Levi ushered me into the car, and I sat in the backseat with my sister. She gave me a wary look, and I noticed her disheveled appearance. Her hair was wild, her clothes buttoned up strangely. What had she been up to? I didn’t even really want to know. By then I was aware of my sister’s wild side, and sometimes, I was better off not knowing what she’d gotten up to.
“You okay?” I asked her warily, and she looked at me with glassy eyes.
Was I imagining it, or was there a hint of regret in her gaze? She looked at me like she’d done something bad, a look of guilt passing over her face so fast I could have convinced myself I’d imagined it.
“I’m good,” she said simply, and then she curled up against me, burrowing her face in my shoulder.
I smoothed down her hair and let her. It had been a long time since Amanda had tried to find comfort in me, and I felt guilty for relishing it. We used to be so close – what happened? I wanted it back, that closeness. I still knew I could come to her about anything, but over the past year, Mandy had been slowly but firmly pushing me away. I never understood it, even though I tried so hard to make sense of her actions. But maybe, finally, things were going to go back to normal.
Levi drove us home with music playing on the radio, and Amanda remained leaning on me, as if she needed me for support. When we got to the apartment building and he parked in the garage, he helped us both out and I noticed my sister was standing on wobbly legs. I didn’t even question where she was going when she left school, figuring it had something to do with a guy. I wasn’t about to stop her – she was her own person despite us being twins, and I didn’t want to cause another fight between us.
We took the lift up to Levi’s apartment, and Amanda’s mouth gaped open when she saw the beautiful flat. I was only starting to notice how luxurious yet understated it really was, fixed with marble countertops and buttery, expensive white leather. It was beautiful, and my skin prickled with excitement at the thought of spending more time there, even if I did have to share it with my sister.
Levi showed Amanda to one of the guest rooms, and told me to wait in the bedroom. The thought that I’d be sleeping in the master bedroom with him made me beam with pride, and I sat on the edge of the unmade bed with a little smile on my face.
He was back a moment later, his eyes affectionate as he came up to me. I was so short my legs dangled off the edge of the bed, and he smoothed my hair down, grinning when he saw my feet hanging like that.
“You’re adorable,” he told me simply. “And I have something for you.”
I perked up right away, my eyes shining as he pulled out a jewelry box from his jacket. He handed it over to me, and my fingers shook as I untied the pink silk bow on the top. The ribbon fell away easily, and I opened the box with my eyes shining in anticipation. He was so sweet for getting me something, so thoughtful and kind. And I couldn’t help but revel in the fact that he’d only gotten me a gift. Nothing for my sister.
The box opened and I stared at the beautiful necklace inside it.
My fingers shook as I took it out, wrapping around the silver adorned with hints of pale, baby pink.
“It’s so pretty,” I said, feeling mesmerized.
“I told you I’d get you a collar, didn’t I?” Levi said with a grin, coming up behind me. “Pull your hair up, baby girl, I want to see it on you.”
I did as he told me, pulling my hair off my back as he reached for the necklace. It was so stunning, a thin silver band that locked around my neck with a pretty pink bow in the front. The bow was metal, small and dainty, in the palest of pinks. It was perfect, and my eyes shone with pleasure as he locked it around my neck. And now I was sure of it – I belonged to Levi.
“You look stunning,” he told me, his lips leaving a fleeting kiss on the back of my neck that made me shiver.
“Thank you, Daddy,” I whispered, and he came back in front of me, kneeling on the floor.
“Kendall,” he said simply. “I want you to know how much you mean to me. How much this… between us, how important it is for me. Do you understand?”
I nodded, my heart beating with urgency, hoping he would say the words I so desperately wanted to hear. I knew I felt it, too. I knew it from long before he even touched me, if I was being honest with myself.