Page 101 of Mine

“Have you ever made something like this?” I asked.

The corner of his mouth tugged. “I made this one.”

My eyes widened. “You made this?”

“I made a lot of the furniture here. That’s why I have a membership to this club. I don’t think I could afford it otherwise,” he chuckled. “I still double-check everything before using it to make sure it’s safe. I like hurting you, but would never want to harm you. Do you get the difference?”

“Yes,” I said. “I like… the pain. I just don't know why I like it.”

“Because you like being punished,” he said. “It turns you on to feel like you’ve paid penance for pleasure.”

My mouth opened to argue, but then snapped it shut.

He wasn’t wrong.

Salt’s face softened as he unlatched the pillory. He swung the top half open, holding it in place as he looked up at me.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“Yes.”

I stepped forward, my skin prickling. I glanced over my shoulder at the doorway to the room and froze, seeing how many people watched us. A man stood at the very front wearing a mask, staring right at us. Worry shot through me as he looked directly at me.

Does he know who I am?

He didn’t, right? It was possible. My hair was distinctive and made me easy to recognize. It was possible that a lot of people in the club knew who I was?—

“Baby,” Salt said gently. “The rest of the world doesn’t matter. You’re mine right now.”

I tore my gaze away and refocused on Salt. He tilted his head slightly and smiled.

He was right. Nothing else mattered. After the hellish weekend we’d both had, we deserved to escape. All my worries fell away as I stepped forward.

“Spread your legs apart and hinge at your hips,” he instructed. “Your head will go in the center, your wrists in the other two places.”

I did as he instructed, parting my legs and steadying myself on the heels I wore. “Should I take these off?”

“No.”

With a smile, I hinged forward slowly, putting my neck and wrists in the correct spots. Salt lowered the upper half, bringing it down over me, and latched it into place.

It wasn’t comfortable, but I knew that was part of this. Discomfort settled over me, my muscles straining as I felt cool air on my pussy, along with the eyes of anyone watching.

Salt stepped in front of me and knelt slightly, his face hovering in front of mine. “You will tell me if we need to stop,” he said. “You’ll use your safe words if it’s too much.”

“Yes,” I said. “I will.”

“Good.”

TWENTY-SIX

SALT

Pepper was perfect.

And she was mine.

I circled her, admiring her body trapped inside the pillory.

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