"Yes. I'm aware of all that." Lenore keeps holding the collar, expression patient but unyielding. Gideon is going to wear the collar and let Lenore lead her on a leash. Lenore can wait.

"You swore a vow to obey me," Lenore points out, collar still held delicately in her hands. The black leather is lined with blue silk. "But only if it's fun or convenient?"

Lenore knows she's going to win this. No need to yield or compromise. Gideon will obey her. These are the terms of the agreement that Lenore already got from her.

The impression she gets of Gideon's past is that it was all inevitable, and she was able to put eloquent lip service toward resistance, but there was no real choice. Days of drudgery, but what other possibility was there? Spending all her cleverness toward creative insults and expletives, because what other outlet did she have?

Now she has a choice, she has an outlet, but Lenore accepts no lip service. Gideon's insults and expletives have washed over her like the hot air that they are. She can puff all the hot air she wants, but Lenore will still make her choose to accept the yoke, still make her speak her consent. Gideon's going to have choices from now on. And Lenore's going to see to it that Gideon actively, explicitly chooses to yield to Lenore's will every single time.

She holds the collar and waits.