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A dark chuckle followed. “Mmmm, we’ll see. No promises.”

“I’m the boss, remember?” I asked.

His smile broadened. “At some point, I want to set up a scene with you where you can be a little brat and I can punish you for it.”

“I’d like that. A lot.”

“We’ll see what else you like tonight,” he said. “How about I come home with you? If anyone asks, you can say you picked up a stray.”

I rolled my eyes, but then leaned up on my tip-toes and kissed him quickly on the lips. His fingers knotted in my hair and before I could pull away, and he kissed me harder, our lips parting as it deepened.He swept me against him, the taste of him warm and sweet.

When he finally pulled back, we were both breathless.

“Did you drive here?” I asked.

He nodded. “How about I meet you at your apartment in two hours?”

My stomach did a slow flip. “That sounds good. What… what should I wear?”

He raised a brow. “Do you want me to tell you what to wear?”

Even though I’d gone home hating myself for it, I’d also realized I loved wearing exactly what he told me to wear. There was something about the obedience and slight humiliation of it that had left me wanting more.

“Yes,” I said. “I want you to tell me what to wear.”

“Wear one of your work outfits,” he said. “A skirt. A modest blouse. Your favorite heels.”

I frowned. “That’s it. That’s what you want?”

“That’s exactly what I want.”

TWENTY-THREE

PEPPER

The Garden wasa two-story club with an entrance down a set of dimly lit stairs. The door was painted scarlet with flowers trailing over it. A large menacing man stood in front of it. He was well over six feet tall, with countless scars and tattoos. He raised a brow as Salt pulled me close to him, leading me down the stairs.

“Salt, a very honored guest,” the man said. “Are you here to teach? You’re early. People are just starting to arrive.”

Salt shook his head. “For play, Boy. This is my partner. I want her to have a red band for no-touching, and we need masks. I will also take a red band. This is her first time.”

The man—boy?—nodded. “Of course, Sir.”

“Is your Mistress here tonight?”

“She is. Queen Nancy is too, by the way.”

Salt groaned. “Damn it. Okay. Thank you for telling me.”

I frowned in confusion. “Who is that?” I asked.

“My mother,” he sighed.

My mouth dropped. “What?”

“Don’t worry, she’s not actually my mother. We have an agreement with Mistress and Boy that they inform us when the other is present. We’ll avoid wherever she’s playing.”

“Playing?” I asked.

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