Page 25 of The Sinner's Sanctuary

“Dominance,” I admit. “If you don’t want me to get too specific.”

“I said it was up to you.”

“Dominance,” I say again, not sure I want to, either.

“Then maybe you can answer this question. Take that guy for example.”

He points at the spanking, pussy-stroker nearby, drawing multiple orgasms from the woman still on the bench. “What’s he getting out of that?”

“Controlling her pleasure, you mean?”

“Is that what you call it?”

“It’s what it is.”

“Then sure—what’s in it for him?”

“It’s different for everyone,” I say. “Some people dominate because they feel out of control. Some do it because they get off on knowing they’re providing something special for someonethey care about—or maybe that they have a rare skill—a pleasure only they can provide for a stranger in need. Sometimes they get off on someone else getting off. It depends on the person. The scene. The sub.”

“Is it more often than not about sex?”

“Even sex isn’t about sex,” I say.

Christian frowns, opening his mouth to say something and then shutting it quickly. “Good point.”

“I doubt very many people on earth have thought about it as much as I have,” I admit.

“So that’s what you do every night up in The Penthouse? Think?”

“How do you know I go every night?”

Christian grins again. “I didn’t, but I do now.”

I shake my head and look out over the floor. A pretty sub is heading toward the table, but I shake her off. She changes direction. “For your information, I do all kinds of things up there. Network. Make deals. Gather interesting information about the people who run the city. And I have a sub,” I add because I’m drunk.

“Oh.” Christian strokes his chin a moment, and I can practically see him running through his mental Rolodex of the women coming in and out of The Penthouse.

“You’re not gonna ask?”

“I’m thinking about asking.”

“South Asian. Long, dark hair. Petite. Tattoo of a star on her right thumb.”

He raises his brows. “How old is she?”

I shrug. “Not my concern.” But if I had to guess, she’s younger than Christian.

“What is your concern?” he asks.

“That she does what she’s told,” I say simply.

“Which is?”

“You’re asking?”

“Apparently.”

“She’s a pet. Do you know what that is?”

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