heated and Zen crossed his arms. “Out, you ruffians.”
Pete frowned at Derek. “What the hell is he talking about? I’m a respectable human being.”
Derek grunted. “Human being, yes. Respectable?” He made a see-sawing motion with his hand. “We’d have to define terms.”
Pete and Derek left the trailer, the mock arguing continuing before the thin metal door slammed shut. The experience on the road had been beyond amazing, but Braylin couldn’t deny how much he was looking forward to them being in one place.
Zen’s place.
He’d had many excited phone call exchanges with his family, especially his mom, about his new life as a rock star. Then, he’d confirmed the rumors regarding his and Zen’s relationship. But telling them he was moving into Zen’s Pacific Palisades estate was something he preferred to do in person.
“Baby?”
Zen’s voice snapped Braylin out of his daydreaming, and he regarded his Dom who was holding up a rectangular-shaped, blue velvet box. He handed it to Braylin with a soft smile.
“This is just for now, what would be referred to as a training collar. My hope is that you’ll accept this one for the time being, along with a more official one when the moment is right and we make a more formal commitment.”
Braylin sucked in a sharp breath, reaching for the item with a trembling hand. “Oh, wow. I…wow.”
Zen brushed Braylin’s hair back from his face. “Was that a yes? Because if it is, it would make very happy and hard as nails if you’d wear this on stage tonight.”
Braylin could barely catch his breath. “Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, of course, yes. All the yes’s.”
He knew he was babbling, but his brain had shorted out. Braylin cradled the box, staring at the velvet-covered object as if it would pop open and the collar would leap out. He needed to take a minute to commit the moment to memory.
“Come on, baby. Open it. We have to hit the stage, but I want to buckle it on your neck first.”
Braylin popped open the lid, the thought of Zen claiming him with a collar almost enough to make him come in his jeans. What a sight that would be for the crowd and the cameramen who were filming.
The thin strip of black leather lay inside the box, plain in design, but accentuated with a silver, rhinestone embedded buckle. Braylin frowned. At least he thought they were rhinestones.
“Do you like it?”
Zen gazed at him expectantly, the glimpse of vulnerability Zen exuded filling Braylin with warmth.
“I love it. Seriously, I do.”
Braylin lifted it from the box, turning it over in his hands. The gems caught the light, sparkling with a brilliance Braylin had never seen before. Zen coaxed him to relinquish the choker.
“There’s a reason I call myself Zen Diamond, baby. You’ve already experienced the Zen part when we meditate and burn incense. Now it’s time you partake of the rest.”
There was something more Braylin wanted to partake of with Zen, but he knew Zen was waiting for the perfect moment. In truth, he was touched by Zen’s self-control, that he’d placed Braylin’s best interests before his own.
“Thank you, Sir. Seriously, I didn’t expect anything like this.”
Zen grinned. “I’d start getting used to it.”
“Don’t spoil me.”
Zen gave him a mock scowl. “I’m the Dom. I make the rules. If I want to spoil you, I will.”
Braylin smiled. “Well, now that I’m a big rock star, who says I can’t spoil my Dom?”
Zen gave him a quick, but thorough kiss. “We’ll love and spoil each other. How’s that?”
“It’s perfect.” Braylin’s cheeks were hurting from smiling so hard.
Zen rose from his chair and Braylin closed his eyes, sighing at the feel of Zen wrapping the leather around his throat then tugging the two ends together before buckling it closed.
Zen tucked a finger between the collar and Braylin’s neck. “How’s that? Comfortable.”
“Yeah. Perfect.”
“You’ll still be able to sing okay?”
Braylin swallowed a few times, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down and pressing against the leather. He still had plenty of room to breathe and, fuck, the thing felt so good. Like having Zen’s hand on him.
He stared into Zen’s eyes, willing Zen to grasp the intensity of his words. “Yes. And it’s amazing. I love it so much.”
Zen tugged Braylin into an embrace. “You’re my star, baby. Always remember that.” He pulled back and grinned. “Now let’s fucking slay this show.”
When they took the stage and Braylin faced the enormous crowd, he felt as if he was high. The collar kept Zen