Chapter 74

I can’t take my eyes off him as he leaves the stage and walks back to his chair. I lose sight of him once

he sits, and I turn back to face the front. The ceremony continues as I sit patiently waiting for it to end.

It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. I cringed when certain names were called out and kept my eyes

on my lap while they walked across the stage, but I never once let them dampen this day for me.

“I present to you the Class of Twenty-Twenty-Two!” The principal applauds as all the seniors throw our

caps into the air.

I smile and congratulate other classmates as I walk by them on my way to meet Jace. I avoid going a

certain way, so I can stay clear of Mason who seems to be staring at me once again. Trying to get

away from his line of sight is im possible, but then I feel a familiar pair of arms coming around my waist

from behind and I lean into him, enjoying the feel of his hard chest against my back before turning

around in his arms.

“Congratulations, Jace Palmer. Tell me, what are your plans for the future?” | ask in a deep voice and

joking man

ner.

“Well Miss Baxter, I plan on going to a state college in a different state and living with my very beautiful

girlfriend, who just so happens to also be my submissive. I have great plans to fuck her every day and

making sure she is the hap piest that she can be with me.”

“Hm, I love you, Mr. Palmer.” I smile warmly.

“And I love you, Miss Baxter.” He brings his mouth down and brushes his lips across mine, tenderly,

“We should go find our family.”

“Yeah, we should.” | take his offered hand and he weaves us through the crowded gymnasium until we

find our families standing together. Eli comes running up to me, throwing himself at me, his arms going

right around my waist, “Hey, little man!”

“Congratulations, Ella!” He gives me a huge, bright smile when he looks up at me.

“Thank you, Eli.” | kiss the top of his head before look ing around for my sister. Elise is standing behind

everyone talking to one of her friends. She must feel my eyes on her because her head turns my way

briefly, our eyes meeting one another, but then she turns back to her friend.

My parents draw my attention away from my sister as they maul me. I’m not sure how I lost Jace’s

hand, but when | glance over, his parents are doing the same to him as

mine are doing to me. Our eyes meet and we grin, letting our parents have their way for now.

Our parents threw us one huge graduation and going away BBQ for friends and family. As much as I

enjoyed see ing everyone and meeting more of Jace’s family, ones that I hadn’t met over the years, I

was anxious to be done. Jace must sense it as well because he never leaves my side. If he doesn’t

have his hand resting on my lower back, then he has it clasped with mine.

“How are you doing, baby?” He asks me halfway through the party.

I give him a small smile, “I’m okay. As long as you’re be side me, I’ll be fine.”

He reaches up and pushes some windblown hair back behind my ear, “I will always be right here for

you, Ella.” He then leans in and plants a soft kiss on my lips.

“Awe,” an older lady who I believe is Jace’s aunt, coos, “Looks like there may be a wedding in the near

future!” she cackles loudly.

“Let us get through college first Aunt Sheila!” Jace chuckles but then gazes down at me with a gleam in

his eyes.

My heart rate speeds up, and my core begins to throb as I think about us possibly getting married in the

future. Does he even want to get married? It isn’t something that we ever talked about because we

have been concentrated on actually becoming ‘us’ all this time and getting past what happened

between us.

“Hey, Lil D! Congrats, man. It’s sad that one of the best trainers we have at the Center has just literally

graduated high school!” Jude shakes his head in disbelief.

“Shut the fuck up, fucker! My parents don’t actually know what I do, just that I’m some kind of trainer.”

Jace grins as he looks to see where his parents are at.

“Oh, my bad!” Jude covers his mouth as he chuckles.

“Ella, this is Beth, this asshole’s girlfriend.” Jace intro duces the pretty woman to me.

“Hi, nice to meet you.” I go to shake her hand, but Jace stops me.

“You must always ask a sub’s Dom if you can touch their property, remember?” Jace reminds me softly.

“Well, yes, but I thought it’s different when out in pub lic.” I ask him confused.

“Only for some. Us, yes, but Jude and Beth are D/s twenty-four-seven, so they are always in their head

space.” He explains to me.

“Oh, I apologize Master Jude. I meant no disrespect. May I shake Beth’s hand?” I ask him sheepishly. I

really just want to run and hide because I’m so embarrassed, but I re main where I’m at and fight

through it.

“Thank you, Ella, and yes, you have my permission to shake her hand.” Jude responds as he his eyes

sweep up and down my form.

I turn my attention to Beth, and smile once more, offer ing my hand to her. The woman returns both my

smile and handshake before quickly pulling her hand from mine. I al most frown, but then I think that

maybe she has certain or ders that she has to follow, so I try not to take offense.

“I’m going to go use the restroom really quick.” I tell Jace. It’s all I can come up with right now. I need to

get my self together because all of this is becoming too much at the moment.

“Need me to come with you?” He grins.