Master Class Pt. 03

Master Class--Part 3

I parked my car in the side lot of a quaint bistro in a suburb of New Jersey about 30 minutes from the George Washington Bridge, close to where Gabby lived. Gabby and I planned our first face to face meeting at this place after we left the creative writing retreat in the Berkshires about two months ago and I was nervous and excited. We had become very close during our time together and had become intimate in a strange way even though she admitted to being a fem lesbian and I am an effeminate gay male. It is a complicated relationship owing in part to our differences in sexual preference and the fact that she became a collared submissive to another student at the retreat. I had reluctantly taken on the role of her protector after she broke up with this woman, a role that I will admit that I was unprepared for and ill equipped to undertake.

Gabby is very comfortable with me as a person and likewise I am very comfortable with her, a fact which led us to become sexually involved and drawn into a caring relationship. I was here tonight to present her with a collar that would officially signify our commitment to each other even though I had serious reservations, and we lived in different States. We had discussed this before leaving the retreat and agreed to a set of terms which we both said would outline the understanding of our relationship and which was to guide our actions going forward. We had yet to test the boundaries but on paper it seemed like something that could work for us but there are many theories that never pass the initial tests. I do not wish to lose a good friend, someone I deeply cared about, because we took one step too far and this was something I felt still gnawing at my heart and my brain as I sat alone in my car. The time had come to face the inevitable.

As I entered the restaurant I saw Gabby sitting at the bar as the bartender brought over a martini in a chilled glass and placed it in front of her with a smile. She smiled back and said something that I could not hear as I walked up behind her. I placed my hands on her shoulders and leaned down to kiss her neck and felt a slight movement in her muscles under the skin. She moaned ever so quietly before whispering, "I am expecting someone to join me so you will have to work quickly or stop kissing me."

"You look very sexy from the back, you know. I envy the person meeting you and I hope they are deserving of you," I replied.

"We shall see but if they disappoint me, I will look for you as a backup," she said before turning to face me. "Oh, hi Marc, I didn't see you come in. Were you here long?" she added before giving me a big smile and a long kiss on the lips while pressing her breasts into my chest. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too. It seems like forever since we shared meals and laughs in the Berkshires," I said. "Let me take your drink and let's go sit at a table so I can look at you and we can have some quiet space."

We moved to a table at the side of the dining area with a view of the bar and settled in. I requested a bourbon Old Fashioned and we chatted easily while we waited for my drink. Once it arrived we toasted to new beginnings and our old friends who were not here tonight. Gabby looked radiant with a smile that lit up the room and she said that this was the happiest that she had been since leaving the Berkshires. She touched my hand several times while speaking and I gently stroked her arm as well, something that I had not done during our stay at the retreat, but which felt apropos tonight. She rubbed her neck on occasion, but I don't know if it was an absent-minded reflex as she searched for her collar or a reminder to me to indicate that I promised something to her that had yet to be delivered. Either way I got the message and reached into my jacket pocket to produce the slender black leather box.

As I presented her with this gift, I quietly said that I was anxiously awaiting this moment for a week and hoped that she reflected on what we discussed during the retreat as much as I did. I told her that I thought about it a lot and would not blame her if she changed her mind, but the decision was hers and it would not affect how I felt about her. I slid the box to her and watched as her eyes gleamed as she prepared to open it. She took my hand and kissed it saying that she was afraid that I would change my mind about her.

She opened the box to expose a herringbone pattern tricolor gold day collar with a gold ring in the front. It was an elegant piece overall, erotic, sexy and clearly significant. Gabby's face radiated the joy that she felt, and she rose from her chair to grab my face and kiss me repeatedly.

"Marc, please place this around my neck. My hands are shaking I'm so nervous," she said excitedly.

"You're quite sure?" I asked.

"I've never been more certain of anything," she replied, "I am yours and now the world will know it."

With that, I took the necklace from the box, placed it around her neck and fastened the clasp at the back of the choker, "I hope I am worthy."

"We are meant for each other, Marc, and we both know it. What we have has been written in the stars."

"In that case, tonight we celebrate," I said quietly.

"Yes, absolutely," she replied. "After dinner, let's go back to my place and I am yours to command, my Lord."

"And if I simply wish to kiss you all over, would you be happy with that?" I whispered.

"Fuck yeah," she moaned. "You're making me wet just talking about it and I promise to get your face shiny and slick with my juices before I lick them off... if that's something you would like, of course."

"Of course," I laughed.

Gabby returned to her seat and sat there smiling while fingering the gold ring on the choker as the waiter brought our dinner. "Marc, I never would have imagined that we would have this experience together when we first met. Margarite exposed something in me that existed below the surface and for that I am grateful, but it felt artificial as well. She made the experience of being collared sound exotic and loving but the reality with her never quite lived up to the promise, if you get what I mean; it was a shallow experience that lacked something. When we talked over breakfast in the Berkshires and I placed my pink collar on the table between us, it was liberating; when you picked it up and gave it back to me, it was electric. I knew right then that there was a special bond between us, something that I have never felt before. That simple collar was a catalyst that made me feel strangely alive for the first time, and I feel it again tonight. It is exactly what I imagined the reality of being collared would be like and it is magical. The collar you have given me is the most beautiful piece of jewelry I own, and I will treasure it always."

"My God, talk about pressure," I replied.

"Don't worry, you can handle it," Gabby said with a laugh.

Over dinner I asked Gabby if she heard from Margarite since the retreat ended and she said that they had spoken a couple of times albeit briefly. She indicated that Margarite was sorry about how their relationship ended and asked to meet with her to talk things out although she did not suggest a date or a venue. Gabby wasn't surprised that it was left open-ended since the breakup was a little rough and the roots of their relationship had not gotten that deep. Margarite appeared content to use Gabby for pleasure but seemed to lack the commitment for anything long-term, at least as far as Gabby was concerned. Maybe she was frightened by her feelings as well and didn't know how to deal with them.

As we talked, I asked what led to the scene in her apartment when I walked in and was told that she was 'indisposed' while she was tied to bed, naked. She said that it was a test that Margarite thought up to see how obedient she was and once she was tied to the bed Margarite deviated from the agreement but luckily I was the first to enter the apartment sparing Gabby the embarrassment that Margarite really wanted. Gabby went on to admit that considering our relationship, the embarrassment would not have been earth-shattering and in fact probably would have been erotic and highly stimulating. I laughed and said that perhaps I should consider a test of my own and she only smiled and replied, "Perhaps you should. You might find it interesting to observe your creation Dr. Frankenstein." This last statement elicited a laugh from both of us.

Gabby asked if I heard from Charles and when I said that I spoke to him several times and planned to see him next weekend, she was happy that we made plans to stay in touch. She went on to say how much she enjoyed our last evening together, being allowed to be a voyeur to our sex and I said I felt the same since I had a front row seat for her self-gratification as well. We had spoken of this scenario, and I knew that Gabby would enjoy watching us having sex and I certainly enjoyed watching her achieve multiple orgasms before she forced her vagina into my face so I could lap up her juices. It certainly was a night to remember.

