Page 58 of Whatever Lola Wants

She frowned slightly as she considered, wanting to give as truthful an answer as possible. “It depends on the type, and when it happens. At the beginning of a scene, before the endorphins start flowing, no.”

He nodded. “But once you’re warmed up?”

“Then it’s usually okay.”

“Good to know. What about sub space?”

“What about it?”

“What gets you there?”

She frowned. “I’m not sure I’ve ever been there.”

“Interesting.” He was watching her closely. “You said it depends on the type of severe pain. Which do you like less, stingy or thuddy?”

Sneaky fucker. She had no choice but to be truthful, and he knew it. Anxiety was starting to simmer, tensing her muscles and speeding her breathing. “Stingy.”

His eyes laughed at her even as he gave an approving smile. “Okay. A couple of minor bits of business. I like being called Sir in scene; will you have a problem with that?”

She’d already called him sir once before, hadn’t she? “No, Sir.”

“What’s your safeword?”

“Red. Sir,” she added at his slight frown.

He nodded. “Use yellow to hit the pause button, all right?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good.” He reached in his open bag and came up with a leather pouch the size of a medium-sized purse. It had straps at the top and the bottom, and as she watched, he stood and buckled it into place over his thigh.

“Thigh purse?” she asked, intrigued.

He grinned. “Cool, huh? Better than a fanny pack.”

“Way better,” she agreed.

“I thought I might keep what’s in here a surprise,” he said, giving it an affectionate pat. “But I’ll show you if you want to know.”

She licked her lips, anticipation and trepidation making her heart race. “Yes, Sir. I want to know.”

There was a metallic click of magnets releasing as he lifted the covering flap, and she leaned forward to peer inside.

Her mind blanked for a moment, then her jaw dropped. The bag was filled with dozens of tiny, colorful…

She looked up. “Clothespins?”

Amusement and heat shone in his eyes. “Clothespins. Here are the rules of the game: I try to capture, you try to evade capture. Every time I catch you, I get to put one on. Every time you evade me for thirty seconds, you get to take one off.”

Her heartbeat picked up as excitement curled in her belly. He really seemed to get her. “For how long?”

“Until you’re too tired to continue. Or until I use all the clothespins.”

Her eyes darted back to the pouch. “How many are in there?”

“A hundred.”

Holy jumpin’ Jesus. “Then what?”

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