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"I’," Elle said as she threaded a thin metal pick into what looked like a bicycle lock

"Pourquoi pas?" he asked, suppressing a sood evening

"You knohy not" She didn’t look at hi the pick in the lock She’d been doing this a lot lately, playing with locks, prising thesley had a theory, one he didn’t want confir a seat behind her on the striped sofa She ain, a black button-doith the sleeves rolled to her shoulders Her legs were tantalizingly bare and sertips from her knees to her hips

"Good fun?" The lock popped open She shut it again and went to work unlocking it again "You tied le to your bed and fuckedme co to say to that?"

"You’re welcolared at him

"Don’t pout, ht to reassert my do at the ti at the time because I assumed at some point you would letme sore and horny So don’t even try to butterIt’s not going to work Shoo I’ to you"

"Mais--"

"No buts And no butts, either You’re cut off"

"ButI brought you a present"

She raised her eyebrow

"Present? What is it?"

"Co"

"See and come?"

"Better"

She set her pick and lock aside He took her hand and led her fro," Elle said, her voice aith suspicion "I get nervous when you smile"

"You shouldn’t be nervous I should be nervous"

"Why should you be nervous?" she asked as he opened the door to his bedroo you this"

He nodded toward the bed and Elle looked down at it

"What is it?" she asked

"It’s a riding crop," Kingsley said "An antique bone and ebony riding crop Hand-carved, carved bone handle, two hundred years old Rare, valuable, vicious And"