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I do my best to focus on work the following day after talking to Red, but it’s impossible to shake the lingering thoughts of her. Her request excites me in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. This is what I’ve been waiting for—someone craving the same dark scenarios that stir something deep within me. Someone who doesn’t just want the ordinary, but will explore the edges of their desires.

But there’s a danger in this, and I know it. It’s not just about the fantasy; it’s about the pull she already has over me, even though I haven’t met her. The thrill of it, the anticipation—it’s intoxicating. I’ve been down this road before, but this feels different. It feels… personal.

Losing myself in the fantasy, in Red, could blur the lines I’ve worked so hard to keep in place. I know the risks, and yet, the thought of holding back doesn’t appeal to me at all. There’s a connection here, something I can’t quite define, and it’s pulling me in deeper with every interaction.

Especially since I don’t even know her.

The unknown adds to the excitement, but it also adds to the risk. I can’t let myself get too close, too involved. But even as I tell myself this, a part of me doesn’t want to stop. A part of me wants to see how far we can go, how deep this connection really runs.

I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts aside as I refocus on the work in front of me. But it’s no use. She’s in my head now, and I know there’s no going back.

“Mr. Hawthorne?” A knock sounds on the door, and my assistant, Keely, enters with a smile, holding her tablet in one hand and a stack of files in the other. Right now, I’m not Blade—I’m Damien Hawthorne, owner and CEO of The Hawthorne Group. I sigh, shaking my head and smoothing my hand down my tie, focusing on my job and putting Blade away for now.

“Yes?” I answer with a smile, motioning for her to approach my desk.

“Your one o’clock is here. You have a meeting with the attorneys about the paperwork concerning Verve Marketing tomorrow at eight.” She sets the stack of files on my desk. “These are the employees the headhunter suggests you should let go of when we take over. They need your approval.”

I sigh, slightly annoyed by the mountain of paperwork that’s landed on my desk, but I know it’s necessary. “Sure. I’ll go over it soon. Thanks, love.”

Keely nods and turns to leave, and as the door closes behind her, I find myself staring at the files. Each one represents a decision, a judgment call that will affect someone’s life. It’s part of the job, part of the responsibility that comes with being Damien Hawthorne.

But a part of me—Blade—itches to push it all aside, to dive back into the world where there are no files, no meetings, no corporate takeovers. Just the thrill of the chase, the allure of a woman who’s already consuming my thoughts.

I shake off the distraction, knowing I can’t afford to lose focus. Not here. Not now. But as I reach for the first file, my mind drifts back to Red. Before I can let Blade take over completely.

“Rape play?” Shadow asks, his eyes widening slightly as he and Raven read over the latest email exchange with Red. “Wow, this is exactly who you’ve been looking for. And it looks like she wants all of us.”

“This could be fun,” Raven replies, a cocky smirk on his face as I laugh.

“Fun? This is going to be so beyond fun. I just hope she’s as willing as she seems to be. We need a safe word. What do you guys think?”

The three of us sit around for a few minutes, tossing out different words, each more absurd than the last, before Raven finally offers up, “Mercy?”

I shrug, letting the word roll off my tongue, “Mercy… Simple, but effective. Easy to remember.”

Shadow nods, a thoughtful expression on his face. “It’s good. Clear and direct.”

“Mercy it is, then,” I decide, feeling a sense of satisfaction settle over me. “Now, I need to reply to Red.”

As I turn back to my computer, the excitement buzzes through me. The anticipation of what’s to come, the careful planning—it’s all part of the thrill. But most of all, it’s knowing that we’re about to bring someone’s deepest fantasy to life, pushing boundaries in a way that’s safe and consensual. I begin typing, eager to see where this will lead.