“That’s a great question,” Nathan says, smiling at me before speaking to the rest of the group. “Left of the Slash actually was an extremely personal book for me. Obviously it’s very deep into BDSM and the journey the main character takes to become the Dominant in a Dom-sub relationship, also known as D/s. A lot of people don’t know that I based the main character in that book on myself. He goes through the same realizations I went through when I was learning about BDSM, and he has to leap over some of the mental hurdles I had to when I was figuring out who I was at that time. That book is still my most personal and favorite novel I’ve ever written, and I’m grateful that my journey was able to be published, because I know there are lots of people out there that question their kinks and desires. Left of the Slash was meant to answer those questions.”

“Wait,” I jump in before a woman on the couch across from us can finish raising her hand to ask her question. She glares at me, but I don’t care. “Left of the Slash is about you? So, you’re a Dom in real life? That’s not just what you like to write about?”

Nathan smiles before glancing down at my mouth briefly, giving my stomach the brief flutter of butterfly wings. He licks his lips and keeps his gaze focused on me. “I like writing about BDSM because I love BDSM. I don’t think I could create the characters I do without having extensive knowledge about being a Dominant.”

“Holy shit,” I mumble, staring at him in awe. Not only is he an actual Dom, but he’s unashamed. He tells perfect strangers that he’s into BDSM like he’s giving his order at Starbucks. Murmurs from the women around us spread from couch to couch as they all realize what he just admitted to, but Nathan keeps his eyes on me.

“Does that surprise you?” he asks. I don’t know how he does it, but when he looks at me it feels like he and I are the only people in the room. Everything else fades to black as something in him calls to the darkness within me.

“Everything about you surprises me,” I admit without even thinking about it. Was that me talking or the darkness? I didn’t even think before I said it, but now I feel completely embarrassed. Nathan, however, doesn’t seem to mind.

“That’s an interesting answer,” he says, glancing down at my mouth momentarily before holding my gaze again. “Are you in the lifestyle?”