He reaches out and brushes my face. “I love you, Emma.” There’s a moment of perfect silence between us and then his wicked, dangerous smile appears. “And I hope you loved that orgasm because I’m going to take my time with you, and you won’t have another one for a while.”
I bite my lip, holding back a sassy comeback that will get me a spanking. “Thank you, Master.”
Matthew grins. “Good girl.” And he starts to fuck me again.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Looking in the mirror, I barely recognize myself. Lily is a miracle worker. My hair is perfectly curled and piled up on my head in a way I would never be able to accomplish myself, and my friend Emily has done my make-up perfectly. All that’s really left is for me to get dressed, and that thought makes my breath catch because I’m getting married today.
Six months ago Matthew asked me to marry him. I don’t think I’ve ever said yes to something faster.
Being with Matthew has been everything I ever wanted. It’s not like some people say, like they found a piece of themselves that was missing. Matthew showed me that I’m not missing any pieces, but he complements me and I complement him, and together, our puzzle works better because we have each other.
“You look beautiful,” Lily says, appearing in the mirror behind me.
“Thank you.” I smile at her. We’d grown apart, but now, sharing the lifestyle, we’ve become best friends again. I’m not sure what I would have done without her this last year, being able sharing my experiences as a new sub and getting her insight. Lily’s relationship is very different from mine. Hers is far stricter, and she thrives within the rules that she and Mark have negotiated. But even though it’s different, she’s been doing this a lot longer than I have, and she’s soothed my anxiety more than once.
Of course I still have anxiety about all of it. I don’t think anyone who chooses this life doesn’t. It’s not easy, and I don’t take as naturally to it as some. But we’ve found our rhythm, Matthew and I. It’s strange, because we have a routine, and it’s been disrupted the last few days. Last night we didn’t sleep in the same bed, and I honestly can’t remember the last time that happened. I haven’t even seen him today, and I’m unsettled by it.
“Are you nervous?” Lily asks, picking up on my fidgeting hands.
I shake my head. “I’m really not. I just haven’t seen Matthew today.”
“It’s weird, isn’t it?” Jenny asks from where she’s sitting across the room. “How much you miss them?”
I nod, because I know what she means. I don’t miss him like someone I haven’t seen in a while. I miss him because when I’m with him I feel safe. I feel cherished. I feel…seen. I’m actually procrastinating, because Matthew told me he would stop by before I put on my dress. I can’t put it on before he gets here, because we’re having a more traditional wedding than Lily and Mark, and if my mother found out he saw me in my dress before the wedding she would lose her shit.
Even as freaked out as I was during Lily’s wedding, I’m a little sad that Matthew won’t be collaring me during our ceremony. I have a very traditional family, and I care about them a lot. Plus, they love Matthew. But they wouldn’t if they knew the lifestyle we led, and so we’ve opted for something a little more traditional. I’m wearing the necklace he gave me the day he told me he loved me—I’ve never taken it off—and our lifestyle friends know exactly what it means.
There’s a soft knock at the door and my eyes fly to it. It’s him. I’m familiar with the sound of his knock. Matthew opens the door and my heart jumps into my throat. He’s already in his tuxedo, and damn he looks good. I mean, he always looks good but this is a whole other level.
“Ladies,” he says, smiling and looking around the room. “I need a moment with Emma.”
I told them he was coming, and all my bridesmaids are submissives, so they leave the room quickly and quietly. He closes the door after them as they go. “Hello,” he says.
“Hi.” I can’t keep the smile off my face even though I’m looking at him in the mirror. He comes over to the chair, hands landing on my shoulders. He heals down and presses a kiss to my cheek. “I missed you last night.”
“Me too.” More than I can even tell him. Just the brush of his lips on my skin is enough to make me wet. Matthew had the idea that we wouldn’t have sex the week before the wedding, and this whole week he’s been teasing me. Drawing me close in bed and touching every part of my body with his hands and his mouth but never even letting me get close to coming. It’s been a delicious frustration and I’ve been on edge for days.