Chapter Twenty-Five

“It’s a special day at Sanctuary, and I’m glad to see so many of you have joined Rick and Diane to celebrate this momentous occasion.”

Gabby watched Thomas up on the stage welcoming everyone to the ceremony. She’d not realized he would officiate, but somehow, she should have known. He was dressed in head to toe black, from the silk shirt to the form hugging slacks that showed off a physique she adored.

Listening to his voice now reminded her of the first night she’d met him. Was she even sitting in the exact seat she had then? The dark room had been decorated with hundreds and hundreds of candles that gave off plenty of light with a romantic glow. She closed her eyes and allowed the deep, silky voice to roll over her. He’d drawn her in that first night, just like this. Had it only been weeks since then? So much had changed. She’d changed. Yet simply sitting and soaking in his voice still had the same effect on her. Her sex dampened in anticipation, and her clit throbbed in tune with the strong timbre of his voice.

She’d managed to hide her feelings from him, but his story had broken her heart. So many mistakes from multiple sources had culminated in a broken man. He’d used that painful life lesson to not only overcome the tragedy but to help people avoid the same mistakes as well.

She wasn’t stupid. She’d read online stories from submissives about their horrid missteps before either giving up and suffering on their own with their needs unmet or worse getting hurt both physically and mentally. The fact that she’d had Angel and Jeff to watch out for her as she’d explored meant a great deal to her, giving her a safety buffer that eased her transition into the lifestyle. And thanks to them, she’d met Thomas. Despite Angel’s deception, Gabby still felt grateful for the time she’d gotten to spend with Thomas and David. Even if it didn’t end well…

“We’ve come together to witness these two people making a commitment to each other. One they know they must make.”

That sentence resonated within her. When she’d left her husband, it had been because she had a journey she knew she had to take. It had eaten her alive from the inside out until she’d been unable to hide it another minute. Automatically, her hand rose to touch her collar she’d been unable to remove. To rub the leather in remembrance. That voracious need to never hide who she was again was what had her wearing it no matter where she went. If anyone had a clue as to the real meaning then so be it. She was proud to be owned, to belong, not matter how temporary it would be.

Temporary.

Distaste for the word roiled through her.

“This commitment is without end. It is immeasurable, cannot be seen, touched nor felt by anyone but the two of them. It is a locking of heart, mind and body that strengthens them into one.”

Thomas nodded at Rick and left at the rear of the stage. Rick looked great in dark pants and red shirt. He had that serious look on his face she’d come to know as his trademark, but his eyes looked different, lighter, excited.

In his hands, he held a simple black leather crop. She hadn’t had a chance to ask anyone what the ceremony would involve so she didn’t know what would happen once they got started. The chairs were separated into two sections with an aisle down the middle much like one would expect at a wedding.

Rick faced the crowd and lifted his hand, and the crowd around Gabby surged to their feet. Going with the flow she stood and turned in the direction behind her to see Diane, blindfolded and breathtaking being led into the room by two collared subs. The sheer black robe she wore hid nothing from the crowd, and her excitement was evident with the hard tips of her nipples pressing against the see-through fabric.

Gabby had helped Diane with her up do and the simple band she wore to keep it up with only a few strategically placed curls hanging free. Ebony elbow-length gloves shone in the candlelight, lending an elegance to an outfit that was little more than lingerie.

The cleansing ritual before the ceremony had been an exciting turn of events she’d not expected. It had surprised her to find her panties damp as she’d watched Diane’s body cleansed and shaven by the submissives chosen for the momentous occasion. After the bath, her legs had been spread and her entire body oiled with a sweetly fragranced oil that Gabby figured had to have some sort of aphrodisiac in it. Diane had writhed and moaned as the women pulled at her nipples and fingered her cunt. When she’d begun to beg for permission to come, they’d stopped their ministrations. It was then one of the older women had produced a large, black latex butt plug. Gabby’s gasp had drawn their attention, and they’d smiled at her before the plug was slowly inserted into Diane’s anus. She’d moaned long and loud until the toy was fully seated.

When Diane had been helped to a standing position, Gabby had been excused and told the ceremony would begin momentarily. Now, she couldn’t hold her curiosity and wondered if the toy had remained in place for the ceremony. There were no tell tale signs in the way she walked, even with the spike heeled boots that laced to just below the knee.

The women led her onto the stage and formally offered her to Rick. He nodded to the women, and they peeled the sheer robe from her shoulders and left her nude except for the boots and gloves.

“Present yourself, “ he commanded.

Diane leaned slightly forward and, with her gloved hands, reached behind her and pulled the cheeks of her ass apart, revealing to the assembled crowd the wide black base of the butt plug vivid against the cream of her pale skin. The guests clapped their approval, and the knot in Gabby’s belly loosened a fraction.

Moments later, Diane released the flesh, and the women helped her kneel on the fur rug at Rick’s feet. The women moved off stage and took their seats in the front row with their respective Doms.

“Do you come to me of your own free will?”

“Yes, Sir, I do.”

Rick reached for the blindfold covering her eyes and pulled the scrap of black fabric from her face.

He then pulled out a leather collar and held it above her head for all to see. It was a simple black and silver link braid with a small O ring in the front. He withdrew a tiny silver padlock from his pocket and threaded it through the link at one end of the collar.

