I could see the look of recognition spreading across Nat's face. He had just realized what he had done. "If I steal, Mom will get mad at me, and I'll go to jail." Nat answered slowly. The guard smiled at Nat and stood up. The guard opened another door in the room and flipped on the light, revealing what looked to be a staff break room. "Nathan, I want you to sit in here for a minute while I talk to your Mom." He instructed Nat. Nat jumped up from his chair and practically ran into the room. He plopped down onto the couch and sat looking expectantly at us as the guard shut the door, turning back to me.
He gestured for me to stand and turn around, and I could see he'd gotten the keys for the cuffs out of his pocket. I sighed and said as I stood and turned around, "Nat isn't a bad kid, he's been acting out a lot lately and I know my divorce has really done a number on him. He realizes what he's done was wrong. What will I have to do, pay for the game, a fine, or something like that?"
The guard didn't answer my question. I felt him move behind me, with one hand on my arm, but to my shock and dismay, his other hand rested on my hip. I felt him move in closer, his chest brushing against my back, lowering his head so that his face was next to my ear. My heart started racing and all I could think of was oh my god he's going to assault me. I started to lift up my leg to kick backwards, hopefully catching him in the knee or something, when his gentle voice stopped me. He softly whispered in my ear, "It's been a long time since I've seen you Shannon. You still look as divine as ever. You don't seem to even remember me, but I certainly remember you."
That voice. It made my heart stop and then start pounding so fast and loudly that I could feel it with every muscle in my body. Had I been so lost in my own problems and worries that I hadn't recognized the familiar tones of that voice? I trembled slightly and whispered, "Barry?" The low chuckle from deep in his throat spread a rush of warmth through my entire being as he slowly turned me around and gazed into my eyes. His hazel eyes had always seemed to pierce through clear into my soul when I was forced to look into them. Time had not changed that.
He grabbed my hip tightly, pulling me into himself, his other hand sliding through the strands of my hair, guiding my lips towards his own. My body melted against his as he kissed me, all of the nerves in my body responding, sending a tingle down my spine that was so intense that I swore sparks flew off of the handcuffs. As I inhaled his clean scent, all of the memories, emotions and desires flooded back to me as though someone had broken a dam deep within my soul.
Just as the tears were threatening to spill from my eyes, he broke the kiss, pulling back so that I could see him. He'd gotten older, not that I hadn't as well I ruefully reminded myself. Gone was the look of innocence that he'd once had. The man who stood before me now was still as handsome and rugged, but was now coupled with confidence making him look like a completely different person than he had so many years ago. The lust burning in his eyes was the same as I had remembered. They still brightly reflected everything he was, everything he had to offer.
Barry put his hands on my shoulders and turned me around, slowly unfastening the cuffs that bound my wrists behind my back. When they were free, I turned and hugged him, a thousand questions burning in my brain. He smiled at me and said, "I recognized you as soon as you walked in the door. You're still so beautiful. You didn't notice it, but I followed you while you shopped. When I saw your son try to pawn the game, I had to take my chance. I needed to reconnect one more time with you."
Nat. How could I forget about my son. I quickly ran over to peer through the glass into the room where he waited. Nat was flipping through a discarded video game magazine, unaware of what had transpired on the other side of the door.
I turned back to Barry, desperately trying to regain control of my racing heart. I shyly looked up at him, trying to act like the adult I now was. "What are you going to do about the video game?" I asked, not daring to look into his eyes.
Barry took a step forward and tilted my chin up so that I was looking at him again. He smiled at me and replied, "Nothing. I'm going to let Nathan off with a warning. Has his mother forgotten that I did the same for her all those years ago?" I blushed furiously, and answered, "If I'm not mistaken, when his mother was caught she was given the choice of being turned over to the police or turned over the knee of a certain security guard."
Barry grinned back down at me. "She has the same choice now. I found that game in HER purse, not on her son's possession. The difference this time is that she also has to promise to speak with her son about the consequences of stealing." Honestly, up until that point, I did not think that I could have blushed more. I was wrong. I started to speak, "Barry, things are different now, I…"
His finger pressed against my lip stopped me as he spoke. "One last time Shannon and I promise to be gone from your life for good." My body was betraying my mind. My heart knew, my body knew. I had never stopped loving this man, never stopped loving and needing my Master. I nodded slowly, giving into my own needs and desires.
He smiled at me and said sternly, "Tonight then. Your son should spend some time with his father. Do you remember how to greet me?" I slowly and deliberately nodded, feeling more alive than I had for many years whispered back, "Yes Master." He proudly looked down at me and patted my rear as he walked over to get Nat from the other room.
As he walked us to the car he spoke again to Nat. "Now young man, I don't ever want to hear of you doing anything else like this again, or next time you will not get away with it so easily." Nat nodded as solemnly as a ten year old could and said "I won't ever do it again." As I closed the car door once Nat was inside, Barry whispered to me, "Seven PM pet, make me proud."
I confess that I drove home in a daze. I vaguely remember talking to Nat about what had happened, and how I wanted him to stay out of trouble. I remember calling Nat's father and talking to him about it, and getting him to agree to take Nat for the night. Thank the gods for small favors. In a daze I kissed my son goodbye and told my ex-husband to go easy on Nat, as I had already grounded him for the incident.
It felt automatic as I prepared for Him. I went to the bathroom and carefully showered, letting the hot water soak into each muscle, and then taking my razor and shaving away every trace of body hair below my neck. My fingers must have trembled when I brushed my hair out and tightly braided it into a long single braid down my back. I know I felt as giddy as a child in a candy store as I smoothed out the sheet on my bed and went to the closet for the old shoe box that had gathered dust for years.
I will never forget the smell of the old dusty leather as I parted the soft wrapping inside of the box and pulled out my collar. It had lain for so long, and yet had been crafted so finely that the leather was still soft and supple. It curved naturally around my neck, the cool metal of its single ring brushing lightly against my skin. I remember trembling as I pulled out the only other item from the box. A long solidly crafted wooden hairbrush emerged and I held it to my nose, inhaling its scent before resting it on the night stand by the bed. My heart and soul must have known, though my brain was not fully ready to accept it when I threw away the now empty box, instead of placing it back on its shelf where it had sat gathering dust, nothing more than a memory for me, till now.
I nervously drew my robe around me and went about the house closing the blinds. Ten minutes to seven, I clicked the answering machine over to field all calls. Five minutes to seven, I started pacing the rooms. As the first bell from the clock struck Seven PM, I stood behind the door, waiting. The first gong, my muscles are tense. The second gong, my stomach starts doing flips. The third gong, my mind is screaming I cannot do this. The fourth gong, the first drop of arousal starts to slide from my slit, dripping down my thighs. The fifth gong, I realize my nipples are hard, erect nubs, throbbing with desire. The sixth gong, I hear a car pull up and freeze in place. The seventh gong, I hold my breath.