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T hree days… It has been three days since I last heard from Blade. The silence is deafening, each hour that passes without a response amplifying the doubts swirling in my mind. I’m starting to wonder if I scared him off, if the whole judgment-free spiel was just that—a spiel. A lie.

Did I push too far? Reveal too much? The questions gnaw at me, relentless and unkind. What if he thinks I’m a freak? What if my desires, the ones I’ve kept hidden for so long, are too much for even someone like him?

The thought makes my chest tighten, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of my stomach. Of course, I scared him away. What kind of woman am I to want what I want?

To be used by three men…

The words echo in my head, a mix of shame and defiance clashing within me. Part of me wants to crawl back into my shell, to pretend that I never sent that email, never bared my soul. But another part, the part that’s been so desperate for something more, refuses to back down. I can’t help what I want, and for once, I dared to reach out for it .

But now… now all I’m left with is silence and the nagging fear that I’ve crossed a line that can’t be uncrossed.

“So? Did you ever do anything with the card I gave you?” Lena asks the following day as we grab lunch in the city. Her tone is light, but there’s a hint of curiosity in her eyes as she watches me.

I sigh, picking at the pasta in front of me, pushing it around the plate rather than eating. “I did. But ever since I sent my fantasy, he hasn’t replied…”

“He’s probably just trying to figure out the best way to help you,” Lena offers nonchalantly, shrugging as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. Then she grins, a smirk playing on her lips. “What is your fantasy?”

My cheeks flush with embarrassment, the heat rising up my neck. I hesitate, unsure if I should tell her. Lena’s been my best friend our entire lives, and we’ve shared everything, but this… this feels different. What if she judges me?

Noticing my hesitation, Lena reaches across the table and rests her hand on my arm. “Babe… what is it? It can’t be that bad. Come on, you know you can tell me anything.”

I sigh, setting my fork down and looking up at her. There’s genuine concern in her eyes, and it makes me feel a little less afraid, a little more willing to open up. But still, the words stick in my throat. How do I explain something like this?

“I don’t know if you’ll understand,” I start, my voice barely above a whisper. “It’s… different.”

“Try me,” Lena says softly, her hand giving mine a reassuring squeeze. “You’re my best friend. There’s nothing you could say that would change that. ”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady the nerves rattling inside me. “I told him… I told him I want to be with more than one man. At the same time.”

Lena doesn’t flinch, doesn’t pull back. She just listens, her eyes locked on mine, giving me the space to continue.

“And… I want it to feel real. Like they’re taking me, using me… but I want it to be safe. I want to wake up the next day knowing it was all just a fantasy.” The words spill out of me, and once they’re out, I feel a strange mix of relief and vulnerability.

For a moment, Lena just looks at me, processing what I’ve said. Then she nods, a small, understanding smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “You know what? That doesn’t sound crazy at all. It’s your fantasy, Zara. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to explore it.”

I blink, surprised by her calm acceptance. “You really don’t think it’s… weird?”

“Nope,” she says firmly. “Everyone has their own thing. You’re just brave enough to admit it.”

Her words lift a weight off my shoulders, and I feel a smile start to form. “Thanks, Lena.”

“Anytime, babe,” she says, picking up her fork again. “And hey, if he doesn’t reply soon, you let me know. We’ll find someone who will.”

As I enter my apartment later that night, the familiar ding of my phone sends my heart racing. I drop my jacket to the floor and kick off my shoes, not caring about the mess. All I can think about is the email waiting for me. Once I’m seated on the couch, I click on Blade’s name in my inbox .

His message is direct, methodical—exactly what I should have expected, nevertheless, it sends a thrill through me.

Some housekeeping. This is important:

Do you want to be in control of your fantasy, or do you want me to take charge and for you to be surprised?

I have two other men that will join me. I have included photos of the men. I need to know if you want us to use protection or not. (Either way, I will send you a recent blood test to prove that we are all clean and expect one in return, including proof of birth control.)

Are you wanting us masked the entire time? Or can we use a blindfold? (So we can use our mouths ;))

I will need a list of hard limits. (Things you are not willing to do no matter what)

My breath catches as I read the words, my body reacting to the clinical yet undeniably erotic tone of the message. Blade is thorough, leaving nothing to chance, and that only adds to the sense of safety I feel—he’s in control, but I’m still the one calling the shots.

Once I finish reading, I click on the attachment, and two photos fill the screen. My pulse quickens as I take them in. The men are similar to Blade—top physical form, their chests and stomachs lined with muscles. Shadow, as his name suggests, is dark and mysterious, his body covered in a dusting of dark hair. Raven, on the other hand, is pale, his skin a canvas of intricate tattoos. Both are wearing nothing but low-slung pants, their faces out of view, but their bodies leave little to the imagination.

“Fuck,” I mutter to myself, feeling a rush of heat between my legs. Just looking at them has me turned on, even though I can’t see their faces. There’s something about the anonymity, the mystery, that heightens the anticipation.

I swallow hard, reading over the email again, letting each question sink in. He’s giving me control, but also offering to take it away. The idea of being surprised, of letting go completely, is tempting. But so is the idea of knowing every detail, of crafting the perfect fantasy.