Page 224 of End Game

“What do you use as a secondary safety?”

Carter shows me—and he walks me through that too, explaining what they changed after living with the room for a while instead of pretending their first setup was perfect.

That answer interests me more than perfection would have.

People who never revise their systems are generally people who stop noticing their failures.

While Carter and I discuss the room itself, Micah has moved toward the wall of impact equipment.

There are floggers arranged by weight and material, riding crops, paddles, canes, and several things Cami would look at once and immediately ask me whether I had ideas.

Micah picks up a flogger and tests the falls against his palm.

Jeremiah's attention shifts toward him. “You use impact?”

“Not much, but I’m definitely interested.”

Micah turns the handle over in his hand, studying the workmanship before setting it down and picking up another.

Jeremiah moves beside him and explains the differences between several of them. He becomes more technical as Micah asks better questions—how materials change sensation, which tools create surface sting rather than deeper impact, how placement changes risk.

This seems to be where Jeremiah is most comfortable.

Not showing off what he owns.

Discussing exactly what it does.

Micah eventually drifts toward the collars and chokers.

He picks up one of the more rigid ones, running his thumb along the attachment point. “This is nice.”

Carter grins. “You sound like you're shopping.”

“I am evaluating.”

I look at him.

Micah looks back at me, and the smile he gives me has absolutely nothing to do with objective evaluation.

My attention drops briefly to the collar in his hand.

Then back to him.

That is a conversation for later.

Jeremiah catches the exchange but, thankfully, says nothing.

Micah returns the collar to its place. “Have you ever used an anal hook?”

There is a brief silence.

I turn fully toward him.

Carter's eyebrows climb.

Jeremiah simply looks interested. “No,” he says. “I've looked at them.”

Micah nods like he asked whether Jeremiah has tried a particular brand of tattoo needle.