"Kneel," I said casually."Kneel," I said casually. "What?" "Kneel," I repeated myself, just a little louder, with a slight curl of the lip. Much to my amusement, he obeyed. "What is that?" I asked, pointing to his right arm. "It's your armband. I thought you might like it... this way." "It's very attractive," I admitted. "But you're wearing part of my leathers without permission, and I don't like that. Do you understand what I'm saying?" "Yes," he said. "Yes, what?" "Yes, M'lord." I remembered the first and last time he had said that to me; it had been over a year ago, before the kids were born. I had been expecting a 'Sir' at the time. But I liked that term. "M'lord." It had a very pleasant feel to it. "Better," I said. I leaned closer to him and said, "But if you're going to wear it, you've got to wear it properly." I reached down and pulled on the strap gently, pulling it loose from around his arm. I took extra care to make sure his fur didn't get caught as I did so. Then I reached around his neck and inserted the strap through the buckle, locking it down on the first hole. He was completely still through the entire procedure. "Better," I said again, leaning back against the couch. "Rub my feet." "Sir?" "Aaden, this is the second time you've made me repeat myself. Rub my feet." "Yes, M'Lord," he said quietly, unlacing my boots and starting to ease them off. His paws stroked my feet carefully, but I noted that he needed practice. |