ROAR (68 page)

After he went inside to say his goodbye, he joined her, took her hand, and squeezed it. They were ready to embark on the next phase of their journey. So many milestones today and tomorrow alone.

“Shall we grab some lunch before we hunt for our dream house?” he asked.

“Absolutely.”

His mood seemed to lighten exponentially as they left the facility. In no time, they were bantering back and forth and anticipating what life had in store for them.

Perhaps he found peace in knowing Tori had “met” the new woman he’d fallen in love with. She hoped that would reassure him and help him let go of any lingering guilt about rejoining the living himself.

Time to start a new chapter.

*     *     *

Pamela’s request to meet Tori had taken him aback, but whatever it was she needed from the visit, she seemed to have attained. Her smile as she walked out of Tori’s room was radiant, more relaxed than it had been in days. He wasn’t sure why he’d never thought to bring her here before, but was glad she’d asked. Somehow, he knew Tori would approve of having Pamela in his life now that she could no longer be here.

He’d never kept either woman a secret from the other, but this meeting between the two great loves of his life made it possible to close the score on one symphony and start a new one.

He’d spent the past few days making sure Pamela restored her body and soul after the arduous ordeal in Afghanistan. He didn’t want her getting sick because her immune system was compromised or she was too run-down and exhausted to fight off whatever germs might be making the rounds at the hospital.

She didn’t mention the visit at lunch, either, so he decided whatever happened was going to stay between his girls unless Pamela shared with him one day.

After lunch, they met the Realtor at the first house in the Morrison area, west-southwest of Denver. Despite the commute she’d have, Pamela wanted to live in the foothills, and this area boasted a number of state parks and green areas they could enjoy just outside their door. Pamela’s schedule kept her busy, and his job was to make sure, when she was home with him, that she found peace and respite.

Her tastes were simple, but the houses here weren’t. Despite her protests that they find something smaller, he insisted they look here first. This one boasted three stories from finished basement to loft, with amazing views of both Red Rocks Park on one side and downtown Denver on another.

The gourmet kitchen and ceiling to floor windows in most rooms seemed to be what Pamela loved most. “I don’t think I’d know how to act in a place like this,” she said, as she ran her hand over the granite countertops on the island.

“Like the adorable sprite you are, no doubt.”

She shook her head and laughed before taking a swig from her water bottle.

“Let’s see the yard and property.” While he could picture them living in the house, he also wanted a buffer zone from the world in which they could play and explore.

The acreage surrounding the house is what sold him. A small waterfall trickled down among strategically placed rocks in a landscaping feature tucked away in a quiet corner of the yard.

“Oh, Kristoffer! Can you imagine how peaceful it would be sitting here and reading, journaling, or meditating?”

The serene elegance of the property was another selling point. Not unlike the traits the woman beside him exuded from every pore.

As far as he was concerned, it was all over except for the closing on this place. They continued to walk around the six-acre lot, though. It would provide enough privacy that they would be able to indulge their kink outdoors anytime they chose. That would be one of the first things they’d do when they moved in.

He was particularly interested in one bristlecone pine tree with a missing branch at just the right height for restraints. Man, he wished they could move in today.

Before rejoining the Realtor on the patio, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her long and hard. He smiled. “Can you picture yourself living here?”

“As long as you’ll be here with me, yes, I can.”

“Good, because with the mortgage this place will come with, we aren’t going to be able to afford to get away much for a while.”

Her concern was immediate as her eyes opened wide. “What about Norway?”

“Don’t worry. That’s a done deal. Gunnar’s agreed to provide the air transportation, so our expenses will be limited.” He grew serious. “How about the commute to the hospital? It would take you a minimum of forty-five minutes each way.”

“From the condo to work is already thirty to forty-five minutes.” She broke free and took in the view down the hillside from the house. “This will be a much more scenic route.”

“I’ll drive you on days when you’re too tired or the roads are bad.” His schedule was fairly flexible, and he’d be working mostly from home. Surely the universe wouldn’t take Pamela, too. He tamped down his rising fear, banking that the probability of such a loss happening again was astronomical.

