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T he office hums with the usual buzz of activity, keyboards clacking, phones ringing, and muted conversations flowing around me. But all of it fades into the background as I sit at my desk, my eyes locked on the screen of my phone. The photo of Blade fills the display—his chiseled chest, the defined muscles tapering down to the waistband of his shorts, the hint of a bulge that stirs something deep within me. I can’t tear my gaze away, my mind drifting to the email exchange that has consumed my thoughts for days now.

I’m thinking too much about this like it’s a potential date, I chide myself. But it’s not—it’s a business transaction. That’s all it is.

Still, I can’t help the way my pulse quickens when I think about him. There’s something about Blade —something dangerous and exciting—that makes me crave more. I’ve never felt like this before, not with any of the men I’ve dated. They’ve all been so… predictable. But Blade is different. He sees me in a way that no one else ever has, and the way he talks about exploring my desires makes my heart race .

Lost in thought, I barely register the sound of footsteps approaching my desk until it’s too late. A shadow falls over me, and I glance up to see Nick standing there, his expression a mix of curiosity and something darker.

“What’s that you’re looking at?” he asks, leaning in too close for comfort.

I quickly fumble to lock my phone, but I’m too slow. Nick’s eyes catch a glimpse of the screen, and his lips curl into a smirk.

“Well, well,” he drawls, his voice low and mocking. “Didn’t know you were into that kind of thing, Zara. I guess you’ve got a little more fire in you than I thought. Who knew you were such a slut?”

His words hit me like a slap, anger flaring hot in my chest. I whirl around in my chair, meeting his gaze head-on. “Excuse me?”

Nick doesn’t back down, his smirk widening as he leans against the edge of my desk. “Oh, come on. Don’t play innocent now. You know what they say—good girls are just bad girls who haven’t been caught.”

I grit my teeth, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rage boiling inside me. “Get out of my face, Nick. You have no right to say that to me.”

He shrugs, clearly enjoying the reaction he’s getting. “Hey, I’m just saying—if you’re gonna act like a slut, don’t be surprised when people start treating you like one.”

My hands clench into fists at my sides, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose my cool. “This conversation is over. Go away, Nick.”

His smirk fades slightly, replaced by a look of irritation. “Whatever. Just remember, Zara—people are watching. You might want to be careful about the kind of attention you attract. ”

With that, he turns and walks away, leaving me fuming at my desk. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. I glance down at my phone again, the image of Blade still fresh in my mind.

Nick’s words sting, but they won’t deter me. If anything, they make me more determined. I’m done letting people like him dictate how I feel about myself. I know what I want, and I’m not going to let anyone make me feel ashamed of it.

As I lock my phone and set it aside, a sense of resolve settles over me. I’m going to see this through. With Blade, with my desires, with everything. It’s time to take control.

After spending far too much of my work time searching kinks and different fetishes, I finally feel ready to reply. The rest of the day had passed in a blur, my mind preoccupied with images and ideas that were both thrilling and daunting. Now, as I sit at my desk in my home office, the cursor flashes in the empty email open in front of me, taunting me to take the next step.

I type out the first sentence, my fingers moving hesitantly over the keys.

Do you always send half-naked photos of yourself to potential clients? What if I was looking for a woman?

I smirk to myself, imagining his reaction. There’s a hint of playfulness in the question, but also a genuine curiosity. I’m still not entirely sure how this is supposed to work, and the blurred lines between business and something more personal leave me feeling unsteady.

I’m not really sure how this works or what I want exactly… How does this usually go?

I pause, chewing on my lip as I consider the next part. The research I did had opened up a world of possibilities, but it also left me feeling overwhelmed, unsure of where to start or what I truly wanted.

I read through the kinks you sent me and did my homework, searching up more. But I find it all a little overwhelming.

My heart races as I type out the next lines, a thrill of excitement mingling with nerves.

What if I want more than one partner? What if I want something less than conventional?

The last lines send a shiver of anticipation through me before I click Send . I’m not even sure why I said it, but the words felt right in the moment. I’ve never been with more than one man at a time, though the thought has always intrigued me. The idea of pushing boundaries, of exploring something unconventional, is terrifying—but it’s also the most alive I’ve felt in a long time.

As I lean back in my chair, the nervous energy buzzing through me, I wonder how Blade will respond. Whatever happens next, I know I’m stepping into something new, something that could change everything.