After dinner we went to Gabby's apartment and she was a wonderful hostess. She had a nice bottle of bourbon to sample and coffee or tea if I wanted something warm. I told her that the bourbon was perfect, and she then offered to make it exceptional if I was interested in a unique beverage experience. I didn't know what she had in mind, but I was intrigued so I said that that sounded wonderful if she joined me. She smiled and said, "Of course, it would be my pleasure, sir," and walked to her bedroom.

When she returned she was wearing only a sheer linen robe and high heels, with her gorgeous naked beauty on full display. She went to the kitchen for two glasses of bourbon with an ice cube in each and placed the drinks on the coffee table in front of me. While I did not know what was coming next, I liked what I saw so far. I did not have to wait long as she quickly removed her robe and then dipped her middle finger into my glass of bourbon, swirling it around. She smiled at me and then inserted her finger into her vagina and moved it in and out several times to make sure it was properly coated with her juices before putting it back into the bourbon to mix the liquids together.

"Don't drink it yet, Marc, we have to toast first," she said before repeating the process for the second glass. After mixing her drink, she licked the tip of her finger before placing it to my lips so I could take it into my mouth. "That's a good boy, suck that finger, savor the taste of warm pussy and cool bourbon. Here's to us, Marc," she whispered and took a sip of her bourbon.

"To us," I replied quietly before taking a sip and adding, "Gabby, I thought you were supposed to be the submissive one and I was to get whatever I wanted. Do I have this wrong?" I asked.

"No, you're right and I believe that you did get exactly what you wanted. I know that you like the way I look when I'm naked and I believe that you also enjoy the way I taste so what did you dislike about the service tonight?" she said.

"I didn't ask for you to serve it to me naked and I didn't ask you to stir my bourbon with a finger that had just been inside your vagina."

She walked in front of me as I sat on the edge of the sofa and stood with her legs spread and her lovely smooth pussy only inches from my face and asked, "Don't you like the way I look? Or perhaps it was the taste of the bourbon? It's something exotic if I am not mistaken. I know that I enjoyed the taste of what was in my glass, a rare vintage mellowed in a special cask with hints of flowers and fruit. Here, inhale the vapors directly from the source, maybe lick the rim to get a good taste."

I licked the lips of her vagina and could taste the residual bourbon and heard her start to moan softly.

"Well, do you like my unique beverage experience sir? If you do not, I can send it back with the barmaid and have her flogged," she said with a sly smile.

"No, sending it back won't be necessary but a light flogging might be fun. I believe that this beverage is an acquired taste that will grow on me," I replied.

"I'm sure that it will. Is there anything else that you would like, sir?"

"Yes, I'd like to see your bedroom, please," I said while rising from the sofa and taking my glass from the coffee table.

"Of course, sir," she replied while picking up her glass.

Once in her room, Gabby removed my clothes and we crawled into her bed, fluffing the pillows on the way. Gabby curled up next to me, placing her head on my chest while I wrapped my arm around her, holding her close. We had never laid together in bed before and it was wonderfully comfortable. Warm flesh resting against warm flesh, the scent of her hair filling my nostrils, her fingers tracing unseen designs on my chest, her firm breast pushing against my ribs and her breath warm upon my skin.

"Are you happy, Marc?" she asked out of the blue. "I know that I am," she said before I could answer.

I laughed at the rapid response to her own question before adding, "Yes, Gabby, I am happy. Why do you ask? Don't I look happy?"

"You're a man and men hide their feelings from women so they appear strong and I wanted to know how you really felt lying next to a naked woman tonight. If I were lying in bed next to a sexy naked woman, I would be ecstatic, delirious probably, crawling all over her, my fingers caught in her hair and my teeth teasing her nipples. God, I'm getting wet!"

I pulled her hand over to rest it on my erection and replied, "Does this answer your question? I can honestly say that I am happy and lying next to you like this is the most wonderful feeling I can imagine right now. You're exciting and erotic, sensual in every sense of the word, and I can't wait to feel your body wrapped around me like a snake."

"That's what I wanted to hear. My body is aching to feel you inside me and I want you to make me scream. Make love to me like the first time in your room in the Berkshires. Let the passion that is inside both of us escape to meld with the universe so this feeling lives forever."

I rolled over, pinning her to the mattress, forcing her legs apart and holding her wrists in one hand over her head. I kissed her tenderly on the lips and then took one finger and toyed with the gold ring on her choker, "You belong to me, Gabrielle, forever and always," I said as I slowly slipped my erect penis into her hot, slick vagina.

"I am yours for as long as you want me, Marc, but I won't be taken for granted. You feel so good inside me right now," she said as she started to shake and let out a soft scream. "Motherfucker! Oh God! I'm cumming."

She kissed me and struggled to get out of my grip but I held her firmly, forcing her legs farther apart and pushing my cock deep inside her while watching her eyes roll to the back of her head. I pumped repeatedly until I felt the spasms in my abdomen accompanying the pulsing of semen entering her body and a tremendous orgasm gripped my body. Eventually she relaxed and shook gently with the aftershocks of her orgasm, and I rolled to her side to hold her close.

After about a minute, Gabby leaned over and kissed me, caressing my face with her hand. "There are so many things that I want to say right now but I am frightened. Can you feel it, Marc? I want to cry but I don't want you to see me in tears. Oh God, I am so fucked up. Tell me what to do, Marc. Please."

I kissed her tenderly and held her tightly, pulling the sheets up to our shoulders. "Gabby, we have always been honest with each other, and we should not deviate at a time like this. I believe that I know what you want to say and if it helps, I feel that same. My intuition, for what it is worth, tells me that this is what love feels like. I have bared my soul to you, kept no secrets, and I have pledged my love to you when I presented you with the collar tonight. What else is there, Gabby?"

"Nothing at all, Marc," she replied as tears of happiness began to run down her cheeks and she crawled into my arms.

I thought about Gabby quite a lot since leaving the Berkshires and judging by this evening, she had thought a lot about me. How can people who are obviously different in so many ways share something inexplicable that bonds them together so strongly? The algorithm that selected us as partners in the creative writing master class found something in our profiles that was invisible to everyone else, even ourselves. Gabby was a committed lesbian who had not been with a man for well over ten years and was happy with that lifestyle. I lived as an openly gay man and had not considered establishing a romantic relationship with a woman for many years as well. I liked the company of women, the look and feel of female bodies, and I appreciate female emotions. I thought that this was a consequence of my own inner female and I looked no further. Yet here we are, wrapped in each other's arms in the afterglow of wonderful sex speaking of love, having committed our lives to one another with Gabby wearing the beautiful collar that I selected for her and placed around her neck as a sign of love, devotion and commitment.

Gabby stirred and looked into my eyes with a gaze that I imagined belonging to Lauren Bacall when she looked at Humphrey Bogart in the final scenes of Casablanca. What was running through her mind? I don't think that I could ever guess or understand. She was a complex and complicated woman that I was only beginning to appreciate, if that is the right word.

"You're thinking about something," she said softly. "Your brow is furrowed."

"I think that you're beautiful," I replied.

