Page 153 of Pretty Little Thing

He turns his head around. “Nora—”

I touch the belt to his back and he shuts up. “Did I say you could turn around?” I ask.

Melanie and Trix take out their phones.

Clive looks forward again. “Nora—”

“You will call me Ms. Payne.”

“Ms. Payne,”he corrects, “don’t you think this discussion could happen somewhere a bit more private?”

I shrug. “Nah.”

I snap the belt along his back and he tenses. An audible gasp lingers behind me but I don’t bother turning around. Let them watch.

“Tell me, Mr. Snow,” I say, pausing to tap him again, “if your submissive lied to your face… what would their punishment be?”

Clive hesitates. I hear him inhale but no words come out.

I hit him again, this time a little harder. “When I ask you a question, I expect an immediate response.”

“I…” He breathes out. “I don’t know.”

“Would you tie them up for a public flogging?” I ask. “How many lashes would make up for lying?”

“Depends on the lie,” he answers.

I whack his shoulder. “Conspiracy to commit theft. How many lashes for that?”

He sighs. “Nora…”

“Saying I love you.” I hit him as hard as I can and he grunts. “How many lashes for that?”

“I didn’t lie about that.”

“Bullshit.”

I raise the belt as Clive spins around. He catches my wrist in mid-air and forces me to stop.

“I didn’t lie about that,” he says again, his eyes locked with mine. “If you walk away from this believing anything, make it that.”

I look away from him but he nudges my chin right back up.

“Nora, I love you.” His fingers slide to my cheek. “I might be your chocolate or your strawberry or your rocky road, but you… you’re my vanilla.”

Melanie frowns. “The fuck?”

I ignore her as Clive leans in a little closer.

“You’re the…” He smiles and he lowers my arm. “You’re the silky-smooth, under-appreciated staple that I should have embraced a long time ago. You make everything sweeter. And I can’t imagine a life without you.”

He takes a step back and lets go of my wrist. His hand falls from my face as he puts a little space between us. My heart aches. I’ve lost my anchor again.

“But if this is what you want, Ms. Payne, then… you should do it right.”

Clive loosens his tie and pulls it up and over his head.

I blink with confusion, my eyes widening as he takes off his jacket and starts flicking the buttons open on his shirt. “Clive…”

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