Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience. Title: The Taming of Jane Author: Jane Smith Keywords: Cons, Bond, MF, Rom, True Part: 2 Summary: Jane SMith is married and collared. "Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't." - Mark Twain Chapter One: The Collar and the Crop Sunday, May 9, 1993 "Sit down! You're making me nervous!" Jane's friend Claire sat on the edge of the bed in her pink bridesmaid dress with a patience that Jane envied. "I'm sorry! I'm just so nervous!" Jane stopped her pacing and dropped onto the edge of the bed next to her long-time friend trying to be careful not to wrinkle her wedding dress. "You've got the hard part over," Claire said reassuringly and hugged Jane. Claire was about average height with a beauty that made every guy look twice if not more. Her long blond hair hung in waves down her back. Jane sighed. For most girls it would be true. At two she and Alex had married in a small wedding ceremony, which was followed by a small reception. Since both were recent college graduates, neither had much money. And they had decided not to solicit aid from their families. She and Alex had promised their parents not to marry until they graduated. So, yesterday they had graduated. Today they were married. The thought made her smile. As soon as graduation was over, she and Alex rushed to his dorm to move his few remaining things to her apartment. Well, their apartment now. Then it was off to deal with last minute wedding preparations. Once the reception was over, she and Alex along with her friend Claire, Claire's boyfriend James, Alex's bestman William, and his fiance Jamie went to her and Alex's apartment for the final part of the ceremony. The door opened enough for Jamie to poke her head in. She was a pretty, somewhat plump girl with curly dark brown hair. "Are you ready?" "Yes," Claire replied and stood pulling Jane up. Jamie opened the door, and Jane gasped as she stepped from the bedroom. The blinds were closed, but the room was bathed in a soft glow from the dozens of tea candles scattered about the room. The small coffee table sitting in the center of the living room was covered in a white tablecloth upon which three candles sat - a white unlit candle, a lit blue one, and a lit pink one. A sheet of paper and pen also occupied the table. But her eyes saw only her husband. Husband! That was such a wonderful word! He looked so handsome in his tuxedo waiting for her. Claire and Jamie each took a hand and led her slowly to wear Alex and the two other guys waited. Upon reaching the coffee table, Jane knelt on a red cushion and placed her hands on her knees in an attempt at submissiveness. William stepped forward. "Jane Smith, why have you come here?" "I have come to offer my submission to my husband Alex if he will accept it." "Have you come of your own free will? Have you been coerced into making this offer?" She grinned. She expected Alex to say he had been coerced into accepting it. "I come of my own free will." William moved aside so that Alex stood in front of her, and he smiled affectionately down. Jamie moved to her side and held a metal serving tray with five black bands of leather. Claire took a pair of smaller restraints and gave them to Jane. Jane held them toward Alex. "I, Jane Smith, offer these as a symbol of my promise to go where you, my husband Alex Smith, command without question or hesitation." Alex was obviously fighting back a laugh; he found this whole thing humorous. Taking the restraints, he replied "I, Alex Smith, accept your gift and promise to never knowingly lead you astray." Then he moved beside her and pushed her wedding gown up to expose her ankles. He buckled one restraint around each and then resumed his position. Claire took the next pair and gave them to Jane. "I, Jane Smith, offer these as a symbol of my promise to do as you, my husband, command without question or hesitation." Alex accepted the restraints and answered "I, Alex Smith, accept your gift and promise to never knowingly ask you to do anything to harm yourself or another person." She was proud that her hands did not tremble as she held them out for Alex to buckle the restraints around. Claire took the final item, a black leather collar, and gave it to Jane. "I, Jane Smith, offer this symbol of the gift of my body and my heart. I offer myself to you completely. I love you with every cell of my body." Alex took it and said "I, Alex Smith, accept your gift. I promise to always love and care for you. Forever. I love you so very much." It was his hands that shook as he wrapped the slender collar around her neck and buckled it. Jane lifted the burning pink candle and held it while Alex took the blue. Together they lit the single white candle and blew out their indiviual candles. It symbolized that they were now one. She had given herself to her husband. She was his. She took the pen and signed on the line above her printed name on the contract. Alex did the same. They had written this over the months between deciding to marry and their wedding day. It spelled out one anothers' expectations for this unusual relationship. Alex tipped the white candle so that wax dripped between their names. He pressed his finger in it at and angle. Jane quickly did the same. Their two fingerprints overlapped and formed a heart. Each of their four guests signed as witnesses. It was true that the contract held no legal obligations, but it served as a reminder to both her and Alex that they had made certain promises in front of others. And that was it! Jane Smith was now collared to her wonderful husband! Alex helped her stand. "I love you so much," he said and kissed her quite thoroughly. It took Jane a moment to catch her breath. "I love you too." "Shall we celebrate?" He turned toward the small kitchen where they had a cake and ice cream waiting. "There's one more thing," Jane said. Alex looked surprised as he might be since this was the end of the ceremony they had planned. But Jane had one more thing. "Alex, you promised to discipline me when I am disobedient." Her cheeks heated at saying that in front of their guests. "But I know you. You are a kind and loving man who would never want to hurt me. Even if I asked you to. But you have promised." His cheeks turned red as well. A quick, small nod was all it took to signal James who retrieved an item from behind the sofa and handed it to her. It was a riding crop he had purchased a few days earlier from a store that specialized in horseriding gear. She could not believe she was about to say the next words. "I want you to do so now. In front of others. So that you will know that you are not abusing me." "Jane..." He looked around, obviously embarrassed. She had planned for his hesitation and took the next item James held. "I wish for you to punish me." She handed him the sheet of paper that he had given her for Christmas; it stated she was entitled to a single wish. Alex stared at the paper as if it were a poisonous snake. "Jane... I..." He was obviously at a loss for words. Before he could come up with an argument, Jane walked to the kitchen and stood by the dining table. Bending over, she stretched her arms toward the far end and pressed her cheek to the cool wood. Claire and Jamie led Alex to the table and placed the crop in his hands. James and William moved to the far end and each took one of her wrists. Claire pushed Jane's wedding gown up to her waist to expose her bottom and the tops of her stockings. Then the two girls knelt and each held an ankle. Jane squeezed her eyes shut. At first she thought he would not do it. Not in front of everyone. When the first blow fell, Jane screamed. Not that it hurt. Well, not much. It just startled her. It stung. She did not cry out as the next blows fell on alternating butt cheeks. Alex delivered six blows. Realizing that it was over, her wrists and ankles were released. Straightening, she smoothed her gown. "Thank you." It was clear he had been gentle with her, but at least he had gone through with it. Jane avoided looking at the two other guys. From their position they should not have been able to see anything. But the fact that they had held her as she was spanked was source enough for embarassment. For her at least. The cake was a circle with the center cut out and decorated black to resembled her collar. While none of them were particularly hungry, they each had a slice and ice cream. Conversation turned to the upcoming honeymoon and the details of life after marriage. In particular Jane's offer for a postdoc position at the college she just graduated from. Alex on the other hand was accepting a programming position that started the week after the honeymoon. Despite the spanking and the collar and restraints she wore, no one brought up the collaring ceremony or their unusual relationship. But it was foremost on her mind. Jane was collared and married. It was the happiest day of her life.