"You don't have to be nice to me simply because you're in my bed and have just finished fucking me, but it is a pleasant gesture all the same," she responded with a laugh.

"Gabrielle," I started, only to be interrupted.

"Whenever you start a sentence with 'Gabrielle' you make me nervous, Counselor. What's troubling you?" she said while crawling on top of me and straddling my waist while looking in my eyes.

"Gabrielle, I am sure that you have thought a lot about us since leaving the Berkshires. I know that I have and being with you in bed brought many thoughts back into focus for me. I am happy to be here with you, I like the way that we interact when we are together, I love the way that you feel in my arms, our openness and the way that we make love. But do you have any thoughts about where we would be in the future?" I said.

Gabby reached for her glass of bourbon, swirled the liquid around and took a sip before putting the glass next to my lips. "Take a sip and tell me what you think," she replied.

I did as instructed and said, "The ice cube melted, the bourbon tastes wonderful and the aroma coming from the glass excites me."

"I noticed the exact same things from my sip. Now, what future do you want to discuss?" she replied smiling.

"You broke my concentration," I complained.

"Take another sip and nothing outside of this room will matter to you," she said seriously while staring into my eyes.

"Women have a way of manipulating men that is diabolical," I replied. "I was trying to have a serious conversation with you and your pheromones took over my conscious brain functions."

Gabby started rubbing her vagina against my penis which achieved the desired effect, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to distract you from your serious conversation, Counselor," she said with a sultry voice.

I pushed her off me and crawled on top of her, taking her left nipple between my teeth and biting down gently. "That's it, bite me harder, make it hurt. Oh, God don't stop!" she cried.

I had a rock-hard erection by now and pushed it into her vagina, making her squirm and moan with delight. "Fuck me like you hate me, Marc, I want it rough tonight," she said loudly and began to claw at my back, "Oh, God, don't stop."

I pushed deep and hard and within a couple of minutes we both cried out as we had simultaneous orgasms and held each other tightly, panting uncontrollably. Slowly I rolled onto my back and laid next to Gabby who was perspiring and breathing heavily. She took my hand in hers and kissed it before looking over at me with those special eyes. "Talk to me, Marc," she said softly.

"Gabby, I care about you and love you. I can't imagine myself without you next to me. You are special in so many ways and I have never felt this way about another human being. Lying here with you tonight proved how damaged I would be without you but I wonder how we make this relationship work. Are we being foolish starting something that is doomed to eventually fail?" I said softly.

"It is only doomed to fail if we let it," she replied fingering the ring on her choker. "You gave this to me and I accepted it. I will live up to my commitment if you will live up to yours, but if you believe that this only counts if there are no difficulties, then undo the clasp now and take it back. I will cry but I will move on, I always do. If you want to work through this hiccup with me, then let's do it and not get caught up in talk of potential failure. Sip from that glass, inhale my scent and taste my juices, and think about what you're giving up simply because you don't want to try to make something difficult work out. This is more than physical attraction, raw sex without emotional intimacy; I'm in this for better or worse and I don't expect easy times to last forever.

"Marc, I love you. There, I've said it and I mean it but if my love frightens you for some reason, then you're not as special as I thought. Take the easy way out, undo the clasp and leave."

Gabby's loving gaze had turned dark and I saw tears of pain gathering in her eyes. "I asked if we were being foolish starting something that is doomed to fail, I didn't say that I wouldn't try to make our relationship succeed against the odds," I said. "You are too special to me to ever walk away from you." I picked up my glass, took the remaining liquid into my mouth and kissed her while dribbling a good portion of it into her mouth. "I'm not letting go of you, Ms. Gabrielle. I love you and we have a special connection that is the stuff of dreams."

"And what if I say that I don't want to stay with you now? Maybe my feelings about you have changed." she said with a very serious tone.

"Too late for that," I replied staring into her eyes.

"Fuck you! Do you think you frighten me, Marc? You will never tell me what to do or what to feel" she said as she reached behind her head, undid the clasp on the choker and handed it to me. "Go think about it again and don't come back to me unless you're prepared to love me unconditionally."

After a wonderful start to our first meeting since our writing class, it turned dark very quickly. I dressed in silence, took the choker and prepared to leave while Gabby went into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. She refused to come out or speak to me, so I had little choice but to scribble a note for her and leave to drive back to New York. I have strong feelings for her, and I believed that she felt the same about me, but something changed tonight once I mentioned my concerns about our future together. She seemed to make light of the situation, but reality cannot be avoided simply by ignoring it while sipping pussy-flavored bourbon.

I tried calling her on the way home, but the calls went unanswered, and my voicemail messages did not elicit a return call. It was close to 4am before I relaxed enough to fall asleep, but it was not a restful night with most of it spent tossing and turning. Relationships are complicated and those involving women are the most complicated of all. Gabby seemed troubled but I do not understand the root cause.

Waking around noon, I took a shower and made coffee to bring me back to the world of the living. I called Gabby but the call went to voicemail, so it is time for me to acknowledge that she was not interested in talking to me right now and it is better to let sleeping dogs lie. I called Charles and it was nice to finally hear a friendly voice. We finalized our plans for the upcoming weekend, and he told me about a conversation that he had with a business acquaintance who was looking for a lawyer and suggested that we have a meeting with him on Friday afternoon if that was suitable for me. It is easy enough to pack a suit and tie so I agreed to his suggestion and asked him to send a confirmation with details so I could adjust my schedule accordingly. Charles is an easy conversationalist with a good sense of humor so after our talk my mood improved greatly. I looked forward to spending the weekend with him and hope to recreate some of the pleasurable moments that we shared in the Berkshires, and put the current difficulties with Gabby on the back burner.

I normally do not like to drive anywhere over 3 hours away but I made an exception for the Berkshires in the past and it wasn't horrible so I decided that it might be a pleasant 4-hour trip to Boston if I got myself into the right frame of mind before I left. I had decent music and planned several stops for coffee and snacks so I envisioned a nice adventure with a happy ending so to speak. Charles arranged a 4pm meeting so I allowed plenty of travel time and I knew that an apéro and a great dinner would follow shortly afterward.

Charles was definitely glad to see me when I arrived and I felt the same. When he met me in the lobby of his building he looked more handsome than I remembered, so distinguished and relaxed; his lips were soft on mine and he made me tingle with his kiss, a true gentleman and I would have been happy to go straight to his bed and stay there for three days, but that would have to be saved for another weekend.

"Marc, it is so nice to have you here. I'm glad that you could manage an early break today but I'm being selfish. I'm sure you had to juggle some things around to get here and such disruptions on a Friday are never welcome. My apologies," he said.

"Don't be silly, Charles. I was happy to get away and I am even happier to be here with you. I've missed you and seeing you again will make it even harder to leave again but I'm getting ahead of myself," I responded.

He laughed and we shared a warm hug and some deep kisses. "Let's fix your tie and go meet Jules. I think that you will get along well with him since he is a young 45-year-old who made his own money, enjoys life but works hard and treats people as they deserve. One warning though: don't bullshit him, not that I think you would but it's a head's up just in case. Err on the side of rough honesty." The stage was set, and I could tell it would be an interesting evening.

