Time to Remember

Calvin Howells studied his master’s reflection in the mirror very carefully. Remington’s fingers worked deftly as he did up the buttons on his shirt, but the older man’s mind seemed to be on other matters.

Standing neatly in his correct place, one pace to his master’s left, Calvin watched the little bits of plastic slide through the fabric, just as he did every day. Careful to keep his face as expressionless as possible, he did his best to hide the fact that his love of the familiar little rituals that shaped their mornings was absent that day.

Remington’s attention turned from the reflection for a moment while he did up the buttons on his cuffs. Bowing his head a fraction, Calvin closed his eyes as he cursed himself for being an ungrateful little sod.

He opened his eyes again as he felt Remington take one of the ties from the selection Calvin held out for the other man. The dominant knotted it briskly around his neck. A moment later, he walked out of the bedroom without even glancing in Calvin’s direction.

Putting away the ties that hadn’t found favour with his master that morning, Calvin did his best to pull himself together and stop being a fool.

Remington had remembered their real anniversary. His master had taken him out to his favourite restaurant and generally spent the whole day making a big fuss over him. He’d even bought him a new toy and let him come when they tried it out that night.

The older man had done far more to mark their real anniversary than any submissive had any right to expect. It wasn’t Remington’s fault he apparently owned the worst man to ever wear a collar.

Calvin’s hand went to his throat at the thought. The leather had lain around his collar for a year now—exactly a year to that day. They’d celebrated their vanilla anniversary in style. Wishing his master had chosen to remember this date instead was inexcusable.

Remington deserved far better. Calvin knew he would have to do better if he still wanted to be wearing the collar in another year’s time.