Her Vampire Addiction - Tabitha Black Page 0,80

strength of the sorrow that thought brings me. “Remind me to thank Lucius someday.”

“You can thank him in a minute,” Maximus says. “He’ll be down for the collaring.”

“I’m nervous,” I admit. “I was nervous before, and now it’s even worse somehow.”

His arm tightens around me and he presses another kiss to my hair. “The hard part is over with now, sweetheart. This is the part where I get to show everyone here just how much you mean to me. So, are you ready?”

“I assume I won’t be allowed to get dressed again first?”

He chuckles, and this time there’s genuine humor in it. “Nice try, pet. And you’ll be losing the blanket, too.”

“I figured as much. Oh well, I guess everyone here tonight has seen pretty much every square inch of me by now.”

“Every beautiful, perfect square inch,” Maximus corrects me. “Now, come on. Let’s make this official.”

27

Maximus

I couldn’t be more proud of Sabina, my stunning blonde girl with the Roman name, as she makes her way through the crowd, her hand tucked into my arm. Even though she’s completely naked aside from her heels, which I allowed her to put back on, she’s walking tall, showing no signs of discomfort or embarrassment.

She took her punishment with more courage than even I had anticipated. Fifty strokes of the birch on soaking wet skin left the entire area of her ass from the top of the crease, right down the backs of her thighs, crisscrossed with deep, scarlet cuts, some of which had already begun to bleed at around the halfway mark. She’ll be feeling the effects of that whipping for quite some time, and even so, she’s walking beside me as if she doesn’t have a care in the world.

I feel as if my heart could explode with love. The rose gold titanium chain bracelet is safely tucked in a box in my pants pocket, and I can’t wait to lock it around her left wrist. I decided against a typical collar as I like her neck bare. Necklaces and collars only get in the way of choking, feeding, and other fun activities.

It’s only a short walk from the play area to the dais, and I wanted to show her off—and her marks—so we took the long way around, making a full circuit of the dungeon. Now we’re standing in front of the dais which holds Lucius and Selene’s grand, imposing thrones.

If Lucius was surprised yesterday when I called him and said I might need him to perform a collaring this evening, he didn’t show it. I was a bit worried he wouldn’t be available at such short notice—after all, I didn’t know for sure whether Sabina would say yes until seven o’clock—but he’d merely chuckled. “We go back a long way,” he’d said, “and it’s been so many years since I last saw you this happy. Of course, I’d be honored to preside over the ceremony.”

The king and queen of Toxic are seated in their places of honor now, both looking glamorous and regal, as always. Selene’s eyes are glittering with amusement and I know why: she’s often teased me about never wanting to settle down.

In this instance, I don’t mind being wrong.

Lucius rises as we approach the dais, and I incline my head respectfully. Sabina does the same.

“Maximus,” he says, his voice carrying across the room. “Is this the girl you would like to own?”

“Indeed, sire,” I say, using my most formal way of addressing him. The occasion warrants it. “This is Sabina.”

“Very nice,” Lucius replies. I can feel Sabina clutch my arm tighter. “Sabina, do you attest that you are here of your own free will, that you are entering into this agreement with Maximus with a sound, clear mind, and full knowledge of what he will require of you?”

“I do, Sir.” It’s barely a whisper, but I know Lucius heard it all the same.

“Then I give you both my blessing.”

“Thank you, sire,” I tell him. Then I slide Sabina’s hand out from the crook of my elbow, turn her so that we’re facing each other, and tell her to kneel. She does so without hesitation and once again, a wave of pride fills my chest.

“Sabina,” Lucius says. “Do you promise to love, serve, and obey Maximus in all things as your dominant, in the knowledge that he will love, protect, and respect you in return, never asking anything of you that would cause you harm?”

This time, Sabina’s reply is clear as a bell. Her lovely blue eyes