We went to the small conference room next to Charles' private office and I was introduced to his assistant, a pleasant young lady named Alesia, who had set up the room and who was clearly enamored with Charles on a professional level. She was very focused but warm and friendly, and clearly intelligent so I could see why Charles liked her. We caught up on the situation with Gabby while we waited and while I got the sense that Charles had opinions on the matter that he would normally share with me as a friend, he held off for the time being, wanting to finish our discussions with Jules first. He did ask if I brought the collar that I planned for Gabby with me and when I said that I did, he smiled and said that he would be interested in seeing my taste in such things since it says a lot about a person. I smiled back and joked that I would even model it for him if he wished so that he could receive the full impact and that seemed to get his attention. Alesia entered and announced Jules' arrival, so our chit-chat ended, and business began.

The next 90 minutes found us discussing Jules' businesses and his decision to employ in-house counsel to oversee the various legal firms that handled his account. He relied exclusively on four firms and while he was generally satisfied with their work, he was beginning to get the feeling that a lot of the work was being handled by junior members of the teams so that they would get experience and this did not give him the level of expertise that he felt entitled to receive. He believed that the right attorney overseeing the legal aspects would be able to cut through the crap and properly gauge the quality of the work in a nice yet professional way that insulated him. Charles provided my introduction and I gave him a rundown of my experience and presented a CV for reference. When Jules left he thanked me for making the trip to Boston to meet with him and I remarked with a smile that I felt that someone like him warranted personal attention. He commented that since I was obviously an experienced New York City lawyer he wondered why I wasn't in politics. We laughed and Charles said that unfortunately I had a tendency for telling the truth and that ruled out politics as a career choice which ended our meeting on a positive note. Jules said that he would speak to Charles over the weekend and that he would call me as the interviews progressed.

Charles and I walked to a local restaurant for an early dinner, and it was nice to relax and share a drink with Charles like we did over the summer. He said that he kept looking toward the door expecting Gabby and Margarite to walk in and it felt funny when it didn't happen. We acknowledged that we had a good group and it made the experience very pleasant and the time had passed quickly, almost too quickly in hindsight.

Eventually we got around to speaking about Gabby and I described the evening that I spent with her in New Jersey. He listened intently and finally asked how I felt about the outcome. I reflected on the question for a moment and then responded, "I am not sure. You know that I feel a special connection with her but as the evening wore on after dinner, I felt that something was happening between us and when she returned the collar I was almost relieved. I don't know what it was, but something changed in her and not for the better."

Charles stared at me but didn't say anything for a minute or so. "I hesitate in telling you this but a couple of weeks ago I received a call from Margarite supposedly to just say hello and we spoke about the good times that we had and the nice people we met. She said that she enjoyed our little group but was a little puzzled by Gabby toward the end of the course. It was no secret that Margerite presented her with the pink collar but she said that Gabby asked for it and wanted Margarite to look after her as her mistress. Margarite ultimately agreed to her request and tried to assume that role but Gabby reacted negatively once the collar was on and she saw that Gabby really didn't know what she wanted other than security. It almost sounds like you had a similar experience."

"It does sound similar," I said. "Wearing a collar signifies a bond and making that level of commitment is not something to be taken lightly. If there is uncertainty a collar will bring about stress and anxiety rather than comfort and security. The people involved must be in tune with each other and have deep feelings for the other person. I can see the appeal of being collared by someone that you care about but if those loving feelings are absent or insufficient, a collar is a trap."

"If Gabby had placed a collar around your neck, how would you have reacted?" he said quietly.

"Honestly, I am not sure. I care for Gabby a great deal but being apart from her this week improved my mood and all I could think about was seeing you. Do I sound fickle? To answer your first question, I can't see myself feeling comfortable or more secure wearing a collar for her."

"Is that a reaction to a collar in general?" he said.

"I don't believe so. I am not frightened of commitment or of submitting to another person's desires if they love me but looking at a collar in the context of the current relationship with Gabby, is a bit unsettling."

"Oh, please don't forget to show me the collar that you bought. I'll bet that it's beautiful," he added.

"I certainly believe it is," I replied.

We had martinis and a wonderful dinner and then Charles suggested that we go to his apartment for a bourbon and get comfortable for the evening. I didn't take much convincing and could hardly wait to get out of my clothes and into his bed.

Entering his apartment, I was greeted by the scent of fresh flowers from the huge bouquet of roses on the foyer table. "Charles, what lovely flowers! You are a helpless romantic aren't you?" I said.

"They are for you my dear, I know how you like flowers from our time together over the summer," he replied with a broad smile. "Put your bag on the luggage holder in the guest room and there is a robe in the bathroom if you want a shower. I will make up some Old Fashioneds and take a shower myself then meet you on the terrace."

"Sounds great," I said before kissing him and heading into the bathroom.

It felt wonderful to get out of my clothes and into some hot water, all the while thinking about what the evening had in store. I always feel comfortable around Charles and he is a perfect gentleman with a beautiful cock. I let the water run over my body and as much as I wanted to stay under the spray I also wanted to be next to Charles.

I toweled off and put on the semi-transparent crème-colored robe with 3/4 sleeves that Charles left for me. The robe was very feminine but looked gorgeous and made me feel sexy so I knew that Charles picked it especially for me. He has wonderful taste and goes out of his way to make people feel special.

Before joining Charles on the terrace I took the choker from my bag to show to him and wondered what he would say about my choice. I know that I liked it, having spent a lot of time searching for just the right design and material but what would he say? I'll get an honest opinion about the collar from Charles and also an honest opinion about the situation with Gabby. Previously I wondered what he would say but now I asked myself what I wanted him to say.

Charles was on the terrace wearing a blue satin robe that fit him beautifully. He looked so handsome and fit, I felt my heart flutter. When he looked at me his broad smile said everything that I needed to hear. "Oh, my sweet, you look ravishing like I knew you would. It has been so long since I have held you, please come here so I can feel your body again."

I walked over and put my arms around him, looking up into his eyes as he kissed me tenderly. "Marc, I will not be able to keep my hands off you for long so let's enjoy a drink, watch the changing night sky for a while and then go inside to get reacquainted."

As we sipped our drinks and looked at the fading light, I took out the black leather box with the choker and handed it to Charles without saying a word. He placed his glass on the table and slowly opened the box, "Marc, what a stunning piece. You have exquisite taste and anyone receiving this gift should be thrilled beyond words." He gazed at me while picking up the choker and asked, "May I request that you put it on?"

I looked into his eyes and took a breath before answering, "Yes, with pleasure. I only hope that it fits me properly and is not too restrictive."

"Well, I don't want to be presumptuous but if you consent to wear it, I will ensure that it is not restrictive. To be honest, I will confess that I am hoping that you will honor me by wearing this collar, or a collar, as a sign of the special bond that exists between us. It is your choice, and I will not pressure you to wear it.

