Page 144 of Renard's Deliverance

“It is,” Lex said wistfully. “Not everyone is as good as him.”

She nodded. Good to know.

“You’re really brave to talk to him like that. The rest of us are scared of him,” he whispered.

She leaned in. “He’s really a big teddy bear under all that gruff.”

“Enough, Opal,” Renard snarled. “You’ve both had enough time to chat. Bye.”

Lex ran off.

“A big teddy bear?” he repeated. “You’ll be lucky if you get to come now.”

Drat.

That sucked. But it was the truth.

“Will you do it?” she asked, turning to look at him.

“Do what?” he asked.

“Use the whip on Lex?”

He studied her closely. “You want me to do that?”

“I . . . yeah. I want to watch and see what you do.” She frowned. “Will you have to touch him?”

“A bit. But you know it would be nothing sexual and I’d have to give aftercare.”

“Cuddling?”

“Nah. Doubt that.”

“Then yeah, I want you to do it. And I want to watch.”

26

Opal watched as Renard got Lex set up on the St. Andrews Cross. Renard had moved a chair over so she could sit on it and she still had a blanket wrapped around her.

Renard had had a chat with Lex who’d said he only needed minimal aftercare and that a short session was absolutely fine.

In fact, she could already see that he looked more relaxed just from being secured to the cross.

“Opal, are you sure you’re all right with this?”

She glanced over in surprise as Saxon crouched next to her.

“I suggested he do it, Master Saxon.”

“I know, honey. That’s what I heard.”

He’d heard?

It had only happened ten minutes ago.

“Do you have listening devices everywhere?” she asked suspiciously. “Or spies?”

The whip cracked as Renard warmed up and she jumped.

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