Page 39 of The Shame Game

“Really?”Shit, Amanda thought, but kept her dismay to herself. “It’s good?”

“Getting there,” Olivia said with a shrug. “There’s always an adjustment period, you know?”

“Sure.” Amanda nodded.

“Anyway, Kyle thought we should live together. He thought it would help foster intimacy.”

Amanda thought drily that if intimacy wasn’t there after almost a year of dating, moving in together wasn’t going to make it happen. But she kept that to herself, too. “You’re still working on doing CNC?”

“We haven’t yet, but we’re getting close.”

Amanda nodded. Consensual non-consent scenes were tough, requiring intimacy and trust. She thought Olivia was going about exploring it the right way…she was just doing it with the wrong guy. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. What about you? How goes the shame game?”

Amanda laughed. “Shame game?”

Olivia flashed a smile, her teeth white against her bright pink lipstick. “Sadie’s words, not mine.”

Amanda just laughed again. “It’s going fine. We haven’t done anything with it since the puppy play, but I think James has something up his sleeve for tonight.”

“Well, then let’s make sure you’re hydrated,” Olivia said, and set a bottle of water on the bar.

“Thanks.” Amanda twisted off the cap and took a sip. “I feel…”

“Edgy,” Olivia supplied.

“Yeah.” Amanda blew out a breath. “That’s a good word for it.”

“A good word for what?” James asked, and Amanda turned as he strode up to the bar. He laid a hand on the small of her back and smiled across the bar at Olivia. “Hello, Olivia. How are you?”

“I’m good, Sir. Thank you for asking. Can I get you anything to drink?”

He shook his head. “Not right now, thank you. Edgy is a good word for what?” he asked Amanda.

She knew better than to evade, especially here. “For how I feel right now.”

His eyes lit with delight and something else, something that had a shiver running down her spine. “Are you nervous, darling?”

She forced herself not to drop her gaze. “Yes, Sir.”

“Good,” he said bluntly, and she nearly laughed.

“Pervert,” she accused softly.

His eyes gleamed at her as he plucked the water bottle from her hand. “Go use the bathroom and meet me back here.”

“Yes, Sir.” She turned to walk on suddenly unsteady legs to the restrooms.

She finished as quickly as she could, then took a moment to check her appearance in the mirror. Since she had no idea what James had planned, she’d worn one of her basic, no-frills fetish outfits—short black skirt, a matching scoop-necked top, black knee-high boots. She’d chosen a bright pink lipstick for a pop of color, and left her hair in its usual sleek cap.

She wished she’d brought her purse with her so she could freshen her lipstick—she’d chewed most of it off during the board meeting. But she’d left it with her coat, so she used the tip of her pinky finger to spread what was left of the gloss over her lips. Then, with nothing more to keep her in there, left the bathroom.

She found James at the bar, frowning at a now seated Olivia. “Keep the leg elevated,” he told her, and nudged the second chair someone had delivered a little closer. “And as long as you’re sitting, use the icepack.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Olivia gave Amanda a wry smile. “They ganged up on me.”

“Good,” Amanda said.

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