"Marc, I know that this comes as a surprise to you tonight, but I have considered proposing a collar to you since we were together in the Berkshires. Since then I have felt even more strongly about it and seeing you today made me realize that I cannot delay asking you any longer. Take some time to think about it if you must but know that you are very special to me and I want everyone to know how I feel. If you refuse I will understand but I would ask that you consider the decision as we spend more time together. I don't want to lose you, Marc."

"Please do not hesitate any longer, Charles, it is a big step for both of us and I am as anxious and nervous as you are but somehow it just feels right," I whispered. With that, Charles placed the choker around my neck and I heard the little click of the clasp as he fastened it.

"It fits perfectly, Charles," I said as I turned and looked directly into his eyes. "I will wear it while I am here with you this weekend and we can talk more about us in the process. You know that I feel very comfortable with you and I want to make you as happy as you make me, but I don't want to rush into such a serious decision."

"Perfectly understandable and I agree completely," he responded before kissing me tenderly and walking me into his bedroom.

Standing by his bed, Charles opened my robe and ran his hands over my chest, gently fingering my nipples while he kissed my neck. His hands moved down to my waist and butt before pulling me close and I felt his erection against my abdomen causing me to moan in anticipation. My fingers went into his hair while I pulled his head toward me and I rubbed my body against him.

Charles removed my robe and I moved onto the bed while he removed his robe to expose his lovely, hard erection and beautiful physique. He is such a handsome man and seeing him like this took my breath away. Absentmindedly I toyed with the ring on the choker and I saw Charles smile as he watched me. "It suits you perfectly and you look beautiful wearing it," he said softly. "I am a lucky man to be with you."

"I am lucky as well. Fate in the person of Gabby brought us together and I will forever be grateful for her intuition about us because we are well-matched," I said while pulling him on top of me. "I have been in Boston for almost 10 hours and you have not made love to me yet. I am beginning to think that you only like me for my brain and sense of humor, and my feelings are getting hurt."

Charles reached into the night table drawer and removed a small bottle of lube. Squeezing some onto his hand he began to stroke my semi-erect penis while whispering into my ear, "I don't want to hurt your feelings my dear. I know how sensitive you are and I hope that I can find a way to make it up to you. Is there something special that I can do for you?"

I didn't respond as he moved up my body to straddle me with the tip of my cock poised at the entrance to his anus and then slowly allowed me to enter him while he moaned with pleasure. Little by little my cock slipped inside him until it was fully inserted and he gripped it tightly with his sphincter muscles before gently moving up and down in an ever-increasing rhythm that was bringing me close to orgasm.

When he sensed that I was getting close to cumming he moved off me and used the lube on my anus and his cock before placing my knees over his shoulders. He then took my wrists in his hands and pulled my arms over my head while easing his cock into my ass. "You feel so good, so tight and warm," he said as he kissed my neck and pushed deeper inside me. The rhythm of his strokes increased, and I could feel my orgasm building as my breathing became more rapid. He pushed harder and went deeper and I felt the strokes getting shorter before I ejaculated into the narrow space between our bodies and I felt his cock pulsing semen into my bowels as he cried out with the pleasure of his orgasm.

As our breathing returned to normal Charles whispered, "God, I have missed you but never realized how much until now."

"So, you missed fucking me if I understand correctly. Is that it?" I replied with a smile.

"You act more like a female every time I see you," he said. "You seem to forget that you ravaged me first and I responded in self-defense, miserable bitch," he added as he took the ring of my collar into his teeth and tugged gently.

I struggled out from under him and said I was going into the bathroom to cry... but I would be right back so he could apologize and hug me. Charles laughed and laid on his back to wait while I washed up. The weekend was off to a good start, and I was genuinely happy being with him again.

After we washed up, we got comfortable spooning and fell asleep in each other's arms. Sunlight woke us and I had forgotten where I was when I opened my eyes to unfamiliar surroundings but seeing Charles' face brought things back into focus. I got up to use the bathroom and washed my face and brushed my teeth before returning to bed but Charles did not move so I contented myself with keeping my eyes closed while I daydreamed about the decision that lay ahead for me. Do I accept being collared by Charles with all that that entails or do I tell him thanks but no thank you? He makes me feel good sexually, I like him as a person and he seems like a caring person, sensitive to my needs and desires. If he does not place restrictions on my life and treats me like an equal, is this the relationship that I want? I thought about what Margarite did to Gabby and how Charles said that Gabby asked for the collar and wanted Margarite to be her mistress and I wondered where the truth was in all the hearsay. Or if that mattered.

By asking me to be collared, Charles clearly wanted me to be submissive but I am submissive by nature anyway. Over the summer we had sex many times, even had sex in front of Gabby while she masturbated so we could be considered exhibitionists and voyeurs while I submitted myself to Gabby's will, and by extension, Charles' will, so I am prone to submission. If Charles wished to have sex with me in a public place, in front of other people, I could do it. If Charles wanted me to have sex with other people while he watched, how troubling would that be? If he asked for my consent and didn't pimp me out for money, it was just slutty consensual fucking so wearing his collar simply acknowledged the boundaries of our relationship that as of now are nonexistent.

The more that I thought about wearing a collar for him, the more I was leaning toward saying yes. I would belong to him but he would take on the responsibility for my wellbeing also. There is a quid pro quo and if he would shoulder that responsibility then I believe I should be able to trust that he would treat me like he has up until now. My only stipulation other than clarifying the points that I have mentioned is that I want him to give me a collar that he selected for me. The one that I am wearing is what I bought for Gabby and I feel that I deserve one of my own. I want to see how important I am to him and what he chooses to show the world what he thinks of his sub. That would be a good test.

I pushed my naked butt against Charles and soon I felt his growing erection snaking into the crack of my ass. My master awakes. Charles pulled me close to him and kissed the back of my neck, "Good morning, my dear," he said softly.

"Good morning, sleepy," I teased. "Can I get you a coffee, or would you like something else?"

"I would enjoy some tender kisses in a certain spot that has been neglected recently. Do you think that you could accommodate me in that regard?" he said softly. "And then a coffee."

"Of course, my lord. Your wish is my command," I replied and reached my hand around to caress his stiff dick. I slid down in bed to get my mouth around his cock and as soon as he felt my warm wet mouth and probing tongue on his penis, he moved his hand to my head to hold me in place. Slowly at first, he pushed his erection into my waiting mouth and then down into my throat as he probed deeper. I kept the saliva in my mouth so it was filling up, wet and warm for his thrusts. He began to moan and his grip on my head intensified, keeping me immobile as he proceeded to fuck my face like a vagina. It was difficult to breathe but he pulled out of my throat every fourth or fifth stroke to allow me to take in some air so once I got the timing right, it wasn't too bad.

After several minutes the tempo of his thrusts increased, and he pushed deeper while breathing heavily and moaning more loudly. Suddenly I felt his body stiffen and he pulled my head against his abdomen as he pulsed hot semen into my mouth and throat in what seemed like a never-ending stream. I swallowed as fast as I could and managed to ingest most of it but a small amount made its way onto my chin and cheek.

Charles slowly released the pressure on my head and gently pulled me up to his face so he could lick the semen from my face like the gentleman that he was. "That was considerate and very sweet," I said quietly.

