Page 41 of Not Another Dark Romance

After today, I could never kill Mason.

I might be holding the chain that’s around his neck, but he holds a power over me too. Ultimately, it’s his testimony that will be my downfall, but until then, he doesn’t have to cooperate with me. He could scream all day, he could fight back, try to use the chain as a weapon. He could refuse to eat like he threatened or refuse to help with his bills and wait for me to get caught. He could say peaches and take away his consent at any time. Sure, he might be my prisoner, but I’d never actually force him to do anything sexual. I might be into some fucked-up shit, but I’m not a monster.

There’s still that small voice in my head that’s worried he’s only agreed to it to earn my trust, or because he felt like it was the only way out. Maybe I’m naive because I’m not the best liar, but I just can’t help it—I believe him. He’s been so consistent from the moment he regained consciousness. He’s obviously obsessed with the dark romance books, and he just seemed so genuinely into it while I was fucking his face… I hope he enjoyed it.

I ditch the food, leaving the bag on my bed, and lead him all the way into my en suite. I turn on the shower and realize Mason hasn’t said a word the entire time I was lost in thought about everything that happened.

I spin to face him, worried that he’s upset, but find him smirking up at me. I arch a brow. “You’re being uncharacteristically quiet. Are you waiting for me to give you permission? Go ahead, Pet. Speak.”

He smiles even bigger as he shrugs. “Just giving you time to process. I’ve enjoyed witnessing you embrace your role as my owner.”

I suck in a sharp breath at the confirmation that we’re so in sync. But before I push it any farther, I want to hear it again. “Mason, are you just saying that, doing all of this, because you think it’s what I want?”

His brows immediately draw together, and he shakes his head adamantly. “No, not at all. I mean, I’m glad you’re finally realizing how hot this dynamic is, but I’ve wanted something like this for a long time. Since well before we met. I wasn’t sure it was ever possible for me, but I hoped I’d find it. I know you still don’t trust me fully, and we have to smooth out some of the logistics, but I want to be your pet, Zane. I want you to own me. Want you to keep taking care of me while I make you feel good.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat, feeling far more emotional than I expected to from his response. When I’m confident I’ve pulled myself together enough to speak, I nod. “Okay, Pet, kneel. At my feet.”

He immediately drops down again at my command, and my already achingly hard dick twitches. I’m standing on the rug, so I don’t think it hurt him, but I also love how he did it without care for his own comfort. Simply because I told him to.

Mason looks up at me with wide eyes from his new position, staring at me adoringly like I hung the fucking moon and not like I woke up this morning still contemplating killing him.

I use the hand not holding his chain to cup his face, stroking his cheek with my thumb. This might be a new dynamic for me beyond porn, but something about it feels so right, as though it’s something I was always meant to embrace. It’s easy to slip into this role, to anticipate what it is we’re both looking for from it. “You were a very good boy for me downstairs. I’m going to take care of you now. I’m going to clean you up, and then I’m going to feed you. If you keep being good, you’ll be rewarded. If you misbehave, you’ll be punished. Do you understand?”

He runs his tongue over his upper lip as he nods eagerly. “Yes, Master.”

Fuck. Me.

I might not have much time left as a free man, but I’m going to milk it for everything it’s worth.

19

Steam starts filling the bathroom, but I don’t move as Zane adjusts the temperature of the shower. My knees are biting into the bathmat; the slight pain mixed with the heavy collar and chain around my neck are a constant reminder of my position. Of the choice I’ve made to embrace it. Of my desire to submit to him completely.

Zane’s finally coming into the role I’ve been fantasizing about, and the transformation is breathtaking. The hesitant, conflicted man has been replaced with someone confident and commanding. Someone I knew was in there all along, I just had to coax him out. No normal person hits someone with their car and tries to get away with murder, then chains them up in their basement. As soon as he admitted what had happened, I knew it was just a matter of time to get us here.

Turns out I just had the wrong nickname. I thought going for something a little more playful and commonly used like Daddy would be easier for him to accept, but apparently my kidnapper is more hardcore than that and wants to be my master instead. Fine by me. I’m thrilled to find out Zane might actually be as deviant as I am.

“Stand up,” he orders, his firm tone cutting through my thoughts, and I obey immediately. He reaches out, his fingers tracing the chain attached to the collar before finding the lock. “Do you have to take it off?” I ask with a slight plea. I’ve grown quite fond of the metal around my neck, of the claim he’s had over me for longer than he was ready to admit.

Someone with higher self-preservation skills than I possess would be eager to have him take the collar off, to have earned his trust enough to be one step closer to freedom.

But I’m perfectly content right where I am, collar and all.

He bites his bottom lip as his pupils dilate, his expression full of heat. Zane obviously likes having his chain around my neck just as much as I do. “The chain probably can’t get wet. I don’t know if it will rust, but the collar can stay on.”

He takes out his keys and unlocks the collar from the chain. I flinch as it falls free and clanks against the floor. My skin feels strangely bare without its weight.

Zane puts the keys back in his pocket and turns his attention to me. His gaze slowly rakes over me before his hands grip the bottom of my shirt. “I’m going to undress you now.”

I nod, standing as still as I can, afraid one wrong move will remind Zane that this is all new to him and cause him to pull back again. He slowly pulls off my shirt, taking a moment to admire my bare chest before removing my pants as well. He steps back, and I raise my chin, enjoying the attention of his gaze roaming my naked form.

He chuckles. “You know exactly how pretty you are, don’t you?”

“Yes. But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the reminder.” I wink at him, and he laughs again.

“What the hell am I going to do with you?”

“Anything you’d like. That’s kind of the whole point. I’m yours.”