"I'll never be able to sleep unless we find out where this goes." You're serious?" "As the plague," he says, taking Mila's hand and tugging her along....The moment it's decided, another far-off street lamp illuminates, showing the way.Acid.That's the best explanation Mila can conjure as they pass four more light posts, bare feet unbothered by the snow, following signs that point to a destination straight from a children's story. How it got in their system is another question with no answer in. The only piece of jewelry was antique gold cross he’d given me on our third anniversary. The outfit wasn’t as classy as I tried to wear it was meant for driving this man crazy. I had air-dried my hair, meaning that instead of sleek and straight it was a slightly curled and seductive just the way he liked it. I hadn’t gone heavy on the makeup either, I really didn’t need it, and because I’m a woman who thinks I look better with makeup on, I’ll admit it took me years to say I didn’t look ‘sick’. For the transgression of toying with a male for her own pleasure, with no regard to his pleasure or comfort, Annie will receive 15 lashes of the crop. For the transgression of behaving like a common whore, brazenly attempting to lose her virginity, the virginity that belongs to her master and whose decision it is as to when and how she shall lose her flower…’ he paused here for dramatic effect. The man had stage presence if nothing else. ‘Annie shall receive 40 lashes.’ Murmurs and whispers of. "Maybe so," she echoed my earlier comment. "But hey, at least you'll get a beer out of it." Somebody's getting something all right," I leered, drawing more laughter from Kelli, this her more normal, lighthearted version.It was a tavern, and it was Friday night. Since we'd lingered over our desserts and conversation, it was almost nine o'clock. The place was bustling.And we were perhaps a bit overdressed.We had a mostly blue jeans and flannel shirt crowd in the Pine Cone Tavern, and Kelli and I.