No regrets, no guilt.

He took her hand. “Are we ready to make an offer?”

“After only looking at one place?”

He grinned. “I know what I want when I see it.”
Like you
. “I also know from a little research on prices in the area that this place is priced competitively and won’t last on the market long. There’s no time to lose.”

“I love your spontaneous side, Kristoffer Roar Larson. Let’s do it, but I’ll leave the negotiations to you and our Realtor.”

After discussing an offer with the real-estate agent, they signed a bid contract at the full asking price. They’d know in a day or so if their offer had been accepted. On the way back to the condo, he shifted gears to tomorrow night’s ceremony.

“The plan for tomorrow is for me to drive out ahead of you to Breck. Gunnar wants to pick you up and bring you to me for some reason. I think he wants to speak with you alone. Just don’t believe anything bad he says about me.” Kristoffer grinned at her.

“I’ll defend you, Sir.”

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to take bets on which of you would come out the victor.” He drove a few more miles before continuing. “In the meantime, I’ll be setting up the dungeon to make sure everything’s just right.”

“I’m looking forward to every minute of it. I intend to take each second as it happens and drink it all in. After all, it’s not everyday a girl gets collared. This will be the most important day of my life and one I’ll treasure always.”

He glanced her way, and they smiled at each other. At least she wasn’t nervous or worried. She exuded confidence in her position with him and the choice she’d made. She wouldn’t be intimidated by Gunnar, either. They would be family now. By all appearances, she was ready to take the monumental next step in their journey together—not only the collaring, but becoming a member of the Larson clan.

“Tonight, I’ll give you the full list of what you need to do or bring with you. Remember that the tattooing will be part of the ceremony. Stay hydrated. Continue applying lotion to your key tattoo in preparation for the new ink on it.”

“I will. You seem quite concerned about this tattoo. I don’t think I did anything but show up at the shop for my first one. You’ve been shaving the area nightly since we came home from Afghanistan. You do know that the ink artist is going to do it, too, just before the tattoo machine comes out.”

“Really? I’ve never had one myself. I was just going by what I learned on the Internet.”

She chuckled, shaking her head. “Perhaps one day you’ll be wearing your sprite’s name on your body.”

He’d never really thought about having one done. “You’re already branded on my heart and mind, Sprite. Why not on my skin, too? We’ll discuss it later.”

“Just wish mine wasn’t in a place where I can’t admire the finished product.”

He chuckled. “I’m sure I’ll be ogling it enough for the both of us in the decades to come.”

Kristoffer took the ramp to their neighborhood and continued sharing some of the plans for tomorrow. “We’ll do the first part of the ceremony and then enjoy some refreshments so you don’t go too long between meals. I’m told it could be about two hours for the design I want to be inked on you. I’ll be with you the entire time,” he assured her.

“Thank you for taking such good care of me, Sir.”

He pulled into their parking spot in the garage and turned to her. “How could I not?” Reaching out and in no hurry to get out of the car, he stroked her cheek. “It’s not only my duty to watch over and protect you, but my great privilege and honor to do so as well.” He leaned over and met her in the middle for a kiss. “Thank you, Sprite, for coming into my life and giving me a reason to live again. You’ve mended my heart and made me whole.”

*     *     *

While waiting for Gunnar to pick her up the next evening, Pamela went over Kristoffer’s instructions a third time to be sure she hadn’t forgotten to pack anything. The ceremony would take place in the dungeon at Gunnar’s house, high on a mountain outside Breckenridge, so she’d be two hours from here.

After house hunting yesterday, she’d gone dress shopping—alone. Clothes shopping had never been a pastime she enjoyed, so she made a beeline to the department store that always seemed to have fashions that appealed to her. After trying on only three dresses, she’d found the perfect one. Kristoffer had told her it should be a simple white gown. The chiffon dress had an ankle-length flowing skirt—which probably would have come to mid-calf on an average-sized woman. No time for alterations, but it was perfect in her eyes. The bodice had a soft, overlaid fabric clinging in such a way around her breasts as to place a knot solidly over her heart. Well, the center of her chest, anyway. A love knot, she thought, smiling.

