Lalisa,Mine.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Finale.

Jennie unlocked the door to the playroom and flicked on the light. Lisa followed her inside. She was immediately reminded of The Scarlet Room at Lilith's Den. Was The Scarlet Room inspired by Jennie's playroom or the other way around? The only difference was that this room seemed more intimate and personal. It was packed to the brim with every toy and tool imaginable, each carefully organized and lovingly cared for. A rack on the wall displayed a collection of whips, crops, and canes, all with crimson leather handles like Jennie's riding crop. At the end of the room was an elaborate iron four-poster bed with rings all along the frame. Tie points. The smell of leather hung in the air.

Jennie walked to the center of the room, her bare feet padding on the floorboards. She looked around, an undecipherable expression on her face.

"Are you all right, Jennie?" Lisa asked.

"Yes. It's the first time I've been in here with someone since Julia."

Lisa took Jennie's hand. "We don't have to do this."

"I know." She squeezed Lisa's hand back. "But I want to share this with you."

Jennie pulled Lisa in close and kissed her. Lisa pressed her body up against Jennie's, returning the kiss with double the intensity. It had been so long since she'd held Jennie like this. Jennie's soft, full lips seemed to melt against hers.

Jennie pulled away. "Slow down, my girl. We have all the time in the world. And we have all of this at our disposal." She gestured around the room. "Within these four walls, the possibilities are endless. So tell me, Lalisa. What do you want me to do for you tonight? What is it you desire more than anything?"

Lisa looked around her. The playroom was well stocked. There was so much that she wanted to do with Jennie. So much that she wanted to try. But right now, she only wanted one thing. "I want you, Jennie. But I want all of you. I want the dominant, commanding you who can bring me to my knees with no more than a look. I want the sweet, tender you that I saw that night after the fundraiser. I want to serve you. I want to be yours in every sense of the word. But I want to be able to touch you and make you feel the way that I feel when you touch me. I want to see that vulnerable side of you that no one else gets to see."

"Jennie's face wore a strange expression. She pulled Lisa over to the bed, and they sat down. "The night that we fought, you said that to me," Jennie said. "That I kept you at arm's length. That I never gave you any of myself."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean all of that. I was angry, and Julia's words were in my head, and-"

"It's all right, Lalisa. You were right. I expected you to give me your everything when I gave you very little in return. I'm sorry."

"All I want is for you to feel like you can open up to me," Lisa said. "Like you can become vulnerable with me."

"I understand," Jennie said. "I was never good at opening up, and after everything with Julia, I closed myself off even more. I've been that way for so long now that I've forgotten how to let people in. But I want to let you in. I won't hold any part of myself back from you any longer."

Lisa smiled. "Thank you, Jennie. That's all I want."

Jennie kissed Lisa again, hard. Her lips were overpowering. "You also said you want to make me feel the way you feel when I touch you." She drew a hand down Lisa's cheek. "How do I make you feel?"

"Like you're my everything," Lisa said. "Like I'm the center of your world. Like I'm safe with you."

"I already feel like that, Lalisa. But if you want to show me what that's like, I'll let you." Jennie had a familiar gleam in her eyes. "But we're going to do it my way."