"I would say the same for you," he replied. "I had forgotten how wonderful your blowjobs are. Thank you."

"So last night you said that you enjoyed fucking me and today you tell me that you forgot how good my blowjobs are. Never once did you say, 'you're so pretty' or 'I love your sense of humor' or 'your analytical mind intrigues me', it's just 'you give wonderful blowjobs'! Is this where I say my feelings are hurt and you buy me a huge diamond?" I replied with a laugh.

"Normally I would but you forgot my coffee so how about some lingerie instead?" he said.

We talked and laughed in bed and then made our way to the shower. The hot water felt wonderful, and it was nice to have someone wash my back while having light conversation. The more time I spent with Charles the more comfortable I felt. He is a gentleman and fun to be with among his other good qualities, plus it seemed that he really likes me even with the difference in our ages and the sex is fantastic.

After drying off and shaving, I slipped into my robe and went to the kitchen to make coffee. Charles came in after me, put his arms around me and kissed the back of my neck. He also fingered the ring on the choker in case I had forgotten about it. "It's still there, Charles," I said softly with a smile.

"It looks beautiful on you, very elegant," he said. "But the more that I think about it, the more I am inclined to get you a new one if you consent to wear one for me. This collar is truly beautiful but I feel that it is a reminder of your relationship with Gabby and I would like us to start fresh. When you tell me that you will accept to be mine, I will get you a suitable and discrete day-collar of your own."

I turned to look into his eyes, smiled and said, "I would like that as well. We should start fresh, just the two of us with a clear understanding of our expectations and obligations. This would be a very big commitment for me, something truly special and I want it to be right."

"And I want the same. I want you to be happy in our relationship, comfortable and secure in what we have together and comfortable enough to be your own person when we are apart. You are special to me and I will always treat you that way," he replied. "I don't wish to own you; I want you to give yourself to me freely."

"Charles, I am giving myself to you but please be gentle with me and don't abuse my trust and confidence," I whispered and kissed his lips.

"Thank you, Marc. You have made me very happy today and you will not be sorry for taking this step," he replied as he paced his finger in the ring on the choker and pulled my lips to his.

We took our coffee to the terrace and I stood next to him while he placed his arm around my shoulder and I placed mine on his waist. I felt happy to be here with Charles and he radiated the obvious joy he was experiencing. Charles excused himself and went inside for a moment and came back with a lovely pink box with a large white bow. "For you," he said.

"A present already? Were you that certain I would say yes to you?" I replied with a giggle. "What if I refused?"

"I kept the receipt just in case," he said with a laugh. "Seriously, I got this for you a couple of weeks ago when I couldn't resist it and I would have given it to you regardless."

I kissed him and opened the box to see a beautiful sheer green silk nightgown and robe with a matching lace bra and panty set. "Oh, Charles, this is gorgeous and I love the color. You are spoiling me but I love it," I said excitedly and kissed him repeatedly. "Thank you so much. I'm going to try it on and will be right back."

Charles waited patiently for me to make my entrance, and I tried not to disappoint him. The robe and nightgown were exquisite and fit perfectly and the panties were very sexy but the bra was a disappointment for an obvious reason so I left it off. I slinked onto the terrace and gave a turn for effect. Charles beamed and I could tell that I made an impression. "You are truly beautiful and I feel so fortunate right now," he said.

"We are both fortunate, my dear. Remember I am the one with the gifts," I joked.

We finished our coffee and decided to go to a local breakfast place for brunch to have a walk and get a little fresh air. I wore a polo shirt with a sport coat and my choker was on full display and I could see the pride in Charles' face as he looked at me while holding his arm as we walked. The panties felt wonderful and I wished I could have worn the bra for him as well but without breast forms or implants the look would not have been right. We made a nice couple and received numerous smiles from people on the street and in the restaurant and this helped maintain our good mood.

As we were finishing breakfast Charles received a call from Jules and Charles walked away from the table to speak to him. I saw him smiling and talking quietly and he returned in several minutes with good news. "Well, it seems that Jules took a liking to you although I am not convinced it was your professionalism rather than your good looks. He is interested in setting up an arrangement for you to do some work for him so that he can observe your style and get more comfortable with your professional capabilities. He suggests joining him at his home tomorrow afternoon to kick around some ideas and then having an apéro with him and his wife afterward. I know that this is not the relaxed weekend that you envisioned but it seems that good fortune is smiling on you, and you can't ignore that."

"I must admit that things are coming together rather quickly but that makes me suspicious. Good fortune is a wonderful thing but too much good fortune all at once might portend something else. Am I wrong, Charles?"

"It doesn't hurt to be cautious, counselor. It does strike me as slightly strange that Jules would be considering hiring an attorney to head up his legal team right when you are coming to Boston for a visit but aside from answering his question about knowing a good lawyer to fill the slot, I did nothing to influence his decision other than speaking positively about you based upon my having spent time with you this summer. He takes his own counsel and did not divulge his timing or what inspired him to begin the search now when we spoke. I may very well question the coincidence like you do and for the same reason, but I am inclined to call it just that, a coincidence. You lost nothing but a few hours on Friday, and will lose a few more tomorrow but you will be fed and watered for your time and have a pleasant afternoon to boot."

We wandered around the neighborhood looking in the various stores and antique shops on the way back to Charles' apartment and then spent a couple of hours on his terrace talking about our relationship. He said that he would prefer to live together in Boston but understood that my business is in New York so he would defer the decision about moving to me. He also confirmed that he would like me to wear the day collar that he would give to me as an outward sign of our commitment to each other but knowing that wearing a collar was a surprise, he would allow me some time to adjust to the idea if I felt uncomfortable.

One thing that came up for the first time was his choice of gifts for me this weekend. We had sex quite a few times over the time that we spent together in the Berkshires but he never saw me wearing women's clothing. I enjoy the soft feel of a nightgown or a camisole, and I did wear panties instead of men's briefs or boxers at times, but I never indicated my distinct preference for women's clothing to him, yet somehow he understood my feminine leaning and gave me a very nice lingerie set as a welcome gift and provided a woman's robe for after my shower Friday night. I wondered if this was any indication of what he expected of me going forward. Was I expected to be his submissive fem all the time and how far would he expect me to go? I asked him about this directly and he was clear about his expectations in his reply.

"Marc, your features are soft and more than a bit feminine and I believe that you would be a beautiful woman if you put your mind to it," he said. "When I see you in your robe or walking around in panties, it excites me and I can picture you also wearing makeup with lovely breasts visible through your robe. I would enjoy seeing you like that and if you would accommodate those desires I would be grateful, but I will not demand it."

"Assuming that you are not talking about removable breast forms, implants would be quite a change for me, Charles," I said with a smile. "I am not saying no but I will have to give it some thought. It's easy enough to wear panties and a camisole, and I love the nightgown and the robes, but to have actual breasts with a bra is not something easily disguised."

"I understand that it is a lot to ask but I want to be upfront with you and I am hoping that you will work with me on this. Please think about it."

"Work with you? Is that what you call it?" I said with a laugh, "Yes, I will give it some thought and get back to you. You are a difficult man, Charles," I said and he laughed.

