Chapter Two
My phone buzzes andI nearly drop it in surprise.Marcus hasn’t just accepted my connection—he’s messaged me already.
Sarah.I’m intrigued by your profile and appreciate your honesty about being new to this world.I’d like to have a video call before we discuss anything further.Are you free tomorrow at 7 or 8 PM?
No, “hey beautiful,” or winky faces.No generic pickup lines.Just straight to the point.After months of dating app small talk that went nowhere, this directness feels like a breath of fresh air.
I check my calendar.Monday’s slammed with meetings until 6:30.The thought of jumping from quarterly projections straight to a video call with a professional dominant makes me laugh out loud in my empty apartment.My life has officially entered the Twilight Zone.
8 PM works, I type back, then add,I’m both terrified and curious, if I’m being honest.
His reply comes quickly:Good.Both are appropriate responses.I’ll send a link at 7:55.And Sarah?Bring your questions.I suspect you have many.
I stare at my phone, a smile tugging at my lips.There’s something about his confidence that’s undeniably attractive.He’s not trying to impress me or put me at ease with fake charm.He’s just ...real.
For the rest of Sunday, I bounce between “what the hell am I doing?”and frantically Googling questions to ask a dominant.By evening, I’ve got a ridiculous list going in my Notes app:
- Do you actually wear leather all the time?
- How do you know what someone needs when they don’t even know?
- Is this all just elaborate roleplay?
- What if I laugh at the wrong moment?
- How did you get into this anyway?
I delete and rewrite the list four times.Nothing sounds right.How do you prepare for something you never thought you’d do?
Monday crawls by in an endless parade of meetings.By the time I race home at 7:30, I’m running on adrenaline and curiosity.I change out of my work clothes, briefly consider a glass of wine for courage, then decide against it.Whatever happens, I want to remember every detail.
At 7:55 exactly, a notification pops up:Marcus has sent you a secure video link.
I click it with shaking fingers, check my hair in the corner preview (why am I nervous about how I look?), and wait.At 8:00 on the dot, he connects.
Oh.
His profile photo didn’t do him justice.On screen, he’s magnetic—dark eyes that seem to look right through me, strong features softened by the hint of a smile.He’s in what looks like a home office, bookshelves behind him, wearing a simple white button-down with the sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms corded with muscle.Nothing flashy or intimidating—just effortlessly masculine.
“Hello, Sarah,” he says, his voice a deep rumble that seems to vibrate through me.There’s a trace of an accent I can’t place—something European, maybe?“Thank you for being on time.How are you feeling right now?”
Not “how are you” or “nice to meet you,” but “how are you feeling right now?”The question cuts straight to what matters.
“Like I might throw up,” I blurt out, then immediately want to die of embarrassment.“I mean, I’m nervous.But also curious.Mostly nervous, though.”
To my surprise, he laughs, a warm, genuine sound that immediately puts me at ease.“Honesty.I appreciate that.”His eyes crinkle at the corners.“The nervousness is natural.We’re exploring something new.But curiosity is more important—it’s what brings us to new experiences.”
I find myself smiling back at him.“I’ve never done anything like this.”
“I know,” he says simply.“That’s why we’re having this conversation first.To see if there’s potential here—for you to assess if I’m someone you can trust, and for me to determine if I can provide what you’re seeking.”
“That makes sense.”I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.“I tried to come up with smart questions, but everything I wrote down sounds ridiculous now.”
