It seemed now that perhaps it was the chill of the air on her unaccustomedly naked thighs that triggered her response, returned her to normalcy. Phill...p had first pleaded, then argued, and finally, demanded that she cooperate, but she had resolutely stood her ground, and in the end, she emerged the winner. He had pouted for awhile, looking for all the world like a five year old who'd been deprived of a toy. Then, he'd finally begun to speak to her again, offering to do anything she liked to. I bet you're a real knockout."Pamela had just come up behind them and she spoke out. "You'll have torestrain your impatience. The doctor only agreed that Georgie couldcome out if her skin was totally protected from the cold air at alltimes. She was told not even to take her gloves off." This informationmade Joe even more solicitous and he volunteered to bring a hotdog andcoffee for the supposed invalid. George answered his questions aboutmustard and relish as well as cream and sugar for coffee. He dropped the Book and kicked it back under the bed. He grabbed the box containing the pendant fragments, opened it, and plucked out the piece still attached to the chain.Jason had carried the fragment with him the day before, again without knowing why. It could not tell him if someone were stealing the Book if he did not wear it, and he had refused to do so, despite all reassurances that nothing was left of the Darkness in the pendant.So, what am I afraid of? he thought.He stood up, holding. ?What have I done to displease you Master?? She waited, not thinking, only anticipating, she did not know what.He clinched his hands into fists, looked into her watery eyes. ?You please me very much, but I have to know you want this as much as I do.? He set his glass down.?Please don’t send me away,? she cried. ?Please, Master. Don’t send me away.? She put the glass of champagne on the table.He removed her silver collar, slave ring, both the chains around her wrists and ankles, and dropped them.