Page 38 of The Sadist and the Brat

“They have a trash can,” he pointed out.

“Too much trouble.” She scooped up the pens and lip balms and dropped them into her purse. “Although…”

He raised an eyebrow when she just stared at the pile of debris on the table. “What?”

She grabbed the package. “I can empty this, put all the receipts in it, then toss it when I get home.”

“Do you think you’ll remember?”

“Ha, ha.” She ripped the padded envelope open and pulled a bottle out. “Oh, hell.”

Damn, she was cute when she scowled. “What?”

“What the hell am I supposed to do with sixteen ounces of anise extract?” she asked and turned the bottle so he could see the label.

“I have no idea,” he admitted. “What is anise extract?”

“Licorice flavoring.” Sadie set the bottle on the table and reached back in the packaging.

He grimaced. “I hate licorice.”

“I don’t mind it, but it’s not the almond massage oil I ordered.” She pulled a slip of paper out of the padded envelope to frown at it. “I should be able to return it.”

“The receipt hoarding finally pays off,” he remarked drily, and began to gather the loose papers.

She put the bottle and the receipt into her purse, then stared at the papers in his hands. “How’d you get them all in a neat pile like that so fast?”

“Magic.”

“Funny.” She held out the padded mailer, waited until he’d slipped the pile inside, then folded it and put it in her bag.

“What would you bet that’s still in there come Saturday?”

“I’m not betting with you anymore,” she said firmly.

He grinned and, picking up her phone, held it out. “Limits list.”

“Okay, okay.” She took it and spent a few moments scrolling and tapping. “There, it’s sent.”

He nodded. His phone was in his pocket, but he’d already felt the quiet buzz of an alert. “Let’s talk limits.”

“I just sent you my list,” she reminded him, her fingers fluttering on the edge of the table. She wasn’t as calm as she appeared, he realized, and felt a quiet surge of satisfaction.

“And I’ll look at it later,” he assured her, keeping his expression neutral. “But since we’re both here, tell me what you like about BDSM.”

Surprise flared in her wary gaze. “I like what everyone likes about it. Orgasms.”

“You can get orgasms without BDSM,” he pointed out.

“Yeah, but they’re not as much fun.”

He couldn’t dispute that, as he felt exactly the same. “Is it the physical aspect that appeals to you most, or the mental?”

“I like giving up control,” she replied slowly and dropped her fluttering fingers to her lap. “That’s mental, and more important than the physical, I think.”

Then she smiled, a slow curve of that lush, unpainted mouth. “But I like the physical a lot.”

He chuckled. “So do I,” he assured her and switched gears before she could get too relaxed. “Are you aroused by pain?”

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