The Trip

Chapter Six



People crowded by the bus, jostling each other to get to their bags. Mark watched Shawna take a hesitant step forward and then retreat as an old lady cut her off.

She fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, looking completely lost.

Poor thing. Spotting her luggage still underneath the bus, he squeezed into the space between the weary travelers and the bus, reaching right over a couple of teenagers to fetch the bulky, pink suitcase. His height made it easy to avoid conking anyone in the head with the bag as he shuffled backwards and joined her by the sliding terminal doors. She reached for her bag, but he shook his head and pointed at the parking lot.

"Go on, I've got it."

"Thanks." She bit her lip, glancing at the sports bag slung over his shoulder.

"That's all you brought?"

"That's all I needed." He sighed when she ducked her head and took her hand.

"You must be exhausted. Let's get you home."

She walked with him to the car. As he loaded her bag into the trunk, she stood beside him, shifting from foot to foot.

He slammed the trunk and then folded his arms over his chest. "You've obviously got something to say. Out with it."

"I just don't know if I want to go home. My parents—"

"You're coming home." He growled and curved his hand under her chin when she shook her head. "Haven't I proved myself yet? What else do I have to do?"

Blinking fast, she opened her mouth, but then closed it. Tears spilled down her cheeks and over his hand.


"I appreciate the effort, Mark, and I enjoyed myself, but . . . ." She swallowed and pressed her eyes shut as though to hold back more tears. "We want different things. I don't want you changing just to please me."

I'm such a f*cking ass. After everything I've done, what else would she believe?

"Shawna, did you get the impression, at any time, that I was doing something I didn't want to?"

She frowned, little creases forming between her eyes like they did whenever she was thinking hard. "Actually, no. But that was just a game."

"Was it?" He turned away from her and dropped his sports bag on the hood of his car. Opening one of the side pockets, he quickly found what he was looking for. "Get on your knees, pet."

Her lips parted. Then she wrinkled her nose. "Why?"

"Every time you question me, you get ten lashes." He arched a brow when she sputtered. "And not with the flogger—I know how much you enjoy that. The tawse will get the message across."

The color left her face. She dropped to her knees so hard he winced.

"And, apparently, we'll need to revisit your training, pet." He tipped her chin up with a finger. "What happened to moving gracefully? Seeing you hurt yourself doesn't please me."

A little hiccup escaped as she opened her mouth. Then she sobbed. "I'm sorry . . .

Master."

The happiness glowing from her tear-rimmed eyes made him want to kneel with her so he could take her in his arms—but, no, she needed his strength. He opened the square box in his hand and pulled out the solid circlet of metal. Using the Allen key on the chain around his neck, he opened the collar.

"Is that . . . ." She nibbled at her bottom lip, and a flush rose high on her cheeks.

"When—"

"You do not have permission to speak," he said sharply. "Lift your hair."

She lifted her hair, and he put the collar around her neck. The lock clicked, and the sound filled him with a feeling of ownership, something he'd never felt before. This was what she'd wanted from him all along, and he'd been a fool to deny her. It had taken almost losing her before he could accept that nothing either of them wanted was wrong.

Never again. He cupped her face in his hand and warmth pooled inside as she peered up at him, hope glistening in her eyes.

"You're mine. Forever." He inhaled deeply as the weight of responsibility settled on his shoulders. He waited for doubt to creep in. But all he felt was peace. He held out his hand. "Get up."

She rose as smoothly as a dancer and gave him her hand.

He shook his head. "The other one."

Biting back a smile, she gave him her left hand. He took her wedding ring out of his pocket and slipped it on her finger.

"Don't ever take it off again."