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I smooth my hand over my tie, the fabric cool beneath my fingertips as the email grabs my attention. Red. Most people aren’t so careful. They haphazardly use their real names without a second thought. But this woman—at least I assume it’s a woman with that name—knows better. She’s cautious, smart. I can already tell, even before she responds, that she doesn’t fully know what she wants. That sort of uncertainty, that desperation, could be just the excitement I’ve been craving.

My heart jumps slightly in my chest as I see a response from Red almost immediately.

I don’t actually know what I’m looking for… I just need something. Can you help?

A slow smile spreads across my face as I whisper to myself, “Oh yes, kitten, I can.”

Excitement stirs in me, something I haven’t felt in a long time. This could be the challenge I’ve been waiting for. I take a moment to compose myself, fingers hovering over the keys, as I consider my next move. I need to gauge her, to draw out the hidden desires she might not even know she has.

I begin typing, my mind already racing with possibilities.

Okay. Let’s start with a few preliminary questions: What’s your gender?

Are you a virgin? Do you want something heterosexual? Multiple partners?

I hesitate before typing the last question. It’s not something we usually ask outright, but I want to push her, to make her confront what she truly wants.

What is your darkest desire? What do you fantasize about when you touch yourself?

I lean back, rereading the email before hitting send. There’s a thrill in the unknown, in the possibility that she might surprise me. I’m already intrigued by her caution, her need for something more. If she’s willing to dive into her deepest fantasies, this could be exactly what I’ve been looking for.

With a final, satisfied click, I send the email and wait, anticipation simmering beneath my calm exterior.

The next day, the sharp morning sunlight streams through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office, casting long shadows across the polished wood. I glance at my computer screen for what feels like the hundredth time, irritation simmering just beneath the surface. Still no response from Red . My excitement from the previous day has dulled into a restless frustration.

A knock at the door breaks through my thoughts. Raven steps inside, his usual confident swagger evident as he takes a seat across from me. “You look like someone just canceled Christmas. What’s got you so wound up?”

I lean back in my chair, steepling my fingers as I stare at the screen. “I had a client reach out yesterday—‘Red’—but she hasn’t responded to my follow-up. I expected something by now.”

Raven raises an eyebrow, his blue eyes glinting with curiosity. “ Red ? Sounds promising. What’d you ask her?”

I let out a slow breath, rubbing my temple as I replay the email exchange in my mind. “Just a few basic questions to gauge her interests, see what she’s looking for. But I pushed a bit further, asked about her darkest desires. Maybe that spooked her.”

Raven chuckles, leaning back in his chair. “Or maybe she’s just thinking it over. You know how it is—sometimes they need a little time to get comfortable, especially if they’re new to this.”

“Maybe,” I admit, though the thought doesn’t ease my irritation. “But I got the sense she was on the edge of something—like she wanted to dive in but wasn’t sure how. I thought she’d be the one to push through.”

Raven studies me for a moment, his expression thoughtful. “You’re disappointed.”

“Yeah,” I confess, surprising myself with the admission. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a client with real potential. I thought she could be different.”

Raven nods, a hint of understanding in his gaze. “It’s always a gamble, Blade. You know that. But the ones worth waiting for—they don’t always come easy.”

I grunt in response, not entirely mollified. “I just hate waiting.”

Raven grins, leaning forward with a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Patience, my friend. If she’s worth it, she’ll come around. And when she does, you’ll be ready.”

I smirk despite myself, knowing he’s right. “Yeah, I suppose. But if she doesn’t…”

Raven’s grin widens. “Then we’ll find another. But something tells me Red isn’t done with you just yet.”

As Raven stands to leave, I nod, feeling a bit of the tension ease. But as the door closes behind him, I glance back at the screen, my irritation lingering. Red may need time, but so do I. And I’m not one to sit idle for long.