Page 23 of Pretty Little Thing

She adjusts her purse strap on her shoulder as her cheeks burn a bright pink. “Look, Clive, I don’t think we should talk about this.”

“Why not?” I shrug, smiling. “So, we’re into BDSM? It’s not a big deal.”

“I’m not...” Her voice breaks.

“Nora, it’s okay. Luckily for us, privacy is the most important rule in the community. It’s tighter than Fight Club in there. Believe me. No one’s ever gonna know unless you want them to. I sure as hell won’t say a word.”

Her shoulders release a bit of tension. “Okay,” she breathes out.

I lean against the wall, trying to shift the space into something more casual to get her talking. “I never saw you there before,” I say. “First time?”

“Uh...” She wets her lips. “Yeah, kinda.”

“What’d you think?”

A quick laugh twitches her mouth. “A little overwhelming.”

I nod. “It can be. Dom or sub?”

She raises her head a little higher. “Is that how you guys shake hands or something?” I laugh. “I swear, I was there for maybe twenty minutes and I heard so many people asking that question.”

“It narrows the pool a little,” I say. “Lots of folks are there to get down to business and go home.”

“I could tell.” She squints. “Is that why you were there?”

“In a way,” I say, being vague.

“Well, Dom or sub?” she asks.

I smile. “Dom. You?”

Nora pauses, her eyes shifting as if we’re being watched but it’s just us in here. “Sub,” she finally answers. “I think.”

My brow rises. “You don’t say?”

“Is it that surprising?”

“Kind of.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, it surprises me, too. Honestly, I haven’t… you know. Just sort of learning the rules right now.”

“Well, it’s a good place to learn.”

“That’s what I hear.” Her throat clears. “Anyway, I should get going.”

“Bit early, isn’t it?”

“I have a... personal matter.”

I nod. “All right.” I extend my hand to enable the elevator again, but stop. “Can I give you a tip?” I ask her.

“… Okay.”

I turn to her again. “Wear a choker or a scarf the next time you go to the club.”

She tilts her head. “A choker? You mean, like a necklace?”

“Yeah.”

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