Tony was relaxed; Lee Ann's living room, comfortable and just enough modern to be edgy. He had a whiskey in one hand and a breast in the other. LeeAnn was laying with her head in his lap, with her eyes closed. He was stroking the side of her heavy fullness, a connection between the two of them; as she slowly decompressed from her high tension work as a drug rep.
The stress of the second, unanticipated business trip in a week and a half, had dark circles under her eyes. Two, back to back trips to the West Coast, and the frantic customer calls that had to be managed as business connections took strong hits from competitors.
There was always an unsettled period at the end of the year, when last minute adjustments had to be made. This year seemed worse than usual.
Tony was picking up on extra tension from LeeAnn, and she had told him about a bold move by her boss. The paunchy, drunk with his own importance manager, had tried a grope, and inappropriate questions.
Between yawns, she told Tony that Marvin couldn't take his eyes off her collar, and he was acting creepy. "I suppose someone told him what the collar stands for, he's definitely way out of bounds the things he said and alluded to."
"I don't allow that Annie," Tony went hard eyed. "Boss, or not, he will respect you. When do you have to go back to Seattle?" He took a sip of the whiskey and let the fiery liquid run down his throat. "I 'm your protection, I take the job seriously. No one touches you without your permission."
"Two weeks. There's a new company coming on line and I have to be there for the startup." LeeAnn yawned again. "Marvin is going also." She reached for his hand, needing close contact.
"The minute you have the dates, let me know; I'm flying with you." Tony didn't say please, nor did he ask her permission. The collar gave him permission; that was a solid between them.
LeeAnn did open one sleepy eye to look at him, as he moved his hand from her breast and gently rubbed from her forehead down, to close the eye again. "I don't have to like Marvin, but he is my boss. He's due to retire in a year; and it can't get here quick enough. He's a poor manager." She sighed hard.
Tony let his hand linger on the front of the collar. His fingers tracing around the outside circle that was as warm as her body temperature. "Are you sorry it's on?" He asked with unusual indecision.
"Heavens no, I've gotten many, many complements on it. Two different ladies have asked me what jewelry store you bought it from. I told them I'd ask you."
Tony smiled, "Annie, that's a custom piece of jewelry made strictly for you. The cost alone will keep them from inquiring further. Just tell them, I wouldn't tell you; because I'm not." His decision was final, LeeAnn could tell by the inflection in his voice, but he smiled at her.
"I had an idea that it might be expensive, it's exquisite workmanship. Are you sure you should have spent so much money on me?" She smiled at his nick name for her. Annie, it changed her.
"Positive," Tony said with another decisive statement. "It's a custom crafted piece for a custom crafted lady." And his fingers lightly traced the outside circle of the collar, dipping lower with each half circle completed. To Tony, the collar was just as good or better than a ring. It represented a pact.
LeeAnn sighed in contentment. "You're the only reason I can stand those West Coast trips. Coming home straightens out all the hard patches and kinks I have to keep together. Thank you for the compliment, I treasure it." She smoothly reached up to pat his hand. "Tony, I have to sleep. I'm worn down. I almost feel drugged, I'm so tired."
"Alright, turn out the light and let's get you to sleep," he helped her to sit up.
"You're going to sleep here?" she asked with amazement. Previously, Tony wouldn't stay at her place, he made all kinds of excuses. Now that Marvin was acting unprofessional, that changed the equation.
"Tomorrow, while you are at work, I'm going to do a security assessment here. If you are getting gut feelings about Marvin, then that is worth listening and paying attention to. Far too many people dismiss those 'something's wrong' feeling to their own detriment." Tony was acting casual, but LeeAnn's furrowed brow and the tightening of her lips, indicated perhaps she hadn't told the whole truth about the incident with Marvin. Chances were, Marvin was a bigger threat than she, or Tony realized.
Tony always looked for the non- verbal clues that accompanied announcements such as LeeAnn just made. Sub-consciously, people always knew and understood more than they could or would verbalize.
Spooned together in the bed, Tony ran through a check list in his mind, as LeeAnn slept.
The first problem to solve; LeeAnn had no idea of the sex appeal she wore like a cloak around herself. Confidence and good self-esteem, as sexy worn by a woman, as it benefited a man. That competence, attracted those lacking in such skills, hoping to ride on her coat tails. Thus, the inappropriate and unjustified response from her boss; as the man realized LeeAnn was much better at his job, than he was.
Tony, the feral and half tamed man, was content to pull guard duty while his woman refreshed herself with necessary sleep. Basic security for the safety of LeeAnn's life. She wore his collar, her problem's, were his problems. He had no need for BDSM, changing the premise of his original thinking; he was simply a lover that protected his woman.
All during the night, Tony listened to the noise, traffic, and people that congested her apartment complex. The crush of humanity packed together in a sardine can building, the main reason he had resisted staying the night at her place. To Tony, crowds of people spelled danger with a capital D.
He also, didn't 'do' a mass of people willingly; with happy results. Too many skirmishes, too many wars and too many near misses with insanely driven, religious zealots; littered the pages of his past life. He was a loner, accepting few people into his closely guarded, personal space.
She had chosen him, the off-chance encounter in a small bar; and he didn't understand his motives in allowing her the freedom to approach him. When she spoke to him, her words were truthful, and he could feel, they were. Not many, and especially a women, braved his attitude.
