Caught Again
By Shannon Cole
Chapter 3: Whole Again
I awoke feeling a bit stiff and sore. I rolled over, wanting to nuzzle against him, only to find that he was not in bed. I rose from the bed and looked around. Gone were all of the toys and candles. Reaching up to touch my throat, I realized that the collar was gone. I choked back a sob as I saw my robe hanging on the doorknob. I reasoned to myself that just because he had brought it up from the floor downstairs that it didn't mean he had left. I knew better though. I looked around the house for any sign of him. I found none. I started to cry as I entered the kitchen, the aroma of fresh coffee greeting me. He'd thoughtfully left a pot of coffee on and I got myself a cup. As I reached into the fridge for the half and half, my heart skipped a beat. There was a note attached to the carton. I quickly ripped the note off and started to read, standing there with the fridge door open.
Good morning pet. I've left this note where I knew you would find it. Even time can't change your need for coffee first thing in the morning. I'm going to take a guess and say you haven't even finished making it. Stop reading and do so.
I blushed and giggled to myself as I read the first part of his note. He was right. I was almost overcome with emotion as I realized how well he knew me. He knew every bit of my personality and habits as though they were his own. I put his note in my robe's pocket and quickly finished making my cup of coffee. I took the cup into the living room with me and settled down into my favorite chair. I took one quick sip and pulled his note from my pocket and continued reading, occasionally sipping at the coffee as I did so.
Good girl. Now you have your coffee to drink while reading my note. Aren't you so lucky to have a Master who knows you?
I nearly choked on the coffee as I read this line. It was so like him, love and caring tainted with arrogance.
I'm sorry I had to slip away so early this morning pet, but I had to go to work. You looked so innocent and angelic, as you lay sleeping that I could not bear to wake you up. (Even as I write that I'm laughing at my choice of words.) I will admit that I was tempted to tie you up and let you wake in lovely bondage. I have stashed my bag of toys in the closet in your bedroom. I'll have to come back tonight and retrieve them. I'll be there at 7 p.m. again. I had initially intended for last night to be the last time. Now, I do not desire to let you slip away from me again. That choice however is yours my pet. We had something once. It's still there. I know that our lives have changed and that it will not be easy. If you say yes, I will never let you go again pet. If you say no, I will respect your choice and leave it at that. See you tonight. ~Master
I took a deep breath and shakily set my cup of coffee down. Forever? My mind reasoned with itself. I love him. I needed him. I have a son. Nathan needs me. How will Nat react to a new man entering my life so soon after his father's departure? How can I be a submissive with a child in the house? Master just reappeared in my life. I don't even know what has changed in his life in the years since I've seen him.
I spent most of the day in a fog, my brain trying to use reason and logic, while my heart and body yearned for him. I tried reading, but ended up tossing aside the book after having read the same page four times. I was finally able to get lost in cleaning. I crawled around mindlessly scrubbing the kitchen floor, determined to get every speck of dirt up. As I worked, the front door opened, startling me. I looked up just in time to see Nat and my ex-husband tracking dirt across my clean floor. "Couldn't you two have taken your shoes off first?" I groaned at them as I threw the rag playfully at Nat.
I stood up and hugged Nat, asking him, "Have fun?" Nat nodded and ran off to the living room. I looked awkwardly at my ex-husband before breaking the silence, "Thanks for taking him. After what happened yesterday, I figured some time with his father would be good for him. I hope you weren't too difficult on him?" My ex-husband shook his head and said, "I sat him down and we talked about it man to man. He's having trouble adjusting, but he's a good kid, and I think we just need to make sure he continues to spend more time with both of us to get through this." He gave me a stiff hug and started towards the door, calling to Nat, "I'll see you later Buddy, don't give your Mom too much trouble." Nat waved to his father and returned back to his videogame.
I showed my ex-husband to the door and went back to scrubbing the fresh dirt off of the floor. I had just about finished when someone knocked on the door twice. "Nat, can you answer that please?" I hollered over to him. I heard him get up and go to the door, and after a moment heard his shaky voice call for me.
I got up off the floor and walked to the door where Nat stood shaking, Master still standing on the front porch. I had to stifle a giggle, imagining what Nat must be thinking. I invited Master inside. Nat eyed him warily and hid himself behind me. Master chuckled and knelt down in front of me, speaking to Nat, "I'm not here because you're in trouble Nat. I'm also an old friend of your Mom's." Nat looked relieved and I told him he could go back to his game. He smiled and ran back to the living room.
I motioned to the kitchen and Master followed me. I spoke in hushed tones so that Nat would not overhear. "I need to make dinner and eventually get Nat in bed before we talk, is it ok if we talk after that?" He nodded and kissed my cheek. "What's for dinner?" I laughed and said, "Nat's favorite, hamburgers and macaroni and cheese, which if I recall, is also yours." He chuckled at me. "You know it! I'm going to go see if Nat will let me play that game with him in the meanwhile." I smiled sadly as I watched him retreat into the living room.
