We sat in silence watching the sun paint the horizon with brilliant brushstrokes of purple, orange and rosy red; its hues reflecting in the waters of the bay outside the window. It was a silence bourne of contentment and a comfortableness in one another's presence that transcended the need for words. It was a gesture of respect for the glorious display outside the window.
Silently and unobtrusively, the waiter filled our wine glasses again. Reaching for mine, I glanced across the table at my Guardian and smiled, lowering my eyes as I did so. It seemed nearly impossible that an entire year had passed since I had first given this man the gift of my submission. We had known each other and been best friends, soul mates and lovers for years, but with the gift of my submission, a fullness and sense of completion entered our relationship. I could barely remember a time when we were not united in this way. Setting my wineglass on the table, I instinctively raised my hand to my throat, feeling for the collar that should have been there. There was none. A small, audible sigh escaped my lips.
"Is there something troubling you, princess?" asked my Guardian.
"Yes sir," came my reply.
He reached across the table and took my hand. "Princess, tonight is a celebration, a festive occasion. There is to be no pouting. Are we understood?"
"Yes, sir..."
My Guardian smiled. He knew me well. "But ..." he prompted. "Go ahead, princess. Tell me what it is that is bothering you. Remember one of the first rules is no secrets."
My words tumbled out in a rush. "Guardian, it was a year ago today that I knelt before you and presented my neck for your collar. I gave you the gift of my submission. I gave myself to you mind, body and spirit to do with as you saw fit. I have served you as best as I know how. Your pleasure has been my pleasure. Rarely has a day gone by when your collar has not adorned my neck, either the leather one in the privacy of our home or the silver in public. They have been worn with pleasure and pride. Yet today of all days, when we celebrate the first anniversary of my collaring, you have ordered me not to wear my collar. I do not understand it. Have I disappointed or offended you in some way?"
"Princess," my Guardian chided, "hush. You should know that I could not be disappointed in you."
"But ..."
"You should also TRUST me to have your best interests at heart. Your failure to do so is a punishable offense, princess. However, we will deal with that tomorrow. Tonight we are celebrating and you are without a collar at my discretion for a reason. And I will reveal it to you all in good time. Now, I shall order and we will enjoy the rest of our evening as planned."
Just then, there arose a commotion from the other side of the restaurant. Another patron was complaining loudly to his dinner companion that the service was atrocious and generally making a scene. Guardian and I had been coming here for years and we were always treated well and had found the service exemplary. It was one of the reasons we returned so frequently. Of course, the fact that the owner, Nick Gianelli, was a childhood friend of my Guardian and they were close enough to be brothers may have had something to do with both the frequency of our visits and the red carpet treatment we received from the staff. Still, I knew that if Guiseppe's staff had, indeed, slighted this man there must have been a very good reason for it. I watched the scene unfolding and smiled to myself.
He appeared to be a man in his early 40's, slightly older than my Guardian was. He was not particularly attractive. It was apparent that he spent a great deal of time in the gym. His body was well muscled and he had that look of the year-round tan that came from too much time at a tanner rather than time spent labouring or playing in the sun. It was the body of a man who understood that he was not handsome and that women would never find him attractive by virtue of his mind and character and so did what he could to build up his physique as a way of compensating. It had been my experience that is was very poor compensation, indeed. Men like that never did learn how to please a woman and drive them mad with the desire to please their master. He should take a lesson or two from my Guardian. I smiled wickedly at the thought.
My Guardian did not fail to notice the smile that flitted across my face. "Tell me, princess," he asked. "Do you find him attractive?"
I laughed aloud at the prospect. "Oh no, Guardian, quite the contrary, actually. He is not at all attractive and his behaviour is disgusting and obnoxious."
"But you must admit that his physique is well-developed."
I shook my head and smiled. It was a conversation we had had before numerous times. "Guardian, you know full well that I have never been impressed by an over-developed physique. That is not what attracts me to a man."
My Guardian laughed softly. "Ah princess, and to think I worked so hard to train you to notice and appreciate a man's physique and yet still you are 'unimpressed'. So tell me, princess. What is it that attracts you?"
"Mmmm.... I love a man with intelligence. A good mind and lively conversation. I love a man who is passionate about life. A man of integrity and character and compassion."
"What is it that arouses you about a man, princess?" he asked.
"Bedroom eyes, a nice ass and strength and power. Power arouses me, Guardian. Not blatant, boastful power, but the quiet power that exudes from a man's very essence and commands respect the minute he enters a room." I licked my lips seductively, let my voice become husky and looked across the table. "You arouse me, Guardian."
He looked into my eyes and held my gaze. "Now, princess!" he demanded.
He waited and watched my face as the orgasm swept over me. It had been a year of training, but my Guardian had developed my awareness of my sexuality and my desire for him to a point where the mere sound of his voice aroused me. The word 'now' was the trigger that released my sexual energy and orgasm.
"Very, very good princess. You have come a long way in the last year. I am pleased with your progress."
I blushed as the waiter approached with our entrees, aware of the fact that the aroma of my arousal scented the air.
After the meal was over and the dishes cleared away, my Guardian gave the waiter the signal that we were not to be disturbed for a while. I knew that my Guardian had something on his mind.
"Tonight is a special occasion, princess. I brought you here to our favourite restaurant as a celebration. Later, we will dance. Your body will become one with the music; alive and moving for me to enjoy. First, I have a very special surprise for you. I know that it has bothered you that I did not allow you to wear my collar tonight. You are not accustomed to being without the sign of my ownership. But it was not without reason, princess."
He reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and removed a small gift-wrapped box, placing it on the table in front of me. His eyes twinkled with delight.
"Go ahead, princess. Open it."
I reached tentatively for the box. Slowly, deliberately I untied the silk ribbon and began to unwrap it. As the foil gift-wrap fell away, I drew a sharp, inward breath. In my hands was a velvet box from a local jeweler.
"Open it, princess," my Guardian repeated firmly.
I did so and found within a solid gold bangle a half-inch wide. It was simple and elegant and unmistakably a collar, large enough to encircle my throat and contoured to rest just inside the collarbone. It had a hidden clasp and so appeared to be a continuous circle of gold.
"It is beautiful, Guardian, but it is far too extravagant for me."
