‘I’d go for leather. I just like the feel of it more,’ said Jason. ‘I suppose that’s more work for you, though? Stitching and that?’
‘No more work at all. Wood requires a lot of sanding and smoothing. Come over to the workshop side and we can make a start.’
Jenna and Jason watched transfixed as Lindo demonstrated how to cut and fashion the leather into a serviceable spanking implement. At times, Jason was allowed to perform an operation or two, which he set to with a will.
‘I’d like to get into this,’ he said, looking up from machining stitches around the edge of the paddle. ‘Craftsmanship, like. I think I’d be good at it. I always bunked off textiles lessons at school cos I thought it’d be all embroidery and shit. But this is really good.’
‘You have the knack, I think,’ said Lindo, watching with approval.
Jenna had to admit she was enjoying watching Jason at work. Those skilled, sensitive, strong hands had more than one talent. They gave pleasure, they gave pain and they created so much that was beautiful. Perhaps she ought to get them insured. Come to think of it, that would make a good press release . . .
She came back to earth when Jason, having buffed the leather to a high shine, slapped the finished product into his palm.
‘I like it,’ he said. ‘Nice weight, feels solid but flexible too.’
‘Yes, I get a lot of testimonials from customers saying the same thing,’ said Lindo. ‘They’re beautiful to look at, but also they pack a high quality sting.’
Jenna bit her lip at that. A high quality sting, indeed. At least she wouldn’t be letting any old cheap rubbish tan her behind.
‘I can’t wait to see the result,’ said Jason, sucking a quick breath in between his teeth and looking at Jenna.
She looked away.
Lindo cleared his throat discreetly.
‘Well, you know, I do have a little loft upstairs if you’d like some privacy . . .’
Jason’s beaming smile left Jenna in no doubt that he was going to take Lindo up on his offer.
She looked at the door.
‘Shouldn’t we . . .?’
‘Don’t forget,’ said Jason softly, coming to stand next to her. ‘I performed like a puppet for you all morning. Fair’s fair.’
He was right. The bargain had been made. Jenna could only hope Lindo’s loft was a bit more spacious than the changing room at Cinq à Sept yesterday. She seemed to be making a habit of getting up to rude things on business premises lately.
Jason held out his hand. Jenna took it.
Lindo chuckled and led them over to a little door at the back of the room that opened onto a diagonal ladder staircase.
‘Up you go, then,’ he said. ‘I’ll nip to the shop next door and get some of their nice biscuits. And perhaps a bottle of wine to share? You’ll both have earned a drink, I think.’
He turned and left them at the foot of the ladder, Jenna heaving a sigh of relief at his discretion. Now she wouldn’t be fretting about how much noise they were making.
All the same, her heart was bumping all over her ribs like a pinball as she followed Jason up the ladder.
Reaching the top, her mouth dropped open and she gasped.
The place was kitted out like some kind of professional spanking parlour.
‘Fuck me,’ said Jason, obviously impressed. ‘Check it out.’
There were hooks in the roof and metal rings attached to all the support posts, for the chaining of miscreants. Rack upon rack of different implements lined the low walls. The floor was furnished with chairs and stepstools and strange little folding items for arranging your victims upon. In the centre was an honest-to-goodness spanking bench, in padded leather, with cuffs attached.
Jason began to tinker with this, finding that it could be moved on hinges into all kinds of different configurations.
‘Clever,’ he said. ‘I wonder if he makes these too. We could buy one.’