“By giving this collar, I offer my vow to do everything I can to be worthy of you. I promise to hold you and keep you safe, to push you when you need it and to give you the freedom you need to soar, to love you and honor you. I acknowledge the respect I have for your needs and desires.”

His strongly spoken words rang true for everything Gabby felt. What would it take to have that very freedom he spoke of?

“I acknowledge the ultimate level of trust you offer and accept the responsibility of the safekeeping of that trust. I will never violate that trust or threaten to violate it.”

Oh God. Those words.

What had she done? By hiding from David and Thomas, did she keep demonstrating a lack of trust in them? It wasn’t true. She knew that, now more than ever. When the relationship between her David and Thomas had developed into more, Thomas had faltered while dealing with his scars. But nonetheless, he needed her.

He needs me.

“I will always work at remaining open minded. In times of trouble, I vow to be supportive and caring always remembering that this is a loving relationship between two caring people.”

Gabby felt the first splash of tears land on her cheeks.

“Most importantly, I will cherish the gift of submission you have given me. This collar is a symbol of two halves becoming one and is the outward sign of what everyone in this room already knows. You are mine, and by wearing it, you are safe to be everything that you are or will be. Do you accept this collar as it has been presented?”

Her breath caught in her throat as she waited for Diane’s response. She’d been to countless weddings and never had a ceremony had such an effect on her.

“Yes, Sir, I do.” Diane’s voice sounded strong and clear. “I accept your collar freely and without restriction. I agree to honor our relationship above all others and seek to fulfill your needs and desires as you allow. I want nothing more than to be there when you need me. I promise to communicate honestly and openly and keep nothing from you.”

Tears streamed harder from Gabby’s eyes as her heart broke all over again. She wanted, no needed, to give this kind of devotion to David and Thomas. Their missteps aside, they were good men, and she would be honored to be chosen by them.

“I will strive to be the soul mate you’ve desired and will not dishonor you in any way.”

Gabby had to bite her lip to the point of pain to stop her wail from slipping out. Had she learned anything at all these weeks? What must the people here think of the way she’d been acting?

“I will wear this collar with pride, knowing that you love me, cherish me, respect me and hold me above all others. In return, I promise to love, honor, respect and obey you with no limits.”

Gabby covered her face with her hands in a lame attempt to muffle her sobs. Thoughts of leaving the room pushed at her, but interrupting the ceremony would not be forgiven.

Rick wrapped the collar around the bare expanse of Diane’s neck so the O-ring rested in the hollow indentation of her clavicle and threaded the lock through the loose end.

“By wearing this lock, I express the finality of my commitment and surrender my body to your control as long as it is closed.” Diane’s voice hitched on the last word, and Gabby wished she could see Diane’s face, the love she knew would be shining there.

“With the closing of this lock, I accept the depth of your passion, devotion and trust and provide a safe haven for you to express all that you desire knowing that I accept who you’ve been, who you are and all that you will be.”

The click of the lock snapping into place vibrated through the room and for the first time Gabby noticed many of the other attendees in tears as well.

When Rick bent down and cupped Diane’s face to his, he whispered words meant only for the two of them before claiming her with a kiss that made Gabby’s toes curl. The crowd erupted into applause, catcalls and general cheers until they broke apart, and Rick helped Diane to her feet. He turned her to the guests, and Thomas appeared on the stage to present them as Master and slave.

Gabby wiped furiously at her tears, hoping no one had noticed what a fool she’d made of herself. Thankfully, David and Thomas were at the front of the room, and she’d sat out of their line of vision.

She was about to make a run for the exit when the black curtains at the back of the stage opened up and the spotlighted St. Andrews cross came into view. The wood gleamed, luring her to stay and see what happened next. Obviously, Diane was about to participate in her first public scene as Rick’s collared slave.

He led her to the cross and quickly fastened her wrists and ankles to the attached cuff and chains, leaving her spread and ready for whatever he wished to do. To her surprise, when Rick stepped a few feet away, the bottom of the cross lifted, and Diane became suspended at a slight angle giving everyone in the room a bird’s eye view of her pussy and the black plug still in place.

Without hesitation, he smacked the crop he’d been holding against the flesh of her ass, and she cried out loudly. Gabby crossed her legs and rubbed her thighs against her slightly swelled clit in an attempt to stop the throbbing that had begun when Diane had first been restrained.

The desire to be in her friend’s place nearly overwhelmed her until she searched the room for David and Thomas. She couldn’t find either one, which meant little with the crowd gathered. Rick and Diane had chosen to allow quite a few people to be a part of this intimate scene. How would she feel if David and Thomas asked her to do something similar?

Part of her was scared to death to imagine a crowd gathered around where they would see every part of her exposed for their pleasure, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that her pussy had flooded with moisture. Her body involuntarily jerked on every strike against Diane’s lush and now very red ass. The last had been a direct hit to the base of the plug, and the woman had begun to beg and sob for release.

Gabby needed this. After today, Gabby would never again be able to deny how intrinsic that need had become. If David or Thomas were sitting with her, she’d be on her knees her head bowed, pleading for her own relief.

In fact…

She grabbed her cell phone and typed in one simple word.

Help.

She pressed send and hoped David had his cell phone with him. Less than a minute later, she looked up to see both David and Thomas standing by her side. The dangerous look in their eyes mirrored the anxiety she felt as her hand pressed against her sex.

“Come with us. Now.”