Her neck and shoulders would be completely bare above the bodice, front and back, except for the capped, sheer lace sleeves that covered little more than her shoulder joints. She planned to wear her Big Sur jade studs and her silver love bracelet, but no other jewelry. The collar would be the focal point.

She’d spent nearly ninety minutes this afternoon having her hair styled just the way anthropologist Doctor Carolyn Palamas had worn hers on the original
Star Trek
series’ episode “Who Mourns for Adonais?” in which the god Apollo captured her heart, well, along with the Enterprise and crew. Would Kristoffer recognize it? Somehow, she bet he’d focused more on Doctor Carolyn’s sexy costume when he’d watched the show.

The elaborate updo piled curls at least six inches high above the crown of her head, with thin white satin ribbons intertwined among the swirls. The light touch of hairspray should keep every strand in place while dressing at Gunnar’s. The stylist had tried to talk her into what she called event spray, but Kristoffer preferred her hair loose, so she wanted to make it easy for him to release the locks whenever he chose to do so.

Realizing Gunnar would be here any minute, she brought the dress in its bag to the living room and draped it over the couch. The overnight bag she’d packed for her and Kristoffer waited by the door. She’d checked already to make sure she remembered everything as per Kristoffer’s instructions—and that she’d left out the things he’d expressly told her not to bring, like underwear. She wasn’t to wear any tomorrow, either.

Very few people would be present for the ceremony, and only those in the lifestyle had been asked. Kristoffer had chosen their attendants—Mistress Grant as hers and Patrick his. The woman intimidated her enough that she’d made sure her dress had a side zipper so she could take care of preparing herself without all that much help.

The sharp rap on the door made her jump. Peeking through the peephole, she saw Gunnar and opened the door to greet him.

His gaze went to her hair, and then met hers. “Kris isn’t going to be able to take his eyes off of you tonight, Shortcake.” He bent to kiss her on the cheek.

“Shortcake?”

He grinned. “I’m about to welcome you into my family. I’m entitled to give you a nickname if I want.” Her heart swelled. “With your size and the reddish strawberry-blonde hair, it was the natural choice.”

She gave him a quick hug, momentarily too choked up to say anything without breaking down. But soon she’d composed herself. “You didn’t have to come all this way to pick me up. I could have ridden out with Kristoffer.”

“Nonsense. Then we wouldn’t have a chance to talk about some things before Kris lays claim to you forever.”

What did he want to say? Despite his commanding personality and height, she’d never been intimidated by the man—until now.

He grabbed the suitcase and she her dress, and they went down to the garage. Instead of his high-bodied Ford Raptor truck, he’d driven a sleek and sporty black Mustang Fastback. It reminded her of the 1969 Fastback her dad restored after he retired from the Air Force.

Gunnar maneuvered easily through late-afternoon city traffic. They would be about an hour ahead of the hordes leaving work and hitting I-70 West at rush hour, so shouldn’t find themselves in a bottleneck on the interstate if there weren’t any accidents or construction projects.

Once outside the metro limits, Gunnar wasted no time saying what he’d wanted to talk with her about.

“Shortcake, I want to thank you for all you’ve done for Kris these past four months. My gut told me the day you came to tell us about Fakhira that you two would be good for each other. But I never imagined things would move this fast or this far. You achieved a miracle in an extremely short time.”

“Miracle?” She laughed. “We simply fell in love.”

“Don’t shortchange it. I’d nearly given up on bringing that man back among the living, despite two years of serious trying. Then you walked into the room, and it was all over but the shouting. That part happens today.”

“I’m not sure he noticed I existed during that meeting. Even he admits he didn’t.”

“Oh, he noticed all right. That was one of his demon days, but several times, I saw his gaze stray in your direction. Maybe his logical brain hadn’t noticed, but his subconscious had.”

She smiled. “And here I thought it was my being naked in the classroom the night he toured the academy.”