The rest of the conversation was very easy. He was a considerate and generous man and clearly wanted to "take care of me" and his practical approach was refreshing. However, being faced with his latest request caught me off guard and made me a little uncomfortable but it's not like I haven't fantasized about such things. I guess it was the fact that I had to consider that one day I would have to walk into work with noticeable breasts had me concerned to put it mildly, and I have friends and family to consider as well. This situation was reminiscent of Margarite tying a naked Gabby to the bed in her Berkshires apartment knowing that someone would be invited into the apartment and chances were very good that she would be exposed. That was a test of Gabby's obedience and I wondered if this was a similar test for me although on a much more serious note.

At the end of the day Charles said that he made a reservation at a nice seafood restaurant near the harbor and hoped that that was okay with me. I said that it was perfect and excused myself to shower. The water felt good and I wondered how it would feel to have breasts and watch the water run over them. I fingered my nipples and thought about the sensations that I felt now and wondered if they would be the same. Mostly, though, I was curious about why Charles' request came up now and what his reaction would be if I refused. If this was a test of sorts what would be the consequence of refusing? Margarite reacted poorly when her test for Gabby did not go as planned but her test paled in comparison to what Charles has proposed to me. As much as I liked him, I felt that his asking me to get implants seemed to be too much, too soon. I also thought about Gabby and was curious what she was doing this weekend and if she thought about me at all.

As I got out of the shower and was drying off a text message came from Gabby. It was short and simple: "Hi. I've missed you and realized that I have been foolish and childish. I am sorry, please forgive me. Call me when you have a few minutes. Love, Gabrielle. (I remember that you are visiting Charles this weekend so please say hello for me if you don't mind.)"

I texted back: "Hi. I was just thinking about you when your text came in and I am very happy to finally hear from you. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing to forgive. I was being too analytical rather than following my heart and you reacted to being hurt, something perfectly understandable. Rather than calling you, can I stop by to see you tomorrow night? I have a meeting in Boston tomorrow afternoon, but I could be at your apartment around 11:00 pm if that works for you. I know that it would be late in the day but I want to see you so we can talk face to face. Please let me know. Love, Marc."

A response came within seconds. "Perfect, see you then and I'll have wine and pizza."

"Wonderful!" I replied.

I slipped into my robe and went to join Charles on the terrace for a drink before getting dressed for dinner. It was a beautiful evening and I was glad to be with Charles and to have heard from Gabby. Charles kissed me while handing me a martini and remarked that I looked happy. I said that I was and told him that I finally heard from Gabby and that she sends her regards. He smiled and asked, "Are you surprised to hear from her?"

"I figured that we would speak at some point but how that would come about, I had no idea. She refused my calls and never responded to my voicemails or texts, so this is uncharted territory," I said.

"She really loves you, you know, but it is hard to tell what that means. It is not a form of love that most people gravitate to. Not like infatuation or casual love, but something strange and much deeper," he replied. "I could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice when she spoke of you over the summer, so I am surprised that she did not text before now."

"I didn't know that you were such an expert where women were concerned," I joked.

"I have learned to study people and everyone has a tell," he said. "She is intuitive and her intuition about you as a person continued to draw her to you even when she admitted that she was a lesbian and began a fling with Margarite. There is a strong connection between the two of you and I see it when I talk to you as well. You are disciplined and focused on almost everything except when you speak of Gabby and then you immediately soften. I already see a difference in your mood after you received the text from her, and I must say that I am jealous."

"You're jealous and I'm conflicted," I replied. "I admit that I am in love with her but I find it difficult to understand what this love is and how a true relationship with her would ever work. Until we just started talking about her, if I were asked where I saw my life a year from now, I would have said it was with you. I honestly love you, and I am seriously considering your request that I get implants and I would agree to have you collar me. I have worn this collar since you fastened it around my neck yesterday and I feel good about it. You are a wonderful man and I would be honored to wear your collar all the time but a week ago I was in a different place with Gabby and she was wearing a collar for me until she gave it back in an angry moment." I took a big sip of my martini and sighed.

"I don't like seeing you like this, Marc," he said quietly. "It would be extremely selfish of me, but very easy to tell you to put Gabby behind you because it seems like an impossible situation and ask that you consider building upon what we have together instead. You should not take advice on this matter from anyone, particularly me, and go talk to Gabby face to face. Take as much time as you need and do not leave until you have reached a decision that you both agree on. I care about you Marc, and I want your happiness above all else, so take some time to resolve it with her. I am in this for the long run so I can be patient just not forever."

I rose from my chair, walked over and kissed Charles. "You are very special, Charles. Thank you for your thoughts and understanding."

The next 24-hours passed quickly and at 3:00 pm we arrived at Jules' home, a magnificent house in a exclusive neighborhood outside of Boston. Charles knew that I would be leaving after our meeting concluded so he had us up early for hot sex and a shower together before a late breakfast. He suggested that I drive separately in my own car to make it easier on me when the time came for me to leave and I readily agreed.

The meeting with Jules and his wife, a trusted advisor in his business, lasted about 2 hours and was very productive. His wife was very proactive and we developed a rapport very quickly since she spent a lot of time in New York and had the lovely New York City sense of humor and attitude. They asked for a proposal to consult on upcoming work and I agreed to send it once I got back to the office and reviewed my schedule. Following a celebratory coupe of champagne, I said my goodbyes and left for my trip to New Jersey.

Driving from Boston to New Jersey on a Sunday evening is no picnic but I had a lot to think about so the time passed quickly. I was excited to see Gabby again but I was also disappointed leaving Charles. While driving, I posed a theoretical question to myself: if I came to a fork in the road with one direction leading to Gabby and the other leading to Charles, and had to make a choice quickly without stopping, which way would I choose? After several attempts that left me crashing into the tree in the center of the fork, I decided that I should talk to Gabby first before trying the experiment again. I had a very pleasant recollection of Charles and my last recollection of Gabby was when she returned my choker, slammed the bathroom door and refused to answer my calls, so it was an unfair decision. Or was the fact that I was rationalizing it this way mean that I had already made up my mind? Women prove to be diabolical even when they are not in the car with you!

I pulled into the parking lot at Gabby's apartment at 10:45 pm and sent her a text to let her know that I was early. She responded by saying that she just got out of the shower and wasn't dressed but I could come up since the door was open. I was reminded of another time when I walked into her apartment in the Berkshires and wondered if I was getting a repeat performance so I hustled to the lift.

When I entered her apartment I heard her in the bathroom and called out so as not to surprise her. She answered and then opened the door stark naked. "Diabolical bitch!" was all I could say, and we both laughed like old times before she ran to my arms and hugged me.

"I have missed you and I am so sorry, Marc. Really, really. You didn't deserve my outburst and my childish behavior, I don't know what got into me. Please forgive me."

"Gabby, there's nothing to forgive. I should not have left without talking to you and I hope that you can forgive me for that as well as not properly explaining myself. I was as frightened as you were and we both overreacted and we lost a week in the process," I said softly.

