Page 40 of The Roommate Subtext

You up? he asked.

Halfway through your latest story.

You’re fast! I just posted that.

I saw.

What do you think?

Thus far, the main character of the story was bound to a spanking bench and getting hit with many different implements, all of which she apparently enjoyed, and which Maggie enjoyed reading about.

You write well.

That’s a vague answer.

She smiled at her phone and tried again. I never thought much about spanking. It’s hot the way you write it. Then she added, What inspired this story?

Playing with you lately.

Maggie shivered from head to toe. He went and wrote that to her like it was no big deal. That’s really sexy, she admitted.

Maybe we could try it sometime over chat.

Maggie raised an eyebrow, even though he couldn’t see her. I don’t think it will have the same effect if I’m spanking myself.

I’ve got some ideas.

She was intrigued, but she could tell he wasn’t going to elaborate. You’re into spanking? she asked, pretending it wasn’t a dumb question.

I’m into most kinds of impact play. Giving and receiving.

That piqued her interest. Receiving?

I’m complex. He added a smiley face, incongruous with the content of their chat. Sensation is sensation. I’m not into submission but I like bottoming sometimes.

She wasn’t up on all the terms, but she could figure it out enough. I learn something new about you every day.

Ever try playing with pain? he asked. Biting, hair pulling, nipple twisting, that sort of thing?

Maggie could have laughed at the thought of any of the guys she’d slept with trying any of that. I’m not sure. Never tried it. Suddenly self-conscious, she added, Is that boring?

Not everything is for everybody. And nothing about you is boring, Rose.

She’d half expected him to pressure her. Her knee-jerk expectations of him were never flattering, and she couldn’t tell if it was because of Chauvel or because of her own past failed relationships. I guess I’m still figuring myself out too.

A lifelong journey. He sent another smiley face, and Maggie realized she had started smiling back without thinking about it.

Are you still learning about your sexual interests, too? she asked.

I’m open to discovery. I’ve only played with people under very specific circumstances, and there’s a lot of room to learn more.

How interesting. What kind of circumstances?

Play parties and kink events. A couple of conventions.

Now they were getting somewhere. Maybe she could find out about Chauvel’s friend after all. What about relationships?

Kinky friendships, but not kinky romantic relationships, he replied.