She clinks her glass against mine. “Here’s to six and many more. You’re mine, Mathers. I think you’ll find it difficult for me to ever let you go.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

I reach into my pocket, her eyes burning in curiosity. When I pull out the little black box, she nearly chokes on her champagne.

“Uh, Ian…”

“Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to marry me.” Before she can sigh in relief, I open the lid, revealing two golden bands. Ah, she’s tensing up again. “Yet.”

“You mother fucker…”

“I love you too, darling.”

I take her right hand, slipping the smaller band over her ring finger. Her left clings desperately to the stem of her champagne glass. No way I’m getting a ring on that finger for at least six more months. At least.

“Care to explain?” Her voice is terse.

I fold the other ring into her palm, encasing both of my hands over hers. “I know neither of us are ready to talk about getting married yet. At least not seriously, and not any time soon.” She nods, slowly. Her face is set in a demeanor that tells me to watch myself. “I want you to know how serious I am about you. I’m crazy in love with you, Katie, and I can’t imagine that changing anytime soon. It seems a shame to not let the whole world know that.”

There’s nothing special about the rings. They’re solid gold. No engravings. No gems. They look like wedding rings, and I guess they are in a way. Okay, more like a couple’s rings.

“Ian,” Kathryn begins, carefully. “This is a fucking promise ring.”

I smile, holding my right hand up to her, delightfully bare.

“This is the kind of shit high school kids scream over.”

“Let’s indulge the high schoolers in us. They had a hard time twelve years ago.”

Kathryn rolls her eyes, but smiles. She puts down the champagne glass and kisses my cheek, her hand opening up to reveal the big ring I put in it. She whispers into my ear as she slides the ring I bought for myself onto my hand. “You’re mine, Mathers. Don’t let any woman forget that.”

I pull her into my embrace. The glass of champagne spills, cascading golden bubbles all over the blanket and grass. “And don’t let anyone forget that you’re mine, Alison.”

Our tense embrace quickly turns soft. We kiss, indulging in the simplest pleasures of life – like love.

I could see myself marrying this woman. I could see us arguing about inheritances until we’re blue in the face. We would debate about last names and what to do about children to keep our families happy. We would go on vacations all around the world, and explore our inner worlds right here in the bedroom. I’m sure at some point we’ll seriously talk about sharing a sub here and there, because we both know how fucking hot it is when we watch the other take control for our titillation. I want to see Kathryn lead more women to the dark waters of pleasure. Maybe even a man once in a while. It’s what she does best.

God save us. We’re turning into the Andrews.

“Our parents will miss us soon.” Kathryn sits up, readjusting herself to fit more comfortably on this bumpy ground. “We should go make an appearance. And see how long it takes your mother to notice these rings.”

I help her up. We start packing up the bottles and blanket. “I’m glad you didn’t say no,” I say, wrapping my arm around her waist as we head back to my family’s house. “To anything.”

She winks at me, the breeze blowing back her hair and making her smile all the more alluring. “My middle name is adventure. And I want every day with you to be one helluva adventure, sir.”

I squeeze her close to me. “Same here, my goddess. Otherwise life feels like a waste.”

It takes exactly two minutes for my mother to see the rings and pass out. My father blubbers about me being a man, and Spencer Alison looks like he’s about to punch my face in before pulling me into the unmanliest hug in the world. These people think we’re getting married.

They don’t understand that a Dom and a Domme don’t simply get married. They dance a daring game of power, control, and finally, release. They chase each other, take breaks from each other, and finally admit to the other that everything is exactly as it should be.

I’m the cat. She’s the cat. We’ve both got cats. There is no room for mice here.

Welcome to our crazy, passionate life.

THE END

 

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Loved this? Check out the rest of the series and other works from Cynthia Dane!

 

HIS DOMINATION

 

One year ago Monica left an abusive Dom. Now she’s attempting to piece her life back together thanks to a new, thriving business and the attentions of alpha billionaire Henry Warren. Can she love - and submit - again?

Read each part individually starting with PURSUED…

 

…Or read the whole collection in one handy novelized version!

 

THE BILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT

 

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Can they come to an agreement? Only after Jasmine signs the dotted line!

 

DANCES WITH THE ROCK STAR

 

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Coming Soon From Cynthia Dane and Barachou Press

 

THE NIGHTINGALE TRILOGY

 

Nala’s sister is dead. The man who had her killed hides within a sinful, hedonistic refuge that she can’t penetrate on her own.

Up and coming billionaire Vincent Lane offers her an in: become his sub and join pharmaceutical giant Xavier Crow’s dangerous world of sex, scheming, and a secret BDSM circle known only as “The Aviary.”

Nala must don the codename Nightingale. Small. Sweet. And beyond determined. Her sister’s memory demands nothing less.

But she can’t get distracted by Vincent’s powerful facade. Not until she discovers what dark and terrible secret he’s hiding as well.

Set in the hidden underbelly of the Pacific Northwest, THE NIGHTINGALE TRILOGY is Cynthia Dane’s most intense work yet and will be available in 2016! Find out when it’s available by joining the mailing list.