I reached into my pocket and took out the choker that I had given her, and held it in my hand. She squealed and said, "Please put it on me, I feel lost without it."

She turned around and I placed the choker around her neck and fastened the clasp with a sharp click. "I'm not going to let you take it off so easily a second time," I said before joking, "you do realize that you are still standing there stark naked."

"I have my necklace and that's all I need."

"Yes, my love, you are as dressed as you ever need to be," I replied.

"Tell me that you love me, Marc. I must hear you say it."

"Gabrielle, I love you more than anything in this world," I said softly and got on my knees in front of her to tenderly kiss the lips of her vagina and lick the tiny droplet of dew that was seeping between them.

She grabbed my head and pulled me in close so I could stick my tongue deep inside her. "Oh, God, Marc, I want to cum so badly and I don't think I can hold back any longer. Please fuck me!"

"Don't you want me to whisper sweet words in your ear?" I said quietly.

"Are you fucking deaf? What did I just say? Did I say anything about sweet words?" she cried out while taking my arm and dragging me to her bedroom. She crawled onto her bed while telling me to get my clothes off. When I crawled up next to her, she took me by the back of my head and pulled my face into her vagina. "Lick my pussy and don't stop until I tell you!"

I began to work feverishly, pushing my tongue deep inside her wet slit and then licking her clit which was driving her wild. She moaned and her breathing became very rapid, her grip on my head tightened and she began to buck. I squeezed her nipples between my thumbs and forefingers and she let out a muffled yell as she had her first orgasm and continued to rock against my face.

My erection was very hard at this point and I wanted to feel it inside her so I used my knees to force her legs apart and grabbed her wrists to raise her arms above her head before pushing my cock into her wet pussy. She let out a scream and cursed me before starting to shake and had her second orgasm, much stronger than the first. She started biting my neck and struggled to free herself from my grip and extract my penis from her vagina which proved futile.

I pushed deeper and fucked her harder with shorter strokes until she cried out again and I did the same while pulsing streams of hot semen into her pussy. I was trying to control a wild animal that was intent on hurting me in any way possible. I feared loosening my grip on her wrists or withdrawing my penis which had her pinned to the bed. As if to answer my unspoken question, "You better not release me, or I will rip your heart out of your chest!" she said threateningly followed by, "Do you love me, Marc?"

"I'm frightened not to, crazy bitch!" I replied with a laugh.

She started laughing and kissed me on the lips, "God, I love you and I am so happy now." We hugged and kissed and giggled like kids sharing a silly joke.

"Gabrielle, I'm tired right now from the driving so would you mind if I got some sleep and perhaps we could talk tomorrow over breakfast?" I asked.

"Sure, I am free until 12:30pm," she replied fingering the ring on her choker.

"Great, I'm going to wash up and then I would enjoy a hugging you while I fell asleep," I said.

Morning came incredibly fast, but I enjoyed waking up with my arms wrapped around Gabby's naked body. I loved the feel of her, the scent of her hair and her body, and she was lovely to look at as well. I wondered how many women woke up next to her with the same thoughts and if they felt as lucky as I do right now.

Gabby felt me stirring, moved onto her back and whispered, "Sleep okay?"

"Yes, wonderfully, I particularly enjoyed waking up next to you, which was a first."

Gabby went to the kitchen to put on the coffee machine while I went to take a shower, and halfway through, Gabby joined me. I enjoyed being rubbed and massaged and so did Gabby which made our shower an elaborate and time consuming affair, but also very pleasant. After bath time, I called my office to advise them that I would be in around 1:00 pm and then sat with Gabby to give her an update of my weekend with Charles and my meeting with Jules. More than anything else I wanted to clear the air about what happened between us before I left for Boston and we had a frank discussion in that regard. Clearly, Gabby did some reflection after I left and must have realized that there was overreaction on her part and I admitted that I was not as sensitive to her feelings as I should have been. There was fault on both sides and we got these points out of the way early in our talk.

Gabby asked me if my feelings about her had changed, whether I was looking for something that she would find difficult to provide. She went on to say that more than anything else, she expected me to be honest and upfront with her, to never sugarcoat anything, regardless of the topic, but never use honesty to hurt her deliberately.

She seemed to be going down a different path from our prior conversations and I told her so. "Gabby, do you honestly believe that I would ever hurt you deliberately? I am not that type of person and I would have thought you knew that. I know you prefer women to men and I respect that. What we do is special, for both of us, and I am not looking to change you. I imagine that you are not expecting me to change but that does not mean that we can't love each other and maintain an intimate relationship when it suits us."

"I just want to clear about my expectations and my feelings," she said.

"Gabby, how's this: I will treat you with respect and expect the same from you. I will not lie to you; I will not hurt you deliberately. We are equal in this and the collar that you choose to wear is a sign of commitment, a contract of sorts, confirming what we are saying to each other and not a sign of subservience in any form. How does that sound?" I asked.

She thought for a moment, smiled at me and said, "It's just what I wanted to hear."

"Now, may I ask you a question?" I said.

She looked at me inquisitively and replied, "Of course."

"Whose idea was the pink collar that Margarite gave to you in the Berkshires, yours or hers?" I said.

"Does it matter?" she replied.

"Well, yes," I said. "You implied that Margarite presented it to you and then went on to change the agreement during the 'test' of your obedience and how you felt that she made the experience of being collared sound exotic and loving but the reality with her never lived up to the promise. I assumed that she misrepresented her intentions and took advantage of you in the process but if the collar was not her idea in the first place then it puts the situation in a different light and it would be difficult to blame her for not being honest or misleading you deliberately or otherwise."

"There were misunderstandings," she replied. "It was not her fault that I was looking for something that she was unprepared to give at that time. I moved too quickly, being afraid of being alone, and did not realize that I was driving her away by my erratic behavior. Do I sound crazy?"

"No, just frightened," I said. "I wish I knew what you were going through at the time so I could have been more supportive."

"You were being supportive even if you didn't realize it. I wish I had opened up to you long before now," she replied, "it would have made a big difference. It is so hard to peel away the layers to expose the damaged individual inside the shell. I could not have done it until I saw you walk out when you did. The one person that I believed was a part of me and would never desert me no matter what I did, walked away because I was behaving like a fool; I did not actually believe what we have between us. Even now, I am shaking inside, scared to death that you will leave me alone."

"Never," I whispered. "I will always be here, never doubt that. Never hesitate to talk to me about anything; fears, doubts, anything. I will never judge you; I will always tell you the truth and I will never deliberately hurt you."

"Promise?" she said tearfully.

I fingered the ring on her choker and replied, "Yes, Gabby, you have my promise."

"Even if I choose to live with a woman apart from you?" she said as she shook from nerves and emotion.

"Yes, and even if I take a job in Massachusetts and decide to live with another man, I will always love you and nothing will come between us," I responded with a smile. Gabby crawled into my arms and hugged me like her life depended on it.

Three months later and I found myself living with Charles in Boston having taken a position with Jule's company. Gabby moved to Vermont to live with Margarite and was working in the local high school while writing short stories. Gabby and I speak every week and we plan to see each other when time permits. Life had settled down and we were finally at peace.