Page 44 of Roberto

She gave me a naughty little smile. “You won the bet. Now I don’t get to punish you.”

“Maybe if you play your cards right.”

She burst out laughing.

It was one of the most beautiful sounds I’d ever heard.

“So,” I said, then paused.

“Uh-oh – it sounds like you’re about to broach a serious topic,” she teased.

“It doesn’t have to be. Although, considering how badly I misstepped last time, I wanted to make sure I didn’t do the same thing again.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re not going to proposition me again, are you?”

“NO,” I said vehemently. “Definitely not.”

She smiled, then shrugged. “I was… a little harsh.”

“Alittle?”

“You deserved it.”

“I did,” I admitted.

She laughed again.

As long as she kept laughing, I could have listened to her all night.

“Alright. What do you want to ask?”

“Well… you’re the owner of a BDSM club.”

“Mm-hmm?”

“And you keep talking about wanting to punish me.”

“Youwere the one who made it part of the initial agreement,” she pointed out.

“True,” I admitted. “But you seemed rather enthusiastic about it.”

“That was mostly to unnerve you. Did it work?”

“No. It just enticed me.”

“Not the worst outcome, then,” she said flirtatiously.

“So am I correct in assuming you participate in De Sade’s… ‘activities’?”

She smiled slyly before answering.

“On occasion. Not at the club, though.Neverat the club. I keep my personal life and work life separate.”

“That’s wise. What is it you like to do, if I might ask?”

“Ohno. For every questionyouask,Iget to ask one.”

“Fair enough. Go ahead.”

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