”

He reached behind him and was handed a large, flat velvet box. He opened it and she saw a metal circle with an iridescent finish. As he shifted the case the colour changed from light to dark, one moment indistinct and the next sparkling and full of its own vitality. An oval sapphire encircled by emeralds hung from the centre.

“This is an eternity collar. You will find no latches or clasps. The effect is that of an unending circle. Accepting this collar is a commitment. My commitment to protect, love and cherish you, my submissive. Your commitment to me, your Dominant, to be devoted and loyal. The significance of the collar having no clasp is that our commitment to each other is never ending. The pendant, the two colours of our eyes, mine enclosing yours, shows my ownership of you. This collar is to never be willingly removed. When we are together, it will show those within the community our connection to each other, and when we are apart, all you need to do is touch it and be reminded of the bond we share. Do you accept this collar?”

Erica looked up into the beloved crystal-green of Mark’s eyes and felt a single tear escape, his heartfelt and poignant words reaching a place inside her.

“Yes, I accept your collar and will wear it with pride all my days. It will serve as a symbol of my eternal devotion to you, my Master.”

Mark removed the collar from the box and placed it around her neck. The two halves clicked, and he tightened the screw, forever locking them together. Then he walked back around to stand in front of her.

“As much as that collar serves as a symbol of our commitment to each other and will be recognised within our family here, the outside world does not understand the depth of that meaning. And so I have one other question for you.”

The lights suddenly changed, and they were now encircled in a red glow and she saw the shape of a heart on the dance floor. Mark fell to one knee and brought out a small velvet box from his pant’s pocket. He opened the lid and brought up her left hand.

SHIELD’S SUBMISSIVE

Trina Lane

139

“Erica Cross, will you marry me?”

It was funny how her hands started shaking as he placed the ring on her finger. When he had attached to collar, she’d felt only centred and peaceful, but now she shook like a girl on her first date. The ring was stunning, antique in style with a centre, cushion-cut diamond surrounded by pavé diamonds. The smaller stones continued down the twisting sides of the ring. The stones looked radiant in the red spotlight and threw off prisms of colour.

“It’s every little girl’s dream to find the love of her life, and I know without a shred of a doubt that you are my forever, my always. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Mark stood up so fast she almost jumped back, but he grabbed her face between his hands and kissed her. He kissed her with a passion and intensity even they had not experienced before. Suddenly, Erica heard all kinds of noise around her. When Mark finally lifted his head, she saw that the normal lights had come on and the room was filled with all their friends from the club, clapping and cheering.