I was walking slowly, taking my time, I wasn't that eager of the comming conversation.
Finally our house came into sight and I noticed that every window was dark, so hopefully Frank was asleep already and I could just sneak in and have that dreaded talk tomorrow.
Maybe tomorrow things would be totally different, maybe Frank would slap that huge smile of his, that I love so much, on his face and tell me it was just a big joke, and giggle like the cute guy he is. Well, I thought he was.

As I reached the front door I pushed down the handle and found it locked.
Lazily I searched through all of my pockets, but that stupid key was nowhere to be found.
"Fuck", I muttered, that meant a night in the shed, because I didn't want to wake Frank at all.

"Are you looking for something, princess?", a sarcastic voice came from somewhere above my head. I went a few steps back for a better sight and saw Frank leaning on the balcony's rail, on the first floor, above the door. He was smoking, and held something in his hand, there was a weak metallic shimmer. My keys.

"Yeah, well you dropped them in the living room, as you threw that little tantrum, I really enjoyed watching your show, so masculine",he snickered.
My face started to heat up. "Well, are you going to let me in, or am I already getting punished by sleeping outside for running off?", I asked half jokingly half angry.
Frank blew out a huge ring of smoke, "hummm I think you've been punished enough for today, as I could read on your face earlier, I'll be right back", I heard the smile in his voice and blew air out of my nostrils like an angry taurus. I hate this!

I heard the door being unlocked and saw Frank opening it, but not stepping aside. A yellowish stripe of light from the inside illuminated my pale face and made me blink a few times.
"So?", he asked firmly.
Oh no, he really wanted to do this here and now out on our fucking lawn.
"What?", I snapped, "I came back, isn't that answer enough?"
"Nope, behave yourself and give me a proper answer or I'll lock that door again in front of your nose.", he started to close the door slowly until I hastily stuck my foot between door and frame.
"Okey, okey, god damnit, wait", he opened the door again. I let out a deep and exhausted sigh. I felt like a solicitor...it was really unpleasant.
"Fine. Ok listen Frank, I thought everything through you said to me earlier, and yes you are right. I need you and I want you in my life, and if you have to treat me like this to let me stay with you so be it, I can't change it anymore and I know that I somehow deserve it for what I've done to you", my hands turned into fists again and I hung my head, my black hair covering my face.
"I'll agree to all you've said and I'm ready to seal the deal with you."
Frank seemed satisfied and stepped away from the door so I could walk in, feeling like an inmate returning to his cell.
"Clean up the mess you made and then come to the bedroom", Frank ordered as he ascended the stairs to the first floor, not looking at me at all.
I walked over to the living room and kneeled down to pick up the photographs, which were the only things left on the floor. He must have taken his 'toys' upstairs earlier and maybe wanted to remind me of my mistake again with those cursed photographs.

I flipped the table back on his feet, switched off the lights and started my way up the stairs, bracing myself for whatever was coming upon me.

---

*Knock knock* I knocked shyly on our bedroom door. "Come in, Gee", I heard Frank's voice muffled through the door.
I stepped inside the room and was really glad I didn't find him naked. He was just sitting on the corner of the bed, obviously waiting for me... Well I didn't know if this was any better, because he had a hungry, aroused look on his face.

"Please sit down over there"- he pointed to the small desk at the wall which had a large mirror sitting on it, a single chair in front of it.
I placed myself on the chair so I was staring at my own face directly, which showed discomfort and stress.
Frank stepped behind me, making eye contact through the mirror.

"As you agreed to the deal, I'm going to install the collar now, Gerard", I nodded shortly and looked away, hands shoving deeper inside the pockets of my dark blue denim jacket, body tensing up. I didn't want to see that grin on his face, it made everything worse and causing my guts to knot.
I saw a movement through the corner of my eye and suddenly felt some fabric brushing against my skin, resting on my neck.
Frank closed the necklace with a tiny key and put his hands on my shoulders.
"Look in the mirror, Gee.", he ordered softly.
Hesitantly I did as I was told. My eyes wandered down to my neck, on this newly installed black piece of fabric, and metal. The little silver ring in the middle shimmered in the light and I bit down on my lip my eyes trailing off it again. I couldn't help myself but being kind of turned on a bit, even if it was still embarrassing and hard for me. It was a strange mixture of emotions.

"It suits you, you know? Just like I thought", he said with a decent smile and stroked my cheek tenderly.
I blushed and flinched away from his touch, which swept the smile off Frank's face instantly.
"I'll always know where you'll be with this on, understand? So don't mess around Gee, you gotta earn my trust back" he amended.
I cleared my throat and nodded again, moving out of the chair, standing in front of the bed awkwardly.
"You won't sleep here tonight, take your Pajamas and sleep in the guest room. It's better if we calm ourselves down for now", Frank yawned and stretched, then dropped himself on the bed, crawling beneath the sheets.
I fetched my stuff and walked outside, "Good night, Frank", I said in a monotonous voice. "Night, Gerard" he answered calmly.
After a hot shower and some body hygiene, I entered the room next to our bedroom and slipped beneath the blankets of the single bed, as fast as I could.

I'd definitely never forget this evening, and most likley the next morning...

Notes