While I prepared dinner, I could hear Nat quizzing Master on all of the video games he knew. I had to chuckle when Master started quizzing Nat back about some of the games. As started to set the table and I could hear the two laughing at each other. I had just started to place the food on the table, and nearly dropped a dish when I heard a scream from the living room. Running in there, my heart nearly stopped as I saw Master fall over and Nat laughing hysterically. "What's going on in here?" I anxiously asked, dropping down to my knees to check on Master. I was shocked to see him smile back up at me. "Everything's fine! Your son just completely demolished me in the game." He sat up laughing and shook a finger at Nat, "Just you wait, someday I'll learn how to play this and then we'll see who is laughing!" I finally dissolved into laugher, realizing that the two were indeed playing around. Between giggles I said, "Ok you two, come on in for dinner."
Dinner was surreal to me. Everything looked and smelled delicious. We seemed like a perfectly normal family eating. Yet, we weren't even close to being one. All the feelings in my soul overwhelmed me and made the food taste bland and dry in my mouth, even though I knew it was not. I had to smile as Nat and Master competed with each other over who could eat more macaroni in one bite. The both looked dumbfounded when I beat the pair of them.
After dinner I cleaned up and put the coffee pot on and glanced at the clock. "Nat, your first day of school is tomorrow. You should get to bed early tonight." Nat gave me a grumpy look and was about to argue with me when Master spoke up, "If you don't do well in school Nat, your Mom will have to ground you, and then I'll have no one to play video games with." This made Nat grin and he ran up the stairs towards his room.
I hugged Master tight and whispered, "Thank You". He smiled at me and kissed my forehead. I followed Nat upstairs and got him tucked into bed. As I was kissing him good night, Nat asked me, "Mom, will he really come back to play games with me?" I smiled softly at my son and replied, "As long as that's what you want Nat, its ok with me." He nodded happily and snuggled against his pillow. I blew him a kiss and headed back downstairs.
Upon entering the kitchen, I saw that the coffee pot was half empty and that Master was not there. I walked around the house and finally found him sitting on the swing on the back porch. He handed me a cup of coffee as I curled up next to him. After taking a few sips of the bittersweet coffee, I sighed softly and cleared my throat. Master stopped me by placing a finger against my lips, "Its okay pet. I know that your son is the most important thing to you in the world. I wouldn't dare dream of interrupting your life with him." I shook my head and kneeled down in front of him, looking up into his eyes. "Nat is the most important thing in my life. I do not want him to feel alienated having someone so new in his life. But," I took a deep breath. "But you are my Master. You always have been, and always will be. It would be foolish to deny my heart's desire. I've watched how you interact with Nat. He likes you Master. You will not replace him as a father, but with time, I know he will accept you as more than my friend." Master cleared his throat and cupped my chin in his hands. "What are you trying to tell me pet?"
I flushed bright red, and tried to lower my eyes, but he held onto my chin, forcing me to gaze directly into his eyes. "Master, I," I faltered, wishing I was anyplace else than there at that exact moment. My words came out in a rush. "Master I am saying that I wish to fully commit myself to you, heart, soul, mind and body." Master wiped the tears away from my eyes and though he whispered into my ear, the words went straight to my soul. "Thank you my little one. I will do my best to provide caring and love for not only you, but Nat as well. I know this process will take time, but knowing that you are mine, will make it worth the wait."
Master drew out a small package from his pocket and opened it in front of me. Inside the box lay a thin silver necklace looking collar. A small silver key lay in the center, between the coils of the collar. He picked the collar up from the box and encircled it around my neck. I could hear the clasp shut as my heart pounced wildly. He paused for a moment, watching me. I'd closed my eyes, feeling the cool metal encircling my neck and feeling as though the world finally made sense to me.
Master picked up the key and inserted it into the hidden lock on the collar, looking deep into my eyes. "Are you SURE this is what you desire my pet?" I swallowed once before bowing my head and placing my hands behind my head. "I am yours now and forever Master." With those words, he turned the key in the lock and I heard a click as my future was sealed. Master kissed my forehead and as he did so, I could feel a few tears that had fallen from his eyes.
He removed the key from the lock and unfastened a small chain on his own neck. He slid the key onto the chain and fastened the chain back around his neck. I cannot tell how long I knelt there, our eyes fixed upon each other, sharing our love and commitment without a word. After what seemed like a thousand eternities, he leaned over and scooped me up into his warm arms, holding me tight, whispering into my ear, "We are both finally home my dearest little one."
