Ava's POV
A collar was waiting on my pillow when I woke up.
Black leather. Soft on the inside. A small silver ring at the front. Next to it sat a folded note in his handwriting.
Wear it or leave.
I sat on the edge of the bed staring at it for a long time. My body still felt sore from the hallway the night before. The memory of his mouth between my legs made heat crawl up my neck all over again.
I picked up the collar. The leather was warm from sitting in the morning light. I fastened it around my throat with shaking fingers. It sat snug but not tight.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. Jess.
“Hey,” I answered, keeping my voice low.
“You sound weird. Did something happen?”
I touched the collar. “He’s… different. Since last night.”
“Different how?”
“He found out I was thinking ab
