“Next up,” Master Ryan finally said, “is slave Skylar.”
Skylar rose smoothly from her knees and made her way to the stage, chin raised, eyes properly downcast. Though she hadn’t seen him enter, she could feel Master Caelan’s presence in the room. Her skin tingled with the need to feel his touch.
The bidding started at one hundred dollars in play money and rapidly escalated to a thousand. Why hadn’t her Master made a bid for her? She dared a glance out at the audience. Looking smoking hot in black leather, he was standing to the side of the chairs, his eyes fixed on her, a small enigmatic smile on his face.
There was a silence after the last bid, while Skylar held her breath. Then Master Caelan called out in a loud, clear voice, “Ten thousand dollars.”
Master Ryan waited a beat in the stunned silence that followed. Then he flashed a grin at Master Caelan, as no one was given more than one thousand dollars in play money at the door. Of course, it was all in good fun, so no one protested when Master Ryan banged his gavel and called out, “Sold to Master Caelan for ten thousand dollars.”
Amidst laughter and cheers, Master Caelan climbed the stage to claim his prize. Skylar beamed up at him as he approached her. Instead of taking her leash and leading her off the stage, he pulled something from his back pocket.
Skylar saw it was an oblong velvet-covered jewelry box. The audience quieted as he opened the box and held it out for her to see. Inside was a beautiful collar made of soft leather dyed a beautiful green. A gold heart dangled from the O ring at its center.
“Oh,” she breathed softly, her eyes locking with his as her hand fluttered up to her mouth. “It’s beautiful, Sir.”
“Slave Skylar,” he said in a voice designed to carry. “Will you wear my slave collar, and by so doing agree to serve me with your heart, body and soul? And I, in turn, will own, cherish and protect you with all the love I have to give.”
Skylar dropped to her knees. Lifting her hair from the back of her neck, she unbuckled the training collar she’d worn since her arrival on the island and let it fall, along with the attached leash, to the stage. Her heart filled with love as tears sprang to her eyes.
Gazing up at the man she adored, she replied, “Yes, Master Caelan. I will.”