Page 91 of The C Agreement

Cade went over to close the door, and when he came back, he walked around to my side of the desk. He had a more serious look on his face.

“Before we meet your friends for dinner, I have something for you.”

I grinned. “Is that a present you’re hiding behind your back?”

Bringing one hand around, he cupped my chin. “It is. But first, I need you to get down on your knees for me.”

We didn’t have a lot of time before our dinner reservation, but I also couldn’t tell Cade no. Besides, someone would show up on time to get our table. We could be a few minutes late.

Slowly, I lowered myself to the floor and looked up at my new boyfriend to see what he wanted from me next.

“Baby…”

“Yeah, honey?”

He brushed his thumb over my lips, then trailed the backs of his fingers down my neck.

My insides clenched, and I shivered at his touch.

“You know I like control in the bedroom.”

I nodded.

“I never thought I would meet someone who would accept me the way I was and someone I wouldn’t get bored with. Turns out, I already knew her. You are perfect for me, Rayne. And because you gave yourself to me last night, I have something for you. Good girls deserve good things, and, baby, you are a very good girl.”

Heat swept through my body. Last night, I’d wanted to give Cade the thing he’d been asking for. I had him lie on the bed, and I got on top of him. Most people probably wouldn’t consider that position to be giving themselves to their partners, but he had known how big of a deal it was for me.

“I didn’t do it because I wanted something from you. I did it because I love you and trust you,” I told him.

He smiled. “I’d been thinking about this for a while. Last night just solidified how perfect it would be.”

“Okay.”

“With this gift comes an important question.”

Immediately, my mind jumped to a marriage proposal. Not many gifts came with an important question. But I was the one on my knees, not Cade, and our relationship was far too new for an engagement.

“I’m ready,” I told him.

The hand still behind his back came around, and in it was a suede jewelry box. But I was right. It definitely wasn’t a ring.

It was a necklace box.

“Go ahead,” Cade urged.

Uncertain of what I’d find, I took the jewelry box and carefully opened it. It was a silver chain with a circle dangling from the center, which was a gorgeous, almost Celtic design.

“It’s beautiful, but I don’t understand what’s so important about it.”

“It’s not your average necklace. Look at the clasp.”

I studied the back and could see where the two sides separated, but, “It doesn’t have one.”

“That’s because it’s a lock.”

My eyes flicked up to his.

Cade ran a finger over my collarbone around the front of my neck. “It’s a submissive collar, and this”—he tugged on the circle—“is an O ring.”