Asha and Dawn were giggling when we piled into one car to drive over. Tantalus was run by a notoriously reclusive designer named Sergio who I’d heard so many wild rumors about, he was basically a walking urban legend. Some people swore in total seriousness that he was a vampire. I’d heard he hadn’t left his studio in a decade and that he never spoke to anyone.

When we arrived, I’d thought the rumors were silly. By the time we left, I wasn’t sure what to believe. But we had a gown that was a work of art.

“What the hell was his deal?” Ophelia asked me as the four of us made our way back to Dawn’s office.

I pondered what my read on him had been. “I mean, latex fetish, but that much is obvious, right? Beyond that, I don’t have a fucking clue.”

Ophelia said, “But like…I’m into it and I don’t even know what it just was. He’s all dark and mysterious and broody, but also a fashion god.”

“I’m into it…” Asha said from the back seat.

“Yeah, sign me up for whatever that was,” Dawn said.

“Ophelia, your mission whether you choose to accept it or not is to infiltrate the Tantalus lair and get us some answers.”

I waited for her cackle, but she paused and stared at me awkwardly.

Slowly, she said, “No can do, my lady. I’m…unavailable.”

“The fuck does that mean?” Surely I was misunderstanding her.

“I’m trying out monogamy.” She fiddled with the buttons on the radio like she hadn’t just said something ludicrously out of character.

“Do you want me to crash the car? Don’t say crazy shit like that while I’m driving.”

She grinned to herself, but didn’t explain any further.

I asked, “Monogamy as in no subs? Total monogamy? I don’t understand.”

She glanced significantly at Asha, so I shut my mouth, sitting there stunned. I was going to need to inform Alex that his best friend either had a magical penis or could control minds.

Task accomplished, I had just enough time to drop the gown off before heading to meet Victoria.

I found her already sitting at a table in the corner of the small French restaurant she’d suggested. She was wearing a loose-fitting sweater and a pair of leggings with Converse, and I was struck by how normal she looked. I realized it was the first time we’d ever seen each other outside of the dungeon or a fetish event, despite being a constant fixture in each other’s lives for five years.

I expected to make small talk for a few minutes, but I should have known better. As soon as the waiter left the table, she said, “Let’s skip the bullshit. Why did you want to meet so badly it couldn’t wait until you could come back to work?”

I took a deep breath. “How did you know it was time to retire?”

She cocked her head. “You have to be shitting me, Elena. Do you know the hell I’ve been through with your clients this month? Do you have any concept of how many people want to book a session with you right now? And you want to have a discussion with me about quitting?”