Page 52 of S is for…

“Yes.Depending on your comfort level, I’d like to combine that with items two and three.”

“Which are?”

“Speech restrictions and strapping.”

Diann touched her tongue to her upper lip.Locked in the stocks with a gag in her mouth while he strapped her ass.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

Julen laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls.

“Does that sound okay to you?”Julen asked after the chuckles faded.

“Yes, absolutely.And, going forward, I don’t mind surprises.”She shrugged.“I’m not trying to sound ‘hard-core’ or anything equally stupid, but I’ve probably done most of the stuff on the checklist, and I updated it after Peter and I broke up, so my hard limits are pretty current.”

Julen nodded.“I noticed you added your own, too.”

On the last page of the checklist, Diann had scrawled “don’t touch my feet—hard limit.”

“I really don’t like having my feet touched.”

“Noted.But I want to make sure that the scene is more than something you’re just…okay with.”He ran a hand over his head.“I want it to be something you want.Or need.”

Diann studied him.“Laney using her safe word really freaked you out, huh?”

“No, I have no problem with a sub using their safe word.The problem was that I didn’t focus on her.I’m always…well, I would have said I was always very attentive and careful with my subs.You have to be with rope.”

Julen pushed up from the chair, pacing to the wall and then back.

“It’s the first time in years I’ve made a mistake, a real mistake, during a scene.Submission is a gift, and I didn’t treat it as such.”

Diann grimaced.

“What?”Julen demanded, skirting the chair to walk up to her.“Why are you making that face.”

“As much as I love a good grovel, I’m really not interested in playing your therapist or comforting you.This—” She waved her hand from his head to his feet.“—is something you need to talk about with Laney, if the conversation and punishment didn’t resolve it.”

Julen leaned back, clearly surprised.

“I have no interest in being your manic pixie dream sub who fixes your life.”

His mouth opened, closed, opened again.“Pixie…what?”

The man’s pop culture references were nonexistent.

“I know this sounds odd, given that last weekend I pushed you to use me so you could find your balance.”She held his gaze, needing to know if he understood.“But I don’t want a scene where the Dom’s motives are driven by what happened with some other woman.”

He nodded once, expression closed.

Diann sighed.“I’m not trying to be cruel, I’m just being clear.”

“That was clear.”

She checked his face, assessing.He didn’t sound pissed or petulant, but rather thoughtful.

“You’re right,” he said after a moment.“But this isn’t about Laney or last weekend.It’s me, wanting to make sure that I don’t make a mistake with you.”

There was a subtle emphasis on those last two words, and that “with you” hit her like a soft fist to the gut.

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