Exposed Exposed (Dom Nation #1) - E. Davies Page 0,92

to startle him off, or make him retreat into the big, bad Daddy persona he used to hide so many of his feelings.

“Okay,” I whispered. “So what does it mean for you and me?”

“That you’re mine.” Rex’s answer was swift and certain. His assertive words sent a tingle rushing up my spine until my scalp prickled. “That nobody can touch you, flirt with you… without my say-so. And I don’t intend to give anyone that permission. You’re mine to show off, not to share.”

I barely hid my grin. He remembered everything I’d said, of course. “Yes, Daddy,” I whispered, sidling closer to him. “Collar me, please.”

Rex licked his lips and bit the lower lip, a flush sweeping his cheeks. His breathing grew quick and shallow as he eagerly raised the leather to my neck. The padded inside was cool across my throat.

Animal instinct made me want to pull away and growl—make him work for it. I stiffened and he paused, looking up at me.

But I drew a deep breath, said nothing, and held still. My chin raised, I stared him down, proud and bold.

I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I’m his, and he’s mine.

A smile touched Rex’s lips. He stepped behind me, his slender fingers working on the buckle. Then I gulped for breath as it suddenly tightened and his finger slid between the material and my skin. It eased a moment later.

“Two fingers of room,” Rex murmured, resting his lips against my shoulder. His breath was warm through my cotton T-shirt. “Perfect. One last thing.”

I gulped as he reached in a little drawer for a small padlock, perhaps half an inch big. One key was in the lock already, with another dangling from a ring.

“Now,” Rex murmured, taking me by the shoulders and turning me to face him. When the younger man locked our gazes, he didn’t let me look away. One hand stayed on my shoulder as he balanced the lock in his palm. “Tell me you want this. That you want to be mine, officially.”

I smiled as my brain flooded with so much yes that it was the only word I could think or say. Come on, I urged myself. How was I supposed to think of smart, sexy things to say when he did this to me with one simple command?

“Yes, Daddy,” I whispered, then cleared my throat. “I want to be yours. Officially.”

I quivered on the spot as Rex reached up to thread the shank through my collar. With one quiet click, it was closed, and he took the keys out. “Done,” Rex murmured. “Now, nobody takes this off but me. Understand?”

I couldn’t imagine wanting to take it off, but I nodded anyway. “Yes, Daddy.”

Rex’s eyes shone with a very different triumph than I’d ever seen when Isaac looked at me. He looked pleased and proud, bursting with excitement, and frankly, I’d do anything for him to smile like that again.

“Then let’s get changed. It’s time to show you off, my boy.”

“Yes, Daddy,” I whispered, my fingertips rising to trace across the smooth leather that marked me as his.

At last, I was going to be exposed and broken in front of more people than ever, but I’d never felt so utterly safe. From the moment the collar closed around my neck, my nerves had settled. Rex was in charge here. All I had to do was obey.

This was the moment I’d been waiting for all my life, and I couldn’t wait.

“Check you out.”

The snarky little thing was back at the door again in the same silver chain body harness as before. But this time, instead of scrutinizing me, he was smiling like an old friend.

“I’d rather you didn’t.” Rex’s hand closed around my shoulder, and suddenly he seemed to stand six inches taller.

It was clear the door guy was just being friendly. There was absolutely no need for that tone. And I fucking loved it.

I barely held in the giggle until we stepped into the building, and then I clutched Rex’s waist. “Oof. Look at you go, Daddy,” I whispered. “I like the jealous side of you.”

We were barely inside, and I was so excited I could hardly think straight. The nervous anticipation felt good now, and it all kept coming back to the band of leather around my neck. As I walked, I could hear the padlock clicking against the metal ring that kept my collar closed.

I belonged to Rex—Master X, my Daddy, my love.

Nobody and nothing else could faze me, even getting