Jake picked up a collar from the rack. There was a tag attached, where a dog tag might go, that said "Slave Collar". Reading that sent a thrill through Jake. He had to try it on.
He headed to the changing room, looking around to make sure no one saw him, and then went inside. He quickly fastened it on, pulling it tight. The thin black leather collar felt soft, but slightly constrictive. The belt buckle up front allowed for adjustment, but it felt just right where it was.
Jake admired himself in the mirror for a minute or two, before deciding he'd buy it. Then he went to take it off.
He couldn't take it off. The belt buckle mechanism didn't seem to work, or like his fingers couldn't figure it out. It looked simple, but examining it in the mirror, he realized he had no idea how to undo it. As he began to panic, he forced himself to relax. He'd just ask the guy at the front desk, no big deal. It would be embarrassing, but no more embarrassing than coming into this shop had been.
The nice young man with the pink tie was there at the counter, browsing a magazine. He looked up in surprise, and then smiled. Jake could see the guy looking at his collar.
"Hi, uh, could you help me take this off?" asked Jake.
"Oh sure thing," he said. "But first, are you curious why it won't come off?"
Jake nodded.
"It's a slave collar, it doesn't let the slave take it off themselves. And if someone else puts it on you, only they can take it off," he said.
Jake rolled his eyes, "Yeah right, it's just tricky, it's not magic."
"Isn't it?" asked the salesman. "I should also mention that it makes you very obedient. Since you put it on yourself, you obey everyone. If one person puts it on you, you have to obey them."
Jake's nerves came back. What if that was true? But it couldn't be.
"Bullshit," Jake said, teenage defiance coming out of him even though he looked more like a 12 year old than a 14 year old.
The guy kept smiling, but stepped around the counter to stand in front of Jake. "Get on your knees and kiss my feet, then apologize until I tell you you can stand back up."
Jake's body separated from his mind, as Jake felt it drop to his knees, and before he knew it, he was kissing the young man's leather shoes, one then the other, before apologizing. "I'm so sorry, sir, I'm sorry, please forgive me, I'm sorry..."
Jake wondered how long it would go on as he stayed on his knees, looking up at the guy and apologizing.
"Enough, stand back up."
Jake was grateful as he got back to his feet. He was afraid now, now that he knew this collar was serious business.
The young man looked him in the eyes for a while, as though considering, and Jake was too afraid to speak. The man sighed. "I have enough already." He reached out and unbuckled the collar Jake was wearing. He held it out to Jake. "You gonna take this for your free item?"
Jake snatched it and ran out of the shop without a backwards glance.
When he was safe at home, Jake looked at the collar, admiring its power. He wouldn't put it on himself ever again, but he considered who might be deserving of some time in a collar. The best candidate would be...