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Andreas

A year into our relationship, my ex told me he found impact play repugnant. Quite a switch from his sweet enthusiasm of the first few months. I gave up participating in any form of kink when he rejected participation. We were not fated mates, but at first, we’d had a lot of fun together, in and out of the bedroom, and we’d made a commitment to one another that I intended to honor. Some couples could separate kink from their actual relationship, but I had never felt comfortable with that. As a single, fine, do what you want with anyone, but I couldn’t be comfortable in the intimacy of my kink while someone else held my heart and loyalty.

It was not cheating for anyone in a partnership that allowed for it or whose comfort level was not breached. I judged nobody for their choices. But I had to make mine. Even when he said go ahead, I didn’t. He found what I did—something we’d shared many times—disgusting?

It was a hard pill to swallow, but I forced it down for the duration of our time together and for a while afterward as well. As a new father with a full-time job, there simply wasn’t time.

I sold my construction company to buy into Cuffed, hoping it would be a good thing both for me and for my family. Reed would be asleep most of the time when I was at work, and other than his few hours of preschool in the mornings, we could be together. He was growing like a weed, and I didn’t want to miss a moment of it.

I did have a bit of sleep deprivation but worth it.

And while I had enjoyed being a contractor, owning a share of Cuffed was like being paid to do what I would have been doing in my spare time anyway. Not long after I joined, I overheard some members talking about an upcoming expansion. My ears pricked up, and I edged my way into the conversation.

“Did I hear you mention an expansion?”

“Yeah.” I didn’t know the two omegas who were speaking, but as an established dom and alpha, I could count on a polite response. “It’s exciting, isn’t it?”

“Very.” I looked around the crowded space. “Looks needed.”

“I know, right?” the other omega agreed. They were both littles if I wasn’t mistaken, but currently big—meaning, not in little head space. “I hope they have a giant toy room.” Yep, little for sure.

“Wouldn’t that be great?” I didn’t have to be a daddy to appreciate someone else’s good time. “What would you like to have there?” I chatted with them for a few and left while they were debating whether the train village should be inside or in a garden outdoors for extra excitement. With a glitter waterfall. Littles knew how to enjoy themselves, and it was easy to be swept up in their fun.

But I had an idea coming together in my mind, and I had to find one of the club owners and see if there was an opening for an investor with my particular skills.

“Talon?” I had met him when I joined. “I wonder if I might make an appointment with you and your partners regarding your planned expansion?”

His brows drew together. “I wasn’t aware we were telling people about that yet. But it’s not a big secret.”

“Let me give you this much. I am a general contractor who builds custom homes and business buildings for some of the most affluent in this city. I would show you some pictures, but, of course, my phone is locked up at the front desk.” Members and guests alike left their cells there to protect the privacy of the others.

“Come with me.” Talon led me to the edge of the room and down a hallway. “My office is this way.”

There were a number of doors, and I wondered how many owners there were. Following Talon into a roomy office, I sat opposite him at his desk and he turned his screen toward me and passed me the keyboard.

An hour later, the office was crowded with his fellow owners while I showed them projects I’d completed for clients. They told me about their plans and I made suggestions.

“When we’re ready to entertain bids, I think we’ll be glad to ask you for one,” Talon said.

“How do you feel about an investor?”

Turned out, there was room for another owner, and after we had a chance to get to know one another, I accepted the offer I’d been considering for my company. Until that night, I’d been prepared to say no, but everything came together, and now I was in charge of the expansion project. I’d retained my contractor’s license, and soon we’d begin demo on the buildings on either side.

But until then, I tried to fill in with whatever needed doing. Sometimes I was a dungeon monitor, I’d learned to order for the bar, the kitchen…if someone needed time off. I enjoyed learning all the different positions. And I felt more at home than even when I owned my company all by myself. Cuffed nurtured so much more of me than my kink. Although that part, the impact play, was there and important as well.