The book, Crown of Swords, had sat at the top of the bestseller lists for months and I would’ve been hard pressed to find someone who hadn’t read it at that point. Although it was a fantasy novel, the romance in it had thrust BDSM into the mainstream in a way it never had before. Lucas Steel had become the ultimate dominant fantasy of millions of people, including me.

Alex Chase, the consummate good guy, in that role would be incredibly unexpected, but, if he could pull it off, magnetic. I was intrigued, but kept my expression neutral.

Alex Chase cut in, “You know…from Crown of Swords. You have heard of this very famous book, right?”

I turned to glare at him. “Of course I’ve heard of it. Do I look like I live under a rock?”

He tilted his head back and forth, as though he was contemplating the question. “I mean…you don’t look like you see the sun very often.”

My death stare intensified.

Rami cleared his throat loudly. “He’s having a hard time making the character feel authentic, so we’d like you to do an hour long private session to teach him how to be dominant. We heard you’ve done this kind of consulting before for execs and public figures.”

My hackles rose. “I’m sorry, but you think dominance, true sexual dominance like Lucas Steel embodies, can be taught in an hour? It’s not possible.”

Alex Chase said, “I told you they were exaggerating, Rami.” He turned back to me. “We had it on good authority you were the best teacher there is. Unparalleled ability to help people tap into their dominance. It seems we were misinformed.”

The sonofabitch was baiting me. And it was working.

“I didn’t say I couldn’t do it. I said it was absurd to think you could learn it in an hour.”

Rami cut in before Alex Chase could say anything. “How long would you need?”

I looked Alex Chase up and down and nodded my head back and forth the same way he’d done to me. “Nine months. Maybe six if he actually does his homework.”

Alex Chase’s grin somehow got bigger. “I’m not trying to take your job, sweetheart. I just need to be able to fake it convincingly.”

I could feel my cheeks flushing, but there was nothing I could do to stop that show of emotion. “This isn’t just any part. You have the opportunity to give us the kind of authentic BDSM we’ve never seen onscreen before. You have a responsibility to the fans, to the kink community to get it right.” I held up a finger when he tried to respond. “This isn’t the same thing as teaching you a few tricks to command a corporate boardroom. And even those weren’t a single session. I am the best, Mr. Chase. But I can’t help you if you’re not going to take it seriously enough to put the work in. ”

That wiped the smile off his face. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t care whether I got it right. I had to fight for this role. My career is at stake if I blow it. Filming starts in a month. Surely someone with your…unparalleled skills can handle it in a month.”