Free Hanging On by Michelle Zurlo

she planned to do later that evening. She couldn’t wait to punish him and his date.
    “I advise you to date women or men open to threesomes, darling.” 54
     
    The wheels in his head were turning. He likely wanted to know what rumors she heard about him to make her leave the gender of his date open-ended. She wasn’t going to tell him she was guessing. Of course, she had overheard Ginny and Sabrina talking about how Drew liked to date couples, but she wasn’t going to get into that with him here and now. Neither of them knew specifics, and Sophia wasn’t going to pretend she did.
    She released his chin and drew the stiff handle of the whip across his shoulders. “Do you have any questions before I carry out your punishment?”
    “Yes.” His voice was husky and low with desire. It affected her too much.
    She leaned against the desk behind him, wanting to give him safety and space, but not too much. “Ask them.”
    “I know Jonas and Sabrina do this kind of thing, but they keep it in the bedroom. I’ve seen other people who take this sort of ‘friendship’ public.
    Given my career, I can’t have this public, especially not when I’m in a submissive role where I’m not sure I belong. We’re in a wedding together, which means we’ll be together in public. How do I know when I’ll have to watch my behavior or risk your wrath?”
    While she didn’t hide who she was or what she did for a living, she wasn’t a publicly demonstrative person, either. “All punishments will be administered privately. I expect that when we’re together in public, you treat me with dignity and respect. If we’re with one another, you must be next to me. You showed some natural submissiveness by standing behind me this afternoon.”
    He turned sharply to glare at her. “I’m standing because my ass is too sore to sit for long.”
    Sophia smiled in response to his discomfort. Whether he knew it or not, he had been standing next to her because he felt a bond with her. The room was vast, and there were many other places to stand. “You’d better get used to it, Drew. I’ll leave you sore more times than not.” He exhaled in resignation and turned back, facing away from Sophia, just as she had positioned him. It was the price of being with her. “Mistress, you still didn’t answer my question. How do I know?” Closing the space between them, she leaned down to whisper in his ear.
    “The game is always on until one of us calls a time-out. It’s a game, Drew.

    55
    It’s sensual and sexual. It’ll push you past the limits you thought you had into something unbelievable, but it’s just a game. What’s the safe word?”
    “Onion.” He was hoarse. It was a good sign.
    “That’s the word that will halt the action. It only starts up again when we both agree to start it again.”
    She dipped her head so that her breath fanned on his neck below his earring. He trembled. “This game only works when we have clear rules and clear boundaries.”
    He tilted his neck ever so slightly, opening himself to her. “How often will I get to see you?”
    Sophia shrugged and stood up, moving away from him. “Whenever. I work. You work. I have a social life. You have a social life. I’m thinking once or twice a week.”
    The pulse on his neck ticked faster. “What if that’s not enough for me?”
    “If you want to see me, it never hurts to ask.” She chuckled at her own joke. The handle of the whip itched in her hand, begging to be used. “Are you finished?”
    Slowly, he turned, twisting until his eyes met hers. “May I kiss you?” Hunger emanated from every pore of his body, knocking the breath from her. She wanted him to kiss her, but she knew she wouldn’t be the one in control if he did. She needed to keep that secret from him as long as she could. The game was over as soon as he found out just how profoundly he affected her, and the damn man had yet to touch her.
    “No, but I will make it part of your punishment.” Drew